SPOILER!!: prof1
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Grangerfn1 
She twisted the broomstick so that the tail was facing toward the ground. "Once you have your broomstick in your hands, hold it parallel to the grass and mount it like so," she demonstrated by kicking one leg over the broomstick. "Angle the tail toward the ground as you do so. If you're a bit nervous about discomfort, remember that brooms have cushioning charms - once we take flight, you'll find that it's not as bad as you'd think." She even went through and checked all the cushioning charms to make sure they had not worn off over the years before the term began, just to be sure.
"As your classmates noted earlier, grip is important - please place your dominant hand above the other on the broom handle. For right-handed flyers like myself, grasp the handle with your right hand then follow up with your left hand underneath. The opposite goes for those of you who are left-handed." Professor James observed the students' grips as she spoke, "A relaxed grip is crucial; tension will make you prone to crashes. Your dominant hand is on top to control steering - your broom will respond to the slightest movements." Well, at least a new, proper broom would. But she didn't mention that. It was better to have the students use subtle movements than overcompensate and go flying into one another.
"Now, to become airbourne - not now, on my mark - you will gently kick off the ground like so," she demonstrated, hovering a few feet above the ground. "To land, gently nudge the broomstick handle downward - the more gentle you are, the slower and more carefully you will descend." She landed nicely, dismounted her broomstick, and surveyed the class once more with a bright smile. "On my whistle, I would like you to kick off the ground gently, hover for a moment, then carefully return to the ground. No joy rides just yet - get a feel for the broom and how sensitive it is. It will respond to the slightest guidance of the handle. Got it?"
Before bringing the whistle up to her lips, she gave pointed looks to a few of the older kids as if to say, Be patient. You'll get to fly in a moment. She followed the look up with a knowing grin, sharing their anticipation, and blew the whistle with a quick TWEET!
Sarah nodded as the teacher spoke about old brooms - that was at first, before the teacher began to progess further. Sarah loved getting second hand things knowing that the money not spent on buying new things was spent on the tuition of herself and her brothers and to Sarah, education overrode everything. Then she heard the part about the older the broom it may not be as powerful she got nervous a bit then cheered up as she reaalized that the older brooms just lack certain capablities that Sarah did not need.
She then flung her leg over to the other side when the teacher instructed the other students to do so, yet that was more for those who had never climbed before. She angled the broom a bit downwards like she was told although she laughed inwardly at those who were considered about comfort. Sarah could not understand how to a person comfort was mopre important to the fun and thrill of flying. They were probably the ninny types of people which Sarah only just accepted, yet personally she liked toughies better. Life as a ninny would be so boring.
She then examined her grip - it looked good, thankfully she had gotten coaching over the summer by her brothers. Maybe this year she would make the team (well not, Sarah was not the best quidditch player around yet she loved quidditch so she worked hard practicing hoping that someday she would make the team. Someday, hopefully before she finished Hogwarts, Yet Sarah was an optimistic hardworker and after all, her grandmother always would say "Rome was not built in a day, so like brick by brick she would take it slow (very hard for her), she knew she had and would make mistakes, yet that is how she will improve and grow so with patience, practice and a plan she would show everybody that when one believes they will achieve), so she was now awaiting the teacher's whistle for take off. So when in came she flew right in the air, yet she was enjoying herself so much she nearly forget about coming down until she saw that the others never reached her height and were going down. So she had forgotten about one thing - the gentle push and coming down immediately. She she nudged her broom downwards to land. Seriously, it was an honest mistake. Thankfully no one noticed as the teacher continued her lesson.
SPOILER!!: prof2
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Grangerfn1 [color=#5E2D79]
"
I've set up a couple of exercises today. On this side of the pitch," she gestured to the white poles, "
is your first task - we have an area to practice making turns. Turning is a vital part of flying, of course - for example, when it comes to Quidditch, one must be able to swiftly sneak by opponents with ease! Today, your mission will be to weave in and out of the poles without touching them. You can take your time, try to go as fast as you can, time yourselves, or partner up and race a friend - but if you bump a pole, even if it's just with the twig of your broomstick tail, you'll have to go back and start at the beginning!"
OOC: Even though your characters have to wait in line, go ahead and post as if they're at the front of the line and have at it! Also, at least three posts are required for full points for this part of the activity with a minimum of two good-sized paragraphs in each post; the posts can consist of general flying practice or taking part in the activity, depending on what your character is most comfortable with right now. Take creative liberty and have fun with this! 
So they could go up, Sarah memorised what the teacher had said about the activity yet decided to practice in the middle for some time. Was she ready? Of course she was. She kicked off the ground with a flourish that sent her right into to the air. AHHHH.... Flying again.... Sarah had not flown on a broomstick since she had come to Hogwarts, and after spending her summer flying almost daily (it was an awesome way to avoid the kitchen where someone would put her straight to work - Sarah hated domestic duties of all sorts) such time away was long.
She loved the few from up here, seeing Hogwarts on one side as well as the breathtaking panaromic views. The stands, the grass below her (yikes it was far down - something that made her excitement mount) as she turned around more in the center the view changed completely - something Sarah enjoyed about being so far up. She loved the feeling of the wind against the airs as well as the sou nds the breeze made. Some strands of hair had come loose from the braid she had made and now hung over her. Trying to brush it aside she lifted her left hand to brush it away when her broom went veering to the right. THankfully she had managed to push her hair behind her ears before landing her left hand safetly on the broom again.