So let me just say that Dallas ain't got nuthin' on the ATL.

Cheersport Nationals is much, much, much bigger than NCA Nationals. I would say the level of competition is the same, however the competition itself is absolutely enormous. I could tell you, but you really couldn't fathom the sheer size of this competition.

As you know Motions did not do as well as we would have liked. Cheersport works their scoresheet out to where any mistakes, minor or major, kill you. Absolutely kill you. Day 1's performance was a fairly solid performance. No stunts dropped or bobbled (aside from a leg being brought down early in a heel stretch) but a handful of touchdowns. However, because of that we lost 7.5 points per judge (out of 100) and a total of 30 points all together (out of 300 total) because of the touchdowns. This killed us on Day 1.

Combine that with the two injuries we faced (more on that in my Nelson's Thoughts coming soon) and the re-choreography for Day 2 didn't help. Day 2's performance had amazing energy but a dropped stunt kept us in 7th place. It's tough to do an elite stunt, on your knees, with a base who has done it about 10 times, and then has to do it under incredible pressure. I don't blame her or anyone in that group; i can't think of anyone that could have done it under those circumstances.

All in all, it was a good trip. Although we have been around for 5 years, we are still young when it comes to competing at the level that we saw in Atlanta and in Dallas last year and we will only continue to get better because of it.

I am happy to be back in California. I missed seeing the sun and good service.

Nelson