Force of Nature – walk with Jo

Posted on by Prior...

For a Walk with Jo this week, I bring you to the 2015 International Cheer Competition in Virginia Beach, Virginia. (14 images)

tigers 2
My niece is with The Tigers cheer team from Ontario, Canada. We had the chance to see them perform in Virginia Beach over Mother’s Day weekend. I was floored by how good their show was – these girls are powerful forces of nature!
force of nature- tigers
I think I was expecting the atmosphere to feel like Toddlers & Tiaras, you know, with a fu-fu feel. And while it somewhat did have that vibe – with glitter cheeks and thick mascara – the show exceeded expectations. The acrobatics, the choreography, and the high level of athleticism was a pleasure to experience.
tigers 1
They cheer to dance music with spotlights spinning – so there is a certain concert or club vibe in the air (which is cool ,but was a bit too loud) – and as noted – this modern kind of “cheering” is an ART.  The different twirls, the coordination with front rows popping up while a back row bends – while the middle row flips – it is SO cool.  They also integrate traditional pyramids and classic cheer moves.
pps-403-5-2015-alexis
This is my niece, Alexis. She is Canadian and she has been in gymnastics and sports since she was a toddler. Alexis is strong, but don’t let her tough side fool you – because she is kind and has a smile that warms your heart. This is her first year in cheer and she said she enjoys this competitive league. With her gymnastics background, she has brought strength to the floor routines and tumbling segments.
bows
I guess that “hair bows” are the big thing here. Some bows sold for more than thirty bucks, and they also had a “build-a-bow” workshop in another part of the center.  Someone was making some dough, that’s for sure.
usfinals collage 2015
A mixed collage to give u a feel for walking around at this event. We were told that “selfie sticks” were NOT allowed – but we did see a few folks walking around with them (upper right).

 

holding dolphin
I took about 8 different shots to get this one – “Joy is… hanging out with your niece while waiting for showtime” – 🙂
dolphin reflection -paula
This photo, with the dolphin, empty chair, bit of trash on the ground – and slight reflection – is linked to Paula’s B & W.

For part 2, let’s finish our walk by going outside of the convention center.

vbcc-2
The Virginia Beach Convention Center has some architectural flair – but don’t let the sweet design fool you – because this structure is also quite tough and it can handle the forces of nature (like hurricanes) and the cloudy sky in this photo is linked to JNW.

 

vbcc-3
Here is the rest of the convention center – at dusk – with some more green lights to the front (yeah). This shot, with all of the lines and angles –  is linked to Cee’s fun foto challenge.

 

 

the beach
Here is the beach, which is a few miles east of the convention center – the smooth sand and sea foam is linked to narami’s week 20. 
at the beach
an elongated selfie….
force of nature - tear down
Forces of nature – forces of man.
force of nature - gravity
Forces of nature take two. There is something about this photo I just really like – and it is one of my favs from this post.  What about you…. do you have a favorite photo from this post?  Well thanks for dropping by and I hope you have a great day.  For more forces of nature posts, check out the daily post. And for more walks with restless Jo – go here – where this week she brings us to Krakow.

 

 

 

 

 

61 thoughts on “Force of Nature – walk with Jo”

  1. Looks like you had a great time! I love the shot of the conference centre at dusk, the green lights are perfect! The lollipop melting at the end is just amazing, how strong is the sun there? Great set of pics, hope your neice had fun, she looks like she did. Thanks for sharing! 🙂

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    1. thanks K – the sun is not too strong at this time – maybe in the 80’s that day – and my niece did have fun.
      She texted me that they also earned jackets that night – I guess that they earn points for different stunts and moves – and if a team reaches certain points they get a jacket –
      Also, next week they will be scored again by some judges who review the film and they could win “rings” – and I guess they all really hope to win the rings. here is what she texted me w/ the jacket

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    1. it really was – thanks – and I had a whole new respect for them afterwards – they are strong athletes. 🙂

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  3. Bravo for your niece, Alexis! Gosh, it needs strong will and dedication to be a good gymnastic and as well to prepare the competition. I always impressed by young talents who work on their talents and be consistent with that! Impressive 🙂
    Thank you for sharing your force of nature walk with Jo! I love the title 😀 (the last image your shadow selfie are my faves!!)

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    1. thanks so much Indah – and my my my has cheerleading come a l o n g way since the 1980’s. 🙂

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  4. Wow! What an honour to appear alongside these lovelies! I thought for a moment I needed to perform an acrobatic display, Yvette 🙂 🙂 No- I’d best stick to walking! I am awed by anyone who can tumble and do those floor exercises. You’ve captured all the excitement here, and many thanks for the link. Your gallery of superstars is fantastic. I’m loving your new style of post. Many thanks and hope you’re enjoying your week 🙂

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    1. laughing pretty good thinking of you doing a front flip Jo – which would not surprise me if you did you restless one. and yes, having a nice week and sweet month so far – also – welcome back from all your traveling – I am sure you are still catching up….

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  6. Looks like a good time was had by all! Most interesting details. The elongated selfie is quite cool.

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    1. thanks – and the timing of the sunset led to the shadow – I think late evening is one of my favorite times to take photos – well at least recently it has been. 🙂

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    1. thanks Debbie = and it was sunset on the east coast which gave that effect. and it really was the perfect mother’s day weekend because my son did all the driving and he is racking up hours for his learner’s permit. He experienced his first traffic jam on the ride home – and handled it so well. – we were in stop and go traffic as we entered the tunnel on 64 – yawn -but he cranked the music and was just enjoying it.

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  8. A wonderful Mother’s Day weekend, and how lovely to spend it with your beautiful niece ❤ I see what you mean about the last photo, I had to go back and look at it a few times, taking in the way the lollipop (you call it sucker if I remember correctly) is melting out onto the mosiac of ground in pebbles. The beach photos are very dreamy, mmmmm, and a fun selfie too 🙂 Enjoyed your post very much mon amie ❤

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    1. thanks so much mon amie – and yes, we call them suckers – ha! I forgot about those subtle linguistic differences – and just FYI – I say “soda” and not “pop” – what about you?

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      1. Yes, ‘soda’ and ‘pop’ are American terms to me but when I lived there I got in the way of saying ‘soda’. Now I just call it a fizzy drink 🙂

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  9. sounds like a wonderful mother’s day weekend Y! and to watch your beautiful niece in competition must be a real treat! lovely captures, as always! 🙂

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    1. thanks Lola – and this is one of the reasons we live on the east coast – so we can be near family when they do things along this corridor – we still cannot make everything – ❤

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    1. Thanks so much ❤ ❤ – and it is crazy to me to see how my niece looks so much like both her mom and her dad – kinda like 50-50

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  11. I love the dolphin shot. Them girls must be hard-to-achieve girls. 🙂 Your jump shots are cool too!

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    1. thanks Naomi – and I put a little thought into how I wanted to share the team. I had a few group shots I took at the end – and then a couple misc. – but I guess I wanted to give a feel for the twisty twirly teamwork – so thank for your feedback my friend –

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  14. My favorite, Y, is Alexis with her head demurely bent on the escalator. Second fave is the endless oodles of bows.

    I love the concept of these acrobatic and tough young women working at cheering as a sport, Y. Part art for its creativity and movement, part performance for its competition and athetic requirement of physical conditioning and excellence.

    Thanks for bringing me to the event, Y.

    Now I’m off to go to Krakow, Poland, with one click!

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    1. thanks Marky-mark! and I hope you enjoy your tour of Poland at Jo’s place. Oh and I like your two favs – I included that one of my niece because I thought it showed her sweetness and you used a really good word for it! and the bows – oh my – oh my

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  17. You really packed it all in this post! My fav photos have to be the action shots at the top as I was a gymnast about 100 years ago. And your niece is a doll!

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  18. Your niece comes across as a very talented cheerleader. Leaping, twirling all while keeping in sync with the rest of the team. It must take a lot of practise and I bet you were cheering her on! I mean this in every way a compliment – she looks like Britney Spears 😀 Love the beach photos too. The beach is always a beautiful magical place…why you were even a giant for a bit and I hope you didn’t scare anyone away…

    The last shot is an interesting one. A lollipop on the concrete? 😦

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    1. yes – I was a giant for the golden hour! ha! and thanks for saying that about my niece – I sent her the link and she might be dropping by. have a nice day M

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      1. It was very nice to meet your niece and get a glimpse of what she loves doing. She looks like such a sweet girl with many talents. Always love seeing your photos and what’s happening in your town, Y. Fascinating 😀

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  19. I really love your last two photos, Yvette. Your shadow on the wet sand is quite spooky, and the demolition site made me wonder about all the people who must have once lived or worked in that building. Always a sad sight to see something being torn down. Beautiful pics of your gorgeous niece. It must have been a lot of fun attending the Cheer competition.I love watching acrobatics. 🙂 xx

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    1. I know you like the acrobatics and I can picture your granddaughter in her unbelievable poses…. and the building – well for osme reason when i saw it- as we turned off of Atlantic Avenue- I just thought of one word “upgrade” – and tear down that old structure and make way for the new – like it might be all moldy, or salt weathered – or just behind the times with 60’s and 70’s faucets and nasty vertical blinds – ha! out with the old and in with the new for a better beach experience. ha!

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  20. These are wonderful. I’m quite drawn to the lollipop melting on the ground for some reason. Looks like it was a great time seeing your neice cheer! Thanks for linking to the OWPC, that convention center with cloudy sky looks so moody.

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  22. What amazing action shots Y the slight blurring gives a feeling of vibrancy and it is amazing how they are all so coordinated. I love to see young fit people performing like this. You have a lovely niece and you must be so proud of her. Love the beach scene in the late afternoon sun lighting up all the ripples and sneaking in that elongated selfie. Good one Mate…

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    1. thanks so much P 🙂 and this is why we are so grateful to live on the east coast of the US – it gives us easier access to family stuff – like smaller events like this –

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  23. These competitions are amazing. Your niece and her team have to be really good! Of course they are! 🙂 Great photos all around. I may have to check out that Virginia Beach. Sure looks nice. Have a beautiful weekend! 😀 ❤

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    1. Thanks Linda – and yes, their cheer team is in what you would call the “competitive” league (versus the rec stuff) – and don’t rush on up to Virginia Beach – because without sounding mean – it is actually kind of – um, I can’t think of any word for it. You know how Daytona Beach is considered the number one blue collar beach – well this is similar and it is “our” most accessible beach – but truly nothing to write home about (IMHO) – even though the beach is the beach – sand and salt water really are enough for my soul – but I think Hilton Head, Nag’s Head, and a few of the Carolina beaches would be more enjoyable.

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        1. ha! but I am sure we both know that many times we just have “make the most of what we have” – from our beach options to the city features and all that – 🙂

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