2, 4, 6, 8 cheering’s on, don’t be late
FANS and competitors will fill Te Rauparaha Arena with cheers today with more than 1000 cheerleaders and dancers strutting their stuff.
New Zealand is becoming a hot spot for cheerleading after recent back-toback World Cheerleading Championship wins by the New Zealand All Star Cheerleaders.
The sport was a cross between gymnastics’ tumbling and aerobics, with athletes tossed into the air to do twists, flips and splits, organiser Kimberley Ramsey said.
It was not about waving pompoms, baring flesh or sexy dancing for sports fans.
‘‘It’s really big around the world. People think that we cheer for a sports team, but we are more sports cheerleaders. It’s a team sport that doesn’t involve a ball,’’ she said.
There will be 1200 dancers and cheerleaders competing from 8am to 9pm with about 500 from Wellington. The top 100 will be selected to attend the International Dance & Cheer games in Hawaii in June next year.
‘‘The difference between this and the world champs is like the difference between the [Rugby] World Cup and Super XV,’’ Ramsey said.
‘‘The Hawaii competition will be the best club teams in the world going up against each other.’’
The 100 lucky winners will be made up of six teams, one jazz, one hip-hop and four cheerleading teams, including the All Star world champions.
The All Stars will also showcase their world-class skills about 7.30pm as the grand finale of the event.
‘‘These athletes can do things people won’t have seen before. They are skilled and at young ages too – the talent is amazing.’’
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