So it's a rainy-freaking day here in the Forest City of London, ON. We arrive in the rain at our awesome practice space in the country and we mop. But raining = floor not drying.

So I say to a few people, "Hey, I saw a roller derby video on YouTube once of a team practicing by jogging in a pack, complete with jammers. And our coach and team captain, Anya, replies, "Grab your helmet, we're going outside!"

We proceed to get in a circle, warmup and then practice hip checks, low to high hits, full body checks, and variations of blocking, in twos in a large circle in wet grass. Then there were skate runs, superman falls, running sprints, jammers breaking walls, swoop weave lines, rolls and finally, on foot in wet grass, in the darkening night, in the middle of nowhere, we put out the cones and we did a jogging scrimmage.

I learned I would probably have been just as good at rugby or more likely, women's football than I am at derby, and then I said, "NO!" I now remember what it's like to hit hard, I've learned the right way, and all I have to do is put it to work on skates and I am going to be awesome!" Am I ready to hit the brutal travel team scrimmage practices on Saturdays? No, but as soon as I get my confidence on that tiny tack we use to practice on, I will.

In derby news, this weekend is the season opener of TOronto Roller Derby (ToRD), with the Gore Gore Rollergirls vs the Chicks Ahoy. That should be an awesome game! I won't make it, but I will be in Toronto tomorrow. Speaking of which, I have to be up in 5 hours.... good night derby luvvers. Have a great derby weekend!

Labels: ToRD, training