KR Steppers!

We've Moved!

2011-07-02T23:35:00.000+08:00

We've moved to http://krsteppers.com ! (:

See you there!

10 more days

2011-03-09T03:34:00.000+08:00

this is to everyone, myself included.

10 more days to nationals. everyone's really tired, and worn out, and maybe some of us are thinking, 'what's the point'. some of us just want it to be over and done with, can't wait for training to end, tired of aching bodies and feeling lousy. some of us aren't trying hard enough and don't feel like trying. myself included.

but i thought about it and realized..

10 more days to nationals. 10 more days and i won't be pulling out the mats anymore. 10 more days and i won't be putting on my smelly cheer shoes anymore, won't be rolling out the rollmats anymore, won't be stunting with my friends anymore, won't be rolling my eyes at nic's lame jokes on the mats, won't be laughing at weeps' floral shorts, won't be putting on my tights underneath my fbts anymore. for some of us, it's the last time doing nationals.

10 more days. i want to treasure these 10 more days. i want the team to treasure them too.

after nationals, how often would we see yod? how often would you see your team-mates who aren't in the same block as you? schoolwork would start piling up and everyone would start being preoccupied with their own problems.. how often would you see your faithful shoulder-stand base, your tosser, your flyer, your mid?

these are the people you've spent a year with, two years with, three years with. what's stopping us from making this routine a good one? think about it.

we have 10 more days.

if you feel like giving up, don't. think of your friends who are fighting. if you feel like your mind has died halfway during training, we understand, everyone gets tired. but try your best. if you feel grouchy during training, remember: 10 more days. soon it'll be 9. then 8. then 7.. and treasure the moments you have with your friends stunting. such moments are so precious.

10 more days everyone. let's not regret anything after nationals. let's not regret not putting our all. let's not regret not treasuring each and every moment on the mats.

and let's put up a damn amazing routine.

this is to everyone, myself included.

love, kat

its not the time.

2011-03-08T04:17:00.000+08:00

its not the time to be stressed and worried. i know there are still a lot of things we gotta do,stunts we gotta hit, finish that extra half a round.

it is not a time to be stressed. i know the clock is ticking and everyone is stressed,worried,panicking, scared and afraid. but honestly,it won't do us any good to be feeling all that now. now is the time when we need to focus and believe. if we doubt ourselves that we can't do it,if our minds are filled with all the negative thoughts, then half the battle is lost.

weeks ago,remember when i said that there will be not enough time for us to be very confident about the routine. and i said when that time comes, fear shouldn't be the first time on our minds. but faith. i told everyone that, we need to learn to believe in ourselves and to always keep the faith no matter what.

it is a race. race against time. time is not on our side, even our bodies are not doing what we are telling them to do. but doubting yourself, having no confidence at all is just gonna make it worse.it is a hard time. it is a hard thing to do, to always keep believing and to have faith in yourselves when everything else is against us. but like i said, remember the times when it went up,forget the times it didn't.remember the times when we manage to get the stunts up. remember that euphoria. feel that,don't forget it and keep it at heart and start to believe in yourselves.

it is not like we have never done perfect ones. it is not like we never did nice ones in a row too.

i think all the stress,worrying and lack of confidence is gonna break everyone down as we progress on. eradicate it. honestly, the bases can feel when they flyers have no confidence and stressed and i am sure the flyers feel it too when the bases have no confidence. we are a team. i need your confidence to make me feel confidence.i need your faith to make me believe in myself too.

let's all just channel positive energy.no negative thoughts on the mat. focus and believe in yourself when you are on the mats. i know the stunts matter too, but i am sure when you start believing in yourself, everything else will be hat tricks.

serva fidem people.

IHG CLOSING 2011

2011-02-26T22:42:00.000+08:00

GOOD JOB FOR IHG CLOSING PERFORMANCE STEPPERS!

It was the first time we wore our spankin' new uniform! Designed by our very own beloved coach(: Yod did an amazing job, the team looks really smart! Kinda miss my old dark blue uniform because it's so precious to me because the alumni wore something similar and so it's full of history, but i love the new one equally too.

Our handsome bases showing off their new uniform.

Front view.

Back view:

Flyers showing off the pretty girls' uniform:

KR BLED BLUE THE PAST FEW MONTHS, AND OUR FIGHTING SPIRIT SHOWS IT. FEEL PROUD OF YOURSELVES, KENT RIDGEANS(:

Final wall with Enya and Ying Ting on top.

IHG Closing performance was something I really looked forward to because it's the first and only time this year we're able to train with a full squad, including our beloved Ying Ting and Enya. For those who aren't in the know, Ying Ting made it known to us from the very beginning that she wouldn't be able to join us for Nationals because her Dentistry exams clash with the intense training practices the weeks before Nationals, and Enya unfortunately had to move out of Hall. The Nationals team is always so focused on training for our Nationals routine that it's really impossible to always include these two lovely freshie flyers during training all the time, which is something really unfortunate and something that has never sat well with me. That's why I'm so glad they joined us for our training camp in Thailand; we got to spend quality time with them (they're super retarded, Enya drunk is too funny to watch and Ying Ting is such a bimz) and they got to stunt with the RSU bases (double twist on the first try ohmygod!) and made the trip even more precious for the team. IHG Closing performance was the only time I got to stunt with them (the seniors were in Thailand for ATCI during the freshies' first cheer performance in hall), and IHG Closing was Enya's first cheer performance too. And what an awesome performance it was! Loved everyone's smiles and energy! It was an amazing performance, considering that we only ran the full routine one day before! You girls looked great flying top for final wall, and dancing and smiling your sunshine smiles for all 6 Halls to see, loved it so much! It was your day, hope you enjoyed it(:

Great job everyone, lovin' the fighting spirit.

20 more days to Nationals! Keep fighting, everyone!

Love, Kat

Thai Cheer Camp at RSU!

2011-02-07T05:38:00.000+08:00

Sorry I've been neglecting the blog!

This is one whole month late but just for fun, this post is going to be about our trip to Thailand's Rangsit Univeristy for our annual Thai Cheer Camp! For those who don't know, we're really privileged to be given the amazing experience of being flown down to Rangsit, Thailand every year to train with the cheerleaders there. We never fail to improve vastly, gain loads of life experience and precious cultural exchanges every time we go. We love our Thai friends, new as well as old, and got to meet our beloved Oat and May, who supervised and added-on to what the team has already learnt in Singapore. The team really enjoyed themselves this year!

Let the photos do the talking!

The RSU cheerleaders prepared mattresses, pillows and blankets for us and the team slept together in the old gym besides the sports hall. (The air-conditioning was freezing cold!) But it was great team-bonding, and all of us got to know each other better.

This is the old gym, where all of us slept!

Where we spent every morning, afternoon and night...

the mats of the RSU Sports Hall:

Does this bring back memories, team?

Couldn't have survived without our handy giant fan!

seXXY cover-girl

Even though we'd be dying by afternoon, I'm really proud of everyone for pressing on, for running around the hall for warmups again even though every single muscle is aching, for giving your all, taking care of your bases/flyers, being receptive to the different teachings we were exposed to, being flexible and willing to try new things and not just stubbornly sticking to what we were taught.

Blood, sweat and tears... Everyone pulled their weight, and, I'm sure, took something away from each day of training.

We wouldn't have survived without..

7/11

ahaha seriously! Everyone made several trips there daily for food, Red Bull and to buy presents for our Thai buddies.

May!

Foremost on everyone's mind was the amazingg Thai food. We ate like kings there (and came back several kg heavier ahaha)

The awesome strawberries that everyone lusted over!

Waiting for beef noodles!

A restaurant on a boat!

What you put into your beef noodles.

Our beloved coach <3

We had a free day in the middle of the week because the RSU team had a performance lined up so the team went out to play!

More good food!

Aw, look at the happy faces!

Joy on extension!

Chee-ling the choir girl (inside joke!)

At night we went to support the RSU team.

Shots from while they were preparing for their performance:

An inspiring performance put up by the Thai team (as always!)

And in Thailand, how can one not go SHOPPING??!

The team and their buys!

Last day of training:

COMM 10/11 <3

(eden you are sorely missed!)

Comm 9/10!

(please turn your attention to weeps' really spastic face)

Freshies 10/11! Cute and innocent!

... ohkay, maybe not.

(nic and danial look like perverts.)

Introducing the flyers from KR Steppers:

Enya, Yingting, Elvina, Kathleen, Xinyi, Melissa, Chee Ling!

And our male flyer, Deo!

Couldn't find a photo of the bases though!

The block with the most cheerleaders: D-Block!

We also celebrated Byrant's birthday in Thailand with loads of fun, laughter and booze (photos of which shall not be placed here ahaha)

Happy birthday Byrant!

The party the RSU cheerleaders took the time and effort to put up for us + Gift exchange with our buddies:

All the good food and alcohol they painstakingly prepared for us! Thankyou RSU!

Exchanging gifts with our Buddies!

Captain 09/10 and Captain 10/11, looking good!

But alas, all good things come to an end. We were all really sad when it came to the last day of Thai camp!

Thankyou RSU! We missyou already!

Can't wait to see our Thai friends again when they come down in March to watch Nationals.

I'm really thankful that Hall sends us off to Thailand every year. Steppers really is extremely lucky to be given such an amazing opportunity to grow and mature as a cheer team. We often forget our humble origins, how the team started out with nothing (Expect Nothing), Did Something, and got somewhere. We cannot take what we have now for granted! It was the hard work and determination of our seniors before us that have gotten us to where we are today. They fought really hard for us to gain the trust of Hall, and have helped established us within the Singapore cheer scene as a qualified squad worthy of competing against. We have so much now: mats, a coach, roll mats, crash mat, shoes, uniform, annual Thai camp, precious Thai friends, Oat and May, fixed MPSH timings allocated for cheer (our seniors had such a hard time fighting for MPSH space).

Don't take any of these for granted, because none of them came cheap.

The team really, really enjoyed themselves in Thailand, and everyone had withdrawal symptoms when we came back! FB statuses were all about missing RSU and Thailand, and not wanting to go back to school.

CNY is over, and it's..

Six more weeks to Nationals, jiayou everyone!

Hope this post put a smile on everyone's faces! Remember to start on your assignments early so we won't flounder and drown during DP/Nationals period!

See you guys back on the mats tonight!

Love, Kat

MORE PHOTOS FROM SENTOSA

2010-12-21T20:36:00.000+08:00

ON ANOTHER NOTE: WELCOME BACK, MEL!(:

cheer!

2010-12-21T20:10:00.000+08:00

Cheerleading is a rivalry, the competition makes you strong,
It is sharing secrets and tears, learning to get along

Cheerleading is that ongoing drive to be the very best,
It is patience, perseverance, and very little rest

Cheerleading is having poise and charm with every word you say,
It is total dedication twenty-four hours a day

It is always being ready with encouragement and a smile
Cheerleading is your chance to express your individual style

Cheerleading is reaching out to comfort a sister who is sad,
It is defending each other in good times and the bad

Cheerleaders are always there when someone asks,
They treasure the present moment and let go of the past

Cheerleading is a talent to be able to shine on cue
It is hiding the pain and anguish that if only half the people knew

Cheerleaders, after all, are real people that sometimes get down
but when they’re in the spotlight, they must never put on a frown

Cheerleaders are actresses always ready to go
That is why it’s important for all the world to know

Not every girl can be a cheerleader, it takes a special kind
Cheerleaders are full of life and a little bit out of their mind.

from nofearincheer.tumblr.com

sentosa!

2010-12-21T03:59:00.000+08:00

DROOL OVER THESE PHOTOS

exams

2010-11-25T19:33:00.000+08:00

IT'S EXAM SEASON. and all of us are studying really hard now! please keep fit and healthy so that we will be in tiptop condition when we resume training again! drink loads of water, do daily pt and stretching, don't snack too much (i caught ben eating an entire tub of b&js alone in his room ahaha shh) and i know we're crazy hall people but let's all try and have regular sleeping patterns? (we can at least try!)

i miss flying so much; elvina and i were saying that our bodies have been feeling weird since we started the break from training to study for exams. NEED TO FLY):

HANG IN THERE EVERYONE!

it'll be over soon and we can step/fly/base/tumble/jump/dance/ on the mats again

2010-11-03T17:08:00.002+08:00

"If I have seen far, it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants." - Isaac Newton.

STEPPERS' 5th BIRTHDAY PARTY

2010-10-22T15:00:00.000+08:00

WE ARE CELEBRATING BEING FIVE YEARS OLD!

Inviting all steppers alumni to attend!

Date: 25th october, monday

Time: 10pm onwards

Venue: SR3 (subject to change)

Theme: ARABIAN NIGHTS

please email kathleenongxinwei@gmail.com to confirm your attendance! Hope to seeyou there(:

Exchange with Wildcards!

2010-10-11T01:31:00.001+08:00

We hosted an exchange with Wildcards on Saturday. It was six hours of pure fun and learning(: I'm sure all of us took away something from the exchange, be it improving our form or being inspired by stunts we aspire to hit.

Flyers!

Bases!

Coaches.

We had a mass stunt session at the end, where Steppers and Wildcards stunted together.

Heel stretches.

Two 3-3-2s and a 2-2-1

Thankyou Wildcards for coming down! We really enjoyed having you!

Photo credits: Matthew and Vince, Wildcards.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEPPERS!

2010-10-10T23:59:00.025+08:00

WE ARE FIVE YEARS OLD(:

10/10/10

BLAME NO ONE, EXPECT NOTHING, DO SOMETHING.

this year, let's all work together to improve. everyone do their share and help out your base/flyer. while we get stronger together, let's not forget to love each other! words of affirmation and encouragement, comforting hugs, massages for aching backs, late-night talks in each other's rooms, pats on shoulders... protect your family squad! the amount of time and emotion you invest into the team, employ it positively towards your friends and team-mates! working hard won't be such a chore if we are determined and if we do it together and enjoy the process(:

let's come out of Nationals smiling, no matter what the outcome.

happybirthday Steppers!

Ready, okay!

One, two, down Steppers!

p.s.: how fitting that the post before this was on the birth of the squad!

STEPPERS' HISTORY: Step's Speech

2010-10-08T11:24:00.000+08:00

This was supposed to be up a longg time ago! It's Step's speech for Homecoming. For those of you who don't know, Step is the founder of Steppers. Shiqi was kind enough to forward her speech to the squad (past and present). Everyone should read this, because all of us should all know how far Steppers has come, and how we can't take what we have for granted. Crash mats, uniforms, mats... Please treat them properly! Don't eat on mats, don't go jogging in your cheer shoes if you know the ground is dirty/muddy etc. People in hall often tell me how lucky we are to have Yod as a coach, and really, what would we do without him(: We're so fortunate now, but let's not forget our humble beginnings! The team wasn't made overnight, it took loads of courage, tears, hope and faith. Don't take anything for granted ohkay(:

Step's speech:

"I still remember how i watched Bring It On for like the 20th time and came up with the crazy idea to become a cheerleader. I have been dancing since the age of 4, and my passion for dance with my desire to do gymnastic stunts inspired me to take up cheerleading.

I'd often support NTU Inter-hall Cheerleading competitions, and it hit me one day, "why can't we do the same here in NUS? why not start an inter-hall cheerleading competition too!?" And that's how it all began. To have a cheer competition, you need squads to compete! And apart from Temasek Hall's cheer dance group, there was no other. "KR, being a culture hall, should have enough talented individuals to make this work" i thought to myself.

After approaching close friends in the JCRC, without much planning at all, actually, I started printing posters to call for cheer try-outs, and publicizing the establishment of a 1st-ever cheerleading squad in KR. Apart from a couple of good friends, no one believed it would work. Even some close hall mates would tell me, "Oh Step, Master is never going to see this through. You need too much, too many resources, which our hall won't give." I obviously didn't care, and went ahead to collecting names of interested people from each block.

I roped in my dance buddies to form the panel. We had a turnout of 40 people at our first try-outs. I cannot even begin to put down in writing how much fun that was for us. Yes, it was sort-of like Bring It On the movie. Of course, to my expectation, it was impossible to find anyone with gymnastics or cheer-stunts background and expertise at that time, so i had to make do with who i had.

Knowing we needed good coaches, so i used whatever contacts I had with the best cheer team at that time (Magnum Force from Ngee Ann Poly), and got our new-born squad 2 of the best local coaches we could find.

We had more problems than I had ever dealt with in my life. From 40, the numbers quickly dropped to 25. And we only had enough funding for our coaches who to come once a week to teach whatever they could within 3 hours of intense training.

After only a few months of learning the basics, Hall residents started asking, “so when are we going to see the cheerleaders perform and cheer”, “are you all going to cheer at every match during IHG?”, “when will you be ready to cheer for the hall?” WOW. We were far from ready.

Despite the low morale circumstances, we persevered to try and prove ourselves to the Hall. And that is exactly what we did. Our debut at IHG 05/06 won us every hall’s standing ovation and roaring cheers, other hall masters’ good commendations, and the hearts of our Hall friends, JCRC & SCRC members, and Master himself. I will never forget how Lewis came up to me and told me, “go ahead to claim what you need to; your mats, costumes, coaches, just let me know what you need.” – I cried.

When the next batch came in, and we had almost enough training to take part in the National Cheerobics Competition in 2007, I knew we had to prove ourselves to the hall again that this will work, and we are here to stay for long. It was the first time any hall was represented in a Nationwide event, and I knew that our participation alone would bring much honour to KR. People asked me if we were sure it wouldn’t be an embarrassment, I replied them with the much-loved phrase, “Just whack la.”

I had absolutely no expectations from the squad. Only that they do their best, and had no regrets after all we had been through. Our whole hall, including our Master, was there supporting us. When the Emcee announced us as the winners for Best Sunshine and Best Team Spirit, I was more than pleased with the results. When the next announcement came, “and the winner for 1^st Runner-up….. the KR Steppers from NUS Kent Ridge Hall!!!” – this time, we ALL cried.

Before we owned our high quality, clean, blue and yellow mats, we trained on hard floor, on grass, on sofa cushions, and for the IHG performance, we rented a lorry and went to every NTU hall to borrow mats to use and return.

Before we grew a creative brain on designing our cheer uniforms, we found the cheapest, lousiest tailor, and did the most basic set we could get, paying out of our own pocket.

Before we printed large banners and bought expensive pompoms, we made ours from raffia, and cut and pasted our signs together.

We started with nothing, and boy, look where we are now.

Moments I will always, always remember (apart from winning and being thrown up in the air)…

· Hearing Eusoff Hall scream and chant our name longer than our own hall did.

· The Temasek Hall guys exclaiming our cheer girls were HOT STUFF.

· Being the only captain to receive a medal and a huge bouquet of flowers with a speech at our IHG awards ceremony.

· Making our mascot bear “Steppie”, and making the first Spirit Stick to pass on.

My squad, sitting around me, voting for our team to be named after my name – The KR Steppers

My squad, shedding blood, sweat, and tears, with me, with no complaints.

My squad, always being there for each other, come what may.

We truly learnt, and I am sure we have passed on the same values of our motto to the next generations:

Blame No One : our success or failure would be judged only by our own efforts

Expect Nothing : we will earn the support, respect, and awe, and appreciate it

Do Something : “Just whack la”, you will never know what you can achieve without making the

first step to try.

Besides, cheerleaders are meant to rule. So who cares what the rest think, so long as you Bring It.

To name those who have been with me throughout this journey, is too many too dear.

But these boys, I have to mention:

Jianping (A-blk) – thank you for diving into this blindly with me

ChongYunn (B-blk) – thank you for trusting my instincts

Siyong (D-blk) – thank you for keeping our spirit there all these years"
To ____, thankyou for doubting me, i had to prove you wrong.

-Step

Photos from ATCI

2010-09-26T03:30:00.001+08:00

The cheerleaders representing Singapore: Steppers, as well as Kah Weng and Ruth from Astros!

KR Steppers has a mention in http://fcs.sg/ check it out!

Let's all continue improving everyday, don't forget your daily PT and stretching(:

Have a great weekend everyone!

To our freshies!

2010-09-26T03:17:00.000+08:00

We are so proud of you for having an ALL STUNTS UP on your first performance while we were in Thailand!

Thank you Deo, Wei Li and Beng for being around to guide the juniors!

Training resumes next week, study hard for midterms!

We're back!

2010-09-23T10:33:00.001+08:00

We placed 2nd and 3rd for the Asian-Thailand Cheerleading Invitational Group Stunt International Category!

Thankyou everyone for all your support!

Details and photos from ATCI up soon!

Ongoing: Cheer camp Day #2! Everyone please get loads of rest and manage your time properly! Don't forget about your assignments!

Steppers Chalet

2010-09-15T02:08:00.000+08:00

Going to do a post on Steppers Chalet before we fly off to Thailand(:

We held it at the super budget Downtown East Costa Sands because we are poor students from NUS. It was a super super super hectic day! Although the whole thing started really really late (like two hours late, almost everyone turned up!

Special thanks to Elvina, Jingjie and Beng for arriving early to help out! And especially to Beng for setting up the room while we were away!

We dimmed the lights in the tiny, cramped little room and projected videos done by Mel, Shiqi, Deo and myself. Mel's video was super touching! And Shiqi's had us rolling in laughter.

You can check out Deo's video at http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150259836950506&ref=mf

(Look at JC's ugly bodywave, and Mel walking by and saying "Yucks!")

and Shiqi's video at http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=469722175609&subj=100000942302614

Almost everyone gave a speech. Those who had just left hall: Jon, Juncheng, Shiqi...

Final years: Deo, Xiao Xinyi...

Ex-Captain Weeps...

Thanks to Yod for cooking Thai green curry and spaghetti for us, and Jon for his famous red bull jellies!!! And side-note: thankyou Mummy ahaha (i know you stalk this blog) for your amazing Nasi Lemak and cupcakes and for driving us around the whole day.

We sat around drinking and talking the whole night(:

When all of us fell asleep in that cramped little room, it was as if we were back in Rangsit University having Thai Camp. All of us back together again(:

Thanks everyone for making time to come down for Steppers Chalet! Many people came clean with unresolved issues that night, reminded each other why we love being a KR Stepper, how important it is to love and encourage each other, and it was great to hang out with those we love to spend time with(:

Great food, and great company made for a really enjoyable night!

And now... one more day to Thailand!!! GET EXCITED EVERYONE(:

Edward's Email to ATCI people

2010-09-15T01:35:00.000+08:00

One more day to Thailand(: Captain Edward just sent all of us a really encouraging, heartfelt email and i decided to copy it here to show how much effort and emotion we invest in cheerleading. Thanks Edward for the really touching email, and thanks for being there for all of us and being such a capable leader!(:

His email:

I was suppose to give a speech together with the photo the other night,but I totally forgot about it. I will try and recap what I wanted to say and keep it really short.

I wanted to give you guys the photo because I believe that this journey will be something meaningful and I think it will mean a lot to everyone of us. At the end of the day, I am sure that the journey will be somewhat important and definitely memorable to everyone of us in their own ways. I couldn't decide what I should do to ensure that we remember the journey, but I felt like a picture can speak a thousand words,so I decided to just make a simple gift for everyone of you.

As I said,I think the journey will mean a lot for us in their own ways.

Billy. You were in the same batch as me. We can in together and we stayed on together. I know cheer has never been a comfort zone for you, and I believe you never really felt that you could go far in cheer. Now looking back, I think even Jia Hui and Shiqi will agree with me that you have improved so much since the day you stepped on the mats. Now you are doing things that I am sure you will never imagine you will be doing. I hope that after this journey, you will stop doubting yourself and understand why I pushed you and nag at you to ask you to continue on.

Weeps. I think you have seen more of the cheer arena than most of us. I sincerely just hope that, throughout this journey, you've learn new things to keep that passion of yours for cheer burning bright. I think after four years of cheer, there is nothing much that you have not seen, but at least I know, the experience of competing with us will be a memorable one for you. I hope that, at least the journey will further ignite your passion for cheer.

Jingjie. If you were to look back at where you started last year, from mostly doing just shoulder stand to what you are doing in the routine, you deserve a cheer. I think it was pretty unfair for you for us to expect you to progress so fast and learn to be a main base in such a short time. But honestly, I don't think it was a bad thing after all. I hope that this journey will open your eyes and let you know that there is really no boundaries in cheer. The only thing limiting a person's advancement in cheer is their lack of faith. It was 'ume' that you joined Steppers and since it was 'ume' , I know that you will go far in cheer.

Eden. I remember what you told me after nationals, and I always remembered it. I hope that through the preparation for the competition, you got to learn something new and got to improve yourself. Although we end up not using double cupie for the routine, but you are the only one who has done double cupie in the team. I am sure that you learn something new through this competition because you are doing backspot for the first time in a routine. =).

Kathleen. Don't be sad that we had to change a lot of the stunts and we had to lower the level. At the end of the day, how nice the stunt is, is not purely based on the difficulty level of the stunt. I think it is really brave of you to still persist on competing despite the fall and the sprained neck. What is left for you to do now, is have faith in yourself and to believe that you can do it. I know you are always asking us to have faith and smile on stunts, but you, yourself must believe that too. Remember what faith in the size of a mustard seed can do?

Elvina. I hope after this journey, you won't think that being a mid flyer is boring and that there is nothing new you can learn in cheer. I remember what you told me and I remember telling you that there is so much more in cheer than you know. Fast forward a few weeks, you got your dream stunt ( Toe-touch basket toss) and you are doing heel-stretch twist cradle and fly bird. These are things that I think our senior flyers would die to do. I hope the journey at the end of the day, will make you realize that there is so much more to just shoulder stands and that you will continue on loving cheer even more and stop feeling that you are at a dead end in cheer.

Xxy. Thank you for agreeing to join us at such last minute! I think it is really selfless for you to join us even though it was so last minute. I hope you will enjoy the trip. I think it was fated for you to join us at the end of the day. I know you were suppose to join us in the beginning and we had to go through a huge round and now you are back in the team! Plus, I think your front spot is very zai. The basket toss is so much higher! =). I know and I think your passion for cheer has dried slightly..I hope after this trip, somehow,somewhere, your passion for cheer will burn bright again. I think you deserve the chance to go for the competition, because of most the senior flyers, I think you have not been to any international cheer competition yet. I hope that, you will enjoy the trip and hopefully fingers crossed, come back to train with us more often. =)

Jian Long. I appreciate and we are all very grateful that you still come down and train with us despite your hectic IBG schedule.It must have been very very tiring for you to balance your studies,gf,trainings and ibg. I don't know how much you feel for cheer now, especially it is just your first few months into it, but I hope that the trip will make you understand cheer more and love it more. I always felt that you had a flare for it. I think it is quite amazing of you to learn so fast. One minute you are doing backspot for elevator and extension, next you are doing backspot for backtuck basket toss, flybird, tick-tock and etc. I hope that after the trip, you won't feel like the whole journey was just a waste of time. =)

Chee Ling. So Farnee. Thanks for coming down for trainings even though sometimes you are not doing anything at all.I hope that the trip will be a fun one for you and also an eye-opening one for you. I am sure that you have never really seen how the cheer arena is at an international level. Hopefully, after the trip, you will be more interested to try new things and get inspiration from the flyers from other teams, because, honestly I think you have a lot of potential to be a really good flyer.

Yod. Thank you for choreo-ing such a nice routine for us! I think we would never imagine ourself doing the stunts in a million years. Thank you for always believing in us even before we do. Thanks for assuring us that we can do it even though we doubt ourselves. Thanks for always being so patient with us too.

Hopefully you guys appreciate the journey we went through to prepare for the competition. Yes, it is not a perfect journey, but because it is imperfect, it will be even more perfect at the end of the day.

Okay.It was longer than I expected.

KR Steppers competes in Asian Thailand Cheerleading Invitational 2010

2010-09-14T02:09:00.003+08:00

OK.

Last 2 nights before we depart for thailand yeah. For those who do not know, KR Steppers is going to compete in an international cheerleading competition called "Asian Thailand Cheerleading Invitational 2010" (ATCI). We are sending two teams down to compete in the "Group Stunt" category, and we'll be competing against countries like Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Phillippines etc.

Group 1 (my awesome group) consists of : Elvina, Xiao Xinyi, Billy, Jian Long and myself

Group 2 (team Steppers comm) consists of: Edward, Kat, Eden, Jing Jie and Chee Ling.

This competition is the reason why we have been training so hard for the past one month, on top of other committments like YOG performance trainings, freshie trainings, and also the performance on 17th September for the quality service auditors (freshie's FIRST ever performance, awesome). haha our capacity is really stretched TTM (lol first time using this lingo)

It wasn't an easy one month I would say. But heck, I'm not gonna ramble on the obstacles we faced, we've already come so far and what really matters now is the next 2 days and then the competition itself. So hopefully everyone out there who's reading this blog to give small jia yous to the competing people when u see them walking around in hall the next few days. we would really really appreciate the concern and support :) we want to do our best to represent singapore and kent ridge hall, and hopefully be able to bring a trophy (or two haha) back home :)

oh btw we're leaving on thursday morning (like uber early) and coming back on monday night! we'll try to post constant updates on the status of our competition if we can get access to some form of internet!!!!!!

to the competitors, it was a wonderful one month of hard work, sweat, late nights, early nights, experimentation, ups and downs in morale and heart, angsty-ness, happiness, disappointments, elations, urm little bit of blood haha; but finally all our routines are up. all that's left is to NOPE NT LEAVE IT TO FATE, but to really keep the faith and trust going.

Let's have an awesome competition together ok?

To all others reading this post, our coach yodoi has made an excellent introductory video for us, so please click HERE to view the video ok!!!!!!!!!

WEEPS

Believe(:

2010-09-08T03:14:00.000+08:00

To those taking part in ATCI, to the freshies who are preparing for their first performance, as well as to myself...

Believe in yourself. Believe that your body is able to do what you want it to do. Believe that you can focus while stunting. Believe that you can smile wider, and make people watching you smile too.

Believe in your team-mates. Fight harder, because they are fighting too. Believe in their capabilities. Believe that they will catch you no matter what.

Believe in the stunt, believe that it will go up. Don't go up on a stunt with the mentality that it will fail.

Smile your best before doing any stunt, it really does help. You know we can do it. Although things look hopeless, keep the faith. Don't stop believing. Enjoy the stunt. Enjoy cheer. And remember why you love the sport. Remember what you go to gym for. All those hours in the MPSH... it's because we love cheerleading.

We can do it, everyone!

Kat.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...

2010-09-08T03:01:00.001+08:00

OUR MOST AWESOME XIAO XINYI(:

The coolest, most 'zai' Steppers flyer!

(oops unglam photo)

Thankyou for never failing to be there for everyone, for being so steadfast and having so much heart(: you're really, really super inspirational to the team. Who else juggles so many hall activities (plus cheer!), and furthermore, does everything well. You have no idea how much you inspire your junior flyers (especially us, Elvina and Kat; we've learnt so much from you). Thankyou for grounding the team, and for never failing to believe in every single person.

We loveyou xxy(:

KR Steppers' YOG performance!

2010-09-08T02:50:00.000+08:00

Sorry for the belated post!

Steppers performed for the Youth Olympic Games! We cheered and performed for the hockey matches at SengKang Hockey Stadium.

Thanks to the seniors for returning to perform with us: Shiqi, Mel... we were all really, really happy to be performing and stunting again, just like we used to(:

Makeup by Yod!

Our Captain's Captain's Captain.

Xxy(:

Mel(:

Steppers coach(:

Flyers(:

Cheering the athletes in!

Our signature whoosh!

Getting ready...

Something to take back from that performance: Fighting for a stunt. Although we may look back at the performance and be upset that it wasn't perfect, we know we tried our best. And that's what really matters. The ground was really wet that day and everyone's shoes and thighs were soaked. Accidents such as slipping off shoulder stands and slippery grips happen.

But, (this goes out to Elvina and Jingjie): amazing, amazing fight(:

When everyone thought the stunt wouldn't go up, it did.

Amazing spirit everyone.

We continued on, and sunshine smiled(:

"Go! YOG!"

Freshie bases, hope you enjoyed your first performance! Wearing the Steppers uniform and smiling your best smiles out there is a whole lot different from just practicing it on the mats.

More updates soon!

Jiayou Steppers :D

2010-08-27T03:06:00.000+08:00

Hope everyone are coping well!

It feels like we have never been this busy before, homecoming, rag, yog, now is atci. Somemore as the tutorials start this week, school work will be even more heavier. However, it's really happy to see everyone coming down for trainings and gym sessions, even thou it's right after ibg competition, or u got early morning class next morning.

Freshies, well done for all the pt n stretch! all of us can see u guys r becoming stronger and more flexible, just keep the pace k! i'm sure u guys will become damn zai after a few months :D
Seniors, the training at biz is awesome izit, got beautiful night view and breeze somemore haha, but everyone dun be scared of cockroach k, see eden even dare to taste it haha. anyway, hope everyone can feel u r indeed improving and learning more stuff, keep going and we will do more awesome stunts k!

everyone, reli rmb to take care of yourself k, know your limit n dun get injured :D
those ppl who got open wound or neck pain back pain wrist pain knee pain whole body pain use this weekend to rest well! haha, cuz nxt week will be even more xiong!
(eh, actually i feel training save me from studying and all other stuff, so, jus relax la :P)

cheers,
JJ

tryouts

2010-08-18T15:18:00.001+08:00

Hey everyone :) how's the feeling come back to school?

Yeap, Steppers's tryouts was held last nite and it was an amazing night :D

Thanks all the seniors coming down to help!

and especially thanks to Ben, Joseph, Nicholas, Rachel, Yubai, Eunice and Enya,

u guys are awesome :)))

JJ stop spotting camera when others are working hard :)

nice locking n smile enya :D well done!

lock lock lock!

Yes Ben! thats stepper's smile :D getting the smile u're alr half a cheerleader!

Dun shy! Cheerleaders will show their best to the cameraman!

haha anyway good job Rachel n Eunice :)

Good one Rachel :)

Eunice just stand up! dun be scared :0 our eden n beng are strong man!

Eh, i know u two r brothers from another mother, but.....

u know wad i will say...

haha yubai why u look so serious :D be happy when u r flying!

So how? did everyone enjoy themselves? :D

We didnt have a lot of time to try other stuff but i know its reli happy for everyone to see that our freshies are so passionate right :) I knew we ended very late so everyone rest well please!

btw, billy ivan beng! nice toss training today! u guys will get to hands soon :D

everyone just give your best k!

1, 2, down steppers! :D

-JJ