Back in Action

So yesterday was my first day back for tumbling class, and it went relatively well. The only people in that class are my sister and I so it's basically like a private class and we get our own little instruction from the coach. It's really nice actually cause we get private lessons from our coach (who was actually the Captain for Varsity cheer last year at CP) and I was really nervous for this class.

My boyfriend drove my sister and I to gym cause he was gonna go with me to my game after that (literally an hour after tumbling). So we did some cardio just to get our hearts going and I knew right then it was gonna be a long practice because it was only like 15 minutes and I was winded. Keep in mind I'd been out for close to 3 months because of my broken thumb. But then we moved into the more basic skills like cartwheels and handstands and front and back walkovers. Still relatively easy, but the real test was going to be the back handsprings cause that's what I did when I broke my thumb.

So when Windy asked us to do a standing one I asked for a spot and she said I was basically good, just some form issues. But I was feeling pretty confident. Then she asked me to do standing two and I wasn't landing anything.. infact my back was really starting to hurt and on top of that I jammed my thumb on the floor! Of course it's scary when you smash your finger that just healed by doing the same skill you did when you broke it. But it didn't hurt terribly so I shook it off and kept going. But after missing a second time with my standing two I had to do them on the tumble track.

My back was really hurting after that and when I went and got water my boyfriend tried rubbing my back for me just to relieve the pressure of tumbling from me. He said he felt like either I had a knot in my muscle, or a rib was out of place.. I was a little scared but I didn't wanna stop tumbling, it's been a long three months and I've been waiting paciently till I could start again.

I feel ok now, just really sore, but there is still that spot in my back that sorta hurts.. Ok I know this wasn't a real carefully thought out post, I just felt like I needed to post atleast once a month... Finals are coming up next week and I'm stressed out about that as well as SAT and the chances of me being an All-Star cheerleader! Think I should do it?

All-Star Future?

First off I just wanna say, it's been a really long time since I've updated my blog. I mean.. like almost over a month. I guess that's because there hasn't been so much going on with cheer since off-season and I've been really busy with school, and social life. But now basketball season has started and I'm ready to be back in the game! It's been a long time since I cheered considering my broken thumb, but that first game we had was exhilerating and well worth the wait.

Since then, I now realized how addicted I am to cheerleading, not that I didn't know it before, but how much I need it in my life. It keeps me sane, and healthy and fit at the same time. I have been contemplating joining an All-Star Team on top of doing high school as well. Sometimes, gyms don't want you doing that because you have to split your time between the two, and generally one always comes out the priority. Well for College Park cheer you have to sign a contract prominsing cheer comes first. So if I were to do an All-Star team they'd have to be ok with it. It's not like I have practice every day, however sometimes I wish I did.

Our highschool program has a competition team, but that was never what I really loved about cheerleading. I loved the skills and all, but I loved performing for the crowd, as well as cheering on my school team. But, I think maybe an All-Star team could help me better my skills, and if I see myself cheering in college (which I totally do) it could help me get in, maybe even get a scholarship! Just a thought.. let me know your guys' opinion on the whole thing? I'm torn...

Hope everyone is having a reallky good end of 2012, sorry it's been a while, I'm gonna try to keep it up more!

All I want for Christmas is.. Cheer Bows!

My Christmas list has never been too long in my life. But the first thing I thought of to put on my list this year was.. cheer bows! I know it sounds crazy obsessed, but I love the look of giant cheer bows! Sadly, I don't think I have any so I was like "well.. 'tis the season right?" So I've been looking around and I saw these bow designs that I just absolutely adore.

This is the first bow I found, and even though my school colors are purple and white, this bow is absolutely drop dead gorgeous. I love the pattern, I love the sparkle, and I love love love the color. I have a black and teal sports bra I can wear with it too, so it's not a waste.

 I fell in love with this bow once I saw it. It's purple, zebra, and sparkly! It'd go with so many of my practice clothes, and my breath was taken away as soon as I saw it. This is probably my top pick of anything on my list so far.

Finally, I saw this bow and I thought it was really pretty. The colors are stunning and the effect of lights are breathtakingly stunning.

 

I just thought I'd do a quick little update of what's going on cause it's been a long time since I've posted. My thumb is doing well, and I can't wait to start cheering again! To be honest, I'm a little nervous to start tumbling again. I had a small mental block before, but now I'm hoping it didn't just get worse with this injury I'm recovering from. Hope all is well with all my readers, and you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Have an awesome end of November!

Cast Is Off!

I am finally cast free! Last Friday I was pulled out of class to go get my cast off, and you will not believe how wierd it is to be able to see my thumb again. I mean I have been so used to it being plastered and immobile in this finger coffin. But now I have it off and it's really awesome!

I mean at first it was really scary to try and move it, and now I have to take my brace off every hour and do little finger excersises to strengthen it back up again. Although I was only in the cast for about 3 weeks I lost alot of muscle in my forearm and wrist. Compared to my right arm it looks like a skeleton.

Well my football season is over, and our team didn't make the playoffs so our next step will be basketball season, which I can't wait for because that means being back in cheer! I hope everyone else is having an awesome end of the season and end of the year too!

Real Cast

So last Wednesday I was pulled out of class to go to the doctors and get my real cast on. Well let's just say there's nothing too great about it. It practically goes to the end of my forearm and makes even the most simplest tasks impossible.

The only good thing from it was that I got to get it purple so it matched my uniform somewhat. Well my liner doesn't even fit over my cast :( I had to buy a plain black long sleeve shirt that would fit over my cast, it was awful...

Luckily I only have to keep it on for two weeks, then I get a removable splint that I can take on and off. Thank goodness cause showering with a bag over my arm is getting kinda old. Anyway I can't do much typing cause it takes a little longer than usual, hope everyone had a good end of Football season or start of competition season!

Senior Night spent in the E.R.

Last night was Senior Night, a special night where the seniors on the football and cheer teams walk down the field with their loved ones and are announced to everyone. Well thank goodness I'm a Junior because I spent that night in the Emergancy Room.

Let me just explain what happened. So we were warming up for the game, I was throwing some simple tumbling passes while waiting for everyone to arrive. Since it was Senior night the seniors were going to perform their senior dance during Halftime. But they didn't want to leave the 4 Juniors out so we were going to do our halftime too. Well when the seniors were warming up the dance I warmed up my tumbling. What a mistake that was...

When I went back in my back handspring I heard a snap, when I stood up I realized my whole thumb was sideways. I looked at it and started just hyperventalating, then Maddy came over and started screaming "oh my god, oh my god!" over and over again. Our Spirit Advisor Shawn came up to me,  took my hand, and led me to the trainer. She made me a splint out of popsicle sticks and taped it and iced it. Surprisingly I remember being really calm, probably because I was in shock.

My parents were called and I went to the Emergancy Room. X-rays confirmed the break and I was given a shot to numb my finger up. Then the doctor had to set my finger, which was probably the worst part. Now I'm in a temporary cast until Wednesday and I get the real one. I'm thinking purple!

Ugly temporary cast

Luckily I made it back to the game by 4th quarter and got to see all my friends. Also my advisor said I can still do sideline cheer! Countdown from 4-6 weeks starting now!

The Poof.

It's one of the icons of all cheerleaders. You'd know someone is a cheerleader as soon as you saw them with this, you can't miss it. We work so hard for it, and give it so much effort. It's the cheer poof.

If you're a cheerleader you'd know what I'm talking about as soon as you read the title. These are just a few of the pictures I found when I typed in cheer poofs, but there are so many variations it's hard to focus on only one.

I remember the one time we had to wear a poof for our homecoming game, I got up about half an hour earlier than I normally would just so I could get the poof right. It defines cheerleaders that simple buldge of hair on top of your head that seems to stay perfectly in place. Trust me, it takes alot of work to make that all come together.

There is probably over a can of hairspray invested into making sure that poof does not come. Generally, it's mostly for competitions and you need to see what you're doing when throwing a tumbling pass or putting up a stunt. Your cheer hair has to stay in place.

The perfect poof is one of the most difficult things to achieve as a cheerleader. The bottom of it has to be teased and hairsprayed to get the correct amount of volume so it's noticeable. However the top has to be slicked back with every last strand of hair in its place. Then the whole thing has to be hairsprayed over and over again until it's as hard as a rock.

Even though alot goes into making the perfect poof, it gives you and your squad alot of bonus points. Looks are also being judged on the mat. If you present yourself in the perfect cheer mannar it only adds to your score. Being a cheerleader isn't only about the skill and drive, but it's about looking good while being crazy athletic. We do our sport, and look good doing it :)