The Malaysian Insider :: Features
The Malaysian Insider :: Features |
| Gymnastics rule modern cheerleading Posted: 01 Nov 2011 07:23 AM PDT  Tampa Bay Buccaneer cheerleaders cheer during the NFL football game between the Chicago Bears and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Wembley Stadium, in London, October 23, 2011. – Reuters pic Experts say cheerleaders these days are likely to be every bit as fit as the teams they're cheering. "Cheerleaders are one of the most conditioned athletes that I know. You need to be at a high level in order to do all those stunts and tumbling," said Stacey DelPreore, a New Jersey-based fitness instructor. DelPreore, who has been a cheerleading coach on the staff of the United Cheerleading Association for 10 years, said gymnastics rule modern cheer routines. "A long time ago it was more dance-based, and rah-rah, lets cheer on the football team," she said. "But as a lot of tumbling and gymnastics got into cheerleading and stunts became involved, it became more athletic, based more on gymnast-type movements than (on) dance." More complicated stunts demand greater conditioning, according to DelPreore, whose fitness DVD Train2Cheer, is a high impact cardio, strength and conditioning workout developed specifically for cheerleaders and dancers. "There's no actual tumbling in it, but the exercises simulate the motions of stunting, tumbling and dancing that pertains to competitive cheerleading," she said, "along with a lot of plyometric (jumping) moves, which help with back jumps and handsprings." DelPreore said too many youngsters are hurt because they start doing back flips without knowing their bodies. "A lot of these kids are starting at eight and nine years old. If they're not conditioned properly, there are injuries," she said. Cross training is also crucial to staying healthy, she said. Jessica Matthews of the American Council on Exercise said as cheerleading has evolved into its own sport, it's become more important to build conditioning programmes, such as strength, cardio, and flexibility exercises, into the training. "I feel like you get some of that with cheerleading. But I don't know how structured it's been," said Matthews, an exercise physiologist and former high school cheerleader. "You might have a cheerleading coach with a background in choreography, but do you have someone with a conditioning background to work with them to avoid injuries?" Matthews praises cheerleading for providing a great social environment and for getting youngsters active at a time when obesity affects 17 per cent of all children adolescents in the United States, according to government figures. While athletic prowess is paramount, personality remains part of the skill set. "You really have to have that spirited energy and to want to be front and centre," Matthews said. "If you're a little more reserved, it might not be for you." Cheerleading is bigger than it's ever been, according to Matthews and DelPreore, who both began cheering with Pop Warner, a non-profit organisation in the United States that promotes youth football, cheer and dance. DelPreore said those who have cheered, even quite a long time ago, still thrill to the energy, the music and the choreography. "I feel like when you're a cheerleader you always have that in you," she said. – Reuters Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
| Singapore gets world’s first ‘Transformers’ ride Posted: 01 Nov 2011 05:47 AM PDT  Optimus Prime and Megareon battle at Transformers The Ride. – All Rights Reserved. The world's first Transformers The Ride will be unveiled at Universal Studios Singapore from December 3 and will feature "12 scenes, comprising sets blended seamlessly with hyper-realistic 3-D digital media and special effects to bring tactile realism to every moment," according to the theme park's management. The Transformers movie series has so far picked up an estimated US$3 billion (RM9.36 billion) globally from three episodes and the ride will join the other major attractions at the theme park, including Battlestar Galactica dual roller coasters. Universal Studios Singapore is part of the city's Resorts World Sentosa complex, which has attracted more than 15 million visitors since opening in January 2010. The complex also features a casino, four hotels and an expansive retail area. "I am very excited about the debut of this attraction at Universal Studios Singapore," Transformers film director Michael Bay said in statement. "Finally, Transformers fans will not only have the chance to watch the Autobots battle the Deceptions on screen; they'll actually be part of the action." In the coming weeks, competitions and sneak previews will be posted on the attraction's official blog – http://tftheride.rwsentosablog.com. The development of Resorts World Sentosa has been one of Singapore's great recent success stories as the city looks to establish itself as one of Asia's top destinations. The city is this year on target to break all tourism records thanks to the influx of people heading to both RWS and to the Marina Bay Sands resort, which also boasts a casino and extensive entertainment facilities. International visitor arrivals into the city for the second quarter of 2011 were 3.2 million, according to the Singapore Tourism Board, which represents 14 per cent year-on-year growth. The STB last week announced that tourists spent an estimated S$5 billion (RM12.35 billion) in the city in the second quarter of 2011, a rise of 18 per cent, year on year. Leading the way were Indonesians (S$677 million), followed by Chinese (S$447 million) and Indians (S$305 million). Last year Singapore played host to a record 11.6 million visitors, as it tries to pose a challenge to the likes of the Chinese cities of Hong Kong (36 million) and Macau (25 million). – AFP Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
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