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

In my usual early week review of all things roller derby, I heard about the Central New York Roller Derby league that has split. Now we have the CNYRD and the Utica Roller Girls.

So let's look at the Pros and Cons of starting a new league, or splitting your league:

Pros:
-You can correct mistakes and use your past experiences to build a better organization
-You can direct your new league to be more go or more show (concentrate on development of athletics, or development of crowd-pleasing as you see fit)
-You can have control over where your dues are going and can use a communication style that fits you better.
-You can make your own rules and not go by the original league rules.
-If starting a new league, you get the automatic gratitude of your future new recruits when they fall in love with roller derby.
- You'll have more networking opportunities. Let's face it, be honest, we all want to be popular.
-You may have a higher position than you had before, so you may have more access to training and information than a basic skater.

Cons:
-If you are splitting: You dilute the talent pool if there is a league in your city already. Depending on your numbers of new recruits each year, you'll now have competition for those new skaters that could be super stars.
-You will have to compete for media coverage, promotion, sponsors and fans. With the economy being in a recession, people do not have as much money to spend on a family of 4 at $15 ticket prices with snacks and merch as often.
-You may have a lot of drama and gossip and fighting amongst the former league members, and the ones that come with you. Now, if you're into that kind of drama, more power to you. This also depends on the amicability of the split and the size of your city.
-You undermine roller derby to the fans and the original league to other roller derby leagues, which can hurt fan sales, fundarising, and future bout contractual agreeements.

-If it's a new league in a new city, it will be a LOT of work. Be prepared for it! And be aware that you will not make everyone happy all the time.
-If you're a new league: Getting sponsorship is hard.
- You will have to devote twice as much time to roller derby, because now you're a skater, as well as part of the business that has to run the business.
- You will need partners and other board members to help you. And you will have to trust each other.
- Leaders have to lead. So you will need to work harder, try harder, practice more, and inspire others with your greatness, or at least your commitment to greatness.

I am sure there are other issues, I couldn't list them all. And every city is different. But if you're thinking of splitting, or of creating your own league in a own with or without roller derby, it's important to do what's best for roller derby in your town. Roller Derby is bigger than a single skater.

Everyone can't be happy all the time, but if some people can be happy most of the time, and most people can be happy some of the time, and a few people are unhappy only some of the time, then that's probably as good as it's going to get.

Ok, I am talking about this because I miss roller derby and if starting a new league would fix my time issues and allow me to go back to full-time training and practice tomorrow, part of me would say, YEAH! do it! But the logical, derby luvver part of me says, no. There's already a lot of roller derby and some awesome leagues in my part of Ontario (ToRD, GTA, Hammer City, Tri-City, London (Forest City)) and it would be bad for roller derby. So I'll be patient for '09.

In the meantime, I have the GMDD skills clinic with Bonnie D Stroir and Bully Julie of San Diego in two weeks, and I am trying to arrange a practice with the Blue Ridge Rollergirls in NC for my annual US Thanksgiving trip home, and I am also waiting for a final trip approval for a business trip that will allow me to catch a practice with the Rocky Mountain Roller Girls in Denver in early December.

Keep your elbows down and skate hard!
Later,
Nia

PS - 47th day of no smoking - I'm making it! Over halfway through my 90 day challenge. And I am a non-smoker!

Labels: GTA Rollergirls, Hammer City, HCRG, practice space, rollergirls, team building, training, Travel

Well, I hope Raven's nerves calm and her arm is healing up for tomorrow's game for the Santa Cruz Rollergirls last game of the season vs the Bay Area Derby Girls.

The Big news over at the Derby News Network and in WFTDA realm, of course, is the Fall Brawl tomorrow down in Ft Wayne. Hammer City is on the Non-WFTDA line-up. I hope to get word on how they do after.

In other derby news, The Sault rollergirls in Northern Ontario are looking for new practice space - icing down all the arenas for hockey is a Canadian rite of passage as the cold bite of fall hits the wind, but for derby leagues all over Canada and the northern US, it means a hunt for an indoor place to practice in the winter. How can you come out swinging in the spring for your season, if you can't skate for 7 months of the year? Good luck to them, and if you're in that area and know of a place, Please contact Elora Nelson at (705) 253-2044 or email purple__mascara@hotmail.com check the website:
http://www.saultrollergirls.com/

Next week, MTLRD New Skidz on the Block will be taking on the Brooklyn Bombshells down in Gotham City. If you're on Facebook, Here is the event page. If not, brownpapertickets has tickets, or check out the Gotham Girls site. I haven't heard from Georgia W Tush since she went out on tour with the band, but I hope she's playing and let's us know how that one goes.

Way out in October, watch for a Skate of the Dead, hosted by the Forest City Roller Girls in London, ON. The facebook event says it's October 18. The Forest City Roller Girls website is under construction, so I'm looking out for this league, as they have been playing hard for their first season in 2008. Next year should rock in Ontario and Canada with all the leagues coming up.

In Nia Capps news, I'm in the gym 5 days, count that again, 5 days per week for a 45 minute workout every lunch hour, and I'm skating on the weekends (or if rainy, hiking). I am on an 8 month journey to hit the GTA Rollergirls in April when I get ready to slide a little back east into Mississauga and Toronto area, ready to kick ass. Hopefully, I'll still get to a couple of practices with HCRG in the interim, or with GTA. Slapallonia may hook me up.

Everything is going great. Ok ok, so I had a bad reaction to some Novocaine after a dentist visit yesterday and today I am resting because my face is numb and tingly and I'm nauseated. But shut up, I am doing AWESOME!

In Derby Luv news, I have a new short sleeved Derby Luv T-shirt, along with a long-sleeved Derby Luv T-Shirt on their way to keep me Derby Luv style for my around towns, and a big shout out and thanks to everyone that has decided to wear their Derby Luv this year!

On my project list I have a product review for some derby-inspired toys, and I'm waiting to see if I can get an interview with the derby girl that won $35k on a game show. Do you know what I am talking about? Hmmm, a derby trivia quiz for your weekend!

Oh yeah, and a fellow Southern Belle, an Atlanta Rollergirl was chosen as a skater for "Whip It!" - a body double stunt woman skater I should say, as a body double for Eve. That is awesome! I wonder who I could body double for... hmmmm Wynona Judd? Screw that, by April it'll be for Xena. ;)

Happy Friday, Derby Luvvers. Saturday always bring Roller Derby!

Labels: bouts, calendar, Gotham Girls, GTA Rollergirls, Hammer City, MTLRD, roller derby, Santa Cruz Rollergirls, WFTDA, whip it, wrapup