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2009/07/31
Rollerconsolation
Thanks to Cat, who commented on my last post, I don't have time to travel and plan, but will spend my Canadian holiday weekend, not only pining for Rollercon but wishing I had this consolation trip available: NHRD is having a Rollerconsolation tourney in Manchester, NH this weekend if you need consoling. Tank'd Girl & Hazel are the leads on that. For more information: visit NH Roller Derby at: http://www.nhrollerderby.com/ The teams represented are: New Hampshire Roller Derby• Boston Derby Dames• Central Mass Roller Derby• Green Mountain Derby Dames• Broward County Derby Grrls• Ottawa Roller Derby• Pioneer Valley Roller Derby• Providence Roller Derby• But looks like the sheer size of my ankle means I'll be drinking a few beers while I work on repairing a set of old skates for a new recruit to FCDG tonight, doing London, ON's Ribfest on Saturday, rehab on Sunday in the rain and spending my Holiday Monday at a beach with a friend instead of doing derby. Lots of party news and training coming in August, I better enjoy one last weekend of not being hardcore... take it easy and have a great long weekend, Canadian Derbyluvvers! Labels: bouts, tournaments
2009/07/29
4 weeks to birthday, 8 weeks to bout, and healing a sprained ankle failing after 3 weeks
Hey Derby Luvvers! Guess what? It's another year when DerbyLuv, your's truly, Nia Capps, is NOT in Las Vegas for RollerCon fun. Don't worry, I'm always there in spirit and do have team members there, Miss Anya Face and CommieKaze are there from FCDG, and I am sure someone I know from MTLRD or Hammer City is there. For those that are taking a breather, reading this looking for me online to see if I am there, now you know! Twitter or Facebook message me news though, and you may be on Derbyluv.com! I can't decide if I should aim for Blood and Thunder 2010 or just hang on and do RollerCon 2010 as my first west coast derby trip. But I think RollerCon will be it.... for now, I'm trying to heal this ankle up because I might be on roster for FCDG bout Sept 26 and Oct 3 if I can heal, get healthy and stay healthy. It's sore again today after stops and falls practice last night, and hurts again when I touch it. :( SUCKS! What's the best way to heal a severe sprain, fast!? As for training, last night I learned I actually CAN do snowplow stops, and though I still seem to copy my legs with my arms and appear as though I am doing the chicken dance, I can actually do them now (though not a fast to stop, wheel screeching, thing). I can do perfect T stops and backwards toe stop/hockey stop combo. I'm concerned about the 25 laps in 5 minutes, we don't have a regulation practice track and I haven't tried on healthy ankles lately. I'll have to plan a trip to the local rink and guesstimate a track size and try a 5 min speed and see what I come out with. In other news, Nia Capps, your friendly neighborhood rollergirl has her dream roller derby tattoo in her head. It's big and daring, but bloody perfect, if she can make the image in her head come to life with limited artisitc talents and find an appropriate body part it will fit on. I'll let you know how it turns out if I or my talented derby widow can bring it to life, or if I am looking for tattoo artists' help! L8r sk8rs! have a fantastic RollerCon 2009! Labels: injuries, Rollercon 2009, tattoo, training
2009/07/23
New Minimum Skill Requirements in July from WFTDA
The NEW minimum skating skills from WFTDA were released recently. I finally had a chance tonight to read through the changes at DNN and then go look at the new requirements. Even after playing a season in Montreal previously, I will need to test myself after a year off and now this darn injury. The New updates? 1) Instead of 5 laps/min, 20 laps/5 min, the speed and endurance requirement is now 25 laps in 5 minutes. We have to get faster to keep up with the faster and more competitive teams out there. Now I don't have a space to practice in on a regulation track, so how to know? I'll figure something out at the location rink to test myself! I used to be able to do about 22-23 before I was working out, let's see if I am fast enough! 2) Instead of just stops, the two required stops are the T-stop (got it) and the Plow Stop. That one is tough. Not everyone can plow stop from a brisk pace to a complete stop. I mean I can do it, but its not the floor squeaking, wheel breaking quick stop I want it to be. I just have never gotten it down pat 100% with 100% consistency. Ok, when my ankle lets me, I'll get it right now! 3) Hops: Now not just hopping one foot to the other and hops, now it's to hop over something with a minimum of 3 inches in height. I don't jump well, but can hop, and I think I can do a small 3 inches so I'm okay there. I am nervous though about increasing height requirements for jumps. I have never gotten over my bad mechanics on jumping and never gotten over my jumping onto/over things fear. If anyone has tips on getting air for someone air-challenged, heavy, big, tall, and wussy... let me know! LOL 4) Laterals - 3 in straightaway and two in turns - laterals from one side of track to the other. I think I have that one - have to test myself on turns on our skinny track. I know straights I am okay. 5) Hip whips.. hip whips... oh yeah,you mean steal momentum - got it. Ok there! 6) The 40-question skills test to give to your league's skaters. Love it. Standardized testing that is skill and game specific. 85% required to pass. I've studied, I think I can pass it! All in all, it's a sign of the increasing competitiveness and athletic ability in the land of WFTDA that the minimum skills have now increased, and they will continue to do so. It's awesome. I'm willing to work harder to get into all-star status before I retire, so here I come WFTDA-world! In other news, on day 19 (if you are on my facebook) you saw, I woke up to a stretch that hurt, did a circular range of motion on my ankle and POW it popped. All day achy, sore... not so bad though, no lump. Look down at 4 pm and UH OH, it's all swollen again. No skating for you. But it HAS to heal, I have to get it rehabbed and re-strengthened and back on skate, I HAVE to meet requirements and get to training because I finally am back on a roster for FCDG games in Sept and October as long as I get back to practice, heal, and stay un-injured! WOOT! I HAVE TO get better! Any tips on rehab are appreciated, I want to be back NOW! Everyone else is packing for RollerCon and I am trying to heal and planning a potential last minute overnight roadtrip to Montreal to maybe see MTL and pick up the mother-in-law if Via Rail strikes. Otherwise, I'll be relaxing and trying to heal this ankle somehow.... I'll let you know tomorrow the final list of Canadian league bouts I've been sent for this weekend so you can check them out. Between that and WHIP IT movie trailer and Comic Con appearance excitement, my derby widow doesn't even want to go see a bout cause he's sick of roller derby. He says I talk about roller derby, training for roller derby, injuries, rules, skates, plans, recruiting and my day job and that's about it. I said, well, who has time for more than that? LOL Sorry honey, you're married to a rollergirl, I'll try to mix in some other sports, current events and other news sometimes! Labels: injuries, minimum skill requirements, training, WFTDA
2009/07/15
Whip It! Trailer
Released today and available on YouTube.com, check it out! Looks fun, derby-ish, inspiring for rollergirls and promoting for roller derby. Looks like a good time! Hope it's awesome and can't wait to see it! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cA2ngjW0YQLabels: whip it
2009/07/13
FCDG Thames Fatales at RVRG Slaughter Daughters Jul 11, 2009 - the last road trip
 It's a good thing I decided to jump on the bus with the Thames Fatales this weekend for the trip to Ottawa, it's their last bus-required, long road trip of the 2009 season that is currently booked. My first derby trip on a bus full of my teammates, where last year, my first road trip to a training camp was to GMDD Vermont Training Camp with Big Tickets of HCRG. We pulled out a little after 7 with our team and support staff (like me, with my wrapped ankle and purple calf muscle) and even an angelic-faced baby rollergirl-to-be in tow. A big purple bus with a retired OPP Canine Unit officer, a friendly man named Kurt at the wheel to safely drive us all across Ontario for 7 hours. The road trip there included the reading of applications for the receipt of a green and white Trucker hat to wear for victory laps and post-game hair coverage, which ranged from team spirited to scandalous and hilarious. Of course there was sleeping and occasional hilarity, but the terribly rainy and stormy weather kept the skies interesting. We checked into our rooms and went to eat at a place called Al's near our hotel on Carling Ave in Ottawa, Ontario and though closing, they stayed open and the cooks there churning out quick eats for us all in record time with awesome pizza, and other quick eats for the girls to get some fuel for the game. A quick rest and dress to dry off, and we went to the game. My job was to setup the Merch table and sell merch for the first period and between periods, and post game pack up. In between I could watch the game. Unfortunately, the Thames Fatales were defeated by the tough-as-nails blocker line-ups and quick jammers on the line-ups for RVRG's Slaughter Daughters that night, but showed their own toughness by taking and giving some big hits, and not giving up; continuing to fight, even with the point spread was at its' largest. The final score was 150-77 for the RVRG Slaughter Daughters. The Thames will get a chance to reverse that outcome in a re-match this fall in London. For me, I found out the day I was injured at the gym, our team captain was contacting me to invite me to join the roster and play at this game, which was a crushing moment, but I was able to help the team with merch sales, so it's all good. I've got lots of time to recover, and improve even more, before the September date of the next game vs TriCity. The after party was a blast, though we had to wait to get in the location due to a busy BluesFest in Ottawa, but A poutine at 2 AM on a street, a fight, crazy pictures were AWESOME and Sunday morning hangovers were in effect and helped a few of us bond. The ride home was a long one, with sore muscles, bruises, welts, exhaustion, hang overs and painful injuries in knees and (my ankle) bruises from bumpy road vibrations being the main complaints, but a happy junk food day of rest area stops and Tim Horton's coffee. Sleeping, trashy magazines, and fun with tea bags and waking sleeping teammates was an afternoon past time (see my facebook for photos) and the defeated but tough and optimistic FCDG arrived back in London ready to get to practice this week, get the game video and start working on how to reverse that score when they meet the Slaughter Daughters in the Fall. For me, I'm walking and will start Yoga this week and try to rehab for a first day back to skating at a rookie practice next week. FCDG is recruiting! If you're in London, or know someone who is, that's female, 18+ and wants to give roller derby a try, tell them to let us know or visit the FCDG website! We would like to see a dozen more rookies to come into training for the 2010 season. 2009 is time to learn! Video from the bout is coming and will be here later tonight! Labels: bouts, FCDG, recruitment, RVRG, Travel
2009/07/09
FCDG Thames Fatales @ RVRG Slaughter Daughters and other derby weekend - and WHIP IT news
Hey Derby-luvvers. For anyone watching, I'm on the mend from that FUBAR-level chain of unfortunate events that led to my injuries this week. I'm walking again, albeit slowly, with a limp and with some pain management. But good news, I am good enough to get around so I'm packing up myself and crutches and joining the bus of Thames' that are headed to Ottawa to play Rideau Valley Rollergirls' Slaughter Daughters in "Slaughter in the City".  Details are on the RVRG website! The Game is Saturday July 11, Doors at 7, wheels at 8, with advance tickets available at multiple locations. Come on out and see us in Ottawa! What else is going on in Canadian roller derby this weekend, if you just can not get to Ottawa? In Toronto, you can check out Capital Punishment. The GTA Rollergirls (GTAR) Derby Debutantes take on the Ottawa Roller Derby's Capital Carnage in Toronto. If you are out in Alberta the CWRDA is putting on a bout of two games at the Sherwood Park Hockey Arena, of mixed scrimmage teams made up of Eville, OCDG, Red Deer, Medicine Hat, CRDA SRDL and Lacombe. 6:30 PM is all-girl and 8 PM is Co-Ed. Sounds like a great evening of roller derby! If you're out west in Vancouver this weekend, check out Roller Derby at Sunset Beach. A free roller derby event from the Terminal City Rollergirls. And if you are totally out of luck on all fronts, and can't get to a derby game, then drool on this: ComingSoon.net has provided the first photo of the upcoming Whip It from Drew Barrymore. I can't wait!  Yes, it's awesome to see Drew Barrymore and Ellen Page all geared up, and I'll refrain from any nit-picking, judging of what I see here for now - it's too exciting! Can't wait to see it! Labels: CWRDA, FCDG, injuries, RVRG, TCRG, whip it, wrapup
2009/07/05
OW! Not a cool derby injury but a bad one anyway
So you read I was in mondo-training gear. The good news? I was doing awesome! I could keep up at practices, not even tired at the end of the 2 hours anymore, ready to start scrimmage practices (but they got cancelled for july), and our coach, the kick ass Anya Face, was giving me props for doing so great. I lost a pants' size while gaining muscle mass, feeling freakin great about challenging myself. I was on vacation this past week and Mama Capps was visiting London from North Carolina for Canada Day. We ate great food, drank beers, had a barbecue, went to Niagara Falls for a day, a great time! Saturday, I got up, got dressed, jumped on my bike for my usual ride to town and 2 hours of exercise (BodyStep Class and BodyFlow Yoga class) and ride back. The Step Class started and during the second cardio peak at about 10:30 AM, when I did an up and over and stepped down off the step, some kind of graveling/gremlin/universe shoved me a little too far to the right and my right ankle rolled to the outside so quick it was like I jumped down onto it that way. I felt it tear and sat myself down. My ankle bone was the size of a golf ball within minutes, and the trainer at the gym that took care of me was awesome and had me iced and resting within seconds. As my ankle swelled, I decided I was not going to play around with it (I WAS SO SAD! I can't skate with a bum ankle!) so we were heading straight to the ER. I had to hop on one foot balancing by holding my husband's arm, but having stopped exercising in a peak, with no cool down or stretch had left my left leg tight and crampy. I made it to the bottom of the escalator leading up out of the gym, and lost it. I reached out for a steadying grab, and the escalator rail is all I could catch, but they MOVE so I moved and down I went onto the floor. I did try to save myself, but stepping on that bad ankle was like I was stabbed and it didn't take my weight. So up I went and we got a cab, hop hop and UGH, in a cab, thank god. Off to the ER. Out of the cab, hop hop hop to the ER doors. Hop hop hop into the door. See those chairs, hop there! Hop hop HOP, AHHHH OWWWW my leg.. fall into the chairs. My left calf muscle tore on that last hop just like my right one had done a year ago, and down I went. Fast forward after waiting, Xray and some more waiting. The doctor looks at the ankle and decides he better check the Xrays. He comes back and gives me good news. Nothing is broken! YAY! But then doesn't listen to my, "Um, doc, I don't know how I am going to walk. On the way in, I was hopping on one foot (my left) and I've pulled my left calf muscle." These nurses come with crutches and ask me to get up. I can stand, mostly, but don't know if I am going to be able to hop on that left leg to swing through the crutches. They convince me to try, so I do, and my left calf muscle screams and feels like someone is pulling it from my leg from my achilles up to my knee. I let out an OWWWW and fall backwards into the wheelchair. WTF? Long story now getting shorter, I figured out how to put weight on each of the injured legs in order to balance and sort of, shuffle, slowly, ambulate myself into and around my house. I am so bummed about it. Even if I figure out how to walk, I have to let this heal, so I am looking at 2 weeks until I can rehab the ankle, and probably 3-4 before I'll be pain free enough to push this calf muscle. 
Swollen on Day 2 - Purple, Large, ankle The only good part is that my day job will let me work at home to heal faster, instead of having to walk on it to get to work, I won't lose money or sick time, and I wasn't scheduled with any chance of making a bout roster with the Thames before September or October, so as long as I can get back on skates by August and I can get my strength back in this ankle and calf by September, I should be still good to go. I will try anyway. Labels: injuries
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