G-A-C. What? Great at cheering. What? That’s what being a Gustavus superfan is all about. Body paint, gorilla costumes, lion skins, banana suits and respectful cheers that in no way put down the opponent. What? That’s what we do.
Gustavus superfans have been running rampant and shirtless through campus for weeks in conjunction with many outstanding playoff performances. Men’s Basketball competed in the MIAC finals, Women’s Hockey skated its way to the national tournament, the swimmers are still swimming and the runners, I think, are still running. Enough said.
These unforgettable moments have been linked through the superfanning motif as student fans have travelled for hours to yell at opponents. That’s commitment.
Superfanning has been around for a while, but it is now receiving unprecedented attention. According to Junior Jon Carpentier, “Superfanning isn’t going unnoticed.” Carpentier is a superfan who’s been around the block once or twice, contributing the past couple years. Now after superfanning for a couple years, I’m a regular body painter,” Carpentier said. “I love doing it.”
Frigid weather has forced superfans to risk life and limb, and maybe a couple other valuables, to attend games in full body paint.
Last time I body painted I got sick since I was out in the cold,” Carpentier said. “And I still haven’t been able to wash all the paint off my back.”
Well, nobody said he was a superman. Even superfans have their kryptonite, but nothing should stop students from attending events.
“Being a superfan [means] making a fool of yourself and going outside your comfort zone,” Junior superfan Josh Funk said. Funk goes both ways, as he is an athlete as well, playing baseball and junior varisty hockey.
“It’s nice to have support from friends and to reciprocate that when other friends are in season themselves,” Junior soccer player Ben Ceder said. Ceder has enjoyed the benefits of the superfan-base and has been willing to take the shirt off his back for his fellow athletes.
Women’s Hockey has been the most recent beneficiary of the superfan-base, and it appears that if the fans look hot, the teams they support will play hot. At least some of those from the Women’s Hockey team would agree.
“Materials add to the superfan’s persona and allow them to be free with the use of props and creativity,” Sophomore hockey player Kayla Ingbretson said. “You have to not only win, but make [the superfans] proud too.”
Gustavus athletes are not the only ones who appreciate superfanning. “I’ve been approached by multiple parents of players saying they like our support,” Carpentier said. “They want us to come to more games.”
However, don’t bother showing up unless you are willing to sacrifice a bit of dignity.
“A Gustavus superfan is someone that goes above and beyond what is normally expected of spectators at a sporting event,”Ceder said. “An ideal superfan should stand out from other fans in some way or another and not be embarrassed about how they look.”
Another important part of superfanning is planning ahead. “I am energetic, outgoing, fun-loving and passionate, all of which help me be a superfan,” Funk said.
Being a true superfan involves being creative and courageous, an art that has not been lost at Gustavus. Although, before superfanning, don’t forget to get funk.