Give me a ‘T' for terrific

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Aussie Cheer & Dance

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THE Down Under Spirit road trip rolled into the Aussie Cheer and Dance gym in Yeppoon on Thursday to conduct cheerleading workshops - a first for Yeppoon, according to the gym's head coach, Julie Tickner.

"We've just started the camps and clinics division and this is the first Queensland road trip taking clinics to regional areas," Down Under Spirit founder Edie Burgess said.

Edie started the cheerleading company in 1998.

The clinics and camps, conducted by Bryan Adams and choreography and travelling coach Jane Lawrie, focus on stunting, preparing athletes for jumps and lifting skills.

The trip must have been good enough to inspire the Yeppoon team to train hard to make the grade this year.

Jane and seven cheerleaders from Aussie Gym and Dance are headed to the US to compete.

Prior to departing, the cheerleaders will attend a two-day coaching camp on the Gold Coast conducted by Jane.

Jane explained the different components of a cheerleading routine - dance and choreography; tumbling; stunts and legality - are examined by four judges.

Bryan wants to see the sport grow in Australia through the camps and clinics and by getting cheerleading into schools.

He said he wanted to encourage kids to come out of their shells and have fun while making safety the number one priority.

US born Bryan attended Kentucky University on a cheerleading scholarship.

Cheerleading was recognised as a sport in the US in the 1970s.

"It only took me one day to fall in love with the sport," he smiled.

"They teamed me with the prettiest girl in the gym and told me to throw her in the air and catch her by the butt, I said, 'mom sign me up'.