It will be the last game of London, Ontario's Forest City Derby Girls for the 2009 season. The Thames Fatales (that includes me, Nia Capps, Blocker, #74 on the line up) take on the Tri City Champs from Kitchener-Waterloo 2009 Season, the Vicious Dishes! It's a sort of re-match from the bout this summer when Tri-City Thunder beat the Thames Fatales on the Tri-City home turf, and the Thames look to make it up by returning that favor on Nov 7.

In the meantime, for me, I've spent the last few weeks practicing (except when I was sick), getting my gear situation improved (I am now sporting brand new 187 knee pads (my Old Pro-Tec street ones were just worn out after - 3 years!), and new Pro-tec street elbow and wrist guards. Oh, and don't forget about the Radar Mojo wheels 88A with aluminum hubs I got from Rollergirl.ca - these babies are awesome! I hope they are as good on a good arena floor as they are on our slippy concrete floor. Now it's just about actually performing this time around. There were little expectations for me last game as an alternate, but this time around, I have some shit to prove. I will do my best.

In prep, I'm heading out with some of my teammates to a scrimmage practice with the Smoke City Betties of The ToRD league tonight. Time to practice for real!

Unfortunately, it's a 2-3 hour drive to get to the 2 hour practice, add 2-3 hours home and put that all after a long work day and I'll be wiped out. Add a morning 7:30 departure to go right back to Toronto to a special meeting work day in our Toronto offices, and a nightmarishly over-promised Nia who is A) Making a Halloween Costume B) Baking cookies and cupcakes for a bake sale C) practicing roller derby D) getting a shirt found, bought and given to be lettered for the Nov 7 bout E) going to a doctor appointment and working full time this week - and note: I am doing F) ALL OF THE ABOVE - and what you have is a happy, stressed, tired, over worked, excited, ready to get to Saturday already Nia Capps.

But don't worry, derby luvvers, I'll make time for roller derby stuff too. I was just reading up on the WFTDA apprentice program - wondering if WFTDA is a goal for us in Forest City and if I could help out by being the person to drive it, the NSO and referee WFTDA accreditation requirements, the most recent WFTDA rankings for Canadian leagues (MTL Roller derby is 13th in North EAST, Hammer City (Hamilton) is not yet ranking in North Central), and trying to figure out how I can help FCDG promotion wise, as well as planning off-season web-site updates for Derby Luv and FCDG.

Well, until the weekend, I may be offline, but I wil be checking my email. Message me if you need advance tickets, Thames Fatales 2010 Calendars or merch, or need anything on Derby Luv!

Labels: bouts, FCDG, TCRG, training

That's right, it's DERBUY. A new site was sent over from WetSpot of the MN Rollergirls, called DERBUY. You can buy and sell roller derby gear, new and used, (meant for used items) that you have stored in your derby closet.

From wheels to boots and apparel to art, looks like it will be a good site, once more of us post our stuff. I use my gear until it's threadbare, but I might have some stuff to put up soon.

Check it out, here. 

I had always wondered when a league would think to do this.

I Love it. What a great merch idea!

http://rollerderbyworkout.com/  also available at Sin City Skates.

Rat City's Off-Skate offering:

http://sincityskates.com/images/merch/media/getsome_athletics.jpg

Labels: training

Hey Derby luvvers!

I just wanted to give you all a notice that if in the last few months - actually, the last 7 months, if you've sent an email or contact form to me at info at derbyluv.com, I didn't get it.

So I wasn't ignoring you, I didn't mean to not post your news/events, I totally like to hear good and bad criticism of the site, so please; If you have contacted me in the past and I did not respond, please try again. As of this morning, an email glitch has been resolved, and all emails will forward to me again.

Not that I am assuming that you've clamoured to contact me or anything. :)

November 7, 2009 will be the last game of the season for my team (FCDG's Thames Fatales). The first game fully on roster for me, (not just as alternate like last time) and we're going against the fast, wall-maker blockers and jammers of TCRG (Tri-City Roller Girls (Kitchener-Waterloo, ON). (Tickets are available in advance - check the website!)


At the Bounce This! game last month, I was so nervous and feeling surreal that I was almost out of it. I made it through my half-dozen jams I played to fill in for other players needing a break, and upon a calm, sober, reflection I feel oddly conflicted.


I can name about 4 good things that happened for me, and about 4 that were not so good, and the experience being fantastic - well it was NOT because I did anything fantastic or that I feel my team learned to trust me or that I played super well. It was just fantastic that I was playing and that we won. False fantasticism is my new word today.


So my goal for the next 3 weeks is to not miss a practice. To ask my team to help me be more effective in the next game by running plays with me. To practice with as many teammates as I can to get a feel for how we can work together. To ask my coach/captain for advice on how to hold the line and still be effective within the pack if my pivot asks me to hold the line, is that just what I am doing in that jam, and is that an okay thing to be? Just be The Line-Holder. I guess, if I am a good goddamn line holder, eh? LOL


And for personal prep I have new protective gear (187 Knees, Protec Street elbows and wrists) from Rollergirl.ca , Kwik 7 Bearings, and I am on RADAR MOJO's too. Man, the review for these wheels is going to have 4 stars, or two skirts up, or whatever my best rating will be. I absolutely love them - hope they are fast enough on the Western Fair Canada Building floor! I'll get a black shirt lettered in advance so I won' t have to worry, and I will be scrimmage practicing with some girls later in October to get a practice session in. What else can I do? Don't get injured, Hydrate, stretch, relax, and get my confidence up. Any suggestions anybody?


This weekend: Practice tonight, Yoga on Friday, A clothing swap/Epicure/jewelry party on Saturday followed by a recruitment Meet and Greet with the FCDG, Sat evening, and on Sunday? Well, say it with me: Zombieland and Halloween decorations. If you are in Toronto, go check out the Chicks Ahoy vs The Death Track Dolls on Saturday night. And for my American friends, some more bouts are around http://www.derbynewsnetwork.com/bouts.

Labels: FCDG, roller derby gear, TCRG, ToRD, training

What is your team's reputation? How do you know? What builds it?

Your fans, sponsors and opposing teams build your reputation with the video, pictures, write-ups, reviews they put up. Your league members build it by what they post on faceboo, myspace, twitter, ping, and the rest of the social networking sites. Your referees and visiting referees and volunteers build it based on what they say about you after a bout.

Your own league members build it with their actions and posting online while representing your league. So when are you representing your league?

Anytime you are using your derby name, wearing a derby logo, are known as a member of your league, you are representing your league. Why is it important to leave people with good feelings about you? Because if they like you, they will like your league, and liking your league equals either: The new fan that spends on merch and tells their friends and brings more new fans, the sponsor that wants to partner with you and promote you or give you money or gifts, or someone that might want to join your league as a skater or ref.

What does that mean? It means:
1) Don't edit video's or photos to make another team look really bad if they lost to you. There is no reason for that. They played hard and did their best, and you won. You may not win next time, because they may have learned a lot from you, so stay professional and friendly. I've moved to 3 derby cities in 3 years. I trained with all 3, played with 2. If I had bad blood because of something I did, and then tried to join, do you think I would have been welcomed to train with those teams and been chosen to play? No. The person you hate today may be your teammate tomorrow. I know we gossip, but do it in private.

2) Be a good winner. The other team played hard, gave you those bruises you are sportin and maybe just had a bad night. Cheer for yourselves, and then cheer for them. They just got defeated. Make sure they know you appreciate them playing and what you learned from them. Don't hole up in team groups, mix it up with the visiting team and make some new friends!

3) Be a good loser. You just played an awesome game of roller derby and if you lost, you know when you review, you'll see why and it won't happen again, so there's no reason to beat yourselves up about it, and no reason to be unhappy. Stay positive! Make friends with the team that beat you. That girl that knocked you down all night might be able to teach you how she did it.

4) If a fight happens, get over it. Don't go away mad, as they say. What happened on the track was a track thing. Off the track, we all play roller derby and we're all strong women. Sometimes tempers flare. Accept or give an apology when you have gone too far and let it go.

5) Remember, you never know who's watching, and everything you do and say as a player, member, volunteer, coach, representative of your league reflects on your league.

Did you post a comment about someone sucking? Maybe your league has worked for months to setup a sponsorship that you don't know about, you write a bad thing about that company not knowing, you could lose your league a really good opportunity. Maybe you make a team member mad who then shares with her league, and now your team has a cancelled game for the next season. They refuse to play you because you were an ass. You start a fight, or play dirty, and the league never plays you again because it sucked. You don't make sure they have fun, hate your city, they never want to come back.

So step away from the facebook and twitter posts for a second and think about what you are doing. Are you inciting positivity and roller derby promotion, or are you being a douchebag? Are you putting up a photo or video to show an awesome strategy, hit or pack move, or are you promoting the drama of that fight that broke out, or to point out a flaw in the other team? You represent your league as a member of it, so make sure what you put out into the world is what you want the world to remember when they see your next event poster.

Labels: media, reputation, roller derby

So I didn't do a write-up on the Forest City Derby Girls website on the last two games, because I didn't get any photos from them, but I did post here. So if you're paying attention, you'll remember on July 6 weekend we all took the purple 70s-era party bus to Ottawa and pretty much had our asses handed to us by RVRG, and they trounced us.

We had fun anyway, and we came home and we reviewed, and we trained. We played Tri-City last weekend, and we also got beat. Well, we decided as a team that 1) We do need to work together if we want to win 2) We do need to be aggressive and do better pack control, and 3) It's important to still have fun.

So we did. We put on a good show last night. Let's break it down for you.

Intros:

RVRG - Pace Line, Player intro and wave.
FCDG - 5 or 6 in large black afro wigs with green jammer stars on them. Pack skate, player intro - throw a WHIP IT! T-shirt into the crowd and slide into line on knees. Anya Face, captain is last skater called and she hits the line and we all fall down.

Period 1
Don't ask me the score or what jam was which - I was an alternate last night so I was watching and then making sure I wasn't being put in last minute all night. Worse than getting killed is waiting to get killed, you know? Anyway...

Highlights: RVRG star, Soul Rekker, who is a star jammer, had FCDG blockers on her last night like white on rice. We managed to work our line-ups so that our weaker jammer would skate against Soul Rekker, but the blocking line-up would be on her, while our stronger jammer would go out against their weaker ones and rack up points. Mid-way in, I was called up to go in.

I had been nervous all freaking day. Worse than when I played with the Contrabanditas for my first game in Montreal in 2007. Way worse! Why? In Montreal, I was playing with a team I had trained with for a year. I was playing against a team I practiced with all the time, so I knew what they would do. This time, up against RVRG I just knew I'd get owned.

That jam went sour fast. First off, the pack got split up and we were freaking sprawled it seemed like 60 feet, though my teammate Annie Takers was right behind me on my left on the line, and I was in the middle. I wen to hit an RVRG blocker, and she and her teammate sandwiched me. It was okay though, I fell, but two of them were busy taking me down, and VROOM went Anya face as she skirted by. YAY! I made a, what's that, DIVERSION. But then, disaster. Semi-Precious of RVRG but a hard hit into Mirambo, one of our fantastic all around skaters, and Mirambo slammed to the ground into one of the columns in our playing space that we have to pad because they are inside our safety mark. She snapped her collar bone.

Well, as Mirambo was taken out on the stretcher, our team pulled ourselves together and did, "MIRAMBO" chant and went back out to give'er. Score 74-55 for FCDG.

Intermission:

Fruit, water, stretch, talk game plan.

Period 2:

The line ups changed a bit, and the jammer match-ups changed to. We had Anya Face going up against Soul Rekker now, and Soul Rekker would jump in as a blocker to try and stop Killson. Killson made about 800 new fans last night, because she was unstoppable. She skated hard, fast, and skirted by hits like she floated across the floor. Anya Face blocked as a jammer when Soul Rekker was racking up RVRG points. Ak-47 of RVRG was jamming quite a bit last night, but she got sent to the box a couple times, leaving our jammers open to just roll.

FCDG called 2 timeouts and challenged a call, and also noticed some points missing. Once corrected, the score was 88-70 in Period 2. The only game issue was that during the timeouts, the crowds get a little "WTF is going on?"and get out of the action. I'll speak to that in a minute. Other issues, was reffing. There were two pretty confusing instances where first jam, we had a jammerless jam with both jammers called on majors. In Period 2, Killson took a turn in the box, came out, did one lap and was sent back out again. It was just weird. RVRG also was disappointed in the reffing.

Here's that complaint again. Bad reffing. We've had it in games we play, like this weekend, as we all have, I think. Referees in derby are inexperienced (most don't play derby themselves), unpaid volunteers, that only can practice their craft if we play. So here's my personal theory. Setup one scrimmage practice per week and ask the refs to come out. Scrimmage in a "dress rehearsal" fashion with the clocks running, penalty calls, the whole shebang. It will be good practice for the refs - because you can stop after a bad call and review right away. And it would be invaluable in a secure environment with their teammates for new skaters and rookies to get a feel for the pace of a bout. But, if your space doesn't allow for full bouting hits and play, that might be hard. So I guess GTAR had it right this year. If you don't have space to practice all the time, just play a lot. Play a game as often as you can. But the end of a season, you'll be better just from learning on the fly. Refs should ref at all nearby derby games, to get more experience, and everyone, remember, it's Roller Derby and we aren't even at risk of losing endorsement contracts.

But I digress. Here's another point for you, we all get bad reffing sometimes, and we deal with it. Win or lose, Jammer's game, blocking game, good calls and missed calls. Challenge and review when you think you need it, and watch your points. Other than that, play derby and have fun! If it's not fun, you don't want to do it!

So as the period went on, I got to play a few more times. I mainly held the inside line when asked to, I didn't get any superstar hits in, or do any hail mary plays, but I had no intention of trying anything like that last night. I was just getting my bout legs back. I took some hits, made some holes for my jammers, held a position or two, took a skate to the chin in a pileup and was on the ground at least once in all my jams.

We ended on a fight note, unfortunately. Semi-Precious nailed another player and Elle Boes jumped on her back and ended up putting Semi-Precious into a headlock. It was bad, and Elle Boes did get ejected and did apologize. Tempers flared and it was over. You won't get the humor in what happened until you see Elle Boes. She's about 5 foot something and weighs about 100 pounds. Semi-Precious is a strong blocker. It was like a Wildcat and a lion. Elle was ejected for fighting, for the last part of the period - and we won! It was sad for it to be on a bad note for Semi-Precious. She's a tough competitor and tempers should be in check out there. But, all in all, what happens on the track stays on the track. Victory lap (my first ever) was awesome, and then we got RVRG to take their lap too. We did a big team photo op, and then had RVRG join us. I hope we actually get some of the photos that get taken - I want to see them! (btw, I found photos and the two teams are AWESOME!

Now, it's time to review, process, and train. Our final game of the 2009 season is on November 7th, and it's another re-match, this time versus the Championship winning team from Tri-City Roller Girls, (TCRG), either the Vicious Dishes or the Venus Flytramps. I saw Anita Martini, Bareleigh Legal, and some of the TCRG crew in the suicides last night, scoping us out. I hope for the next bout I can show my stuff like I do in practice. I'll be less nervous, I hope, and if not, I'll keep people busy hitting me. TCRG teams are fast though, so I will be ordering some new bearings (I am on Abec 5s right now, cause my REDS rusted) and will be working on speed and hitting this month.

Je Thames, Thames Fatales, for working so hard, having so much fun and for bringing me on that ride. I just had my first win ever. I really felt like I helped, even though I only played 7 jams and fell a lot - I thought - and I kept up, surprising since I can't keep up with the team at practice most of the time (speed wise, not skating wise I mean). I feel like next time I can help more. I heart every sore muscle, broken nail, bruise and bump I have today and I heart Je Thames Fatales, and I heart roller derby. A good day.

Thanks RVRG! You guys rock out on the track and are awesome. We learned alot from you. Soul Rekker, you are unstoppable, lady. And I am feeling the sandwiched two-blocker hit I took in period 1, and the skate to the chin I took in period 2, so thanks! The pain is what tells me I played! You ladies rock, and we're 1-1 for 2009 - see you in 2010 I hope, and I look forward to a better after-party where we can all hang!

Labels: bouts, FCDG, RVRG

If I wasn't already into roller derby, I would be now!

Whip It! was awesome. Ok, so I am a little too damn old and fat to identify with a 17 year old skinny girl, or even such a thin Drew, or even such a skinny and tough broad looking Juliette Lewis.

I am too jaded for the sappy moments, and never had any "My mom didn't accept me moments" to identify with, but WHIP IT! was great anyway.

Why? Bliss' reaction to roller derby was like mine - WOW, I wanna do that! - the roller derby was awesome, if not realistic at all times - I do want a playbook now! - and it made a lot of the movie-going crowd want to see a roller derby game, since we were there to tell them we are live in town. Mission accomplished! It made me laugh a few times, cheer a couple times, and reminded me why I love roller derby too. It made me want to have a food fight with my teammates next time we have cake, and it made me want to have more time to train, and to do better.

Watching it was the perfect way to prepare for a game.

Now, just to put on a good showing at the game tomorrow. I know I am not on a "permanent" line up and I did ask to only be played as filler, so I kinda hope I don't have to play much - I'm nervous that I am not ready - but I do want to go back to playing, so I'm torn. I am as nervous as my first game, almost scared again.... 

wow... ok breathe...

tomorrow - Sleep in, Fix up the new Mouth guard, Get your uniform set up, Clean your skates - check bearings, maybe oil them - have a nice Pasta lunch, light snacks after, hydrate, rest, ice, brace and breathe. Go to the Canada Building at about 5 and try the floor early. Then relax. Hydrate, snack, get ready with the team. Breathe. Then don't fall until you're knocked down with a hard hit, get through the intros, and then wait to be called up onto the line.

BREATHE. Be nervous, but make eye contact with the lineup, dance and smile, loosen up. BREATHE. Now skate. BREATHE, skate harder and HIT HARD. Skate hard and hit hard and BREATHE. Then relax. The worst is over. Even if it's in the penalty box. Play a good game. Party.

See you tomorrow RVRG and Je Thames!

Labels: bouts, FCDG, whip it

Leagues across North America are getting their skates on, teams together, and are promoting WHIP IT! and roller derby to the masses. 

I envision larger recruitment pools, even for small-market leagues, and the possibility of more junior derby if the leagues out there have folks willing to teach the younger girls that will be attracted to the teeanage-push of the movie, with Ellen Page escaping her Beauty Queen, mother's footsteps, small town existence to become a roller derby star. And I am excited for it. Drew Barrymore just made friends with all of us, even if the movie turns out to be not a classic, it is the best thing that has happened for Roller Derby, with all of Drew's tireless promotion, to generate public knowledge that we're here, staying, and that that the sport is getting more popular - if they are living in some non-derby news vortex and have missed the bout for the whole of the new millenia to date. 

As many of the other leagues are doing, my league is doing too. ;) We'll be at the SilverCity Cinemas at Masonville Mall here in London, ON tonight starting for the evening shows at 6 PM to intro the movie, promote roller derby, sell tickets to our bout tomorrow (Bounce This! Western Fair Canada Building, Doors 7 PM, Wheels Roll 8 PM (EST), $12 advance, $15 at the door, licensed event, after party on premises) 

Personally, I was so stoked to make the roster, that I'm almost crying today with a very sore knee after a fall last night at practice, but intend to just stay off skate, iced and rested today and I am going to skate anyway tomorrow. I am not in full line-up anyway, I am a bench alternate for my first game with the team. We'll be in full gear tonight, some of us skating outside, and some inside, and I hope to get a good crowd. I'm buying tickets this morning to insure I get in! 

Enjoy the movie, derby luvvers! 

Labels: bouts, FCDG, whip it