CHRISTINE CHEAH alltherage@thestar.com.my
THE Pyramids of Giza were not built in a day, and neither are the pyramids in a cheerleading routine.
Corny, but true.
Cheerleaders work hard to perfect their stunts, tumbles and cheers for the competition season, and there is no bigger competition on the cheerleading calendar than Cheer 2013.
The 14th edition of the annual inter-school cheerleading event – the largest of its kind – will be taking place in June, organised by R.AGE and presented by MARIGOLD HL Low Fat Milk.
It might still be a couple of months away, but the teams have already been hard at work perfecting their routines since last year.
“The training never stops,” said Tan Yee Ming, the director and cheerleading coach of Cheer Aspirations. She has been in the Malaysian cheerleading scene for 12 years.
The former Team Malaysia cheerleader said in order to win the coveted Cheer champions’ trophy, teams have to be disciplined in training all year round.
After the competition ends and a new champion is crowned, the teams often only take two weeks off to rest.
After that, they start their core and endurance training to get them back on track for next year’s finals.
Chiaki Chong, coach of team Calyx Juniors from SMJK Katholik, Selangor, said his students have to do six types of core workouts every day for 30 minutes.
With no cheerleading experience prior to Cheer 2010, team Hurricanes from SMK USJ 4, Subang Jaya put on a good show during the finals.
On top of that, the cheerleaders are encouraged to jog or swim for 90 minutes on alternate days to build their stamina – and all this almost a year before the competition.
“You can see the difference between the winning teams and newer teams in Cheer, because the training that goes on after the competition ends makes a big difference,” said Tan, who will also be a judge at the annual ICU World Cheerleading Championships in Florida, the United States next week.
Chong has been increasing the difficulty levels of his training over the years.
“Every year we learn how to improve the cheerleaders’ stunts, so as new stunts are introduced, the training changes and usually it gets harder,” said Chong, who is coaching the team for the third year.
Convent Bukit Nanas cheerleading coach Lim Cheng Choo, who coaches teams Adele and Xavier from the school, said cheerleading training is quite different compared to other sports.
“Strength training for cheerleaders is slightly different, because we emphasise on core strength and agility.
For example, we do V sit-ups and straddle sit-ups that require them to move their arms and legs while working on their abs,” said Lim.
Lim also encourages her students to maintain a balanced diet and a daily personal strength training routine.
The Titans from SMJK Ave Maria Convent Ipoh performing a stunt during their routine at Cheer 2009. The girls from Ipoh were disappointed despite a fourth-place finish.
Chai Zhi Shan, 17, captain of Team Muriel from SMK (P) Pudu, Kuala Lumpur does exactly that.
“I usually do some workouts on my own – two or three times a week – and it is usually while watching the television,” said Chai who will be participating in Cheer for the fifth time this year.
Male cheerleader Mohd Danial Syafiq Azman, 17, captain of Team Vulcanz of SMK Seafield, Selangor, also works out in his free time and says it has made him a better base.
“The 20-30 minute daily training really helps.
It’s normal to feel wobbly when you hold the flyer up, but the upper body and core exercises I’ve done have helped reduce that,” said Danial.
The Cheer 2013 finals will be taking place at the Putra Indoor Stadium in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur on June 29 and 30 (Saturday and Sunday).
Admission to the event is free to all members of the public.
* Cheer 2013 is organised by R.AGE and presented by MARIGOLD HL Low Fat Milk. The main sponsor is Silkygirl and the co-sponsor is Sugus. Red FM is the official radio station.
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