WE START THE FIRE

Nitro Cheer Elite started with a love for two very different worlds—cheerleading and cars—and a belief that when you create the right environment, young people are capable of incredible things.

The idea for Nitro began as more than simply opening another cheer gym. We wanted to create the kind of place we would want our own children to grow up in. A place where athletes could walk through the doors and know they belonged, whether they dreamed of becoming an elite-level cheerleader, were trying a cartwheel for the very first time, or simply wanted somewhere to make friends and be part of a team.

As an educator, I have spent years watching young people learn, struggle, succeed, and discover what they are capable of. One thing has always stood out to me: kids thrive when they feel safe enough to make mistakes, supported enough to keep trying, and challenged enough to grow.

That philosophy became the foundation of Nitro Cheer Elite.

Why Nitro?

Racing is about so much more than speed. It takes preparation, teamwork, trust, precision, determination, and countless hours of work behind the scenes. No driver reaches the finish line alone—they have an entire pit crew supporting them.

Cheerleading isn't much different.

Every athlete has an important role. Every coach matters. Every teammate contributes. Parents, families, volunteers, and supporters become part of the crew that keeps everything moving forward.

And so, Nitro Cheer Elite was born.

From the beginning, we knew Nitro needed to stand for something.

Building Something Different

We wanted athlete development to mean more than winning trophies. Of course, we want our athletes to become stronger tumblers, confident flyers, dependable bases, powerful dancers, and incredible performers—but we also want them to become confident people.

We want them to learn how to show up for others. How to be accountable. How to handle disappointment. How to celebrate someone else's success. How to work toward something that doesn't come easily. How to make a mistake, get back up, and try again.

We also wanted to create a gym where every athlete has a place.

Competitive athletes. Recreational athletes. Toddlers taking their first steps onto a cheer floor. Athletes with different abilities. Teenagers discovering leadership through our Coaches-in-Training program. Adults who thought their cheer days were behind them.

Nitro was built with the belief that cheerleading can offer something valuable to all of them.

In 2026, the doors to Nitro Cheer Elite officially opened in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

Season One: Ignition

We called our first season Ignition because it represented exactly what was happening.

We were starting something.

There were no years of history behind us yet. No walls covered in championship banners. No trophy cases filled with memories from seasons past.

We had an empty gym, a big vision, an incredible group of people willing to believe in it—and a whole lot of work ahead of us.

Every athlete who walked through our doors became part of Nitro's beginning. Every family who registered took a chance on a brand-new program. Every coach who stepped onto our floor helped shape what Nitro would become.

Those first teams weren't simply Nitro athletes.

They were our first Nitro athletes.

The first practices, first routines, first team traditions, first mistakes, first breakthroughs, first competitions and first victories would become the stories that future generations of Nitro athletes would hear about.

They were there when we started the engine.

Our vision for Nitro continues to grow, but the heart behind it remains simple:

More Than a Cheer Gym

Develop strong, confident athletes by prioritizing safety, continuous learning, and a positive community where every individual belongs.

We want Nitro to be the place where an athlete finally lands the skill they've worked months for—and where their teammates celebrate like they landed it themselves.

We want it to be a place where kids learn that being a great teammate matters just as much as being a great athlete.

A place where coaches continue learning.

Where parents feel like part of the community.

Where athletes aren't afraid to try.

Where mistakes are part of learning.

Where effort matters.

Where everyone has someone in their corner.

We know Nitro's story is only beginning. There will be challenges, changes, lessons, victories, and probably a few unexpected turns along the way.

That's part of building something from the ground up.

But someday, when Nitro has years of memories, traditions, banners, athletes, coaches, and stories behind it, we will always be able to look back at 2026 and remember the people who were willing to start this journey with us.

Season One was our Ignition.

We started the fire. Now it's time to see how far it can go.