Cheer up

If there’s anything to be learned from watching Bring It On—and, in my opinion, there’s more than one thing to be learned from such a stellar flick—it’s that cheerleaders, despite their crotch-high skirts, sunny dispositions and bouncy pompoms, are actually serious athletes. During cutthroat events, like this weekend’s 2006 Northern California Regional Cheerleading Competition, squads present their perfectly choreographed routines, a combination of carefully selected tosses, tumbles and jumps—all the while hoping that their competitors will miss the mark while attempting an extended arabesque or basket toss. The squads go pompom to pompom this Saturday from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. at the Sacramento Convention Center (1400 J Street). Spectators can watch the magic unfold for a mere $10. Call (800) 864-4153 or visit www.varsity.com for more information.