The New Zealand team have become the talk of the cheerleading world after their "unique Kiwi style" won them an international competition in Australia.
In their first international outing they beat 12 other teams from Australia and the United States to win the Downunder Spirit international championship, staged byGymnastics Australia.
"I don't think anyone expected us to do so well because it was our first time competing and cheerleading has only been going in New Zealand for about two years," said coach Kimberley Ramsey.
Their cheerleading is not the sort you see at sport fixtures, the kind with dancers in short skirts.
"These athletes are in top physical condition," Ramsey said.
"They tumble, cheer and dance their high-energy routines, which are both physically and mentally demanding."
Ramsey puts New Zealand's success in Australia down to the fact they "were very clean and polished" throughout their routine.
"I guess our uniquely Kiwi style was different from the rest.
"We had a theme, used a lot of country music and our style of cheering was a little different."
Ramsey, a former lawyer, started up a cheerleading school last year which operates in Auckland and Christchurch and now has 20 teams and more than 300 members.
The New Zealand team, whose members are aged between 12 and 19, were selected from those teams.
"It is a great sport for girls to get involved in because we teach a lot of leadership skills and it is great team-building.
"We take dance and gymnastics and all those things that girls like and turn it into a team sport."
While the national championships in October are the next major cheerleading event, the ultimate for the girls, who train 10 hours a week, would be competing in the world championships at Disney World.
