OMG! January is over! I can't believe how time is flying. It's been over 4 months since I became a non-smoking rollergirl-to-be-again, and a month since I re-committed myself to training for 2009.


I've lost 2-3 inches from my waistline, and 3 from my hips, and can jog again without shin pain.... so I'm ready to go back to skating if I can find some wood or concrete to put my wheels on under all this ice and snow! I'll know within a week if I get my new apartment in London, ON, and I'm waiting for some news from FCDG on particulars like, What minimum skill levels do I have to pass to play in April? What days are practices? How much are dues? You know, all that kinda need to know, but organizational info about a new league...



Hey I may already know roller derby, but I'll be a rookie in FCDG, so I'm getting to have a new derby experience this year! My previous rookie year was with MTLRD when we were all rookies together. I am so proud that I was part of the first season of MTLRD and that they are the first Canadian Roller Derby league to officially become a WFTDA league. If other Canadian teams want to join, what's holding them up? I'll see if I can find out!



Well, let's not dwell on me all damn day - you need to get to doing derby stuff, so here's the current Facebook Event listing for you - Yes, I know you are all on Facebook.... But PING.FM is the best for status updates everywhere at once!



Today, January 31 at 6:45pmOttawa's first ROLLER DERBY GAME!!!!!!!
Game at 7:30pm EST - The ByTown Blackhearts (Ottawa, ON) vs the Montreal Sexpos (MTLRD's B-Team - Montreal, QC)
I would so be going if I had a car! 6 hours drive, who cares?! I like those Ottawa girls, but I have to be all pro-MTLRD for this one, Let's GO Sexpos!

Tomorrow, February 1 at 12:00pmRoller Derby at the Coliseum!
Mad Rollin' Dolls in Madison, WI host the Quad Squad vs. Reservoir Dolls and The Chicago Outfit vs. Unholy Rollers The Mad Rollin' Dolls always put on good derby events!

Tomorrow, February 1 at 10:00amNorthern Brisbane Rollers INTAKE DAY
10 Am to 2 PM all Fresh Meat and Interested new rollergirls training day!

Tomorrow, February 1 at 2:00pmPublic Skate Ottawa Roller Derby is hosting a public skate on inlines or renting out quads to try tomorrow in Ottawa. Sounds like a fun day of skatin' to music.



Out in Western Canada, you can get tickets now to see Oil City versus the LA Derby Dolls in Feb! Visit Oil City for more info. I wish I could see this one!

Have a happy derby weekend, everybody, and please ....check out your local derby events tonight! Later! - Nia

Labels: FCDG, MTLRD, roller derby, roller skating, training, WFTDA, wrapup

The Ottawa Citizen recently interviewed roller girl D.D.T. and chatted with her about her favourite roller derby films, the Hoff and trials & tribulations of being a derby girl.

D.D.T. on her favorite single moment on skates:

"The first full bout the Blackhearts had, against the Hamilton Death-Row Dames. That was such a great game. We were scared as hell -- it was our first full bout. We lost, but only by four or five points. Everybody was just so high and feeling so good. It was amazing."

Read the complete article!

Labels: HCRG, Ottawa Roller Derby

This comic sprang forth because I was hunting through the WFTDA Rulebook for the rules around carrying weapons, foreign objects, or other costumey things while playing. There is no rule! Shouldn't there be?

Labels: Comic, roller derby

I'm off to London, Ontario today to look around and look at a possible new home. Never fear, there is always a derby motive behind everywhere I go too. I'll swing by the FCDG practice space, and the event center in the daytime to find it and clock the KM from the possible new home... I mean, I need to know if I have to bus, drive, bike or can skate from my house to derby practice, right!

I did want to pop in and give you 4 events you can check out tonight... all are facebook events.....
Today, January 24 at 5:00pm Carolina Rollergirls All-Stars vs. Naptown ; Bootleggers vs. Duchland in Raleigh NC.
Today, January 24 at 5:30pm Lock Block & Two Smokin Bouts!! in Pittsburgh, PA
Today, January 24 at 6:00pm ARRG Trivia Night - Saturday, January 24th! Arch Rival Event in Maplewood, MO.
Today, January 24 at 8:00pm Betties Fun-raiser Party! and for all us Eastern Canadians, you have plenty of time (like 12 hours) to get out to T.O. for the Betties Fun-Raiser.

I know there are other events, but I gotta go get my day going and get rolling to London. If you're on facebook today and know of any London, ON sites I should go check out, send the address to my facebook!

If you can't get to these events, find your own local roller derby and see what's goin on! Derby Luv to ya!

Labels: FCDG, Travel, wrapup

Well, here we are, already at the mid-point of January. It's 2009 people!
In Nia Capps news, I'm on my way next week to look at a new place to live in lovely, London, Ontario, in a nice suburbia neighborhood near a mall for easy shopping, and 1 bus to work until I get a car.

Now to figure out roller derby. I have to get my RSC insurance updated, as it expired Dec 31. SufferJet, of Forest City Derby Girls, in London has graciously offered to let me pre-renew as a FCDG, since I do plan to join when I get there in April. Once that's done, I have to plan to get to London as soon as possible so I can get to practicing with the team so I can hopefully get ready for the Beast of the East 2009 in Montreal. (IF FCDG is going, if I can play, etc). I'm nervous about joining a new league.....

In training news, I've gotten back to a healthy diet, and lots of exercise including Yoga, cardio (running and biking), and a challenge that involves tough circuit training of hundreds of crunches, pushups, getups, and all those killer old-fashioned, effective moves. I'm ready to skate as soon as the ice melts!

Now, across North America, January marks the beginning of the new year, and the new derby season, usually. There are already games going on, and schedules are already planned, and TBD insertions are going to be frantically worked by the Interleague Relations people on leagues everywhere to confirm those last minute game contracts, and figure out the final schedules. Those leagues that are 100% done already... kudos!

In British Columbia, a new league is debuting Saturday afternoon in Prince George, BC. The Rated PG Roller Girls will play their first exhibition game at the local Civic Center, and if you want to check it out, hurry. It looks like it may be a sold out crowd. Good Luck Rated PG Roller Girls!

In Ontario, a new league in Thunder Bay, Ontario is just getting rolling. I'm paying attention to what's happening and I'll get back to you when I see them moving along.

In other January news: In the US:
1) National Anthem Tryouts for the Arch Rival Rollergirls in St Louis, MO are Jan 18 and 26. If you want to sing the National Anthem to a derby crowd, go dust off your pipes and sing your heart out!

2) The CT Rollergirls have The Iron Angels vs the Widowmakers tomorrow on the 17th in Woodbridge, CT. The CT Rollergirls are throwing their entire league into mixed teams for all of their home games this year.

Note: This is not the first time I've heard this for 2009. Alot of teams that want to be more competitive are going all out to get their star players to a new level, and are doing more relaxed play at home, and saving the hardcore play for WFTDA games with their travel and all-star teams. Competitively smart, sure! With limited player resources, and many times, a packed game schedule for roller derby girls that still work full-time jobs and pay for their own travel and membership in the league... it makes sense. Plus, the home games that are only your league, give your skaters a chance to play that are newer, or that aren't able to play with the travel and all star teams for whatever reason. I'm torn on the idea right now, I'll get back to you on this topic.

Ok, well in Derby Luv news: the comic is fun to write! And hey, we're ready for additional bloggers to join this year from Western Canada, the UK, and the US. So if you want to become a Derby Luv blogger and tell us about your derby life, or interview other derby folks, just give us a shout!
In 2009, I hope to bring you more derby, and more fun, so stay tuned!

Labels: beast of the east, FCDG, wrapup

Here's the second Derby Luv: The Comic. Hope you guys are enjoying it!

Labels: Comic

My friend from ACRD, Trigger Mortis, and her ACRD girls (many who are Derby Luv Rollergirl interviewees) have written a piece on "21 Ways to stay tough, yet feminine". It's on the Dallas/ Fort Worth CBS 11 local news site, along with another one of those "roller-derby-is-making-a-comeback, reporter puts on skates" interviews as a related video on the side - I don't know when it was done, but if it's recent, I have a comment.

I love roller derby leagues getting press, but I look forward to the day that I see a story on mainstream TV (MAV TV's airing of WFTDA games notwithstanding) that is post-"making a comeback" for roller derby and maybe says - Roller derby aloready came back, if you missed it, it's here, now here's your local league, check'em out!

But anyway, I digress, maybe it was an old video, and I haven't been actually searching for news videos around the globe and I may be missing the whole f'in point. So to carry on, how can we be tough and yet, feminine? My own personal tough, yet feminine advice?
I don't know. Wear lipstick when you're being aggressive and stern with your employees? Fight in your fishnets? Don't forget the deodorant after practice?

Oh, Oh, I know! ... slap your lover while wearing your derby skirt commando!
Or is that just slutty? hahaha

Well ACRD girls give ya 21 ways.

My favorite is:

17. Never give up. "Real women fight to the finish. Don't let frustration stand in your way. Roadblocks are only temporary, and if you fall 50 times, get back up 51 times. Nothing feels as good to achieve if it wasn't worked hard for." ~Fresh Meat Nicole

Labels: ACRD, media, rollergirls

In collaboration with Bill Charbonneau, here is our first Derbyluv.com comic!
I hope you like it!

Derby luv to ya,
Nia

Labels: Comic, roller derby art

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2009, derbyluvvers. This year, I don't have resolutions, but I have some things I'd like to do.

1) Get moved and get back to roller derby!
2) Go to Beast of the East in Montreal at the end of April.
3) Play in at least one game this year.
4) Win the lottery so I can go to RollerCon 2009 AND do my Canada/US cross-country derby road trip
5) Get a car so I can travel to more derby
6) Renew my Canadian Permanent Resident card so travel is easier.
7) Get a new hairstyle
8) Get a raise or a promotion if one comes available
9) Get a new wardrobe for work, and new stuff for derby
10) Improve derbyluv.com.

Most of that is personal crap, but derbyluv.com may get some spit shine this year. We'll keep getting better around here with better coverage of events, more video and photo blogging, and who knows? Maybe you'll get a few surprises. As long as you still like reading it, I'll keep derbyluv up! What would you like to see? Let me know!


Oh, here's a new service to tell you about.
http://www.skatetrader.net/ is now open for business.
If you have old skates to sell, because you got your 4th new pair under the Christmas Tree, or are looking for a starter set to try out for the 2009 Season of your local roller derby, try out SkateTrader. Let me know how it works!

Labels: Derby Luv, New Year