Week 51: Summertime & The Skating Is Easy...

After another week off (I'm NSOing a lot now, too!), it was back to normal skating. It was a hot day, a hot, muggy, sweaty day. I would usually say that every day is a good day for skating, but today was horrid. I had a headache before I'd even got to practice, but I took some paracetamol, drank a tonne of water, and got to it!

Our coach didn't seem to notice the heat, though, and gave us a killer of a warm up. Laterals, stepping across the track, squats on the whistle, knee taps, stops, sprint laps, backwards laps! I'm not complaining, though, I love an excuse to get in some backwards skating practice, and it certainly made me realise how lazy I am getting with knee taps and plough stops. My left knee taps are just not improving, it still takes me ages to get back up. My plough stops also seem to be taking ages. I seem to have forgotten that even though I can do it, I still have to keep working on it!

I was recently messaged by one of our coaches, asking if I could look after a new Level 2 who was a bit unsure of pack skating. She described her issue perfectly - at Level 1 (now pack skating has been removed), you get to skate around, happily by yourself, and then at Level 2, you're thrown in with a load of other skaters and told to skate very close to them! It made me realise how far I'd come with my confidence in pack skating. I found the very idea terrifying to begin with. I remember when an all-star skater came up to me and went "Soon, you'll have to be able to skate...this close to people. You'll have to get used to touching people and being touched." Now, it doesn't really bother me. I do constantly look at my feet, I am very handsy, and I am weary of wheel locking, but I'm not as scared as I once was. Falling over doesn't even phase me now. I had a very awkward fall this week, and almost got another lady's skate in a rather intimate area... But, I just laughed, made sure we were all okay, and got my ass back in the pack.

We did our usual pack work - pack speed, wheel locking, even a bit of bumping (where people hit into us, quite gently). We also had a go at moving through a pack. Unfortunately, I was forgotten about and had to go last but, by that point, the pack was getting a little cocky and decided to actually block me! It took me ages to get through that pack! It was fun, though!

Next was something new to me: Leaning. I'm sure a few of my skater friends from higher levels tried to teach me before, but I had no idea what they were on about! We were taught it in steps. First, you had to have dead arms, and then lean from your shoulder right down your side to your hips, against the wall. Like you are trying to push the wall over. If you can pick up the foot closest to the wall, and feel like you could stay there all day, then you are doing it right! We then moved on to leaning against people. This was alright standing still, but got quite awkward while rolling, especially with all the wheel locking! Furthermore, it didn't half make you ache! My poor legs and side were killing me that we had to keep swapping sides to even it out. Next, we were turned against each other, and leaning became pushing. It was exactly the same as pushing, except instead of working together, you were trying to push each other out of bounds, and you had to remember to yield once they were out of bounds to avoid a penalty. This was so much fun! It was the first kind of contact work I have done, and I loved it! I think we were meant to give in a little bit, but my partner was showing no mercy so I gave it my all too! Needless to say, she was much stronger than me, but I still managed to get her out. We also had a coach keeping an eye on us and giving us tips on our stance, posture, and technique. It was tiring but great!

After a short break, we moved on to endurance skating. Fortunately, it wasn't going to be a timed 25 in 5. It was just skating for 5 minutes, following the jammer line, working on our crossovers, etc. I found it very useful. I am useless at doing crossovers during endurance, so I took this as an opportunity to focus on them. I made myself do crossovers for as long as I could, and soon got it down to doing two on the straights and cruising round the corners. I did keep an eye out for my laps and managed 23 1/2, which is a quarter of a lap less than my PB, but I was nowhere near as tired. I was out of breath, sure, but usually I'm collapsed on the floor, legs burning, trying to suck in as much air as possible. This time, I sat down, caught my breath, and actually felt alright! I know that if I nail those crossovers, and really push for it, that 25 in 5 will be mine! Afterwards, one of my coaches came over and told me how much my speed skating has improved. "Not really" I said, "I'm stuck at 23!"
"Oh" he said, "but your skating has definitely improved!", a fellow slater chimed in too "Yeah, you've definitely improved!" This was nice to hear. I agree, my skating has improved, but it is always nice to hear that others see it too.

That was the end of our track time, so we moved down to the end for some transition practice. We went through the break down of transitions, that we did last week, and then just kept practising them. I kind of cheat with transitions and, instead of picking my foot up and putting it behind me, I keep just my front two wheels on the floor and kind of swivel it behind me and my left foot follows. I cannot do this anti-clockwise, though, or so I thought... After a while of practising, one of the coaches gave me the challenge to see how many I could do in one length. Going clockwise, I managed 4 or 5. "We have our Queen of Transitions!"
"Hardly" I said, "I can only do them that way"
"No you can't! I've seen you do them the other way! Just don't think about it. Look at this wall, and then turn to look at that wall. Try and do as many as you can." I skated out a little anxiously, but just tried to think about how many I could fit in. I think I manage about 3, if a little sloppy, but I did it! Woohoo! I kept trying that way and could occasionally do it, but it was very sloppy. "I've been watching you, trying to figure out what is going wrong... I now know! Your right foot is the dominant one, so it's turning before your left has even moved. Make sure you move your left first before your right"
So I set out to give that a go. I was thinking far too much, and my mental block came back, I went to turn my left foot, freaked out, stopped halfway, I think my right had gone already, I couldn't regain my balance, and I fell pretty hard on my back. I sat up with a laugh and a thumbs up, though. "Please remember your derby stance!" said a concerned looking coach. I kept trying, but after that, my mind had taken over, and I just lost it. I was gutted, but I now know that I can do them, it's just my silly head stopping me!

I stretched and went home with the most painful headache - one of those ones where any movement causes it to pound and make you feel sick, paired with an achey shoulder, a sore back, and a bruised butt. I hadn't felt this good after derby for a while, though! I was falling in love with it all over again.

Week 48: Level 2 Sign Offs - Take 1 P.t 1

It only feels like yesterday when I started Level 2, and with the break I had, it may well as have been! We were told it was going to be a very casual sign offs, though. Most of us were new and, because of the new level arrangements, there was no pressure on anyone passing everything. We were just there to have fun and see what happens.

Even though it was casual, I still felt a little tense. It was sign offs, and any kind of assessment puts me on edge. We started with the simple stuff - stance, stride and crossovers. This was fine. I don't know how, or if, it is assessed different at Level 2, but I felt like I couldn't go wrong. Derby stance had been drilled into me, as it should, so I managed that. Stride, no problem. Crossovers, easy. Although, I do still have problems doing a whole lap of them. After these, we then moved onto laterals. These are when you move from one side of the track to the other, using quite sharp cuts. You have to be able to do 3 turns on the corners and 4 on the straights. When you're on the track, it looks huge and it looks like it should be easy. However, it is not. I decided to pick up speed to keep myself going through them, but ended up falling over right on my first turn. Doh! I picked myself up and gave it a damn good try, but it seemed like an impossible feat, and soon the whistle was blown and we had to come off the track.

After this, we were grouped up into packs. There has been a lot of focus on pack skating in Level 2, so it was good to get assessed on it. We started with pack speed and stopping in a pack. We had to concentrate on recycling, etc, and then when a whistle was blown, we would have to do a plough stop. This wasn't too bad, although I'm pretty sure I used the people in front of me to stop. However, when I was at the front of the pack, I did manage to stop. So who knows? We also did pack speed where we had to speed up and slow down together. More things were thrown in like falling in a pack and pack avoidance, which was as fun as it usually is. We then had interesting bit of wheel locking. An all-star skater would be given a number and they had to come over and lock wheels with us to see if we can keep skating despite it. I was terrified, but I did surprisingly well! We were told we had all passed that block, but our speed wasn't quite up to scratch so we would have to work on that.

Next, was speed laps and speed stops. This is basically skating one lap in 16 seconds, from standstill,  and then coming to a stop within 4 seconds. I found this hilarious as I knew I wouldn't achieve that! I can't even do a sprint start - toe stops terrify me, and my duck runs aren't that great - let alone stop from that pace in 4 seconds! Ha! We were put into pairs and had to line up on the track and then go on the whistle. I kept laughing and asking myself why I was even bothering. My partner also seemed to feel the same. Our first lap had to end with a plough stop. The whistle went and I tried, got to the point where I had to stop, and went into a plough...that went on for at least quarter of the track. "Nailed it!!" I cheered sarcastically, and hi-fived my partner who's plough was pretty much the same. We then had to do it again with t-stops. This didn't actually go too bad, and I t-stopped pretty much in time. I came off the track smiling, knowing that I hadn't done it, but I had fun. However, after all the pairs had been, my number was called up again, along with my partner from the laps, and one of my wives. "You were just ever so slightly off your time. Your stops were good, but you just need to get that lap a little faster" Seriously?! Wow. This time I really tried. I gave it my all. And I bloody done it! No way?! I was convinced there was no way I could have done that. Shows what I know.

Up next on the list was weaving. At Level 2, you have to be able to weave through a line of moving skaters and through a line of cones (not at the same time. Could you imagine?!) I was a little nervous, as we all know how weaving isn't my strong point, but I actually enjoy weaving through a pace line, so I was up for it. It didn't actually go too badly. However, my number was called out at the end for me to go again. I was a little confused as to why, I thought I did fine. Although, I did notice that a lot of the skaters were telling the pace-line their position (outside/inside) but I hadn't done that at all, so I included that in my second go, just in case. My coach seemed happy with that, and called us off the track. Sorted. On to cones. Ergh. You have to be able to get through 10 cones in 8 seconds. I had a little practice and knew I wasn't fast enough. Got to the main cones, got half way through, missed one. Balls. I was expecting to get another try, but we were called off the track and that was that.

Unfortunately, that was the end of our track time, so we moved over to the end to have a go at some more skills. First up was stepping. Now, I used to dislike stepping at Level 1. I can do it fine, now, but I used to find it so tricky and frustrating. Level 2 stepping is so much more interesting and fun! Grapevine was the first one, and I do find this one quite tricky. I can put my leg behind me, and putting my right leg over my left is fine, I'm used to doing that with crossovers. However, switch to left over right and I start to freak out. It's so unnatural but I persevered. Unfortunately, I didn't pass this one. I think it was because I was leaning too far forward and I just wasn't particularly stable. That's fine, annoying but understandable. Next was galloping. Woohoo! I do love a good gallop. I did have to do this twice, again, I think it was to do with my stance, but I managed to pass it. Yay! Last was quick step. This is just like running on the spot on skates. It makes your feet and calves hurt like hell. But it is quite fun! And I also passed this one!

After all the stepping fun, we moved on to 30 second balance. I don't think I've practised this since Level 1 sign offs, but I gave it all. I don't know if I've told you guys about my technique for this. I pick a hole or mark on the wall and stay transfixed. I lift my foot up before the whistle blows, to settle my balance, and I then put one arm down by my side, and I put my other hand on my belly button. It works, I swear. Well, it must, as I passed it! Woohoo!

Last, but not least, was jumping and stepping over an object. I mentioned in my earlier post about how I managed to get up the courage to step over the bar, and today I was determined to get signed off on it. We were given a decent run up but, unfortunately, it seemed far too close to the wall for us to stop in time. So we requested the bar to be moved closer to us. It was then too close for any of us to get up enough speed for us to be signed off on it. Stepping over an object was, therefore, cancelled for this sign offs. To finish it all off, we did jumping on the spot. This is essentially picking up both feet at the same time and landing, without falling over or losing your balance. Got that one ticked off too!

So the first week of sign offs hadn't gone too badly. I was happy that I even got signed off on anything and I was excited to see what I might pass the next week.

One Year On (or A Love Letter To Roller Derby)

Ah. I remember the first time I ever bought my own roller skates. I would look at them in the box, terrified of them, yet desperate to get them on my feet and see what I could do. I would wait all day until my mum got home from work and then she would drive me to car park and teach me how to skate. I remember how wobbly I was. How I clung to the railings for dear life. How the wheels on my feet seemed so unnatural and weird, yet so exciting... I would cry with the fear of it all yet I would keep putting them on... No, this is not a fond memory from my childhood. This was just a year ago.

It has been a whole year since I started roller derby. A year since I first plucked up the courage to go along with my friends and see what it was like. A year since I first strapped a pair of skates to my feet, refused to move, and went home in tears. A year since I bought my first pair of skates and just kept coming back. I fell, I hurt, I cried, but I never gave up and here I am, a whole year later, doing things on skates I never would have imagined.

I am always one of those people who try something, find they're rubbish at it, and stop. I have a fair few musical instruments to prove that point! But, for some reason, roller derby wouldn't let me do that. I literally could not move on skates. I had to be pulled up and down the rink. I came home, burst in to tears, and complained about how scary it was and how terrible I was. Yet, the next day I went out and bought a pair of roller skates. Admittedly, my mind was back and forth, and the moment I bought them, I wanted to take them back. But something tipped me over the edge. Something said "Go on. Why not jump?" And so I did. And I've been falling (in love) ever since.

I can't explain what it is. I don't know if anyone who plays roller derby could put in to words why they truly love it. You also probably want to say "Hang on, Honey. What about the times when you've written about a rubbish session?" Well yeah. That happens. I certainly don't go through life loving every single day. But it's the good that makes you forget all the bad. I might have a crap training session. But I go back and nail that skill I've been so desparately trying to get, or I just end up having a laugh with my fellow skaters. I could never imagine giving it up.

In a whole year, I have skated about 350 hours, been to over 50 training sessions, over 70 social skates, bought 2 pairs of roller skates, one pair of plates, 16 wheels, 4 toe-stops, 6 pairs of laces, a ridiculous amount of socks, NSOd 27 bouts, proposed to all 4 of my derby wives, watched god knows how many clips or bouts online, mentioned the words "roller derby" about a gazillion times, won an award, bought personalised t-shirts, helmet stickers, hoodies, and toe guards, got a roller derby tattoo, written 51 blog posts, met so many lovely people, amazing people, people who inspire me, people who I've inspired, people who I now call friends. Roller derby has changed my life.

I know a lot of people claim that. But it probably is true, and it certainly is with me. I was never a confident person, but roller derby has brought me out of my shell. It has made me louder, friendlier, more talkative. I drive miles for bouts, where I used to hate just driving down the road. I talk to complete strangers like they were long lost friends. Even when something terrifies me, I don't quit, the urge to give it a go just grows. I go to social events, when I used to hate just leaving the house. It has made me believe that I am capable of so much more than I give myself credit for.

If you are reading this for the first time and fancy giving it a go. Do not waste any more time. Find your local league and join! If you've just started but are feeling low, do not give up. You will get there. I promise you. Things that look scary now will become so easy that you will have no idea how you couldn't do it. If you've been skating for a while, well then, you know exactly what I'm talking about.