I’m Back Bitches!

My apologies for the aggressive title, however I am once again inspired to blog about my experience on wheels and I’m so very excited about it!

I felt most comfortable talking about my journey while I was still struggling at every skill and working to pass my assessments. Once I passed and became a bouting skater and later a veteran, it felt much more foreign to try to share what I was going through. I didn’t think anyone would find it interesting to read about how I’m trying to master the washing machine with the left shoulder leading. I wasn’t on a top tier team, so my guidance was better suited to the skaters I was training at practice.

Then the injuries came. One in 2015, one in 2017. They were so very disheartening. And while there absolutely should be more posts about injuries and recovery, I didn’t have the right state of mind for it.

So 10 years into roller derby, and a global pandemic hits. What now? We managed to have one bout in March before my city and state went into lockdown. It was a home team game, with newbie skaters reffing, so it felt like a safe event. We weren’t bringing anybody in from out of town, we sanitised our venue, and we didn’t slap hands. Practices were scheduled the following week, but promptly cancelled. Like many leagues, we attempted to do an online practice, but it became clear that it wasn’t sustainable.

Now here’s my disclaimer: I’ve not been a skate park gal during my derby career. There was a fear that I could get hurt during the bouting season and let my team down, and post injuries there was a fear that I would have trouble with my body and should maybe reserve skating for something I actually knew how to do. BUT I have long been an extreme sports fanatic. I have watched SO MANY years of the X-Games and other competitions. In fact, it was a fair metric that if I skipped watching the X-Games to hang out with someone, it meant something. I have long dreamed of being like my idols on tv 

Cut to August sometime. A former teammate is visiting and encourages me to come out to the skate park. I’d had a beer or so, which made it seem like a good idea. But I wasn’t intoxicated, so no one could talk me out of it. I also had a strong desire to get out of my apartment. I had an attitude of, “Well, I haven’t died yet,” and that made the experience much less daunting. I tried and failed at so many things that night. I tried dropping in, which is not for newbies or the faint of heart. I felt bolstered by friends and the newness of the skills. Yeah, I fell. But I tried. Which is what also happened when I went snowboarding for the first time and was brought to the top of the mountain.

So I’ve been back a couple of times. Each time has involved some falls, some successes, and moments of both terror and glee (sometimes simultaneously). I’ve gone alone and with friends, day and night. My experience in derby means that my proprioception is pretty good and I can usually instantly tell what went wrong after I try something. I have also spent a lot of time watching other skaters, of all disciplines, to learn the mechanics of the techniques.

I’m by no means good. But I’m determined. And I’m still a skating nerd. I will be obsessively studying and reverse engineering and learning. When I fall, I’m going to get up, shake it off, warm back up, and try it again until I find some level of success. I’m going to try my partner’s inlines and maybe a skateboard.

So hit me up if you’re new to the parks too. Hit me up if you love discussing gear. Hit me up if you want to discuss how the size of the contact patch changes the coefficient of friction and how that can be just as important a factor as the durometer in selecting wheels.

Happy skating!

League Transfer: Managing Expectations

It has been so long since I've written, and I sincerely apologize for that. As any of you who are my friends on Facebook know (I hope), I've recently uprooted my life and moved 500 miles away to Tallahassee, Florida. This has meant a number of stark changes for me, including a new roller derby league. I started with the Charlotte Roller Girls in 2010 and have only skated for them.

I intend to do a series of posts about transferring successfully, as I navigate my own way through the trials and tribulations. For most folks who transfer leagues, I imagine there is also a move involved. I will mostly discount that variable, though it's no small feat.

Today's presentation is on managing your expectations. I came from a league where I'd been for a very long time and had truly established my position in. I was Director of Training & Skills and had previously served as Director of Promotions and All-Star Captain. I was known for my aggressive jamming style and my crazy pants. My league had a certain way we did things, which I will not offer any opinion on here. My new league doesn't know me from Adam. I had the opportunity to skate against them, but it was 4 and a half years ago and both league have seen a lot of change. I think I only recognize 2 skaters in the league from that roster, not to mention I only skated 2 jams. I had the benefit of being a WFTDA transfer, which means they probably figure my old league had its shit together (which they did).

But here I am, adapting to new strategies and drills and practice structures (and floors). I'm in a new place, without many friends (I said I wouldn't mention the move factor, but it is important) and it's all very daunting. My new league has a very different strategy for blocking and I'm trying to pick it up as best I can. They've been wonderful with explaining it, and it includes some things I've tried before, but it is a different way to play roller derby.

Tonight, I had a particularly rough practice. My feet didn't do what I asked them to, my body was not as stable a blocking force as I know it can be, and I just felt out of sorts. I went ahead and gave myself a mental pass, because I knew I needed to. It's not that I'm not a good blocker, I just had an off night. It's not that I'm a penalty-heavy skater, I was trying to resist. But there is so much new to me and it can be overwhelming. At times, I feel like I'm re-learning how to play derby, except that I'm already a good skater and everyone expects me to be competent.

For any of you out there struggling with transferring, I'd like to encourage you to take a step back and not beat yourself up about a practice you had difficulty with. There are still loads of things you are good at with regards to derby. Think about those. I felt pretty good about my plow stops. A couple of practices ago, I pulled off both left and right plow stops before I could even remember which was my worse leg. I did some successful jamming tonight, including a pirouette where I stayed in bounds. I'm still pretty good at hopping. Hell, I came back to derby after a potentially career-ending injury.

This is not an easy undertaking, but I don't play roller derby because it's easy. I'm sticking with it and I hope you all are also.

Down and Derby-A book review

This was published in the CLTRG Hip Check newsletter in March of 2012. Re-publishing here.

For Christmas, I bought myself one thing, Down and Derby: The Insider’s Guide to Roller Derby. Since derby has taken over most my brain and much of my time, I thought it only appropriate that I read about it. And I will say, authors Kasey Bomber and Axles of Evil did a phenomenal job compiling this compendium. The bookdelves into the history of roller derby, from the 1800s to today. It profiles members of the roller derby world who’ve contributed important things to the game we play today. It breaks down the game into simple, understandable parts. It even includes an annex of times roller derby has been featured on tv and in the movies. 

I think this book is for everyone, whether you play or not. 

For the Veteran Skater: You’ve got scrimmage shirts in every color of the rainbow. You’re experienced and hardened and can play this game blindfolded. But, did you ever wonder why the WFTDA Nationals trophy is called the ‘Hydra?’ That’s in here. There are tips for “winning the afterparty.” There are profiles of skaters you admire and ones you love to hate. Roxy Rockett offers her ‘Dos and Don’ts’ on how to switch leagues smoothly. There’s some advice on dating in the realm of derby. There’s even a short article on how and when to retire gracefully. This book will allow you to further obsess over the sport you love. The authors organized Rollercon and offer some insights about what kind of experience you can have there. It will give you fresh perspective and might remind you that you appreciate this weird thing you spend your nights and weekends doing. 

For the Newbie Skater: You’re just catching the roller derby bug. You’ve spent a few hours Googling the skates you want to get when you can actually afford to. Down and Derby is for you too. There is an entire chapter on what to do when you’ve decided that roller derby is for you. It starts with doing your research on finding a league. In 2009, when the book was written, there were only 400 or so derby leagues worldwide. Today, there are more than 1100. There is derby somewhere for you. The next step goes into purchasing your gear. Axles and Kasey kindly go into all the required gear and even talk about some optional gear that you should consider investing in. They give advice on choosing skates, derby names, and jersey numbers, in that order. In just a few pages, they bring you from your first day of practice to skating your first bout. The authors are experienced skaters who played a role in developing the sport that’s taking over the world. Their words help to humanize derby and make it seem less intimidating. Remember, that when you join a league, you gain a family. 

And finally, for the Fan: Maybe you come to a few bouts a year. Maybe you went once a few years ago, and keep meaning to go back. Maybe you’re a proud season ticket holder. You can still get something from reading this book. My mother, who as of Saturday, had been to three bouts, picked up the book recently and she has been enjoying it too. She loved the history of roller derby, “I didn’t know derby had its roots in the Great Depression.” Down andDerby caters to the fans also, offering a chapter entitled, “If You Can’t Be an Athlete, Be an Athletic Supporter!” detailing the many opportunities you have as a fan, ranging from announcing to coaching to just showing up to games. You’ve seen these girls skate, but this book will give you a deeper understanding of the hours that skaters put into training just so you can enjoy your monthly bout. 

I’m so glad I found this book. Though already a little outdated, it has valuable wisdom from skaters who’ve been there, done that. It’s well-written and comprehensive. I learned a lot from reading it and have been able to use much of it in everyday conversations and roller derby practices! I promise to pass it around to my derbysisters as soon as I’m done re-reading it. 

Can't Never Could

Many plans ago, I used to dance. I sure as hell wasn't the best, but I wasn't the worst either. One of my Jazz dance teachers, Chandra McCloud, had a theory. There was no "can't." You weren't allowed to say it. So I'd have to say, "A triple pirouette currently evades me," rather than, "I can't do a triple pirouette." It was a frustrating rule for sure, but it was ultimately good.

This is to preface the fact that earlier this evening, a teammate of mine said, "I can't." I'm in kind of a cranky mood, but I turned to her and said something along the lines of, "Can't doesn't exist here."

Really. I hear a lot of, "I can't," and "That's my bad side," and "I'll never be able to..." Well no, not with that attitude.

I didn't get to where I am today with those thoughts. I always thought, "Well I'll try it!" I kept trying turning toe stops, even though I fell on my face, until I got them. I worked on doing transitions until I forgot which set was my "bad side." I wish I'd had the benefit of instruction on hockey stops, I just threw myself into it until I stopped more often than I fell.

I've looked at a trainer or a top level skater and started to think, "Ehh...can I do that?" But if I start out with a "can't" attitude, I've pre-defeated myself.

I'm captain of the Charlotte Roller Girls All-Stars and I'm on Team North Carolina. I didn't get here by having the sort of defeatist attitude that stems from saying "can't." I've come a long way and it wasn't easy, but I kept at it. And believe me, I worked hard. I'm glad to show anyone who asks footage of my first season. It's brutal.

Just remember, "can't never could."

In Defense of Men's Derby

I spent my day Saturday being instructed by none other than Mo "Quadzilla" Sanders. That was followed by an invitational-style series of scrimmages, including a coed scrimmage. I've been skating coed derby as long as I've been playing, I skated in a coed invitational the week after I skated my first bout, so this is nothing unusual to me. I've been playing derby for 4 and a half years and skating with boys no longer even phases me.

But I had some teammates express distinctly different sentiments. One of my teammates said that she just wasn't comfortable skating with boys. I just think of them as taller girls with higher centers of gravity and an obvious weakness. Some male skaters are better than I am, some are not. I'll skate with them, maybe I'll learn something and maybe they will.

Another teammate of mine expressed sincerely that she likes roller derby being a women's sport. And I see the logic to that. Roller derby is the only sport (other than maybe volleyball) that when you think of someone who plays, you think first of a woman. But the men who play derby...they're often committed to the women's side as well. They're refs, NSOs, husbands, fans...they are out for the success of roller derby on the whole, not just women's or men's. I told this teammate, "So go out and hit them and make them realise that this is our sport." That almost convinced her to participate in yesterday's coed scrimmage.

Men's teams are fewer and further between, so the men who play drive further to play. Many of them help out women's teams by coaching or reffing, so they are as dedicated (if not more so) than women who play. And I have a lot of respect for that.

This sport is growing, and there's room for men and women to play it. I take great pride in roller derby being a women's sport. But male skaters aren't trying to take that away from us. Many of the best leagues partner with a men's team. They even cross coach. And that makes everyone more successful. The male players I've met are all about promoting the sport as a whole, whether it's men or women playing.

Roller derby is here to stay. Women's, men's, junior's...it's all legitimate and I, for one, am excited for the future.

Gear Review: Bionic Super Stoppers (Standard Length)

Type of Gear: Toe Stops
Brand: Bionic
Price: $18-$22






I'm hard on toe stops. I jam fairly frequently and use my toe stops to stop, change direction, and prevent from being shoved out of bounds. I was jazzed about Gumballs when they came out a few years ago, but I wasn't keen on how quickly they wore out. My first bouting season, I went through 3 sets between February and June.

Toe stops in action!

So when I'd worn out a Gumball last season and needed a replacement to tide me over until I could get some new ones, I asked a teammate for something from her "Bag O Toestops." She'd gotten the Bionics on her Pilot plates and didn't care for them. She offered them to me, and I wound up buying them off her.

Get this, guys, I just bought replacements. A whole year on a set of toestops! That's unheard of.

They fared well on most of the skating surfaces I encountered this year. I had a little struggle with some sport court, but that happens. They've held up surprisingly well.

Right: New, Left: Year Old Toe Stop

Cons: I can't really think of any. The taper eliminates that weird period that I experienced with Gumballs where I'd catch the new toe stop on the floor. I suppose that the limited availability of the short stem toe stops is a bit of a struggle.

Rita Recommendation: I would ABSOLUTELY recommend these. I've already tried to convert my entire team to these. They're a great value, they last a long time, and they work well.

My ECDX Packing List

ECDX is just a few, short days away (ok, long days) (ok, really long days), and I could not be more excited. A teammate asked me what was on my packing list, and I offered to do a blog post list. Sorry I didn't do it sooner, Daphne!

So here goes.

1. My team's jerseys: We are fortunate enough to be skating in a sanctioned game this year, but even if we weren't, I would have them. You never know if you'll meet a team who has an open spot for a scrimmage later in the year or re-connect with someone who visited a practice of your team's. Plus if you're caught spectating, you betta represent your team.

2. Black, white, and coloured scrimmage shirts: Seriously. I had black, white, red, blue, yellow, pink, and maybe purple. I skated in the Sunday am scrimmage and then like 2 fun challenge bouts just because I had the right colors.

3. Swimsuit: I was deeply saddened by the news of the pool closing this year, but there'll be a slip n slide or something. Somebody's hotel has a pool. We're going swimming!

4. Cash: Almost every vendor has some kind of card reader, but you will run across one that doesn't. And probably because you really want to buy their neon Canadian shirts. Do yourself a favor and bring some cash. There is one ATM in the building and it's expensive and probably has a line.

5. Something to wear to the Pants Off Dance Off: Saturday night, roller derby takes over a bar in PA and doesn't wear pants. Consider this in your packing. Also, beware the regulars. They do not seem to understand derby or why no one is wearing pants.

6. Snacks: If you're skating, or even if you're not, you might want something other than what the concession stand offers. Philly does a great job putting on the event and they do their best to get vendors out, there's even a food truck. But if you've got some weird habits/schedules, bring some granola bars or crackers with you. And a big water bottle.

7. Phone: But not to use as a phone. I've said it before, I'll say it again. You will NOT get service in the Plex. You just won't. I missed a call from my mom on my birthday last year. BUT your phone simultaneously takes pictures and allows you to write notes. It is much easier to carry than a camera and a notebook, unless you're into that stuff.

8. Whiteboard: I think we're trying to find a whiteboard to bring to write messages on. It's like a poster, but we can erase it and make a new message!

9. Schedule: Ok, so I'm buying a commemorative program. I have done so at every tournament I've been to, and I intend to continue. But if you don't want to spring for that, I'd suggest printing the bout schedule so you know when to be where.

10. A buddy: Bring a friend. Last year, my derby wife saved us seats for Team USA v Team Canada while we watched Windy v Philly. With less than half a hour between some of the big games, it's invaluable to have some such comrade. Also helpful is having a place to store your gear if you're skating. If you're in the suicide seats, there's not really a place for it, so under a bleacher or in a forgotten about corner is good.

11. Something to spray down your gear: We skate both days, early. So if I don't find a place for my gear to dry, it's going to sit in the bag all day until we go back to the hotel. Luckily I have some anti-funk spray that I'm going to hit it with first.

That's all I've got for now. If you've additional suggestions, post them below! Not, get ready, get psyched and I'll see you at the Plex!