I was fresh meat once

andrewsimsimages.co.uk

If you're Fresh Meat and look at those Travel Teamers of your league and think they've always been like that... and that you'll never be that cool... look what I found. I look very cute. Here is my hint for Fresh Meat: dig your league archives and find some photos and video what your league star skaters used to look like. Scroll down to the bottom for some LRG gems. You won't believe what a couple of years of derby does to you! Gives you a kick to keep going!

I started roller derby in May 2010. I had the advantage that I could already skate - I am from Finland after all so winters were spent on ice skates and I had inlines too. Although I had the foundations, I was totally a piece of Fresh Meat. I remember trying to backwards skate. I did not move an inch... Plough stops were my enemy. My knees were pointing inwards. I bite my lip every time I need to go in. I think I skate low.

Fresh meat knees

Concentration!

Denim shorts were the thing in 2010! My first wrist guards served me for a long time, they were great - mum had bought the from a charity shop in Poland whilst on a road trip in Europe. My first skates were Sure-Grip Rock Flames with Twister wheels.They were too big and I even wore woolly socks and two insoles in them.

Look at those skinny legs

I did not like my superskinny ankles. I am so glad what roller derby has done to my legs. They desperately needed some muscle!

Derby stance?

More concentration

PS. What do you think London Roller Girls might have looked like? Check it out:

French quads

Now I'm upset that I cannot speak...or read... French. They appear to be quad gods there. I found this great looking site but it's all French to me. Perhaps Google translator will help. I am planning to build some skates and this place provides some awesome pictorial inspiration!

Roller Quad
Un Site 100% Quad
http://rollerquad.net/

Hey, look at these skates!

and these

maybe these as well

This picture I'll take with me

This sums it up. We will have fun.

Sk8 Heaven bootcamp

As part of my World Cup preparations, I spent last weekend in Northampton at Sk8 Heaven advanced roller derby bootcamp. We had over 100 skaters, famous coaches from Canada, the US and the world, and two full days of roller derby action. I joined the camp's All-Star level with other World Cup skaters from Team Scotland, Team England and even Team Brazil!

 

My classes started with one hour endurance drill coached by Pia Mess. It didn't end up in puking despite her reputation "Pain is just weakness leaving your body". I think she was going soft on us.

Bonnie D. Stroir

Bonnie D. Stroir's lectures were inspiring, giving food for thought about the mental game, setting your goals as a sportsperson and using visualisation as a part of your training regime (I'd bee already doing this!). Being in control of your emotions and the mental game is very important in the heat of a bout - roller derby is a fast and aggressive sport and being able to stay clam and perform is vital.

Pitchit

Pitchit brought us default strategy, crystallising the game into four situations and the four default actions against them. Following the presentation, the strategies were practiced on the track. 

Isabelle Ringer

Isabelle Ringer made us sweat off-skates with a combination of warming up, plyometric, core and balance exercises. This was a real feel-good session - she says it has direct derby specific benefits and people attending the session were excited about making it part of their training routines (so am I!).

And there was so much more... Blocking and hitting classes, gear workshop, more entertaining lectures, scrimmage and only one broken ankle (get well soon!).

It was a great weekend with 7am breakfast starts, doing derby till 5pm, followed by relaxation in the hotel's saunas and pool, and without forgetting the crazy after party... which my league, Bristol Roller Derby, brought with mad costumes and madder dance moves!