Event
Balance beam

Skill type
Dance

Value
C

Known as
Split leap 1/2
Split 1/2

About
A split leap with a half turn involved is not uncommon on beam, but those performing it will be doing it as an (alleged) tour jeté and expecting the juicy, juicy D (0.4) value that goes along with it. The C (0.3) value for this element is paltry by comparison, especially when one could just do a switch leap instead for the same reward without the risk of this late 1/2 turn.

For elements like this, the women’s technical committee has prescribed that the split position must be reached either before a 1/2 turn begins or after a 1/2 turn has finished, but the two can’t be done at the same time. As the drawing of Fally Ringwald reflects here, she has to show a clear split leap, then perform a 1/2 turn on the way down. In case anyone was considering doing that, which they were not.