All-Star Summit Reflections And Recommendations

[3cheermom]

I agree - the BEST part for us was the Reveal because there were SO many great teams there that you really did not know who was going to make the finals! So it was really exciting - especially if you are one of the teams called. There were barely any deductions day one in our field of teams so it was anyone's guess. That made it even more exciting.
My only superficial gripe is that they were out of Summit pins very early - the ones that said finalist were gone early Saturday morning so by the time you knew you were a finalist - even at lunch - they were all gone :-(

I didn't know they had Summit finalist pins :-(

 

[GiaBellaMom]

I didn't know they had Summit finalist pins :-(

I wanted to buy them Saturday morning when I saw them but I didn't know If we would make the finals. Then I went back an hour later and they were all gone. They only had the champion pins left. I should have bought the finalist pins when they had a few left and just returned them if my cp didn't make it LOL but who knew They would go so fast?
Our team did not receive an inaugural Summit pin that most of the other teams got either :-(


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[5-6-7-8]

OK, I have had some sleep, so I can put together some thoughts (sorry, they may be a bit wordy...still tired.)

Competition itself - As a parent / spectator, it was a great competition! On time, good production, strong competition. We didn't do a hotel package, so we didn't have any issues there. I was concerned with how CP would handle a competition with 20+ strong competitors in her division, but even she really could see the "value" of competing with such a strong field of teams. Basically, you had to be just about perfect to make it to day 2, and even then it was tight. It really taught her great lessons about cheer, sportsmanship, and competition. It sort of reminds me of the movie "Center Stage" where the instructor asks the ballet students to raise their hands if they were the best dancer at their old studio and they all raise their hands. This was like that, the best of the best (who accepted of course, I know there are more great teams out there who didn't / couldn't go...no disrespect for those teams at all!) It really was such an honor to just be awarded a bid to attend.

Someone above mentioned a "pre-event" party, I think that is a great idea!!

OK, my issues / potential for issues:

1. Expense!!! It was amazing to go this year, but I could not see myself doing this again next year (CP is young), assuming CPs new team earns a bid. Not only the $$, but the time required to go. It is a long trip from out west, and it is an effort just getting there, LOL! I don't know how gyms would need to start addressing this from tryouts. It is great to have the attitude that "we'll cross that bridge when we get to it" but if this keeps gaining momentum, I think at some point identifying who can/can't commit to going to the Summit may need to be known up front. I would hate for CP to compete all year with a team, earn a bid with that team, then tell the gym (and CP) sorry, we can't go. So I wouls assume gyms would be creating teams with the Summit at least in the back of their minds. Which leads to #2...sort of.

2. Sandbagging / Creating "Summit" teams - I still don't mind occasional crossovers within 1-2 levels, because I truly believe a few higher level athletes don't make a team. But, I can see the real potential here for gyms creating specific "Summit" teams. I get that it is totally legal by the rules, but definitely not within the spirit of the "game." The Y2 team posted above looks like a great, clean level 2 team (jumps looked l2, etc.) From my inexperienced eye, they didn't look like a team of higher level athletes competing level 2. But without any controls I can see levels 1-3 turning into a hot mess of sandbagging teams. (Shoot, I guess all levels would be vulnerable.) And let's be honest, all it takes is 1 to win a division, and now the game has changed in the future. You can have 28 true "level" teams beat by 1 "sandbag" team and guess what happens next year...

3. Location - I guess this also goes with #1, but since this is for lower levels (where people may be less apt to travel), it would be awesome if this could be a traveling competition. I was so jealous of seeing cars in the parking lot with gym stickers...how nice to be able to drive! :) Now I realize not everyone drove, but even to be within a timezone would be great.

Ok, I'm sure I have other thoughts, but can't think anymore...time for more coffee.

 

[BigBow]

3. Location - I guess this also goes with #1, but since this is for lower levels (where people may be less apt to travel), it would be awesome if this could be a traveling competition. I was so jealous of seeing cars in the parking lot with gym stickers...how nice to be able to drive! :) Now I realize not everyone drove, but even to be within a timezone would be great.

i like this idea! like the superbowl or the olympics :) it probably won't happen but it would be nice for other people to get the "home field advantage" sometimes, and other friends, family members, and fans to be able to come support their team without it costing an arm and a leg. i really feel bad for the west coast gyms...it is crazy expensive just to fly across country. and then you're at disney on top of that :confused:

 

[Cheer Cougar]

I hadn't seen this thread before I posted Summit instead of Worlds, but I know people who had L5 kids crossover on L4 teams for summit and they didn't mind the expense or the time. Happy for them.
I do agree that it is a super expensive almost two weeks of competition at Disney. If your CP is lucky enough to be on a paid bid for summit and a paid bid for words,... Do u stay in the same room and pay the difference? Or do jump back n forth to a cheaper condo?
Gotta put a lot of thought into planning this.

 

[cheermomforever]

We f

I hadn't seen this thread before I posted Summit instead of Worlds, but I know people who had L5 kids crossover on L4 teams for summit and they didn't mind the expense or the time. Happy for them.
I do agree that it is a super expensive almost two weeks of competition at Disney. If your CP is lucky enough to be on a paid bid for summit and a paid bid for words,... Do u stay in the same room and pay the difference? Or do jump back n forth to a cheaper condo?
Gotta put a lot of thought into planning this.

fee found a 4 bedroom house for 113 a night which we split between 4 families and less than 10 min from Espn. Definitely the way to go for both or either weekend.

 

[notyourcheermom]

I wanted to buy them Saturday morning when I saw them but I didn't know If we would make the finals. Then I went back an hour later and they were all gone. They only had the champion pins left. I should have bought the finalist pins when they had a few left and just returned them if my cp didn't make it LOL but who knew They would go so fast?
Our team did not receive an inaugural Summit pin that most of the other teams got either :-(


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Whoever gave you your participant badge thing and your park pass should have given you your Summit pin at the same time. Our gym gave them to our team moms to distribute and she pulled our pin out of a Ziploc that she had our park passes in, too. Now, I know a couple of CPs lost their pins that first day.


Varsity, if you're reading, we love the pins, but the black things do not stay on the back.

 

[5-6-7-8]

Whoever gave you your participant badge thing and your park pass should have given you your Summit pin at the same time. Our gym gave them to our team moms to distribute and she pulled our pin out of a Ziploc that she had our park passes in, too. Now, I know a couple of CPs lost their pins that first day.


Varsity, if you're reading, we love the pins, but the black things do not stay on the back.

Hmm, never got a pin when we checked in and got our badges. :( Darn it, I didn't know until now we were supposed to, LOL!!

 

[5-6-7-8]

Hmm, never got a pin when we checked in and got our badges. :( Darn it, I didn't know until now we were supposed to, LOL!!

The funny part is I thought I bought one on Friday (just a plain Summit pin), but I just unpacked it and noticed it said, "Summit Champion." Oops! Why they would be selling those on Friday, not sure!

ETA: If any Summit "Champion" out there wants to trade for the "participant" pin, I'd be happy to.

 

[GiaBellaMom]

The funny part is I thought I bought one on Friday (just a plain Summit pin), but I just unpacked it and noticed it said, "Summit Champion." Oops! Why they would be selling those on Friday, not sure!

ETA: If any Summit "Champion" out there wants to trade for the "participant" pin, I'd be happy to.

I went back for the finalist pin and saw the champion one too lol Bet those didn't last long either- I bet many bought those by mistake or maybe just to have one that said Summit. There were NO champion pins left that I saw on Sunday when there actually WERE champions named lol


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[fiercechick101]

Split all division between coed and all girl!


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[GiaBellaMom]

Whoever gave you your participant badge thing and your park pass should have given you your Summit pin at the same time. Our gym gave them to our team moms to distribute and she pulled our pin out of a Ziploc that she had our park passes in, too. Now, I know a couple of CPs lost their pins that first day.


Varsity, if you're reading, we love the pins, but the black things do not stay on the back.

Nope - our coach got them and knew about the pins and said they were not given any :-(

 

[THEJOEL]

I am honestly wondering how many gyms will spend this next season actually chasing a Summit bid? Granted we are in a young relatively small program and I schedule didn't change because of Summit and I wonder if it will.

 

[cheernerd5678]

Now, I know a couple of CPs lost their pins that first day.
Varsity, if you're reading, we love the pins, but the black things do not stay on the back.

I've had that problem more with Varsity than any other pins I've ever had. I got an all-american pin, a Christmas Extravaganza pin, and a pin with a girl doing a BHS... due to the crappy black things I lost the BHS one. Luckily after that I realized to take the pins off my bag and store them (plus I was sick of getting poked when the black things came off).
So I bought pin-locks which truly lock your pin and keep you from losing it. They were like $4 or $5 for 12 of them on amazon. I'd rather do that than buy $10 pins just to keep losing them, sure it's an extra couple bucks but at least you don't waste your money! It's really worth it if you want to display your pins on your bag, it's SO secure!

 

[cheerinatorXdad]

I wonder if they'll ever release numbers on how many bids were declined?