Cheerleading is a sport, and if you don’t believe us watch these videos

Bring it on


Walking around any university town your eyes are blinded by sports stash, none more so than Durham, with our cryptic initials down the side of our trackies. And when you explain DUVCS stands for Durham University Varsity Cheerleading Squad and are asked, “Is that a sport?”, you really just want to punch something/one.

Life’s a beach

Here are some common reactions to cheerleading from real Durham students…

‘Who do you cheer for?’

Nobody. Do you really think that’s what we do…really? Believe it or not competitive cheerleading is a sport in its own right. Would we do this to boost someone else’s ego?

‘Oh cool, so is that like, dancing or something?’

Yes dance is a very small part of cheerleading but do you know what’s a bigger part…stunting, jumps and tumbling. Cheerleading is gymnastics, acrobatics, dance and a combination of flexibility, balance and strength.

‘That’s so cute!’

Leave now before you find out how “cute” I’m about to be in your face.

And finally (often on a night out in Klute)…

‘So do you want to shake your pom poms for me tonight?’

Firstly, well done for such an original chat-up line, I mean only a genius could come up with that. Secondly (if you haven’t worked this out already), I don’t shake pom poms. I don’t own my own pom poms. Don’t even mention pom poms to me, it won’t end well.