All-Star Summit Or Us Finals?

Valvalmom said:

I can totally understand doing a Summit for SENIOR levels 1-5R, but if you think about how much this one quest could add up to over the years in expenses for a family of a 6 year old youth cp who still has a good 12 years of cheering ahead of her.... It's crazy. Not sure it's so much about the prestige as it is about the money. I think of the families at our gym and how many of them could be taken right out of the sport if we decided to chase a summit title.

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Well, as I am not a parent, I would not know. And I'm not just saying to only chase the bid. My gym didn't only chase the Summit bids this year. We also went to other competitions, but those giving Summit bids took precedents over the others.


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I was really taken aback that video advertisements for Cheer Perfection were shown at the us finals. Not cool.

Valvalmom said:

I was really taken aback that video advertisements for Cheer Perfection were shown at the us finals. Not cool.

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WOW!? Really?


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My kids have done both and as we pack to leave Disney I can say The Summit was as advertised. I was concerned about bids being passed down and possibly leading to a watered down competition and that did not seem to happen.... at least not in the divisions my kids were in.
My only complaint is they under estimated thier attendance which lead to some housing problems as well as apparel problems. Hopefully next year they can get everyone at All Star or one close to All Star so kids can be closer together and see the scope of what they are involved in.
This is a parents point of view. I am sure there are some things the coaches would like to see done different as well. I suspect (and hope) we will see some restrictions on who can attend as it appeared there were some "stacked" teams that some people feared could happen.

Valvalmom said:

I was really taken aback that video advertisements for Cheer Perfection were shown at the us finals. Not cool.

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Was this in VB? We thankfully did not see any in Providence.

CheerBank said:

Was this in VB? We thankfully did not see any in Providence.

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yep they had them inProvidence. They during awards right at the beginning of the videos they showed before the montages of all the teams in the division(longest awards ever)

crazeecheermom said:

yep they had them inProvidence. They during awards right at the beginning of the videos they showed before the montages of all the teams in the division(longest awards ever)

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Which explains why I missed them. Because I was truly appalled that after running almost an hour behind during some sessions, they were still showing the team montages at the beginning of awards.

idrive said:

My kids have done both and as we pack to leave Disney I can say The Summit was as advertised. I was concerned about bids being passed down and possibly leading to a watered down competition and that did not seem to happen.... at least not in the divisions my kids were in.
My only complaint is they under estimated thier attendance which lead to some housing problems as well as apparel problems. Hopefully next year they can get everyone at All Star or one close to All Star so kids can be closer together and see the scope of what they are involved in.
This is a parents point of view. I am sure there are some things the coaches would like to see done different as well. I suspect (and hope) we will see some restrictions on who can attend as it appeared there were some "stacked" teams that some people feared could happen.

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I have to say that even though its not difficult to get a bid to IS Finals, the competition was far from watered down in Va Beach. It was pretty fierce across the board!!!

CheerBank said:

Was this in VB? We thankfully did not see any in Providence.

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Yes, Virginia. Sad to hear they were at providence as well.

Valvalmom said:

I was really taken aback that video advertisements for Cheer Perfection were shown at the us finals. Not cool.

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How upsetting. Honestly, giving them fame like that is horrible. I mean, that team wasn't even a real team of theirs this year. I went to 3 competitions with their gym and Youth Silver wasn't at any of them. That team was made just for the show. It also upsets me because this sport has enough problems with trying to get people to accept it as a sport, and it does not help at all. It is just like Toddlers and Tiaras. Maybe if it spent a little more time focusing on the athletes instead of the parents and the team actually went to competitions that mattered, it would be more respectable. Let it be known that most of the competitions they went to they were either against themselves or one or two teams.


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I didn't attend the summit this year, so my opinion is purely speculation. But, my biggest "gripe" so to speak with the summit, is the fear that it will take away from worlds.

Worlds is something that young kids strive for, for some (my daughter included) it is their strongest motivation to get level 5 skills. "I can't wait until I am on a level 5 team and can go to worlds." With The Summit being the very next weekend in the very same arena, I feel it takes away from it.

Like NCA, only the level 5 athletes (with a few exceptions, I believe this year the exception was the special needs teams) get to compete in the arena. That is something prestigious, reserved for them. I feel the same about Worlds. Worlds is like the Olympics of our sport, the best of the best competing for the honor of the World Champion title.

I understand the argument that Suzys gym doesn't have a level 5 team or Suzy just doesn't have the ability to be a level 5 athlete, BUT not every swimmer, gymnast or skier gets to go to the Olympics either.

Just my 2 cents.

sphocott said:

How upsetting. Honestly, giving them fame like that is horrible. I mean, that team wasn't even a real team of theirs this year. I went to 3 competitions with their gym and Youth Silver wasn't at any of them. That team was made just for the show. It also upsets me because this sport has enough problems with trying to get people to accept it as a sport, and it does not help at all. It is just like Toddlers and Tiaras. Maybe if it spent a little more time focusing on the athletes instead of the parents and the team actually went to competitions that mattered, it would be more respectable. Let it be known that most of the competitions they went to they were either against themselves or one or two teams.


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I saw a tweet from them on Sunday about how they were sorry they did not have time for people (assuming they meant fans) on Saturday since they were busy with their teams but that they were heading back there on Sunday and were looking forward to seeing everyone. Wonder if anyone actually cared that they made a special appearance Sunday? It took everything I had not to tweet a snarky response.

I competed at the Summit this weekend with some of the best teams out there...my gym brought two teams and each are coming home with the rings. it was an amazing experience, this was as close I would get to going to worlds. Getting the opportunity to compete in the "Milkhouse" was breath taking, knowing that some of the best athletes out there competed on the same floor. It was very well organized, and it was like "worlds" for the non level worlds team.

CheerBank said:

I saw a tweet from them on Sunday about how they were sorry they did not have time for people (assuming they meant fans) on Saturday since they were busy with their teams but that they were heading back there on Sunday and were looking forward to seeing everyone. Wonder if anyone actually cared that they made a special appearance Sunday? It took everything I had not to tweet a snarky response.

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Not to hijack this thread as I think it is a good discussion, but Cheer Perfection isn't the only thing that is bad for our sport. Do you think swim parents refer to their children as SPs? Why do we persist in using CP? Why don't we call them athletes?

I love the idea of the Summit. Worlds won't always be at Disney - it has outgrown that venue. But, I think for non-worlds teams, the Summit would be a great season end trip if you can get the paid bid.

Here my take on US FINALS this year:

Arrival: My CP and I decided we wanted to come a 3 hours before her meet time to support other teams in our program and watch some other teams. They would not allow CP (who is full dressed in uniform bow & all) into competition halls unless she had a wrist band. Wrist bands were being giving at meet times:banghead:

During: for the most part comp ran on time (until level 5 divison, there were several back to back injuries). some of the scoring hmmm very questionable but ok. Pros: They did have more than enough seating this time (yay).

Awards: A mess...awards were behind, they would not let anyone in hall D until everyone from previous session had cleared out the hall. Ok fine but dont have 300-400 parents and athletes, spectators standing in hallway. Since the whole purpose of all the restrictions was due to you exceeding fire code last year. I have never seen so much police/fire presence at a cheer competition in all my 10 years of allstar cheer. As well as the 2 private security teams hired for this event. Pro: again there was more than enough seating for everyone

Cheer perfection: Hall C which was designated for vendors, concession and for teams to meet their teams had a huge US Final backdrop for pics. (they were trying to stop everyone from being in the lobby) There was also a TLC Cheer perfection back drop for pics. This is where some of the kids, coaches & parents from Youth Silver were hanging out for pics & autographs. When I purchased my ticket there was Cheer perfections 5x7 postcards at the ticket counter. Preview clips for Cheer perfection next season which is to air this summer was shown through out the comp during intermission and breaks as well as each awards ceremony.