Aerobic sport flippin’ good fun
The fastest growing sport in the country is now available in Cambridge.
Competitive cheer leading has its origins in the United States but New Zealand is a world leader with national teams winning titles over the past few years.
Hamilton-based Tracy Hemingway already has two teams she’s training in Cambridge.
Each Thursday she puts her two Cambridge classes, of five to eight year olds, through their paces before turning her attention to the older group.
Hemingway is based at All Stars Gymnasium in Hamilton, where she trains 200 youngsters for competitive cheer leading.
‘‘It’s very physical and demanding, but regardless of your shape, size or ability, everyone can fit into a team and be involved in competition.
‘‘There are different teams for all levels whether you are just starting or you are an experienced gymnast, there will be a place in a team.’’
Hemingway is trying to break the stereo type of cheer leaders and so her teams do not have a pom pom in site.
Cheer leading attracts females but she is keen for more boys to come along and try.
‘‘The boys see it as a girlie thing but it’s not, and it’s a harder workout than rugby will give you,’’ said Hemingway.
‘‘We were challenged by a rugby team once and we put them through our training session, unfortunately they could not hack the pace and we still had two hours to go,’’ she said.
She admitted there are some guys who want to take part but the first question usually asked is ‘‘when can I do a backflip?’’.
‘‘Our acrobatic routines involve tumbling, people being flipped in the air so it’s important to do so in an environment which is safe.’’
It’s this sort of athleticism which will see young people promoted to the top levels of the sport.
She is hoping to see more Cambridge youngsters along to training on Thursday nights at St Peter’s School, Cambridge.