North Canterbury News: July 29, 2021
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NORTH CANTERBURY BUSINESS AWARDS PEOPLE’S CHOICE<br />
Show-stopping performance winner<br />
for Empire Athletics gym<br />
When an Empire Athletics competitive<br />
cheerleadingteamdelivered ashow-stopping<br />
performanceinthe KaiapoiSanta Parade,<br />
last year,MichelleCumming’sphone ranhot.<br />
Michelleisthe ownerand also acoach<br />
andteamleader at Empire Athletics, which<br />
launched in Rangiora only four weeksbefore<br />
theCovid-19 pandemic lockdownlastyear<br />
with under 40 athletes enrolled.<br />
Nowthere are110 athletes, ranginginage<br />
from fiveto40plus, learningcompetitive<br />
cheerleadingatthe gymin KingsfordSmith<br />
Drive, thanks, in part,tothe Kaiapoiand<br />
Rangiora Santaparadeperformances which<br />
attractedalotofattention forthe business.<br />
Butsince then thegym membership has<br />
continuedtogrow, often by word of mouth,<br />
as parentshaverecognisedsignificant<br />
improvements in confidence,fitness, self<br />
discipline and happinessintheir children<br />
after they begantrainingatEmpireAthletics.<br />
The gym’ssuccessatnationwide<br />
competitions has also helpedpromote the<br />
business. Recentlythe teams competed at<br />
their first eventofthe season,the United<br />
Cheerleadingcompetition in Wellington,<br />
takingout thegoldfor Open Coed 3<br />
division, andSilverfor both their SeniorAll<br />
Girl 3, andJunior AllGirl1teams.Itwas an<br />
exceptional result andisatestament to the<br />
positive culturewithinEmpireAthletics.<br />
Competitivecheerleadingisone of the<br />
world’sfastest growingsportsand was<br />
officiallyrecognisedasasportinMay<br />
2013 at theAnnualGeneralAssembly of<br />
Sports Accord in St Petersburg.Itisahigh<br />
energy,multi-disciplinaryactivity,involving<br />
acrobatics, jumps, gymnastic tumbling,and<br />
dance, whichoffers alittle bit of everything<br />
that othersportingactivities just focus<br />
solely on.Teams performan intricately<br />
choreographed2.5 minuteroutine to fastpacedmusic<br />
at competitions andare judged<br />
by apanel.<br />
Competitive cheerleadingalsodevelops<br />
motorskills and cardiovascular fitness,<br />
whichare useful forother sports, and<br />
becausethere isarolefor everyoneitis<br />
also greatfor children whodonot want to<br />
participate in traditional schoolsport or<br />
after-school activities.<br />
“Itisagreat waytoincreasefitness, create<br />
lifelongfriendships, and itevenhelps to<br />
increase self-esteem,’’ Michelle says.<br />
“Nomatterwhatyourexperience is,age,<br />
bodyshape,orfitnesslevel, EmpireAthletics<br />
has aposition on ateamfor you.”<br />
The nature of cheerleading, where<br />
participantsworkcloselytogetherasateam<br />
andmustsupportone another, physically<br />
andmentally,inthegymnasticroutinesthey<br />
do,encouragesteambonding whichalso<br />
often resultsinlifelongfriendships. Michelle<br />
has friends all around theworld made from<br />
Team work… Members of Empire Athletics training together in their Rangiora gym, at5B<br />
PHOTO: SHELLEY TOPP<br />
Kingsford Smith Drive, on the biggest spring floor in the South Island.<br />
her backgroundincompetitive cheerleading.<br />
“Itisthe ultimate sport,”she says.<br />
“Weprovide apositive,supportive,and<br />
happyenvironment whereathletes cantruly<br />
be themselves, andwehaveastrong focuson<br />
teamworkand dedicationwhile training, with<br />
amantraof‘perfection before progression’ to<br />
ensure safety.”<br />
WhatisCheerleading?<br />
Empire Athletics isacheerleading gym in Rangiora.<br />
Cheerleading is ahigh energy, well rounded activity, involving acrobatic stunts, jumps, gymnastic tumbling<br />
and energetic dance.<br />
Agreat way to increase fitness, lifelong friendships and helps toincrease self esteem. Nomatter your<br />
experience, age, body shape or fitness level we have aposition onthe team for you!<br />
CompetitiveCheerleading<br />
There are no pom poms or cheering involved inCompetitive Cheerleading. Teams of 6-36 athletes train<br />
to perform afast paced 2.5 minute routine at competitions. These intricately choreographed routines<br />
showcase the best ofthe team’s stunt, jump, tumbling and dance abilities.<br />
If dance, gymnastics or acrobatics has been something you have always wanted todo-You are never too<br />
oId! We have teams from age 5yrs to adult.<br />
Recreational Cheerleading<br />
Recreational cheerleading isagreat way tokeep fit and can beagreat pathway into acompetitive team<br />
should an athlete want to progress further.<br />
For more information<br />
visit our website<br />
www.empireathletics.co.nz<br />
or get in touch via email<br />
office@empireathletics.co.nz<br />
VOTE FOR<br />
US IN THE<br />
PEOPLE’S<br />
CHOICE<br />
AWARD<br />
Unit B, 5Kingsford Smith Drive, Rangiora<br />
Instagram @EmpireAthleticsNZ<br />
Facebook @EmpireAthleticsNZ
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