Posted on 09/11/2006Imagine a cheerleader being thrown ten to fifteen feet in the air with nothing but cement under them. This would be horrible if they were not caught and then landed on the ground. This is a move that cheerleaders do every day and luckily cheerleading mats have been developed for such stunts.
Although a majority of the time they are only used during practice, cheerleading mats give the cheerleaders the freedom to do the tumbling and stunts with the knowledge that if they fall, there will be comfort below them.
What Makes Cheer Mats Different
For those of you who think a mat is a mat, think again! There are many different sizes, thickness, and styles of mats. The most common is mat comes in either a 4'x6', 4'x8', 5'x10' or 6'x12' length with a thickness of approximately 1 ½" to 2 ½". This is a mat that many manufacturers keep in stock and is typically divided into either four or six 2' sections that allow for the mat to fold for ease of storage. The inside of most mats consists of cross-link polyethylene foam. The cover is typically manufactured out of a coated polyester/vinyl fabric. This allows for the best puncture and tear resistance. Another great cosmetic benefit is that these mats typically come in a variety of colors. The list price for mats such as these can range anywhere from $250 all the way up to $700 or more. It all depends on the size of the mat and the material used in the manufacturing.
