Take a deep breath and jump

A couple weeks ago WFTDA released an updated Minimum Skills Requirements (MSR) document, a document that WFTDA member leagues had been reviewing and beta testing for the past [undisclosed amount of time]. Since the Hellions had this information in advance and our coaching department was getting ready for league evaluations anyway, we've been able to do some "dry run" evaluations this week.

3" cone      |           6" cone

One of the revised skills is being able to hop over an object at least 6 inches in height without touching the object or losing balance, while skating at a moderate pace. The former standard was 3 inches.

Me catching some air over the 6in obstacle.

When you're brand new to derby the idea of jumping any height is intimidating. You want me to what? Are you kidding with me? Nope! I say: Just take a deep breath and go for it. Practicing jumps helps build muscle memory just in case you have to jump over a fallen skater on the track. This has happened to me before and thankfully my body just DID it without me having to think about it.

Anyway, I remember when I was a new skater and would just do sort of a standard little hop, just high enough to clear the 3 inch cone. Then one day when I was feeling particularly energetic, I built up some speed before launching myself into the air, kinda trying to see if I could get my feet to touch my backside. WOW! I don't remember if I stuck the landing, but after trying it again a few more times I realized it was just another fun, new, and useful trick I had added to my skill set.

The best part of this hopping drill this past week was that everyone participated, including the fresh meat. They had already practiced hops maybe once or twice in the past... maybe once jumping over an actual object. Even though there were some nervous faces, everyone gave it a shot. By the end of the drill, everyone was hopping higher than their first shot. It was awesome!

Blurry Hellions (haha) clearing the 6in obstacles.

Lil' Wheezy going for a big jump.  NBD.

Last practice before Empire Skate Showdown 3

This Saturday is the third annual New York State Roller Derby Tournament: Empire Skate Showdown.  The Hellions A team has had a tough season, and this is the cumulative event - most of us are done bouting for 2012 after this weekend (though we do still have three home bouts: schedule).

While Monday's practice was focused on endurance and skills, tonight we had a walk through on strategy and a situation scrimmage.

I thought the team was really focused tonight and I think we've all put in a good amount of effort to understand our team strategy.  I'm really proud of my teammates because we are still thriving and pushing forward despite all our losses this season.

I'm also super thankful for the rest of the skaters who I won't share the track with on Saturday, but have pushed us on our home turf during practice all year, especially the last couple months.  Without them it would be so much harder to prepare.  I am thankful they come to practice and scrimmage us, even though it sucks to be on the "non-roster" team... you get beat up, I've been there.  But a lot of the girls still give us a run for our money.  Not to mention the CDTA men's derby skaters who attend our practices.  Thank you thank you thank you.

Our coaches, captains, and bout production manager, Torya Anewone, have also worked hard to get us ready.  Practice plans, strategy review, and just keeping us organized behind the scenes is so much work.  Keeping Hellions on the same page is like herding cats.  We would be even more all over the place without our staff.

Heck - even thank you to all the teams that beat us this season. We want the taste of victory even more and it will be that much sweeter, too.  Thank you for pushing us to work harder and making us realize it doesn't come easy.

Tonight it hit me how excited, nervous, stressed, and ready I am for this weekend.  It's our time to shine.  To alleviate my worries, I am just going to be like this cat:

Cats know how to “be” 

How to sit, chill and rest 

Cats know how to hang 

They don’t rush – 

They just do their best

source

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.

Kids

I really like the song "Kids" by MGMT.  It's so catchy.  And the first time I heard it was at a Weezer concert last year when they covered it.  Double love.  To me this song is about enjoying yourself by finding clarity in a situation.

I even got to speak briefly with the
Wall Street Traitor's own Ginger Snap.

We played three games on Saturday.  I wasn't on the roster for the first game, but played in the second and third.  After we lost the first (Central New York 63 over HoTRD 43) and second game (Hudson Valley Horrors 83 over HoTRD 43) I was feeling kind of blue.  Of course I always try to look on the brightside: it was a great day of derby, we had two new girls on the roster, Deadlie Mercury and Delinquen Dollie, and a whole bunch of non-rostered league members came down to cheer us on.  I had also spent the day talking to various girls on other teams and even got to warm up with the New York Shock Exchange (mens derby team!).  And, I got to jam during the Hudson Valley bout - I even made lead jammer and scored a couple points.

Flexi gives the team a pep talk before our
last bout of the day.  Photo by Sean Hale.

So there were a lot of positives about the day, but after all, we were playing in a tournament.  And now we were in the running for 7th or 8th place.  At that point, it was time to remember that I was there to have fun, and play my best.  Flexi, who had to take herself off the roster after getting injured in the first game, gave us a pep talk.  That's when I found my clarity and focused on playing a good game, and being happy no matter the outcome.


As we started the bout, the DJ started playing "Kids".  To me, it was perfect.

 Control yourself. 

Take only what you need from it.

Great game, new friends

Also, before I looked up these lyrics, I always thought the line was "enjoy yourself" instead of "control yourself."  And I was enjoying myself.  I was enjoying playing derby and watching my teammates go give it their all against Assault City.  It was a close game, with Assault City pulling ahead by 10 points at the end (62 over 52).  That was the end of the tournament for us, but at least my mind was clear beforehand.  Now it was time to get off my skates and watch the final bouts, including the championship!

Eat, Sleep, Roll

Monday night at practice I fell over one of my teammates who took a spill in front of me.  I landed right on my hip bone.  Just sayin' - I used to have a few more pounds which translated to a little extra padding.  Not so much anymore (I can't really complain about that anymore).   So I have a nice fat bruise on my hip.  I was so sore on Tuesday, but now I'm feeling better.  I'm ready to skate.

Image: Google Images

The week before our last bout and this bout I haven't thought a lot about actually skating though.  I'm constantly thinking about one aspect of the bout or another.  I know things are being taken care of, and I know I'm not the only fretting about this or that.  But that makes me feel a little better because I know someone MUST be thinking of the one thing I forget to make sure is taken care of.  I'm neck deep in derby, but I love it.

Thursday night at practice I want to refocus on skating.  It's two days before the bout.  Time to get my mind in the game.

Tonight I finally imported the Hellions Music Swap mix to my iTunes.  123 random songs.

Some expected: 
Amy Winehouse - Rehab
a couple Lady Gaga hits
Bizarre japanese pop/rock
Queen
A song called Rollerskates by Treaty of Paris
They Might Be Giants - Birdhouse in Your Soul <3

Some surprising / hysterical contributions:
Animaniacs - States and Capitals
3 songs by the Decemberists (one of them my contribution)
no Michael Jackson!?

I shall listen through the entire collection and perhaps note any other outstanding contributions.  Hopefully this is a relaxing activity and I can focus on the game and my teammates - vicariously through their music tastes.