I was just checking out a Mark Peters video on Youtube, with him throwing a platter upside down on the wheel. Yes, I said upside down. If you've got about 6 minutes, you can see it done lots faster on this video than it would take in real time!
Go to it on this page- it's the first one on the roster of vids.
http://www.pinerootpottery.com/videos.htm
Not everyone can handle 8 lbs. of clay as easily as Mark does here. He makes it look super easy. And if you wonder, the cheesecutter about a minute and a half in is being used to level the foot so that when the platter is turned upright, it won't rock.
All I can say to myself is, "Live and learn."