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!

ECDX

So I'm still super psyched that the Charlotte Roller Girls got in in the lottery to skate at ECDX this year. We've never skated on the big stage there. We went and played in two serious challenge bouts in 2011, but haven't been back as a team since. I went as a skater last year and I made new friends, reconnected with old friends and had a great time. I'd like to share some of my experiences/tips.

ECDX is like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity...that happens every year.

1. Watch some derby. I got to see my favorite team (Montreal) skate, in person, finally last year. I also witnessed the mind-blowing Windy vs Philly game, that was won by one point in overtime. These games help determine tournament seeding and they're really exciting. Some teams are invited, some get in through the lottery, all are ready to play derby. This year, a couple of teams from Sweden will be making the journey to Feasterville to compete and I can't wait to meet them. 

2. Skate some scrimmages. The eastcoastextravaganza Yahoo Group is a great resource. Someone winds up posting a list of all the colors that teams use in their scrimmages. I made like 4 scrimmage shirts last year and wound up playing in a bunch of scrimmages just by being nearby and having the right color shirt. Also, on. Sunday morning, there is a black vs white scrimmage at some ungodly hour. I think it's 8 am. It's '5 and slide' style. You can switch teams if the numbers get uneven. I skated with people and had no idea where they came from. I just learned that I skated with a DC All-Star last year. 

It's a really powerful feeling to skate in the same facilities as your derby idols.

3. The pool looks like so much fun. I didn't make it last year, but I vow to this time around. I will be bringing plenty of sunscreen and being sure to hydrate, but that can't stop me from having a good time.

4. Vendor Bingo: it's at at the big derby events. Get a stamp from each vendor, enter to win an amazing basket of derby stuff. Take advantage of the vendors also. There's vendors from all over the country with brand new shiny stuff and lots of expertise to share.

5. Speaking of vendors, when is the next chance you'll have to buy a t-shirt from Helsinki Roller Derby without international shipping costs? Maybe never. Teams get to set up and sell merch during their games. So keep your schedule handy and have your money ready. PS Not everyone has a card reader, so you will need cash occasionally. It's a good idea to keep some cash on hand. There is an ATM on site, but we all know it's better to make plans ahead of time.

6. Bathrooms. The lines are long and priority really ought to go to the skaters. The rink where the challenge bouts take place has fewer people in it most of the time, so the line is shorter.

That's all I've got for now, expect a new post after this year. My plan is to master ECDX before I attempt Rollercon, since it's a much bigger endeavor.

See you on the track in just over 7 weeks!

Gear Review: 187 Wrist Guards

Type of Gear: Wrist Guards

Brand: 187

Price: $19

I went through several sets of Pro-Tec wrist guards before realizing just how terrible they are. I loved the neoprene and how the middle, wraparound strap was the elastic one. But I bought a pair and the first time I feel on them, the seam between the leather and the neoprene ripped. On a brand new pair!

Eventually I decided to shop around and get a new brand. I was interested in the new Triple 8 Wristsavers with the spoon-shaped splint. I tried them on at ECDX and the small was too tight and the medium too big. I also did not like the single strap since I tend to fall on my wrists a lot. AND $30 is a bit steep.

I found the 187s while I was shopping. I already loved my 187 knee pads (and now I have the elbow pads too), and didn't mind the $19 price tag (I was paying $16 for Pro-Tecs). They fit and seemed to be made well.

They've held up to a number of falls and the tough nylon hasn't yet shown any wear (I purchased them in June). I will definitely be purchasing these again.

Cons: None of the straps are elastic. I was initially upset about it, but then I got over it. Material is thicker, so stank lingers. Wash them frequently.

Rita Recommendation: Yes, I'd absolutely recommend these. Durable, comfortable, and protective.

Wheel Review: Radar Bullets

Time to try something new. I'm going to start reviewing gear occasionally on my blog. Up first, Radar Bullet wheels.

Manufacturer: Radar
Wheel: Bullet
Sizes Available: 59mm x 38mm
Hardnesses Available: 88a, 91a, 93a, 95a, 97a

I purchased a set of the 88s initially because my local pro shop had blems for half price ($40 rather than $80. I had been wanting to try a 59mm wheel, so I bought them on a whim. I have since added the 91s and 93s to my collection.

Love the wheels. I used the 88s on our painted, polished concrete Warehouse floor during the warmer months, and even used them some on our sport court bouting floor. The wheels need to be broken in before you try them on sport court though, when I first tried it they still had plenty of grooves and I busted my ass six ways from Sunday. I have skated less on the 91s and 93s, but definitely look forward to doing so this season.

The "Shark" hub design is one of Radar's newest. They released the Radar Villain with it first (a wheel on my 'To Try' list), and then followed up with the Bullet. It's very rigid (and I was switching from Bullets to Diamonds for a period of time).

Cons: The bearings do not sit flush with the edge of the hub on either side, they're kind of sunken in. It's not a great big deal, but I found that if I didn't have it seated properly, it would seat during skating and suddenly my axle nut is loose (that's a confusing thing to explain). Otherwise, no complaints to speak of.


Rita Recommendation: I'd absolutely recommend them for someone looking for a solid wheel in a 59mm height. They come in a wide range of hardnesses and they're useful on many floors.

A Fond Farewell

Next week, our Warehouse is scheduled for demolition.

This place has been our home as long as I've been a part of the Charlotte Roller Girls. Unlike many of teammates, I came after the days where we practiced at Kate's. I had already decided I wanted to join when I saw that the Charlotte Roller Girls were moving to NoDa. That really settled it for me. Not only did I want to do this sport, but now they were in my backyard.

I have only ever known the Warehouse. It was dusty, dirty, possibly moldy, dark, and dank. The stairs to the bathroom were rickety and terrifying. The door was heavy and quirky. The neighborhood is not great, and we had some sketchy experiences. I'll never forget the night I was first slated to take my Day 2 assessments and the lights went out. We spent the rest of the practice doing an offskates workout...in the dark.

But the space was ours. We had access to it 24/7. I went to as many practices as I could and cherished the hell out of our space. We settled in over the past 3 years, made it our home. We decorated it and stored our stuff there. I kept my gear and skates in my locker for a while.

In the name of progress, the city is expanding their lightrail project. It's going north. We've known about this, but were told they wouldn't need to demolish our nearly historic facility. Suddenly, we heard otherwise. In mid-November, they let us know that we would be expected to vacate by December 31st. We did so, and the building is on the demo list for January 12th.

This place means so much to me and my teammates. It's where I honed my skating skills. It's where I learned to play roller derby. It's where I learned to play with a team. It's where I've practiced weekly since beginning my journey in 2010.

I have a lot of sadness about losing our home, but I know this is an opportunity for us. This is an opportunity for us to grow our league in new ways. The year starts off with a bang and a crash and can only go up from here. I'm excited to see what 2014 will hold for us. Check out the Charlotte Roller Girls this year. All home bouts will still be at Grady Cole!

Ok, I'm Young. Enough.

Disclaimer: These are my opinions. If you're offended, I don't care.

I am one the youngest skaters in my league. And I have been for a while. I joined shortly after turning 19 (the required age at the time). I was the youngest for some time until a high school classmate of mine joined recently.

So I get a lot of those, "Are you even old enough to drink?" kind of jokes. (For the record, I am.) And they get under my skin a little bit. It undermines my achievements when people belittle me because of my age. Not only am I one of the youngest skaters in the league, I am also the youngest member of the Board of Directors, the youngest member of the Training Committee, and the youngest member of the All-Stars Charter.. My youth has never been something that stopped me from succeeding.

Without getting too philosophical, young skaters are the future. A lot of leagues spend time and energy training Juniors to feed into the adult team and help take over when the trainers start retiring. There's plenty of youth in this sport and young skaters will keep coming as long as roller derby keeps being awesome.

I'm young, sure, but I'm making a difference. I have no power over when I was born. And I'm pretty tired of the jibes. I will respect you if you respect me. Thanks.

Ref Love

I'd like to talk about refs.

I've recently started reffing on the side. Our head ref was loaning his skills and asked if I'd be available to ref a men's bout. I am a skater who is reffing. I am a skater who happens to know the rules pretty well and has a whistle. As a trainer, I'm used to looking for penalties during practice.

Refs are volunteers, just like the rest of us. If they're lucky, they get a travel stipend to go to an away bout, but often not. They don't get all the glory that skaters do. They keep reffing to make sure that we skaters are safe.

So when skaters yell at refs, it de-values what they're doing. I know that there's a higher percentage of men's skaters who are refs, but please refrain from calling penalties while on the track. We spent a long time at our practices stressing that even when we don't have a lot of refs, we on the track need to not be calling the penalties ourselves.

When skaters yell at me, it makes me not want to ref that team again. Our refs are extremely valuable, let's do everything we can to retain them. Before you start to yell something at a ref, I urge you to remember, that they are watching the feet, forearms, heads, chests, directions...etc of up to 10 skaters on the track while skating in close proximity to other refs and often avoiding skaters going out of bounds. It's a lot to think about and I ASSURE you that yelling at them doesn't help.

Please thank your refs. Buy them beers at the afterparties. Include them in your league functions. Thank them and thank them again. Make sure that your refs know that you appreciate their efforts and couldn't do it without them.


Signing off,
Reffin' Rita

Monday Syndrome

Mondays, after a weekend of derby, are some of the toughest days I ever fight through.

Here's my thinking: I've spent the weekend kicking ass and taking names. I laid the floor that I skated on. I shut down the jammer and allowed my jammer to get lead. I hit people with my butt. I afterpartied hard with the people who had just been my enemies. Then maybe we had a hangover scrimmage or endurance practice the next day. I'm applying things I've learned and revelling in the derby that happened.

And then Monday rolls around. I go to work where people yell at me because I'm not a mind reader. I'm sorry there wasn't enough chicken on your salad. That was the amount of chicken you paid for. Totally out of my control.

Anybody else have the Monday Syndrome? What do you do to cope (besides go to scrimmage)?

What I Love About Roller Derby...

...is everything really.

But specifically, I've been mulling over something.

I never played sports as a child, other than those I was forced to in my Phys Ed curriculum (which, let's face it, there weren't a lot, I went to art school). When I arrived at middle school, I briefly entertained the notion of trying out for a sport. But you need to know how to do a sport before you can try out. Even cheerleading has basic requirements, which I lacked.

But roller derby? You don't need to know how the game is played, or even how to skate. If you have the desire to do it and a good attitude, we'll teach you the rest.  You'll learn the game and how to play it.

Roller derby is unique in that aspect. Any adult female (and in some places, male) can pick up a pair of skates and some safety equipment and be well on her way to playing roller derby.

I want to thank roller derby for being so open. For allowing me, who participated in musical theatre and dance in school over sports, to start playing a team sport at 19 and allow my drive to propel me to our charter team.

Also, welcome to all the Charlotte Roller Girls new recruits. I hope you love the sport as much as I do.

On This Day in Derby...

One year ago today, the Charlotte Roller Girls hosted a doubleheader. It was their third of the year. In March, the All-Stars lost to Tallahassee while B-Dazz posted a monumental score against Camel City. In May, the All-Stars beat Little City, while B-Dazz were defeated by Star City.

The opponents for June 9th were tough. Initially billed as a doubleheader against the New River Valley Rollergirls, until NRV let us know they wouldn't have enough skaters for two full rosters. Our ILC was tasked with finding a last-minute opponent for B-Dazz. The LowCountry HighRollers' Bruisin Betties turned out to be available. So the games were set.

This bout also marked the first time that the A game was first, a trend we continued for 2013.

The All-Stars started hard against NRV. They pulled ahead and maintained a lead for the duration.

B-Dazz took the already-warm track next. We were nervous, certainly. LCHR had swiftly defeated us at their house in February. But they weren't quite the same team we'd faced previously. They made small mistakes, which we capitalized on. We kept the momentum going the whole game. And we beat the Betties by approximately the same point spread they'd beat us by earlier in the year.

This doubleheader marked the first time both teams won at home in 2012.

In 2013, we're undefeated at home. Hope to continue that trend on June 23rd when the All-Stars play Soul City and the B-Dazzlers take on Kannapolis!

2013: Some Thoughts

I never did follow up with my Champs blog, despite e fact that I now have an iPad Mini...perfect for blogging on the go! But I do have some thoughts for the impending new year.

Firstly, it's time to update my gear. And one of these days, I'll figure out what I want. I am on the 265 boot with the DynaPro plate. I need a new plate, for sure. I'm intrigued by the Antik Spyder skate (well mostly the boot). I kind of want Antiks. A lot. But what plate? New skate totally? Is it worth it? This is the argument that's happening in the back of my mind daily. Also I aim to try new wheels in 2013, since I always manage to come back to Poisons.

New rules! I'm thrilled that the new rules are out. And more than a little scared. Like a lot of derby girls (and boys), I've only played under the May 2010 set of rules. I've heard of the times when rule updates were yearly if not more often. I don't love No Minors, but have been behind single whistle since we beta tested it at a scrimmage last year. But it does mean new strategies. I've played a scrimmage under the new rules and look forward to playing with my team when we get back from break.

That's all I got for now, but let me know your thoughts on gear and rules!

What I've Been Up To

I'd like to do a sort of "Greatest Hits" post to sum up the last few months since my posts have been sparse and I've been up to a lot.

June:
I did post about our spectacular triumph over LCHR's Bruisin' Betties. That was amazing. Also happening were open practices with our Charter Team. ECDX brought some new things to our training. Which brings up to...

July:
In July, I made the Charlotte Roller Girls Charter Team. I also played with the B-Dazzlers against Star City, a team that had previously crushed us. Keeping up the rematch mojo, we swiftly defeated them at their venue. They hosted a wonderful afterparty for us that contained a LOT of karaoke. Our only home singleheader of the year took place the following weekend. I unfortunately did not make the roster, so I watched and cheered as the All-Stars played the Atlanta Rollergirls Denim Demons.

August:
August gave me two bouts to skate in. We hosted Blue Ridge for a home doubleheader and then drove down to Tallahassee, FL to play their Charter Team. We lost a lot. But we certainly learned some things. And Tally (who our All-Stars played in March) told us that they'd seen a lot of improvement in our game.

September:
The B-Dazzlers borrowed me as a jammer for their game against Classic City. It was a great game to play in. We lost, but there were lead changes galore. It was close. And they were a great group of ladies. I was awarded MVP Jammer which made me feel awesome. Then a few weeks later, we hosted the final game of the season, yet another doubleheader. All-Stars played first and we beat the Rocktown Rollers. But the real excitement was in the second game. The B-Dazzlers versus the Charlottesville Derby Dames. CLTRG and CDD met once before, but the game went undocumented. CLTRG lost, so were looking to win this time. CDD seemed like they were going to win for much of the game. But in the final jam, Thor Loser scored 24 jams allowing the B-Dazz to win. It was amazing. I laughed. I cried. I drank. Thor was on fire that night.

October:
This brings us to October. You've already read my adventures NYC and West/Central NY. That has quite a long blog post, so needs no more. I also skated with B-Dazz in a scrimmage against the Kannapolis Roller Girls. I had a lot of fun, and I know they did too. I hope we'll be seeing more of them in the future.

November:
That's right now. The roller derby that November brought me was CHAMPIONSHIPS! It was a weekend of the awesomest roller derby ever. I promise to devote at least two posts to how much it rocked my freaking socks off.

Coming Soon:
Why I Love the Denver Roller Dolls

The Longest Post Ever or 'Is Rita under that pile of unicorns?'

So...we did a thing.

We had a game against the Ithaca League of Women Rollers (how badass is that name?) this past Saturday. Most of our team traveled up by plane. However, three of us were nutty enough to drive up. Devlin Syder, Hitsteria, and myself rented a car and set out. (Really, we were too broke to fly.) So we decided to make a little vacation out of it and take a trip to NYC on the way there.

We left Thursday evening, with our eyes set on the destination. We had a little napsy in PA somewhere. (I napped rather longer as I was helming the backseat. We arrived in the NYC area around 10. Thanks to an expert tip from my friend Freddy, we parked in Jersey City and took the Path train to the World Trade Center. After some brief sightseeing (a scooter van, the new WTC building is nearly done, saw where Bane and his cronies broke into the NYSE in Dark Knight Rises), we set about figuring out the MTA and heading to Brooklyn. Multipass!

Hits, who spends much time on the internet, pointed us down Graham Ave and we made a beeline for Five Stride.

This dude was just chilling on the bench out front.

There were no Bont boots in her size (she is really interested in getting Bonts), but the expert OMG showed her an option that would suit her foot. We all made our purchases (a Five Stride shirt and toe caps for me!) and asked OMG for a good place to get pizza. She told us Carmine's was a popular option, so there we went.

This sign was over the back bathroom.

I had the white pizza which was exquisite. The bathroom was a closet and some sunglasses may have leapt for freedom.

Back onto the train (Multipass!) and we headed to meet my friend Freddy for coffee. We had our coffees by the Seaport, which offered views of tourists and acrobats alike. I took a photo of a couple performing the Argentine tango for my mom. We walked Freddy back to work and tooled around lower Manhattan for a bit. Here are the greatest hits in photo form.

The Wall St bull. It's apparently hip to take a photo fondling his testicles. There was someone doing so when I took the photo.

The Brooklyn Battery Tunnel Ventilation building or something. Also known as the MIB headquarters.

The side of the Statue of Liberty once the cruise ship had finished obscuring her.

That is a squirrel.

We then set off to meet Devlin's friend Daniel. Daniel is a straight fashion designer, in New York. He is an endangered species. We met him for drinks at the Heartland Brewery in Union Square. I had a house root beer and it was delicious. I also sampled the pumpkin beer which was less delicious.

We parted ways with Daniel and realized we all sort of had to pee. We set about finding a bathroom, which are uncommon in New York. The 3-story Whole Foods provided us no relief. I suggested we go visit the Panera and I'd buy something with my reward card, but we pressed on to Canal St to do some shopping. I did purchase some pashminas in Union Square for my mother and myself.

When we reached the Canal St stop, Devlin and I made haste toward the 3-story McDonald's (sense a theme here?) across the street to use the restroom. We may have abandoned Hits a bit, but there were more pressing matters to attend to. Upon leaving McD's, we plunged into the sketchiness that is Canal St. I realized that most of our phones were dead and we were headed into a non-English speaking area. I grew uneasy, but my paranoia was for naught. We headed into Little Italy, which turns out to be a series of restaurants where men forcibly try to seat you for dinner and the shops are all run by the Asians of Chinatown. We made some small purchases (Hits found herself a fanny pack). But we elected to to move our party on up to Times Square.

When we escalated out of the station, it looked like daytime. Even the TGIF was covered in neon. Apparently cool thing to do is dress like a famous character and take pictures with people for tips. Devlin purchased herself a Swatch watch. We wandered past ads for Broadway shows.

We made our way to 30 Rockefeller Center where I got starstruck by a building. I love the show 30 Rock, so it was an honor to see where it is set and shot. We saw the Lego store where they had a miniature of the plaza area featuring all sorts of inappropriate Lego people. We visited the H&M on our way to Central Park.

Yes, Central Park. We went maybe 100 yards into the park. There was a bum asleep on a bench, an Asian couple making out, and very many rats. I ran up a giant rock before Devlin dragged us out fearing mugging, kidnapping, and other atrocities. After our Central Park adventure, we made our way back to the WTC to catch the Path train back to Jersey. By this time, I was so sleepy, I was delirious. I knew that I could not fall asleep in a train station then.

We made it back to our hotel in Parsippany, NJ and then a cheeseburger appeared in front of me and I ate it, Hasselhoff-style.

Ithaca

We left the next day for Ithaca. Hilarity ensued. Gaps are always funny, you guys.

I am not responsible for this.

But, of course, we were there to play roller derby. In a "semi-outdoor" facility. Speculation as to what that meant began some time ago.

It turned out to be a de-iced hockey rink. It was covered, but not totally walled in. The ILWR can only have home bouts when the rink is de-iced, from about May to early October. Of course, it was super cold Saturday. The temperature seemed to have dropped specifically for our visit. It was 80 in NYC the day before, and apparently warmER the day before in Ithaca. But when we arrived, it was a brisk 53, only getting colder as the sun disappeared.

The floor was also slick as butter. I wish I'd brought the outdoor wheels I have. Warm-ups were rough, but blocking wasn't so bad.

The game started well, the first several jams went back and forth with neither team gaining more than two points per jam. And then they got a powerjam and things swung in their favor. Though we've gotten better with penalties, Ithaca was better than us. We never got a powerjam on them and it showed. We did put forth a strong showing in the second half. And even more excitingly, I was called upon to jam when the rest of our jammers were either in penalty trouble, tired, or on the track. I jammed several times and managed to do some stuff.

Fast forward to the afterparty. It was a rousing event at the Chanticleer in downtown Ithaca. Upon arrival, they handed us glow sticks and drink tickets. We made the dancing. There were whiskey slaps. We took custody of some unicorns. There was an after-afterparty, which we also won. I was informed that we lasted longer than Montreal, so using the transitive property, we beat Montreal at afterpartying.

On the way back, we had a total of 6 unicorns in the car. Which is many. I napped in a pile of unicorns and I'm better for it.

I'm Not Dead Yet!

I'm sure you've all been speculating (all 4 of you) what I'm up to. The short answer is EVERYTHING. I have not had full-time access to a computer and blogging is kind of low on the priority list. I apologize for that.

I intend to do a sort of timeline blog, an update of what I've been up to since my last post (it was a month and a half ago). I will also be reviewing my new wheels, the Rollerbones Nylon Speed 86s!

Since my last post, I've skated in two bouts, participated in some events, and gone to countless practices. I hope to convey that to you all real soon.