Review of ICC Nationals 2013

Hi Guys
This weekend I attended ICC nationals day1. There was such a buzz on twitter about this competition it seemed all the best teams were attending I had no other choice but to attend.
5.20 am alarm goes off and I actually got straight out of bed and got dressed buzzing for competition. Standing at the platform the snow beings to fall and no longer than 10 minute into my journey the driver tells us that he’s going to have to drive slowly because of the snow. luckily I made my connection and on the way to Nottingham I go.
I reach Nottingham and It’s a blizzard I’m literally wet and I’m actually getting angry at the snow, lololol. Finally we get to the arena, I feel like I’m at home. The bright colours, the bows and the glances cheerleaders give to other cheerleaders as they try and unnerve each other. The nervous tension you see in a cheerleader eyes as they go down to the practice matt. I love competition day so much and I was buzzing the arena was huge which was nice but as always there never seem to be enough room. Other things I notice is teams went a bit crazy with the fake tan especially on the face it starting to look like jersey shore in here.
The cheer routines started the mini and juniors came on and I was blown away. I was saying to my friend that I’m so jealous they are already so talented. The tumbling was amazing some teams had almost a whole team tumble. One of the high lights for me was Ascension Eagles prophecy who were out of this world, my jaw hit the floor. The routine was clean everything hit and tumbles perfection will definitely be looking out for this team at nationals
I have to say that mini and juniors teams were on point and put the senior teams to shame. These children make me so excited for future of British cheerleading. These children have all the skills required of a Allstar cheerleader the tumbles, flexibility, strength and passion needed for a British team to one day win worlds.
One thing I will say is some of the dance sections were way to sexy for my liking especially for children, way to suggestive.
Trends
While looking around the room I notice some trends at this comp. Several teams had varsity jackets fierce alethic, London city stars and Surrey Starlets and loads of team onesies which were cute. The trend that I loved the most was changing your laces to match your team colours which is something I’m going to do.
Hair is getting bigger every competition I go to. Cheer hair is starting to get like pageant hair just think back combing and big curls.
Legacy Allstars got a new uniform black with red curls with diamonds down the arms.

Pixies Allstar who I never heard of before had cut out butterfly symbol on the back of their uniform which was cute. You definitely couldn’t miss them because their uniform was lime green, hot pink and black with little bit of white mixed in.

Seniors
One of my highlights of senior routines was Fierce Athletic Wildcats who I knew were really nervous to perform. One thing I will say is the FA on Wildcats new uniform really does sparkle I think that it must be Swarovski crystal or something so gorgeous.
They came on the matt looking a bit nervous but they totally wow the crowd. They really have progressed in their overall technique. Their stunts were a lot cleaner fewer bobbles and only two falls which is a great improvement for them. Furthermore the overall routine flows better, really creative choreography a well thought out routine. Nice to see one man stunts, clean tumbling, solid pyramid sequences and stunts hitting clean for this team. Obviously they had an amazing dance section but that is a given the best point for me is when they turn to the back and they had super high basket.
I’m so proud they have improved so much.
They one of the few level 4 team that I thing get just as much buzz about as a level 5 team and everyone came down to the stage to watch them.

Coventry Dynamite is another team I love to watch. Day1 of ICC this team were off their game. They had falls and bobbles it seems very out of character for this team to be so shaky. I think they were just having a bad day because on day 2 they hit a clean routine.

Another team who seem to crumble under press was South coast zadiacs galactica. At Winter Wonderland this team dominated the competition but at ICC nationals there were lots of falls and bobbles and this same thing happen at fc nationals 2012 but when they hit, it’s so good
University division for me was ok the things that was lacking for me was the confidence. Flyers look scared with terrified grin on their face. When I watch flyer who look scared it instantly brings the routine down and makes you anxious you can’t enjoy it. I do understand that university are at disadvantaged because they have to reteach cheer every year but performance is something that every team should have and don’t really see it as excuse.
It was odd because the teams had the skill but just lack overall energy. Southampton vixen were another team off their game unexpected falls and bobbles and they surprising drop down to level 3 their routine it didn’t have wow factor, it normally has.
The exception to the rule was Birmingham pussycat who rock the floor. They put out level three routine that any Allstar team would be proud of they basically max out level three in all aspect tumbling, stunting , jump, overall choreography the routine was just flawless. Loved watching this routine and could watch it over and over again. Also Coventry cougars level 2 routine was pretty good as well.

After a very long day, a day that was too long in my personal opinion it was time to watch level 5 all girl battle it out.
I was so excited to watch Surrey starlets who are knocking it out of the park this season. Goldstars who seem to be having some problem hitting a clean routine this season and Pretty bullet who are the new level 5 girls on the scene.
Goldstars came out on to the matt I’m not ashame to say that I love this team. I remember their fc nationals 2011 performance I was spellbound the music, the stunts , choreography everything was perfection. Ever since that performance people have put such high expectations on them, we don’t want to see Goldstars bobble let alone a fall.
Goldstars came on to the matt, big grins and heads held high ready to put on a show the crowd was buzzing
The routine started off nicely and I saw Aimee Gibson back on the matt Aimee is a really good flyer. The routine began nicely but then the falls happened and the bobbles the pyramid didn’t completely hit but I will always love this team. I can’t wait to watch them perform at Fc nationals because when that routine hits everyone one will remember why they are called Goldstars.

Pretty bullets
I have to say they totally changed their routine. It was nothing like the one performed at ICC southern and Bayleigh pillinger didn’t fly the lib section
The routine was so much cleaner but also lack difficulty overall Pretty bullets put out solid routine and excited to see if they can up their difficulty what they bring to fc nationals.
Now to Surrey Star who have been the underdogs of level 5 who now run the show. I was excited to see if they were really as good as everyone was saying. They came out and hit a solid routine I was amazed few bobbles but that was it. When did they get this good , the crown went crazy and their coach even more so. This season Surrey starlets are the queens of Allstar level 5 can they keep it up and gain fc nationals title it’s going to be a tough division so we will have to wait and see.

Level 5 coed

Rising stars Midnight had excellence pyramid section very creative, constant action very American style pyramid. Throughout rest of the routine they had falls in their lib section on both days but they fought for everything eager to see them at fc nationals.

Marshals Generals
Totally transform their routine from the one we saw at ICC Southerns so much cleaner a lot less bobbling people were hitting they skills with confidents they were a joy to watch. I think since the pressure was off they could enjoy their performance and therefore make a lot less mistakes
Very happy for this team can’t wait to see what they can bring to the table at Fc nationals
Unity Black
I was very excited to see this performed watching all other level 5 team has created such a buzz. There was such a positive atmosphere to see unity black perform. They came on the matt and did the very American thing of hugging each other than silence and people sat eagerly waiting for the routine to begin. Day 1 not all the stunts hit two stunts fell in lib section and the pyramid section didn’t hit but it was still a good performance overall.
Day 2 was another story everything was flawless lib section hit , baskets hit and pyramid hit. This is the kind of team I want representing the UK. The crowd went crazy unsurprising coach tori and Amanda even more so it was cheer bliss.

ICC Nationals was really fun competition because of all the amazing teams that perform but it was way too long a competition. If you were a spectator you couldn’t get home by public transport because the last train was 9.30pm and competition didn’t finish until 10pm and who doesn’t want to stay and watch level 5 and Unity Black perform. Staying to watch these teams meant spending the night but I would go again if all the same teams attended.

Hope you guys enjoy the review

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