WFTDA Apprentice League!!!

We did it! We were accepted to the Women's Flat Track Derby Associate as an apprentice league! This has been our goal since our inception an my personal focus for the past year as the application coordinator. I did tons of research, met a lot of people, did a lot of traveling, and worked hard with my amazing team to show the derby world that the Hellions kick ass. And with the proper guidance, we'll be even more amazing.

On Thursday, October 27, 2011, the WTFDA announced this quarter's group of accepted leagues:
http://wftda.com/news/apprentice-leagues-october-2011

From the WFTDA website, the Apprenctice Program is

Designed to act as a WFTDA 101 tutorial, the Apprentice Program matches new leagues with an established WFTDA mentor, who guides her apprentice through WFTDA processes and requirements, and offers advice about league-specific issues. The curriculum can include everything from league formation to how to become ranked and qualify for WFTDA-sponsored tournaments. Upon completion of the program, apprentice leagues will have the knowledge and league recommendations to apply for full WFTDA membership.

A long road led us to where we are today. I want to say thank you to the following who helped and inspired us along the way:

The Long Island Roller Rebels - you've always inspired us. Thank you for visiting us for a fun practice night. Thank you for the scrimmage opportunities. And thank you for hosting the Empire Skate Showdown, which gave us a chance to shine this year.





Central New York Roller Derby - the team we admire, and strive to be like. We learned so much from you this year and love working with you. We saw how much you grew as a league since being accepted as a full WFTDA member last year. We want to follow in your footsteps!

Our officials - We would not be the well-rounded league we are without The "Argue-nots", our refereeing and non-skating officials staff. Many of them are on the path to become Certified WFTDA referees. Our acceptance into the WFTDA Apprentice Program will help them with this cause because we'll be bouting more WFTDA leagues ourselves (for them to officiate!)  It's a great relationship.  Our officials are also amazing representatives of the Hellions, as they travel pretty much more than anyone to attend and volunteer at away bouts - seemingly every weekend.  We love you Team Zebra!  Thank you for spreading the good name and good nature of the Hellions!

Our announcers - Ida Feltersnatch and Eloda Sarcasm.  These two women are the reason I have such an awesome appreciate for WFTDA in the first place.  They brought me on my first derby road trip to the 2009 Championships, a derby experience I'll never forget and one that shaped my attitude about being part of the larger derby community.  Ida and Eloda call in to the Derby Deeds early and often to keep people on top of our adventures - of which we have so many.  And like Team Zebra, Ida and Eloda are constant travelers, always spreading the good word of the Hellions.  Oh, and by the way - they BOTH became AFTDA Certified this year.  Like the all the Hellions and the refs, they want to be part of their great organizations in the field of roller derby.

Thank you to all the WFTDA Leagues we bouted in 2011 - Queen City, Green Mountain, Providence, Garden State, Montreal, Connecticut, Roc City, Maine, Hudson Valley and of course our match up against Gotham's Wall Street Traitors at Empire Skate Showdown.  We learned something new every game - either from on the track or off the track at the after party. ;)

And of course, thank you from ME to all my amazing league. Team work makes the dream work. We did it!

The Hellions after our bout in Montreal this past summer.  Look at that strategically placed WFTDA banner.
It was meant to be!

I thought 2011 was the year of the Hellions - but the best is yet to come!

Light Up the Night

One of our new skaters, Zandy I. Candy, is a Peer Educator at the Russell Sage College, which is sponsoring a "Light Up the Night" even on Thursday October 27th from 6:00pm - 7:00pm on the Troy campus.

Basically it's a sexual assault awareness march through downtown Troy; it's very similar to Take Back the Night and Toronto's "Slut Walk".

The main idea is that one can wear whatever they like, wherever they like and not be afraid of being sexually assaulted. It's a very casual event. Some Hellions will be in attendance, dressing however they want.  Join us looking bold as we march through the streets of Troy. The event starts on the corner of First Street and Division Street in Downtown Troy.
Here's the facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=203870306347394

Fresh Meat Graduates: October 2011

Earlier this month we had three new fresh meat graduate our training program, plus one veteran skater who took some time off and did a little time in our training program to get back up to speed on her skills. Congratulations Basa, Zander, Morticia Von Glitznglass, and Chickpea of the Sea!
We've already got the girls working hard - we've thrown 'em right into our "big girl track" practices and they are strutting their stuff! Scrimmaging with vets is always tough the first few weeks, but they are finding their way through.  Looking good girls!

If you are interested in joining the Hellions of Troy, check out our website or email hellionsrecruitment@gmail.com.

Final bout of 2011: November 5

We've got just one more bout for this year until we roll into our off season! Hellions of Troy vs. our good friends, the Hudson Valley Horrors!

Check out the event on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=235494946505343

Zombie carnival, walk, and prom this Saturday

Did you know that the Hellions are a major partner in planning the zombie events put on by WAMC? We'll be there in force this year and hope to see you there too!

The event kicks off with a Friday night gala with food, film, and the Dead Divas (famous stars of stage and screen), plus a performance of (possibly) the first ever choral presentation of the gay undead as the Capital Pride Singers present a selection of your favorite undead songs.

Pre-Zombie Walk 2010.  Photo by Knockout.

Zombie Carnival
Saturday starts off with the first ever Upstate New York Zombie Carnival all day before the Walk, starting at noon. There will be zombie carnival games: try your luck at the Zombie body part toss, place your bets on the Zombie wheel of death, and cast a line in the Zombie duck pond where every ones a winner. Zombie vendors will be present with the latest in undead fashion and makeup.


Zombie Walk
The walk steps off at 6pm from the Linda (339 Central Avenue). Get there beforehand to get your makeup done, hear the rules of the walk, and for photo ops, of course! This year's course is a loop starting and ending at the Linda. Following the walk will be a brain eating contest, followed by the start of Zombie Prom!


Zombie Prom
Immediately following the walk, join us for a night of dancing, food, and drinks. The cost is $10 and this year's Zombie Prom is 18+. Come in costume - will you be crowned this year's Zombie King or Queen?

More info:
Wamcarts event page: http://www.wamcarts.org/event_details.php?id=140
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=154128441347494

Catch live streaming derby this weekend

Not of the Hellions, unfortunately (although you can check out this DNN archive of our match against Montreal from this past summer)...but it's the final weekend of WFTDA Playoffs - North Central Region edition.

My favorite North Central team? The Minnesota Roller Girls! I caught them once East Coast Extravaganza. I love 'em! I have one of their stickers on my helmet >:) BTW, they have two skaters heading to Toronto in December to represent USA Roller Derby at the Roller Derby World Cup!

Starting at 9am Eastern, you can catch the action at http://derbyaccess.com/.
(At 1pm Eastern, make sure to catch Bout 4: #3 Minnesota RollerGirls vs #6 Mad Rollin’ Dolls!)It's the best roller derby the North Central region has to offer. Check it out, so you can estimate how teams will faceoff against the other regions at Championships in November (including New York's own Gotham Girls).

You can also stream the video on your iPhone. (The derby access link above can be used on any other mobile phone though). I've watched some of the games on my phone (when I was on the road), and the quality is great.

Lastly, Derby News Network is providing supplemental live coverage throughout the event. Happy viewing everyone!

Next Recruitment Night: October 9, 2011

I didn't get to really participate in a fresh meat program. Sure, I was considered "fresh meat for the standard three months" but my training was very trial-by-fire.  But I ain't complaining, and it just demonstrates the fact how much our league has grown in the past two years since I joined.

The Hellions have developed a fresh meat training program where we teach new skaters the ropes from the ground up. Based on the WFTDA Minimum Skills Requirements, we teach our new recruits everything about skating roller derby, including:

• how to fall down safely
• how to stop
• how to give a hit
• how to take a hit
• perfecting a derby-style stride

Haven't strapped on skates in a couple years?  Maybe more like a decade or two?  No problem.  The ability to skate comes right back to you.

Come check out the Hellions this Sunday night at Rollarama Skating Center (2710 Hamburg Street, Schenectady) at 7pm. Email hellionsrecruitment@gmail.com if you have questions in advance.

Looking for local groups to join us at our charity bout

We are looking for local organizations to help us underwrite our upcoming charity bout to support breast cancer awareness and research. Like minded organizations can buy/sponsor a "jam" (The game of roller derby is composed of a series of 2 minute jams organized into two 30 minute halves).
We'll make an announcement during the bout similar to "this jam is sponsored by XYZ organization!"

Local organizations are also invited to have a table to provide materials on your organization. You do not have to be an underwriter to have a table at this bout, as long as your organization supports the theme of our event.

Are you another local organization who is hosting a breast cancer awareness event? We'd love to work on a collaboration with you, too!

The event will not be your standard roller derby bout but rather will be an exciting intraleague event in which the rules and ways of play will be determined by the spectators. Along with collecting donations at the door, we will also be inviting audience members to donate a small amount to control the game (e.g., $1 buys your favorite team a point, $3 allows you to put a player in the penalty box, etc.), making it a fun interactive experience.

All profits raised will be donated to TruJoy, a local organization dedicated to raising breast cancer awareness within the Capital Region, and The Avon Breast Cancer Walk. Our announcer Heidi Davis AKA Eloda Sarcasm has walked for the past four years (NYC, Boston, Chicago and Houston) and will do so again on September 22-23, 2012 in Santa Barbara, CA.

We are reaching out to community organizations that may be interested in attending this event and supporting our efforts to raise funds for breast cancer research. Like many of you, this is something that has touched members of our league on a personal level, and we are working hard to promote this cause and let others know what they can do to participate.

We are also looking for local organizations to donate items to be raffled or "auctioned" off during the event.

If you are interested in attending, underwriting, donating, collaborating, or tabling, please contact:
Baby Nuclear at hellionsboutproduction@gmail.com 
and/or
Delinquent Dollie at hellionssponsorship@gmail.com
for more information.

Grand opening of Wheels and Gears Skate Shop today

Kyle Austin - aka Collyde - is hosting the grand opening of Wheels and Gears, the new derby and skate shop today in down Troy. Massacre and I stopped by last night during Troy Night Out to say hello and wish him well. Massacre also made the first purchase ever in the new shop!

Collyde actually started his business in January 2011, however the storefront is a new development. Over the past year, he's been a traveling roadshow of derby gear and supplies, tabling at our bouts as well as traveling out to Central New York for Central New York Roller Derby bouts - he's a sponsor for our leagues as well as the Utica Rollergirls and the Green Mountain Derby Dames. He's interested in working with other leagues - both near and far, so definitely reach out to him to find out about sponsorship.

Collyde doesn't just have derby gear, he can also hook you up with skateboarding and bicycle gear.

Besides the business, Collyde has been involved with roller derby for almost as long as the Hellions have existed. While talking with him last night, he told me he got involved with derby about 5 months after the Hellions started, which would be early 2009. Collyde has occasionally officiated our bouts and has been around in other volunteer capacities as well. Now he's here to support our league and others by providing a local place to buy derby gear.

While we were in the store last night, Collyde and his daughters were getting busy for their big opening day. (BTW, Collyde says he is accepting applications for employees, although his daughters said they'd be happy to work for gummi worms"). He did have time to show us around the space, and like I said, Massacre made the first purchase at the store.

Like most buildings in downtown Troy, the space has some unique features. The inside has some punk-y exposed brick, and Collyde is also working on bringing out the subtle features of the various moldings. He did some paint work to bring out a molded design on the wall. Check it out -- it's very "Troy".

Collyde's business knowledge of the derby world's needs is growing. I like to shop around, but from my research, I've found that his prices are comparable with places I might order from online. Now that there's a local shop, derby girls (and guys) can get what they need right away.

Collyde and Massacre talking about bearings.

Another cool feature Collyde added to the store: an old fashioned cash register.

Collyde administering his first transaction.

Mmm, Beirut.

Check out the grand opening of Wheels and Gears today, October 1, 2011, in downtown Troy. Tomorrow's store hours are 1:00pm - 8:00pm. By the way, the shop is right next to Beirut Restaurant - yum! Collyde told me proximity to Beirut may have been a contributing factor to picking his location. Sounds and tastes good to me.

WHEELS AND GEARS

186 RIVER ST.

TROY, NY 12180

What I'm doing today...

Gotham Girls Roller Derby bootcamp!
Headed down to NYC ... NOW!

Six hours of roller derby training with New York's (and the Eastern Region's) finest.