I was watching Gateway Indoor's show from this past year and the cymbals appear to do a visual that is impossible. They bend down at over 45 degrees while keeping their body completely staight...WHAT!!!
Heres the link of the clip.

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/994298/

it doesnt look like they use any ropes or anything to support themselves. i can only go about 10 degrees until i fall on my face

anyone have any idea how they do that?

Er, not to be too blunt but I think it's fairly obvious.

Cymbals are heavy, yes? Just by putting them behind your back you shift your center of gravity a lot.

I'd recommend trying it yourself before you say it's impossible

i just noticed...the 2nd cymbal from the left has some difficulty getting off the platform, she seems stuck on there for a second. it looks like maybe they stick thier feet into a strap??

but that still doesnt explain how they keep from falling over...

i dont get it :P

Their feet are strapped in. She had problems getting down because her foot got caught in the strap.

i did try it, and i cant even get close to the angles they got down to.
however, i did NOT have a set of foot straps...but i still dont see how strapping in your feet would keep your body from falling. all it would do would keep your feet in place.

THIS IS BOTHERING ME SO MUCH!!! AHHHHHHH!!!!

So your feet are secured to the ground and they can't move. You can't even lift your heels off the ground. You fall forward because the lean causes your heels to come off the ground and eventually your toes follow. If you're heels can't come up, you stay on the ground.

They did a good job focusing on the pit while they set that up, but if you were watching that show live, it was really obvious how they secured their feet.

The giant panels they used for only that and nothing else in the show were also a giveaway.

I saw it when they came for the Indianapolis Regional at my high school, and from what i heard and what it looked like was a big magnet, i know it sounds retarded, but if you look to the side under the white box they're standing on there is a little black box, from what i remember.

i am hoping for someone who marches or teaches gateway indoor will see this post and tell me how they did it...

magnets huh? that would be nuts.

Their feet were strapped in. I know a number of the staff at Gateway. They strapped their feet in. The 2nd girl from the left had problems getting her feet out of the strap.