Crash... BANG... WALLOP!!!

Well what a fab sight it was seeing so many of us turning up to practise this week in our team T shirts, it really makes you feel like part of the team and that we are achieving something, so was a great morale booster! Sadly I missed last weeks practise due to being ill, but before you get too sympathetic, I’ll be honest and say it was self inflicted! :-S

So this week, I got to meet a few new faces, some of whom had been before but just not when I was there, so we had Sam and Jude who had come to their second practise and then Cath and another lady, who’s name escapes me at this moment in time. So it was good to see some new faces, I just hope they decide to come back again as we need to grow our little band of sisters J

This was my first week of trying to skate with an arch support as I really struggle with my right foot and balance, I tend to skate as if I am on a skateboard and leave my left leg glued to the floor, so in excercises where we have to glide the length of the track on one foot, if I lift my right foot up I can glide no problems, try to lift my left foot and I am like a rabbit thumping a warning out to its friends! Tap, Tap, Tap, Tap! I can only go a couple of seconds with my foot off the ground! I could tell that the arch support made a difference, but my mistake was only wearing the one in my right boot, I should have used both! So next week should be interesting. I also have tightened up my wheels upon Helen Fury’s advice as my wheels were slightly loose, which I had to admit to noticing, but thought it was just my nerves, so am hoping that by tightening them up, I will feel more secure, as they did feel pretty slippy!

The whole buying skates process is a minefield, as its not as if you can try before you buy with roller skates, as decent roller derby skates are not readily available in the UK, only a small amount of stockists sell them but its a lot cheaper to buy them in the States, but a decent pair will cost you over £100 so its not a cheap option! I brought mine from the UK but know for competing, I will need to upgrade my wheels and bearings, but I figured I could do that when I close to competing level! (A long way off yet!)

Luckily anyone coming into the league now, there are enough of us with our own skates now, so people can try out some skates, but when I started I didn’t have that option. We are one of the few leagues to have a “loan skate” pot, so newbies can turn up and skate by hiring some of the skates, Fury and Cupid have built up over the past couple of years. There are some good skates in there, but you have to be quick to nab them or you will end up with a older pair of skates or not your correct size!

So lets see how I get on next week, with my tighter wheels and arch supports!

Onto this week, we started with the rules test, I hadn’t done my homework so I knew I was in trouble, especially as now if anyone gets a question wrong everyone has to do press ups or sit ups, not just the dunce who got it wrong, so guess what..... yup I got it wrong! 10 Sit Ups please, barks Cupid! (Sorry guys!) I have to admit this rules test is not my forte.... I find the rules hard to memorise and take in, plus I get easily distracted!

After the rules test we did a couple of endurance tests followed by the bleep test, I didn’t do very well on this as was feeling very wobbly and found stopping in time and turning quick enough a real problem, but fair play to Sam and Lee for doing so well.

We did a few practise falls and I made the newbie error of going to fall onto both knees, getting it wrong and going slap down on my buttocks... that shook me back into reality and I didn’t do that again in a hurry! We then tried getting into two teams, lining up alongside eachother and keeping inline with eachother which was fun, then we took it in turns to weave in and out of eachother. After that the bit I had been dreading for weeks, the slams! Helen Fury said she would come skate up to us and tap us, we were to fall over safely and get back up asap. She would hardly touch the newbies but would be harder on the rest of us..... Hmmmmm I went FLYING! But it wasn’t as bad as I thought, but the next time was harder again but I was more prepared and nearly stayed upright but gravity took over. After that the newbies went off to try some booty slams against the wall, where as we had to practise booty slams for real. Faith “booty slammed” us and once again I went flying lol! Then we had to do it to eachother, this was funny as we were all so gentle to eachother until Sulu Warrior had a go and she “bootied” us big time! I nearly stayed up when she hit me but then overbalanced and crashed onto my derriere and stupidly used my hand to break my fall and have a sore arm now L..... but hey... before you all get really worried and rush to my bedside...... don’t worry... I’ll live J

We ended the training with a quick game of dodgeball, I love this, but I always get hit too quickly so am thinking of planning a slightly different take to the game, to suggest to Fury J Make it more derby style!

So we finished with stretches and the lovely circle of pain, which thank god was a short circle of pain due to running out of time! Ram Paige was given to Sam for her excellent skating so we are all eager to hear about her exploits with Sam next week! I can only apologise to Christina for having a short week with Ram Paige, but I am sure she will return their shortly! I just hope it wasn’t Ram Paige charging about in her car that caused all of the car problems!

A few of us made it to the pub for a drink and then it was time to go home. Next Saturday a whole load of us are going up to Birmingham to see the Birmingham Blitz Dames against the Middlesborough Milk Rollers and then on to the Afterparty and as we are staying over, I should have plenty to report on next week! So should be a fun weekend to say the least! :-D

So I will bid you adieu

Until next time.......

H.A xx