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

Speed skating is how you go fast. On a derby track, pushing with both feet, using cross-overs all the time on that invisible oval (outside on the straights, close to the corners), and getting low are the tips we here. When we see girls pushing and taking full, long strides and doing quick runs on the corners, we know she's gonna fly.

"Why oh why am I slow?", I cried. This week I tried switching my wheels for my Blue demons from 2007 season for our concrete practice space. Let me tell you, wheels with miles on them outside doing T-Stops, plows, practicing and kms and kms of miles and miles around Montreal's Formula One Track, and then throwing them on a dusty concrete floor.... well, I wasn't THAT slow, I was at the back of the pack for a long time and just one or two pushes back, until I lost my steam and had to stop and breathe, but it was like I was sliding around the sharp corners of a squished track with tight corners, even hearing the skid of wheels.

I thought, "I must have a molasses curse on me!", because for my entire non-existent derby career I have been slow. Always just two or three pushes behind the pack in speed and endurance drills, working so extra hard that eventually I have to slow up and get lapped from exhaustion by women who are effortlessly pushing their skates along and flying past like they are super-heroes with some ability to float along the floor at super speeds.

Used to, I'd claim age, size, maybe bad wheel choices. Kudos to me for continuing to push and try to my limits and for continuing to train, but how come my brain knows all about how to do things and my body doesn't respond? How can I have good form, good skates, big pushes, and still be slower than absolutely everyone. As Charlotte Bruise-A-Lot in Montreal asked once, "Nia, you skate and push as hard as we do, I don't get why you are slower than us."

Is it all in my head, my natural academia state to be ahead, my natural physical state to follow? or are my feet just slow, my body ineffectively passing through the air around me?

My coach says not to worry. She says that when I master the midget track we practice on, and get my confidence and endurance for skating back ("It's only been a month, yo!", she said), I'll own and be one with the bout track, she said... and then I remember skating as a 'Dita in Hamilton with 9 players, and the few games I played, when I DID keep up and took my hits and gave some... and I know I'll be okay. Next stop, roster in London, and then the travel team. Someday, I'll be up against the 'Ditas to see if I can come back to surpass my Montreal teachers.

I haven't heard back from the weightloss management center yet about their contest, but I hope the derby gods send me someone that can help me figure out what the heck is wrong with me cause it sucks... A lot...to always be last.

Labels: training

This morning, on my walk from my city bus stop to my office, I once again stared into the windows of this new gym/weight management facility that I've been staring at every day for a couple weeks now. It's intimidating-looking with it open to the street (all windows) and an open concept gym with wood floors, punching bags, stability balls, cables, and very light on the equipment. I didn't get it. Was it pilates? Was it NIA? Was it personal training?

Well today, I saw a paper on the window, and it said they are looking for committed people to try out a regime for 2 months, and the biggest loser/winner will receive a 1 year unlimited membership and 1 month of private coaching for family member or friend.

As of now, I sent an email to the registration email address, and found them on Kijiji and forwarded my email to the contact person. You know how hard I've struggled with my training, strength, nutrition, endurance, and speed. I am a tough cookie, and I think if they can help me in such a short time, I'd be a poster child for them to advertise for others. I'm 35, fat, overweight, slow, and growing older. I work hard with little results. I even practice roller derby and don't see alot of change. So wish me luck and let's hope I am accepted into the challenge group!

What does it mean to me?
I have 3 months until September, when the roster will be finalized for the October home game in London. (prior to that I am a bit unlikely to be able to join the travel team). If I can make that (and do well) then I have a shot at making the travel team next year, at least.

And I have one year to save $1200-1500 plus spending money for RollerCon 2010. I've last minute shopped for cheapies, and My totals came to: Flight: $330.58 CDN (Expedia)
Hotel: at $40 weekday and $79 weekend nights at Imperial palace plus $5 per day resort fee $348/$179 if shared. The MVP pass alone is $250.21 and if I am going to Vegas alone, I want access to go where-ever... but if I was going with my friends, maybe the skater package would work. Add $40/day for food, another $40 for at least 3 of the days on booze, (unless I find $1 margaritas LOL) and shuttle/taxi costs, $15 insurance, spending money, etc.... It adds up as all you ladies know. So I'm making a committment to plan early to insure 2010 sees me in Vegas!

Labels: Rollercon 2009, training

Well derby luv fans, this weeked was pretty awesome. Not as good as playing roller derby and winning, but almost as good. Why, you say? Because I worked as a stats keeper (penalty keeper) for the refs of the bout on Saturday that was my team, the Thames Fatales, of the Forest City Derby Girls vs the GTA Rollergirls' Derby Debutantes.

First off, it was a new experience. Other than the slippy-as-ice surface that almost requires outdoor wheels to prevent body flying across the floor that sugar water barely helps, and the cushion-covered pillars that are within the track safety allowance, the space is huge. I told you about when I wrote up the season ender last year in 2008. This time around, since I was too new to make the roster (after 2008 was on off-skate year, I'm back to fresh meat status.) I was a volunteer. Thanks for my derby experience, and the space-provided beer and snack sellers, I was given a job as a penalty-stats keeper so I got to be in center of the track watching the game between frantic referree penatly calls, and shouts.

It gave me new perspective than I had as a player, or a fan. I got to see how hard it is to catch penalty moves in a frantic pack with a flying jammer, and how fast jams really are, and how much they do for us. Not only do they know the rules sometimes better than the players, and how to interpret them down to the various levels, but they volunteer their time, skate, train to keep up with the jammers on tight corners, and skate injured, just like us, but they seriously want to do a good job too! They travel with us, they setup our tracks and help take it down again. Just in case we don't say it enough, thanks refs! You guys rock, and we couldn't do it without you. Derby luv to all of ya!

Ok, that said, the Thames dominated the game. Penalties were heavily on the Debs, but to be fair, the Thames were playing a few newer players that need to work on blocking rules and elbows. But we've all been there, right? Regardless, I got to see my team win and it was awesome! And Londoners are great, and the kids even come around for autographs - even mine!

I had a couple beers when it was all over and headed home. Today I posted all the photos I took (sorry for the bad photo quality, I didn't notice a bad setting there), and updated the new Forest City Derby Girls website that I am the webmaster for.

Other than that my legs are sore from a lot of walking and crouching last night, walking and gardening today and I hope to have a good practice tomorrow night if they can hold me in my "95". After seeing the game, I have a renewed fervor to train hard and get back, not only on a team roster, but onto the travel team. It will come. If not in 2009, then in 2010 it will be my year.

On a side note, I was sad to hear that La Racaille in Montreal lost to CN Power on Saturday night. But I bet that was a fantastic game of roller derby. Reffrey Dalmer and I had a discussion about the La Racaille awesome power-blocking, and Iron Wrench's jamming before the game got started last night. But wow, CN Power is hitting the track hard these days too, I've seen them fight hard with HCRG and not MTLRD Beast of the East Champs. With MTLRD and Hammer City now WFTDA members, who is next?

Have a good derby week everybody!

Labels: bouts, FCDG, MTLRD, ToRD

I've got only 10 tickets left in advance for this event on May 23rd in London, ON - ROLLERGEDDON is a FCDG home game against the Derby Debutantes of the GTARollergirls, Toronto, ON. Don't think just because FCDG isn't a member of WFTDA yet, or that GTA Rollergirls are still considered a newer team that this won't be a tough game. These teams have trained with the larger leagues out there, have been at Beast of the East with the likes of Montreal Roller Derby and HammerCity (Hamilton, ON), so they can kick it up just as good!


After practice last night, my legs were screaming, so I know FCDG will ROCK! Besides, it's a great location and a fun, family-friendly atmosphere with a great party and beer garden in the same location! What more can you ask for in one night? Get your advance tickets from me, your favorite FCDG Rollergirl, or order online at westernfair.com . They are going fast! ($12 at the door, kids under 10 FREE, Licensed event).

Let's say you just can't get to London, ON on May 23. Okay, I'll hand it to you, it may be too far for some folks east and west of us here in SW Ontario. So what else is going on next weekend? This weekend even?


Start out East/EST:









Montreal's and Beast of the East Champs La Racaille are challenged in Montreal by CN Power, Toronto Roller Derby's powerhouse travel team in Provincial Skatred. Tickets are for sale at brownpapertickets.ca or at MTLRD sponsor locations in Montreal, if you don' t know any of the rollergirls.




Just a note, tonight is CN Power's fundraiser, Quick and Dirty, to help them get to Montreal.

HammerCity is holding a derby Bootcamp on May 20 and starting an 8 week derby 101 course for recruitment. Looks like TORD is also recruiting. Montreal's recruiting is closed, as usual, as the season is under way. FCDG is also recruiting and looking for London women that want to skate hard and hit harder.

Over 130 rollergirls from Toronto, ON to British Columbia's coast are this weekend in Red Deer Alberta for the CWRDA Boot Camp 2009.

I so wanted to go, and I hope more leagues in Canada join the CWRDA and we can begin to gain some Canadian steam in Roller derby as members of WFTDA and CWRDA, opening the door for all women and all types of roller derby to come together.

Well, that's the big derby news this weekend. Head to Red Deer this weekend, or go support TORD's CN Power, grab a bootcamp in Hamilton mid-week on your way to the May 23 ROLLERGEDDON bout in London, ON, and if travelling doesn't work for you, and you're out east, head to Montreal for the Provincial Skatred bout next weekend.

Either way, today is the day you should buy tickets! Head to westerfair.com for FCDG tickets, and to Brownpapertickets.ca for MTL tickets. Support your local rollerderby!

Labels: CWRDA, FCDG, GTA Rollergirls, Hammer City, MTLRD, wrapup

It's so good to be back! Practice 3 with FCDG tonight. Looking forward to having Miss Anya Face push me through my paces tonight. I'll try to get a few more, "Nia, you kick ass!" from the ladies I get partnered up with and I'll keep trying to do better.

In other news, last night I helped promote FCDG by appearing in a derby commercial (live commercial) during a Weezi fashion show last night in London, ON. We only had limited space to skate, but Commiekaze and I were able to hit Dollface Massacre and let her dramatically fall to the floor, and we got to join in with a "We're looking for Fresh Meat for Forest City Derby Girls!" climatic cheer. We flyered every table in the joint, but were not approached for tickets. Hard to get people to fork over cash when they are saving it for their beer that night, I guess. I hope I can sell some tickets this week and help FCDG recruit this season for next year!

In personal news, I can't tell I lost 18 pounds except in my face. I hate how I looked last night in pictures, but my co-worker (who just happens to know some of my FCDG teammates, and was a model in the show last night along with some of the FCDG girls and others, loves this photo of us. (Cropped for fitting and to cut out some things I can't show in public). I look like some crazy psycho trailer trash pale creature.... I don't even recognize me in there. I need a make over apparently.

Oh well. No matter. I thought about how to promote roller derby in London, ON, and while I was perusing, I came across some very cool little videos. In honor of my new commitment to keep Derby Luv content coming from me ALL-Canadian, I won' t mention the fantastic PSA announcements by the Minnesota Rollergirls, (I'll let you find those yourself!) ;)

I did laugh out loud though at the Montreal Roller Derby Promo spots out there now from MTL Roller Derby. My favorite is Coffee Break, but Walk in the Park is a close second. What a great way to have some fun and promote roller derby!

My promotion will be my weight loss, fitness gains, and improvements in my confidence levels, as well as my continued drive to tell everyone I meet about roller derby and try to generate a larger audience, support, and knowledge about the game. I am also going to try to get the FCDG new website up this weekend if I can get league approval and I am going to ask if there are committees I can join to help out.

Support your local roller derby people. The 2009 season is well underway and we need help to keep rolling. Buy and sell tickets, merchandise, play hard and skate harder and promote promote, promote!

Labels: Derby Luv, FCDG, MTLRD

Hey hey Derby Luvvers! I'm NOT dead!
I didn't give up roller derby, for those that were worried when seeing my facebook posts, haven't seen me on myspace or twitter, or seen me anywhere online, but I did some soul searching in April.

Why? I was completely exhausted. I've said it before, but never did I know what I was speaking of, because after a year of commuting 4 hours a day, getting up at 5 AM every weekday and then doing two trips in two weeks to Montreal and back to London, ON and moving two households in those two weeks, then jumping into a new neighborhood and job location and schedule and going to my first practice in MONTHS and feeling like I was going to die... well... it took a little reset button for Nia Capps to revive herself. I needed an internal defribliator, so to speak.

The 411: after a year almost completely off-skate I had stopped exercising and dieting. Gained 35 pounds. Stayed in shape in the gym LUCKILY, lost derby balance, skate stance endurance in back and ankles, shin splints recurred.

But, now I'm all settled in, getting back to myself. I decided I was CRAZY to even think of giving up on roller derby after all it has done for me, all it gives me, how it makes me feel better about myself and the rest of the world around me, and because I'm just not done. I've never:

Gone to RollerCon
Been on a Travel/All Star Team
Been a member of WFTDA or OSDA (I left Montreal before they became WFTDA member league)
Played in another country (I did practice once!)
Won an award at an awards ceremony

I have lots more to do, and I'm not too old to do it, even if I am turning a WHOPPING 35 this year.

As of last weekend, I am back down 18 pounds. I'm in the gym, on a very healthy diet and am on my own version of a biggest loser challenge. I want to have people join me. Watch here if you want to come with me.

What's next?
First, I've made it through a good practice with FCDG and paid my dues and will be at all the practices I can get a ride to and am allowed to attend as fresh meat.

Second, I'm back in love with derby so derby luv is back.

Last, tonight, I get to assist with recruitment for FCDG by appearing in a Retro Fashion Show for WEEZI at The Ceeps in London, ON. FCDG is doing a live commercial in a break of the Family Feud-inspired fashion-show skit. What a COOL idea! Let me know if you're in London and ever thought about playing roller derby or learning to skate. I'll help!

I'm also working on a FCDG website to launch as soon as I can nail down some pictures since I'm new to the league, and I'll be working the bout on May 23 here in London, ON. Watch here for bout info!

Thanks for not forgetting about Derby Luv and for being patient while I got my life and derby under control. I'm back! Here's to the rest of 2009 being a great derby adventure!

Labels: Derby Luv, FCDG