All-star cheerleading is back in the Comox Valley.

A new Valley-based cheerleading gym (Forbidden All Star Cheerleading) opened in January.

It is one of just three all-star cheerleading gyms on Vancouver Island. The others B次元官网网址� Island Elite and the Pacific Cheer Empire B次元官网网址� are both located in Victoria.

The new gym does not currently have its own building but is booking school gymnasiums to use for classes.

Candice Rawson, the owner of the new gym, says all-star cheerleading is a great sport that combines elements from many other disciplines.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 so different,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淵ou have your classic dance and gymnastics, but this combines that [and adds] a whole other level.B次元官网网址�

All-star cheerleading is different from what is seen at halftime during a sporting event. In all-star competitions, a team of athletes performs a choreographed 2.5-minute routine in front of a panel of judges.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 so unique in that it combines a little bit of everything. Tumbling, dancing, stunting, strength, agility. ItB次元官网网址檚 also about performance,B次元官网网址� said Rawson.

B次元官网网址淚n a competition, you feel like a rock star. The lights, the music, the fans, your team. ItB次元官网网址檚 just amazing.B次元官网网址�

Rawson has 13 years of experience in all-star cheerleading as a participant, a coach, and as a judge. She got her start on the now-defunct Mark R. Isfeld Secondary cheer team in Courtenay, before competing with the Island Spirit Sports All-Star club, in Comox.

That club, which was run by Mia Heitland, is no longer in operation.

She later lived in Edmonton, where she said she cheered at some of the best gyms in Canada.

Since opening, the new gym has been running four-week intro classes for people of all ages. According to Rawson, about 40 people have participated in the classes so far.

She said the goal is to ultimately form teams to compete in provincial, national and international cheerleading competitions. The competition season begins in September.

B次元官网网址淧eople are starting to recognize that this is an amazing sport,B次元官网网址� she said.

For more information, visit bit.ly/2o7iEbg or email forbiddencheer@gmail.com