Quick answer: a cupie (sometimes called an "awesome") is a two-leg stunt in which the flyer stands upright at full extension height with both feet held together in one of the base's hands, rather than one foot in each of two bases' hands as in a standard extension.
What Does It Look Like?
The flyer stands fully upright, feet together, held above the bases' heads at extension height in a single fully extended hand - visually similar to an extension, but with the feet held together in one hand rather than apart in two. This narrower base of support demands more precise balance from the flyer than a standard extension.
Who Is Involved?
A cupie is built by a stunt group - a flyer, a main base supporting both feet together (sometimes with an assisting base helping stabilise), and a back spot.
Where It Fits in a Routine
Cupies are typically used as a stand-alone stunt, valued for the clean, narrow line the feet-together position creates, and are sometimes used as a transition point into other extension-height positions.
How the Term Is Used
"Cupie" refers specifically to this feet-together, single-hand-supported extension; some gyms and regions also use the name "awesome" for the same or a very similar position.
Related Skills
The cupie builds directly on the extension, narrowing the foot position from two hands to one, and is a different family of skill from single-leg positions like the liberty or heel stretch, which involve one leg bent rather than both feet together.
Level / Division Context
Under the USASF All Star rules (2026–27), a cupie is an extended stunt, and extended stunts are not allowed until Level 2. Because it is held by a single base, it also falls under the rule that single-based extended stunts are not allowed in Youth and younger age divisions. In practice cupies are most often seen on coed teams at higher levels, where one strong base can hold the flyer overhead.
What Judges Look For Conceptually
Judges are generally looking for a stable, controlled position at full height, feet held cleanly together, and a confident hold rather than a brief, wobbly touch.
| Extension | Cupie | |
|---|---|---|
| Foot position | Feet apart, one in each base's hand | Feet together, both in one base's hand |
| Base support | Two bases, one hand each | Often a single base supporting both feet |
| Relative difficulty | Foundational two-leg stunt | More advanced variation |
Cheer stunts and tumbling should be learned with qualified supervision, appropriate equipment and proper progressions. This site explains terminology and concepts; it is not a substitute for coaching.
Checked against: USASF All Star Cheer Rules and Cheer Age Grid, 2026–27 (updated 18 May 2026) on 15 October 2026