Ok, so I've been meaning to post. I just never have time/computer access. I've scrimmaged a couple more times and started attending team practice. I enjoy team practice. I'm trying to wrap my head around all the strategy. That's why I'm hesitant to pivot. I'll jam without a thought to it, but telling other people what to do...that's rough.
I'm really enjoying granny-hood. I'm aiming for my bouting debut to be November 19th at our away game in Asheville.
I wish this update were more interesting. Saving up money to get a new computer (or get an old one fixed) so I can start posting the after-practice analyses I used to.
Sorry I failed you today, dear readers.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Monday, October 3, 2011
Since My Last Post...
...it happened! I passed assessments! And I scrimmaged that night!
My derby wife was there, fulfilling my typical NSO job of hotboard and also screaming in excitement for me. We were playing where we had partners and worked with them to cover an area. I won't delve too much into strategy, because that's secret. But I was told it did not look like my first scrimmage, which made me happy. I jammed three times also. I got lead jammer two of those times.
I wish I had more time/memory. Oh wait.
I went to practice yesterday. I got to practice with Miss Devlin Syder (aforementioned derby wife) for the first time! We disrupted practice as much as possible.
For once, there were more grannies than newbies at a Sunday morning practice. (I know...wtf?) So we all did endurance. There was some Satan's Mattress. There were some plow pull-carts. There were some locomotives or whatever you call them.
Regardless, it was a good practice, but boy am I sore today.
My derby wife was there, fulfilling my typical NSO job of hotboard and also screaming in excitement for me. We were playing where we had partners and worked with them to cover an area. I won't delve too much into strategy, because that's secret. But I was told it did not look like my first scrimmage, which made me happy. I jammed three times also. I got lead jammer two of those times.
I wish I had more time/memory. Oh wait.
I went to practice yesterday. I got to practice with Miss Devlin Syder (aforementioned derby wife) for the first time! We disrupted practice as much as possible.
For once, there were more grannies than newbies at a Sunday morning practice. (I know...wtf?) So we all did endurance. There was some Satan's Mattress. There were some plow pull-carts. There were some locomotives or whatever you call them.
Regardless, it was a good practice, but boy am I sore today.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Day 2 Again
Ok, my faithful followers, I know you've been awaiting this. The results of my Day 2 assessments. If you're friends with me on Facebook, you may know already. Let's just say, I did much better this time than last time.
It was weird. Everyone else was nervous. I had no butterflies. I wasn't nervous, I was ready. I was ready to kick some ass and pass Day 2.
I had some problems, like my skate lace getting knotted. Thanks to Carrie for undoing it!
I had a lot of fun. Day 2 was great. There were 9 of us. We were all really supportive. The grannies were supportive. Foxy came over and gave us tips. She said it must be the drugs encouraging her to be nice.
I thought I'd failed shoulder checks and I thought I'd failed booty blocking, but I did not.
And the results are: I have 2 redos. 2! And they are leaning and taking inside hits in a pack. Both are things I know I can do. It's funny, because I don't even remember getting inside hits in the pack, only outside. So I'll just get low and absorb. Also I did leaning just fine with Rye a couple weeks ago.
So, folks, I plan to redo these skills Monday. And Monday night, there will hopefully be another granny!
It was weird. Everyone else was nervous. I had no butterflies. I wasn't nervous, I was ready. I was ready to kick some ass and pass Day 2.
I had some problems, like my skate lace getting knotted. Thanks to Carrie for undoing it!
I had a lot of fun. Day 2 was great. There were 9 of us. We were all really supportive. The grannies were supportive. Foxy came over and gave us tips. She said it must be the drugs encouraging her to be nice.
I thought I'd failed shoulder checks and I thought I'd failed booty blocking, but I did not.
And the results are: I have 2 redos. 2! And they are leaning and taking inside hits in a pack. Both are things I know I can do. It's funny, because I don't even remember getting inside hits in the pack, only outside. So I'll just get low and absorb. Also I did leaning just fine with Rye a couple weeks ago.
So, folks, I plan to redo these skills Monday. And Monday night, there will hopefully be another granny!
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Day 1...again
I know what you're thinking..."Didn't she like just take Day 1?" In fact, I did, just 3 short months ago. Several of us did. And we have been awaiting the TC verdict on whether we'd have to retake since we ran out the 60 days. The TC finally told us that since we're now WFTDA (yay!) and we'll have to re-assess yearly, they'd like everyone to assess around the same time, August/September. Having taken Day 1 in June, we would have gone too long without assessing.
They told us this toward the end of August. If we'd known before then, most of us would've re-done Day 1 when they offered it August 7th.
Alas.
So now I'm an expert at assessing.
I passed once more. This time without any redos. Not quite sure how I managed that. My t-stops are still shaky, but passable. Damn those t-stops. I hate them so. Rye said, "You've been here a year. We need to get a better t-stop." I had a bit of a problem with pacing. One of my slows sort of veered off course and I fell once.
My 25 in 5 is not where I'd like it to be. I got down to 4:18 once. Today it was 4:39. But I haven't skated in a week, so I'm not too hard on myself. All in all, I'm pleased.
Ready to take on Day 2 Thursday.
They told us this toward the end of August. If we'd known before then, most of us would've re-done Day 1 when they offered it August 7th.
Alas.
So now I'm an expert at assessing.
I passed once more. This time without any redos. Not quite sure how I managed that. My t-stops are still shaky, but passable. Damn those t-stops. I hate them so. Rye said, "You've been here a year. We need to get a better t-stop." I had a bit of a problem with pacing. One of my slows sort of veered off course and I fell once.
My 25 in 5 is not where I'd like it to be. I got down to 4:18 once. Today it was 4:39. But I haven't skated in a week, so I'm not too hard on myself. All in all, I'm pleased.
Ready to take on Day 2 Thursday.
Monday, September 5, 2011
News!
News in the realm is that I have the interwebs again. This will be good for me and for you, my 4 followers.
Derby news has been good. We "Mid-Lifers" have been with the grannies most Sundays, gettin our endurance on. On Thursday, I got the chance to work on things like leaning and arm whips, which I've been begging the TC to include in practice for what seems like months now.
Also, I was partnered with Rye, so I got some good quality feedback. My outside arm whips need work. Like in a big way. My arm's all floppy. Inside is good though. Sometimes I wing out slightly, but usually they're good. When taking arm whips, I need to hang on like a fraction of a second longer.
Also, I'm way better at leaning and locking wheels than I used to be. We did leaning in partners and I actively used my opposite foot to push against Rye. Also, she told me to put my shoulder in front of hers. All this time I've been trying to have even shoulders. This makes it way easier.
We did wheel-locking and taking hits in a pack. Somehow I wound up with both Rye and Sporman locking my wheels, but I stayed upright. And I took hits well. I didn't fall, and if I fell behind, I caught up quickly.
I have to redo Day 1 coming up, and I'm not thrilled, but I'm gonna kick Day 2's ass!
Derby news has been good. We "Mid-Lifers" have been with the grannies most Sundays, gettin our endurance on. On Thursday, I got the chance to work on things like leaning and arm whips, which I've been begging the TC to include in practice for what seems like months now.
Also, I was partnered with Rye, so I got some good quality feedback. My outside arm whips need work. Like in a big way. My arm's all floppy. Inside is good though. Sometimes I wing out slightly, but usually they're good. When taking arm whips, I need to hang on like a fraction of a second longer.
Also, I'm way better at leaning and locking wheels than I used to be. We did leaning in partners and I actively used my opposite foot to push against Rye. Also, she told me to put my shoulder in front of hers. All this time I've been trying to have even shoulders. This makes it way easier.
We did wheel-locking and taking hits in a pack. Somehow I wound up with both Rye and Sporman locking my wheels, but I stayed upright. And I took hits well. I didn't fall, and if I fell behind, I caught up quickly.
I have to redo Day 1 coming up, and I'm not thrilled, but I'm gonna kick Day 2's ass!
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Lately...
It's been a while, I know. A lot has happened. Including the death of my dear laptop, Gregorio. Overwhelmingly, that's why I have not been posting. Also, I started my Fall classes last week. Which has actually brought me in front of a computer rather frequently, so there's really no excuse in the last week or so.
As far as derby goes, like 6000 have happened. I passed Day 1, back in June. I'm now a Mid-Lifer. That's our term, recently coined. We get to practice with the grannies and I have been doing so.
I also recently acquired new skates. They're not new-new. They're a pair of used Wickeds. They were used for a year by one of our skaters, but she was moving and wanted to see if she could pass them along. I'm still getting used to them, only had them for a month, but I have bypassed the leather break-in that some of our skaters are experiencing. It seems like several of our skaters have just bought Wickeds and many more have switched to Atom Poisons for our warehouse.
We also may be painting the warehouse floor soon, to hopefully have a cleaner track. We're testing the paint now.
Since becoming WFTDA, all of our bouting skaters have to retake assessments and that's coming up real soon. Right after out bout this weekend, in fact.
I have to redo Day 1 and take Day 2. I will hopefully be passing both very soon. I intend to be rostered for the last bout of the season. That's my goal!
I will be holding down the fort at Pride Charlotte this weekend, so if you're coming out, stop by the CLTRG table and see my new purple scooter.
As far as derby goes, like 6000 have happened. I passed Day 1, back in June. I'm now a Mid-Lifer. That's our term, recently coined. We get to practice with the grannies and I have been doing so.
I also recently acquired new skates. They're not new-new. They're a pair of used Wickeds. They were used for a year by one of our skaters, but she was moving and wanted to see if she could pass them along. I'm still getting used to them, only had them for a month, but I have bypassed the leather break-in that some of our skaters are experiencing. It seems like several of our skaters have just bought Wickeds and many more have switched to Atom Poisons for our warehouse.
We also may be painting the warehouse floor soon, to hopefully have a cleaner track. We're testing the paint now.
Since becoming WFTDA, all of our bouting skaters have to retake assessments and that's coming up real soon. Right after out bout this weekend, in fact.
I have to redo Day 1 and take Day 2. I will hopefully be passing both very soon. I intend to be rostered for the last bout of the season. That's my goal!
I will be holding down the fort at Pride Charlotte this weekend, so if you're coming out, stop by the CLTRG table and see my new purple scooter.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Been Meaning To Blog
So let's see. I did not talk about last Sunday, or open skate/scrimmage on Monday. Ugh. Sunday morning's practice was back at usual time, which is fortunate in that it's early because it's less hot in our warehouse BUT also it sucks because I have to wake up at 7 am.
Anyway, Rye led practice. There weren't very many people present, but that's ok.
I don't really remember the drills we did. Mostly we had the track. I'm sure we did falls and stuff. I know, at some point, we worked on double knee falls, but if we were having knee trouble, we could go back to single knee, so I did. And leaning! I do remember leaning. I leaned with Carrie. I was overwhelmingly unsuccessful. One time I knocked her down, but I promptly tripped over her and fell. On my face. Rye came over and asked if we were ok. She said, "That wasn't pretty."
We also worked on lateral movement, which is something I've improved considerably on. Maybe it's the loosened trucks. I dunno. But I'm much better. Then we did booty blocking. I did alright. I managed to get around a couple girls blocking me, but I tend to speed up when blocking. I stick my butt in her way, but I don't slow her down. I need to work on that.
Oh! 25 in 5! Sunday. My time was an unbelievable 4:31. I'm still not sure that happened. It was a fluke or something.
That's really all I got for Sunday.
Monday's open skate, I helped fellow newbies with 6-point falls. I think a few girls still have a mental block about everything landing at the same time. I tried to help, to the best of my ability. My tip is to aim for your elbows touching down first, instead of treating it like a double-knee fall, then elbow/wrists.
I also got used to the loosened trucks (which I did Sunday) and my new knee pads. Next up on the agenda, new wheels! I'm lookin to get some Poisons. Thinkin about the slim ones.
Scrimmage was hot. A few ladies got injured a bit. They returned to skating, but still kind of scary. I was doing my hotboard duties, which I've decided is easier with knee pads. If that's what I'm doing at the bout, I will be bringing my knee pads.
That's really all I got to say. Tonight's practice again. Oh yeah, Fister talked to me and said I could redo my t-stops. She said Monday, but that got all muffed up because of ECE. So I'm redoing next Thursday. I've got tonight, Sunday, and Monday to practice.
Anyway, Rye led practice. There weren't very many people present, but that's ok.
I don't really remember the drills we did. Mostly we had the track. I'm sure we did falls and stuff. I know, at some point, we worked on double knee falls, but if we were having knee trouble, we could go back to single knee, so I did. And leaning! I do remember leaning. I leaned with Carrie. I was overwhelmingly unsuccessful. One time I knocked her down, but I promptly tripped over her and fell. On my face. Rye came over and asked if we were ok. She said, "That wasn't pretty."
We also worked on lateral movement, which is something I've improved considerably on. Maybe it's the loosened trucks. I dunno. But I'm much better. Then we did booty blocking. I did alright. I managed to get around a couple girls blocking me, but I tend to speed up when blocking. I stick my butt in her way, but I don't slow her down. I need to work on that.
Oh! 25 in 5! Sunday. My time was an unbelievable 4:31. I'm still not sure that happened. It was a fluke or something.
That's really all I got for Sunday.
Monday's open skate, I helped fellow newbies with 6-point falls. I think a few girls still have a mental block about everything landing at the same time. I tried to help, to the best of my ability. My tip is to aim for your elbows touching down first, instead of treating it like a double-knee fall, then elbow/wrists.
I also got used to the loosened trucks (which I did Sunday) and my new knee pads. Next up on the agenda, new wheels! I'm lookin to get some Poisons. Thinkin about the slim ones.
Scrimmage was hot. A few ladies got injured a bit. They returned to skating, but still kind of scary. I was doing my hotboard duties, which I've decided is easier with knee pads. If that's what I'm doing at the bout, I will be bringing my knee pads.
That's really all I got to say. Tonight's practice again. Oh yeah, Fister talked to me and said I could redo my t-stops. She said Monday, but that got all muffed up because of ECE. So I'm redoing next Thursday. I've got tonight, Sunday, and Monday to practice.
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