Atlanta

OC Mom · GURU

RE: Atlanta

Tamara · cheergyms.com Master Poster

OC Mom wrote:

I think they are a brand new gym. I believe they are maroon and white or black..... they were at Cheersport at the Bren.

Who? Sorry, but I don't have a clue who you are talking about. I did a quick browse, which still didn't help me.

Edited: P.S. I really like the new avatar.

-- Edited by Tamara at 19:53, 2007-02-02

OC Mom · GURU

Thank you! I took that just today actually, at the park.

Hmmmm, i believe that they were at Cheersport if my mind serves me correctly. But hey, I'm a cheer mom. Need I say more??????? I'm sitting here right now, with 4 cheerleaders on my couch who are watching Nanny 911. It's really quiet in here. NOT!!!!!!!!!

Worlds Watcher · GURU

Tamara,

They were speaking of an Ace team in southern California vs ACEDADs team from Alabama. They're just trying to get their teams straight.

ACEDAD · GURU

Just thought I would pass along an interesting tidbit. Our open team (video link in the Youtube section under WCA) has been working hard. Happy has done a bit more recruiting and we will now have 75 people on the floor. That's not a typo. It's incredible and definitely worth seeing in Atlanta.

Cheer411 · Senior Member

Hey OC Mom - are you all ready for Atlanta? How many teams are you taking?

OC Mom · GURU

Yea, we're as ready as we're gonna be. We are taking our

Youth Silver team (youth level 3 or 4, not sure)
Junior Black level 5,
Senior Coed (level 3 or 4, I don't know what they decided due to injuries and changes)
and our
Youth Yellow (youth level 2 or 3)

Boy I really don't know anything, do I????? hehehehehe

I am so excited. We were just talking about all the stuff we need to do to get ready. This year I swear I am bringing a suitcase of snacks. After competing so late in the day, there really wasn't anything to feed the kids so late. Plus, it's so expensive to feed them out everyday, especially when they want EVERYTHING. Our hotel has a Starbucks in it but it closes at 10 am. Can you believe that??? I actually called them and warned them about us CALIFORNIA people. They drink Starbucks all day and night!!!! Shoot, they would be wise to keep it open ALL hours, wouldn't they???? hehehehehe I believe we have 225+ people going. That's a FEW Starbucks orders, don't ya think?

I was also thinking, what if we got prepaid Starbucks cards for the kids so they didn't ask for 4 bucks here and 4 bucks there. Mine doesn't drink it but I think EVERYONE else does!!!

My head is running already and it's 11 days away!!!

Mini Mik · Veteran Member

Hi There Cheersport Alumni,

This is not Mikaila---it is her mom, KC (she tells me I need to get my own screen name, someday I will get creative and do it but not today). Anyway, this is our first BIG traveling trip and I am the team mom for her team at Pyramids. I am putting together goodie bags for each day we are there and am seeking advice from those of you who have been in the past. I have already looked at www.athleticspirit.com. Anyone used them, is it good quality? I would like to hear about some creative things your teams have done, what did the kids really like?

Also, we are all looking for good restraunts in the area, close to the GWCC. Any suggestions (or places to avoid)? What about places to see if there is time? Did you visit the World of Coke, etc.?

OC Mom, I feel like I know you (and many others on here). Even though I don't post much, I am an advid reader and love reading your messages. Hope to meet you in person in ATL. By the way, I loved your idea about Starbucks cards for the kids---our group at Pyramids (especially us moms who spend countless hours and $$ there while the kids are at practice) are all addicted!

This is going to be a memorable trip for all of us and I want to help make it extra special for our kids. Thanks in advace!

~KC

ACEDAD · GURU

For those that haven't been to Cheersport, I'm telling you that you've never seen anything like it. Even NCA is only about half the size in number of teams.

For gyms that are only bringing 1 or 2 teams, planning something to do in Atlanta is very possible and there are lots of cool things to see.

With more teams than that (and the teams from other gyms that you'll want to see), I would not recommend planning any outside activities. You just won't have time. If you aren't within walking distance from your hotel to the GWCC, the bus time/car park time will add at least 1.5 to 2 hours. Even if you are on a bus dropped at the front of the GWCC, it will easily take you 20-25 minutes to walk to warm ups and that's if you don't stop to speak to anyone. Warm ups for your team start app. 1 hour & 20 minutes before competition time.

I don't mean any of this as a downer. In fact, I love Cheersport and the people that run it. But don't think you will have sightseeing time on Saturday or Sunday. You'll have to use Friday or Monday for that.

For food options, your best bet (unless you are wanting table service) is the food court in the CNN center. It'll be crowded, but there are a large number of fast food (Wendy's, Chic-fil-a, etc.) and deli style options. The CNN center is connected to the GWCC via walkways.

Also, there will be 9 special needs teams there this year starting at 2:17 in Arena D. We definitely would love for everyone to come see all of them.

Hope this helps some. I've been to this competition 6-7 times, so I might be able to answer some questions. Feel free to email me if you want.

bill.presson@wakm.com

-- Edited by ACEDAD at 16:53, 2007-02-03

Worlds Watcher · GURU

Schedule is up: http://www.cheersport.net/competitions/nationals/NatCompSched.asp
Here are the 55 teams going for 7 paid bids and 21 @large bids.

Small Senior
· More Xtreme
· Carolina All-Stars Thundercats
· Chi-Town C.A.T.S
· KC Cheer
· Pep Club Colts
· Twister All-Stars
· Just Cheer Jaguars
· Star Athletics
· OC All-Stars
· Cheer Command Senior Silver
· Southern All-Stars
· Pyramids
· Az Power Elite

· Cheer Savannah Senioritas

Large Senior
· Fierce Legend
· California Quake All-Stars
· Kentucky Elite All Stars
· Ultimate All-Stars
· Cheer Florida
· C.A.T. Elite
· FCA Gems Diamonds
· Woodlands Elite Generals
· Spirit Factory
· Midwest Cheer Elite Jaguars
· Galaxy Cheer All-Stars

· POWER

Limitied Coed
· DENALI ALL-STARS
· So Cal Elite All-Stars
· USA! Revolution
· Fly Allstars
· ACE Comanches (@large bid)
· TN Spirit All-Stars
· Brandon Senior Black (partial paid bid)
· New Jersey Spirit Xplosion
· Florida Top Dog
· Orlando Flame
· StarTyme All-Stars
· KC Cheer Mach3
· Cheer Dynamix Jags

· The Cheer Zone

Unlimitied Coed
· Kentucky Elite All Stars
· Cheer Dynasty
· Cheer City United Coed
· Midwest Cheer Elite Pumas
· Southern Impact Athletics Storm
· Southern All-Stars
· Motions
· Pro Cheer Inc
· ACE Warriors (paid bid)
· South Jersey Storm (@large bid)
· Cheer Eclipse-Comets

· Celebrity Cheer (paid bid)

Senior International Coed
· ACX Jags
· Cheer Extreme Allstars- Raleigh

· MAC Allstars

-- Edited by Worlds Watcher at 18:13, 2007-02-03

Worlds Watcher · GURU

ACEDAD,

Looks like some of ACE teams will be competing against some California teams. So maybe you'll get to meet up during the performances.

ACE Siminoles vs OC (Sr Coed lvl3)
ACE Braves vs OC (Sr Coed lvl4)
ACE Warriors vs Motions (Sr Coed Unlimited lvl 5)
ACE Commanches vs SoCal Elite (Sr Coed Limited lvl 5)

Tamara · cheergyms.com Master Poster

Update: Kentucky Elite is not competing in the Unlimited Coed. I think they are still competing in the other divisions.

Mini Mik · Veteran Member

Mini-Miks Mom again...

Thanks ACEDAD! I really appreciate the advice on Cheersport. Those of us who have never been to ATL, are thankful to those who can prepare us for the unknown. Our program director Derick also told me to be prepared to do a lot of walking. I also heard it might be cold, what should us Californians expect as far as weather is concerned? Although after looking at the schedule and all the amazing teams going, I think we will be inside most of the time.

ACEDAD, I also enjoy reading your posts and have read your profile. You are doing a great thing with special needs teams and I hope to see your teams compete. Jodi from our gym works with special needs children and I every time I see her working with the kids, I am impressed with what she is doing.

Thanks again and good luck to your teams in Atlanta! ~KC Lucido

OC Mom · GURU

Hi everyone! Well, I am so excited about Atlanta. AceDad was totally correct in his suggestions for food. The CNN center is directly across the street, but keep in mind that the World Congress Center is about 300 miles long. It's quite a trek but a happy one since you get to walk by a billion different teams from around the US. It's really a sight to see.

Lots of our parents walked to the World of Coke but keep in mind, you can see almost the same thing in Vegas and it's alot closer!!! I didn't want to walk around anywhere, but that's me. We had fun just in the hotel!!! (even though the security guys wanted to KILL us because we were on CA time. So 1 am was only 10pm and we were wide awake!!!)

We aren't staying close by. We figured we would stay at a further hotel to save money since we HAVE to have a bus anyway. I would LOVE to meet you KC!!! Danny, Morton and Nelson all know who I am. Tell them you are looking for me and they will know how to find me.

I am bringing lots of snacks. Again, trying to save $$$ since they want tshirts and more from the competition. I hope Cheersport gives out a great gift like they did last year. We still use that purple blanket for EVERYTHING.

OC Mom · GURU

I found this. There's lots of info including food and more....

http://www.cheersport.net/PDF/nationals/07parentspacket.pdf

Mini Mik · Veteran Member

Thanks OC Mom. I just passed the link on to our team. I think it will be very helpful.

~KC

CheeRacerMom · Veteran Member

Looking at the maps of the area it appears our hotel is out there so I'm thinking of renting a car. Does anyone know if there are any disadvantages to doing this? Is parking readily available or does it fill up pretty quickly? We don't compete until early evening. Thanks to everyone for your advice, us first timers really appreciate it!

OC Mom · GURU

Goodness, I think it really depends on how your team plans to travel to the competition. This is what we do. We rent buses. Then we pay per person. Athletes are REQUIRED to pay for the bus and parents are optional. I would imagine that you would have to pay to park your car at the competition and most likely you would pay at your hotel. Now, if there's a free shuttle for Marta, that might work. But check their schedule. I would hate for them to stop trains and you be stuck! It really depends on your gym's plans. I would check with them and other parents. Maybe splitting the cost of the car would work for everyone!!! Maybe even a van!!!

ACEDAD · GURU

CheeRacerMom wrote:

Looking at the maps of the area it appears our hotel is out there so I'm thinking of renting a car. Does anyone know if there are any disadvantages to doing this? Is parking readily available or does it fill up pretty quickly? We don't compete until early evening. Thanks to everyone for your advice, us first timers really appreciate it!

If there is any way to avoid renting a car, I would. The biggest problem will be parking at the GWCC. It will fill up very, very quickly. Obviously, I don't know exactly how far out you are, but you should check how far you are from a Marta station and bus lines. Also, is the gym renting busses to take the teams back and forth?

If you have to, then you have to. But parking will be very problematic.

-- Edited by ACEDAD at 10:44, 2007-02-06

CheeRacerMom · Veteran Member

Thanks for the info. As you mentioned Acedad my main concern was if there would be parking available. Our hotel is about 1/4 mile from the Marta station and we are responsible for getting our kids to the competition arena. Since there are a bunch of us staying at the same hotel I'm sure we will meet and then head over to the Marta station together. Of course, I'll bring my walking shoes!