The spring season is maximum competition time for cheerleading, and the Power Cheer Gym Vipers have been busy on both sides of the border. Close to 100 athletes and family members from the Junior and Senior teams were in Myrtle Beach, S.C. for the ‘Battle at the Beach’ in March. This event hosts a huge field of competitors and draws from the elite clubs along the eastern seaboard.
Meanwhile, the ICU World Cheerleading Championships has two of PCG’s senior staff members, Kurt Ford and Kaitlyn Harvey, competing for Team Canada in the highest level of competitive cheer. Gym owner and longtime Western University Cheer Coach, Trace, is also back for his second year coaching the 24-member Coed Canadian team at the World Championships.
Back in Ontario, the Mini (ages 5-7) and Youth (ages 7-11) Vipers were on the road recently to the Ontario Cheerleading Federation Provincials in Brampton in preparation for the OCF Nationals in April. The traveling squads that were in South Carolina, meanwhile, then turned their attention to the Cheer Evolution Nationals in Niagara Falls to cap off their season.
Power Cheer Gym staff firmly believe in the value of having athletes be involved in multiple sports and school activities. As such, once the cheerleading competition season ends, athletes are encouraged to participate in other sports, summer leagues and camps. The unfortunate norm in the cheer industry (as well as a lot of other youth and school sports) is to lock the kids into 11-month schedules and year-round training. At PCG, kids are encouraged to be kids, and families are encouraged to enjoy liberal ‘off-season’ timeframes.
Aside from the brief Spring Tryouts and Team Placement period (May 20-25), all members are free to enjoy a very light ‘off-season,’ which for some teams means four open months. Overtraining does NOT produce better athletes, and PCG feels that its athletes greatly benefit from having the freedom to enjoy their childhood and not be tethered to the gym.
It is never too late to get involved with a team at the Power Cheer Gym, and the fully credentialed, friendly and fun staff and coaches are always available to introduce new athletes to competitive cheer. Parents will love our comfortable elevated parents’ lounge and reading room overlooking the newly renovated gym area. Check us out online: www.PowerCheerGym.com or call: 519-667-0565.
– Story and photo submitted by Power Cheer Gym
