Truro teams hosting event at RECC

The Hubtown is about to become the hub of the Maritime cheerleading scene.

More than 90 teams, representing 16 clubs from across Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and P.E.I., are set to descend on Truro for the Central Nova Cheer Challenge, the first of two competitions at RECC in as many weeks.

The two-day event, co-hosted by Truro All- Star Cheer and Tumble and Kentville- based Valley Cheer Athletics, kicks off Saturday at 8:45 a.m. The schedule runs throughout the day and picks up again Sunday morning before wrapping up with an awards presentation at 5:30 p.m.

Admission is $10 per person or $18 for a weekend pass. A family of four is $60.

The competition features teams competing in age categories from mini to open and from difficulty Levels 1 to 6. Squads perform two to three- minute routines and earn points from a panel of judges based on execution and difficulty among others.

All four Truro squads will be in action and will be looking to put their best foot forward on home turf. Truro Heatwave hits the mat in the Youth Level 1 Division at 10:05 a.m. while Truro Reign starts its hunt for Senior Level 1 supremacy at 10:55 a.m. Truro Chill is slated to compete in Junior 2 at 1:25 p.m. with Truro Twisters taking the spotlight at 3:40 p.m. in Senior 3.

Heatwave and Chill will be performing the routines they will be using at the Cheer Evolution National Championships April 6 to 8 in Niagara Falls, Ont.

Both Chill and Twisters are fresh off division wins in last weekend’s Atlantic Showdown championships in Saint John, N.B. Chill has claimed division crowns in each of the three events it has entered this season.

The Central Nova Cheer Challenge will be followed up at the RECC March 3 and 4 by Maritime Meltdown. That event is co-hosted by Dartmouth-based Extreme Athletics and Halifax Cheer Elite. The Cheer Nova Scotia provincials are also slated for the RECC April 21 and 22.