High-flying cheerleaders take on world

Illawarra's Air Born Cheerleading squad will live up to their high-flying name next year when they jet off to Florida for the World Cheerleading Championships.The Bulli-based team took out all three events they contested at the recent Auscheer National titles in September - a feat Air Born director and team head coach Emma Holder was quick to commend.“It’s never happened before,” she said of the team’s three national titles.“We’re the first to do it.”The wins, which confirmed their place at the April 2012 world championships at Florida’s Disney World, were the culmination of almost a year’s work. Beginning with team auditions in January, the girls have trained and practised up to five times a week to hone their routines.Team member Emma Hadley, 20, said competitive cheerleading was a very skilful and physically demanding sport and not at all like displays seen at sporting fixtures.‘‘It’s like gymnastics and dancing in one. It’s very athletic - we train up to five days a week,’’ Ms Hadley said. ‘‘We have a lot of ex-gymnasts in the team. There’s a lot of stunting and tumbling. Gymnastics is very much incorporated into cheerleading.’’It is not the first time the 15-strong squad has made it to the prestigious world titles, with Air Born placing 12th at the 2010 championships. Ms Holder said the girls would use their previous experience as a springboard for improved results this time around.