Watching video of yourself play

I found this video a coworker of mine took last summer at our bout against the ManchVegas Roller Girls.

0:17. Check me out passing three opposing players.
I'm awesome.

I used to think I was hot stuff in this video.  OK, to be fair, you have to love my jammer start (0:05).  A somewhat good start off the line (0:08).  And that's not a bad derby stance - I'm got pretty low when on my initial approach to the pack (0:13). I manage to sneak up the inside line, passing three MVRG players at once (including jammer) (0:17).

Then what happens?

Who's awesome now? :(

Instead of hauling ass and moving my feet, I start to coast. Then a three person wall of MVRG players gets in front of me. It looks like I am coasting from 0:20 to 0:34.... 14 seconds!  That's a long time in the grand scheme of a two minute jam.Finally, at about 0:34, I turn up my speed and break through the wall to earn lead jammer status (0:35). I think at this point, the opposing jammer is still trapped in the pack by Kitty, Pork Slap, Nymph, and Missy (continuously awesome, the whole jam).

My speed around the track to lap the pack isn't too bad. I think my stride is ok, but I think I've surely improved in the past year. It takes me about 20 seconds to reach the back of the pack.

Eventually I catch up and am able to pass the opposing blockers to score my points easily for the most part, after taking a bump or two.  I think I may have scored all four points.  At that point, I take a good hit and am knocked to the floor, at which point I decide to call off the jam.

In hindsight, I'm torn if this was the right opportunity to call off the jam.  As I am falling, you can see that the opposing jammer has finally broken through the pack for her initial pass - she had not made her scoring pass yet. It was conservative tactic -- perhaps I would've had to refight my way through the pack again, whilst the other jammer made her way around to make her first scoring pass.  Alternatively, I could've hopped back up, fought through the pack, caught the other jammer, and possibly scored again.

An "Epic" First Home Bout

Guest blog post by Epic Kate-tastrophe


This wasn't the first bout I have ever played in but it was my first home bout. I knew it was going to be a different experience than any of the other times I've played. It was our home turf, the floor we were use to playing on, and for once I wasn't nervous while getting ready.

Brian, Uncle Bernie, Gary, Me

At 6 p.m. the doors opened up and people started to make their way through the door. The rink started to fill up and everyone seemed excited to be there. It was awesome how many fans came to support and cheer on the Hellions but personally I loved how many people were there to cheer me on. I had at least twenty people there if not more who came to see me play and find out what derby was all about. The best part was when I went over to say hi to everyone and realized I had a surprise guest. My stepdads Uncle Bernie was there, all the way from St. Louis, Missouri which was nice because I haven't seen him since I was little.  I'm glad I got to share something that has become such a big part of my life with so many members of my family and friends.

Around 7 p.m. we finally got started. While out on the track Wii Block Her from the ManchVegas Roller Girls was standing behind me and said "Hey, we have the same number". I told her I picked 603 because of my birthday but I wasn't sure why she had picked it and didn't have time to ask because the whistle blew. Every time we were out on the track together became a battle of the numbers but it was fun. After the bout I found out 603 is the area code in New Hampshire which is where the ManchVegas Roller girls are from. I never thought I would meet a girl with the same number as me but I did.

I had an amazing time during this bout. I had a lot of family and friends there supporting me, met another 603, and we won!

First Home Bout at Rollarama

I don't even know where to start.

Our first home bout of 2010 was, unofficially, a huge success.  Rollarama was packed.  I think I heard over 300 people came out to check out the HoT derby action.  We ran out of chairs and programs.  The chairs didn't seem to be a big problem (although we promise to accommodate better in the future!) because the crowd didn't seem to mind being on their feet and cheering us on.  There were so many more people there than we expected.  Thank you to all the fans that came out and cheered us to victory!


This was our first bout at Rollarama.  It was also the first bout brought to you by our new Bout Production Manager, C-Unit.  Most people don't know how much time and effort goes into putting on something like this.  I still don't even completely know, but we're all learning.  But as a skater, I think C-Unit and her whole crew did an amazing time preparing, setting up, coordinating, running around, and finally kicking butt during the whole production.  Thank you so much to all our volunteers, coaches, referees, and NSOs.

Me and Wii Block Her
at the after party

Thank you to The ManchVegas Roller Girls who graced our home space with style and friendliness.  As I lined up for each jam, here and there one of their players would smile or say hello to me, and a competitive friendly nod.  Wii Block Her was especially cool.  Later on, I met Chick Anery and a couple others at the after party.  Thanks to MVRG for coming out, playing hard, and partying with us afterwards!

Hellions MVP Mathundra
Storm with her Trophy

Lastly, I'd like to highlight the game MVPs:
Hellions: Mathundra Storm, #1108, who later went on to win the after party, IMO; and
ManchVegas: Massenkill, #2, who impressed the Hellions with her tenacity and for the way she stuck it to our own #2, Missy HellaHit.



Hellions of Troy, first home bout os Summer 2010
vs. ManchVegas Roller Girls from Manchchester, NH
Hellions: 139
ManchVegas Roller Girls: 44

Next Home Bout: Saturday, July 24

With our three away bouts behind us, we are rolling into our home season.  Check out the poster for our next bout, coming up in July against the ManchVegas Roller Girls from Manchester, NH!

Hope to see you there!  Afraid you'll forget?  Here's the facebook invitation.

Be there or be a four-sided regular polygon!