November 17, 2022 —
Grasp of Legal guidelines and Grasp of Human Rights college students will be unable to achieve Lexa Moorehouse, Analysis and Graduate Program Assistant on the School of Legislation, till after subsequent Tuesday. She’s away from her desk in the intervening time, cheering on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on the 109th Gray Cup in Regina, Saskatchewan. Not from the stands, however from the Astro turf on the sector beneath, performing thrilling and harmful acrobatic and dance routines together with her fellow skilled athletes on the Blue Bombers Cheer and Dance Crew.
Earlier than Moorehouse turned on her work e mail auto-reply, packed her luggage stuffed with heat garments and headed west for the weekend, Legislation Communications had an opportunity to ask her about her life as a Bombers cheer crew member, and the thrilling alternative to carry out on the Gray Cup.
Members of the Blue Bombers Cheer and Dance Crew execute a “subject aim” routine. Picture credit score: j.burzphotography
How did you become involved in cheerleading for the Bombers?
Probably the most “skilled” you will get with cheerleading is by being a CFL cheerleader. Bombers Cheer hosts a check out each season in February for the upcoming season. I attended the six-hour check out, adopted by an interview, and made the crew.
Do you need to have a background in dance or gymnastics?
Sure, I’ve been a Elite cheerleader for 12 years, I journey round Canada and elements of USA to compete at competitions. My highest achievement in Elite Cheerleading is attending the Cheerleading World Championships (you possibly can solely attend by Bid Invitation solely) in Orlando, FL in 2022.
Is it laborious to do (ie. sophisticated choreography, or set, normal formations)?
Sure, adaptability is extraordinarily necessary in terms of studying a routine or stunt. Modifications and changes might be made and your expectation as knowledgeable athlete is to rise and make these modifications the primary time with minimal to no errors.
Do you have got set routines for sure performs? How does it work?
Every Dwelling sport we’re to carry out two routines: one earlier than the ball is kicked, and one on the three-quarter mark. Every routine is 2 minutes. Then we should put together what we name “sideline stunts” one thing to have interaction the gang and to be carried out in industrial breaks or breaks within the sport, after contact downs, subject targets, good performs and so on. This yr we’ve needed to study roughly 25 totally different sideline stunts on high of performing two totally different routines every sport.
Members of the Blue Bombers Cheer and Dance Crew carry out the doubtless harmful “again tuck basket” transfer throughout a sport. Picture credit score: j.burzphotography
What’s your favorite routine or transfer and what’s the scariest?
My favorite abilities to carry out is what we name “subject aim” that’s when we’ve got two stunts beside one another, then we throw a woman within the center to create a “subject aim” phantasm (see picture). The scariest/thrilling can be what we name a “again tuck basket,” that’s, when a high particular person is free flipping within the air and caught in a cradle place. That’s not a ability you possibly can simply “throw” it is extremely technical and if carried out accurately, could be a crowd favorite. But when the slightest factor is off, it may develop into harmful for each high particular person and people which are catching on the backside. Free flipping abilities are usually solely thrown by “grownup” aged athletes (17+) as it may be harmful.
How do you cope with the chilly climate?
LAYERS! For the Western Ultimate sport I had 4 layers beneath my jacket, three pairs of pants, two layers of socks, mitts and toque!
Everybody on the School of Legislation is cheering Lexa and her crew on this weekend. #goblue!
