It’s been a busy past few days for Triple D. Zaster. Hitzy Blonde approached me last week and asked myself and Shelby Flyin to work with the fresh meat (i.e. neophytes) during Sunday’s practice. Being flattered and keen to encourage the Old Capitol City Roller Girls’ greenest skaters, I accepted and set to work over the weekend of coming up with various drills and core exercises.
This ended up being a lot trickier than I anticipated since the practice space was smaller (we ended up back at the Armory instead of our usual haunt, the Marriott) and there was not enough room for a separate fresh meat track. I was a little nervous about meeting expectations but when Sunday’s practice rolled around it went without a hitch. I started I had the fresh meat work on endurance by skating around the outer perimeter of the track single file –I felt like a mama duck leading her ducklings!— for a good half an hour and then drilled them intense core and weight training exercises. Plenty of pushups, crunches, planks, bicycle kicks, leg lifts, etc. which made good on my promise to the fresh meat at the beginning of the practice: That I would push them hard but I would never ask them to do anything they weren’t capable of, and so long as they gave me 100% I would be more than satisfied.
Shelby Flyin took over for the second half of practice and I went back to skating with the vets. Coaching was fun though a bit intimidating, so I do have even more respect for Bat R Up and Hitzy Blonde.
Wednesday’s practice was much more intense; the team hadn’t scrimmaged since our bout on the 3rd against the Des Moines Derby Dames so we were all getting a little antsy. But we did end up scrimmaging for a whole hour which was just what I needed after bad day at work and school. I jammed a little bit but had the most fun blocking, particularly being a pain in the ass for the other team’s jammer. I gave some really hard hits and it felt pretty good knocking some girls on their rears – I didn’t even mind when I fell hard on one of Chemical Spill’s wheels, which resulted in a giant, rotund contusion on the back of my left thigh (I’m sure it will be all sorts of pretty colors in the coming days).
In other news, on Friday, May 7 OCCRG will be meeting at the Iowa City Public Library at 6 PM for a showing of our own Left 4 Deadwards' untitled movie following the exploits of the team on and off the track. There will be a meet and greet with your favorite roller girls, snacks, a reception... I'm very much agog to see it; check out the trailer for yourself!
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Revitalized
I suppose an explanation is order. It's going on four months since I updated the blog, something I am definitely not proud of. But life, as it is wont to do, sometimes throws a wrench into our plans. Although I can't say anything terribly major occurred I did have a hard time the past few months motivating myself to do much of anything.
I'm not a winter person. The lack of sunlight, barren landscape and frigid temperatures just don't agree with me. This semester at school has also been tumultuous, with my grades slipping significantly. To put it simply, I was burnt out for a long time. But before I knew it, the Old Capitol City Roller Girls' season opener was upon us.
On March 13, we took on the Paper Valley Flying Squirrels, arguably the toughest and most venerable team we will face all the season. OCCRG put up a good fight and were not disgraced in finishing 195-108 behind the Squirrels. The crowd, as always, was loud and supportive.
Less than a fortnight later on the 26th, OCCRG traveled to the River Center in Davenport to face their old foes the Quad City Rollers. Entering the bout the rivalry was split 1-1, with the Quad City Rollers having won the first match by three points before OCCRG avenged that loss with 185-91 triumph on their home turf of the Coralville Marriott.
OCCRG skated in their best effort yet as a team to route the Quad City Rollers 127-74. Our jammers were swift and agile as usual, but it was as blockers that the team really shined. We had tough, effective walls built, the inside line vigilantly guarded and our eyes keenly attuned to the Quad City jammers. This was a fortuitous vision Coach Bat R Up had described to us in the minutes before the opening jam, a dream she had had the week before.
On a personal note, that night was my 25th birthday and the determined victory by OCCRG was the best gift I could have asked for. And just like that, the spark was rekindled. I snapped out of my funk, both on and off the track. I worked on getting caught up with assignments and papers in school and my grades lifted. In a timely procession, spring finally arrived -- things are green again, there's more sunlight and I can run the trails outside again (making me even fitter as a result; I tend to push myself harder as opposed to the mundane treadmill workout).
Invigorated, I was champing at the bit for our next bout on April 3rd, this time at home and featuring the debut of the Des Moines Derby Dames. It was another solid effort by OCCRG to vanquish the Dames 192-81 in our Malice In Derbyland-themed bout. We stymied their jammers and again constructed often impermeable walls. OCCRG also vastly improved in their efforts to control the pace to their advantage (i.e. speeding up the pace when their jammer was in the penalty box and slowing down the tempo when the other team's jammer was in the box).
As usual Bat R Up sent many girls down hard on the concrete. Left 4 Deadwards remarkably made lead jammer in all eight of her jams. I myself had a personal best in averaging 7.1 points per jam, including a 14-point jam in the second half (second only to a 19-point jam by Left 4 Deadwards, also in the second half). I also have to give praise to the Dames who fought hard in their debut against a team with significantly more bout experience (a rematch is scheduled in Des Moines on May 22).
And now for the photos!
Fast Bettie (left), myself and Killer Baker walling up front
Ophelia Fracture circling the pack as jammer; also seen is Shelby Flyin (argyle socks)
Bat R Up doing what she does best
Fast Bettie and Hitzy Blonde poses with young fans (and future roller girls?)
Also on a final note, Left 4 Deadwards has started her own blog and it's definitely worth checking out as she specializes in videos and editing.
I'm not a winter person. The lack of sunlight, barren landscape and frigid temperatures just don't agree with me. This semester at school has also been tumultuous, with my grades slipping significantly. To put it simply, I was burnt out for a long time. But before I knew it, the Old Capitol City Roller Girls' season opener was upon us.
On March 13, we took on the Paper Valley Flying Squirrels, arguably the toughest and most venerable team we will face all the season. OCCRG put up a good fight and were not disgraced in finishing 195-108 behind the Squirrels. The crowd, as always, was loud and supportive.
Less than a fortnight later on the 26th, OCCRG traveled to the River Center in Davenport to face their old foes the Quad City Rollers. Entering the bout the rivalry was split 1-1, with the Quad City Rollers having won the first match by three points before OCCRG avenged that loss with 185-91 triumph on their home turf of the Coralville Marriott.
OCCRG skated in their best effort yet as a team to route the Quad City Rollers 127-74. Our jammers were swift and agile as usual, but it was as blockers that the team really shined. We had tough, effective walls built, the inside line vigilantly guarded and our eyes keenly attuned to the Quad City jammers. This was a fortuitous vision Coach Bat R Up had described to us in the minutes before the opening jam, a dream she had had the week before.
On a personal note, that night was my 25th birthday and the determined victory by OCCRG was the best gift I could have asked for. And just like that, the spark was rekindled. I snapped out of my funk, both on and off the track. I worked on getting caught up with assignments and papers in school and my grades lifted. In a timely procession, spring finally arrived -- things are green again, there's more sunlight and I can run the trails outside again (making me even fitter as a result; I tend to push myself harder as opposed to the mundane treadmill workout).
Invigorated, I was champing at the bit for our next bout on April 3rd, this time at home and featuring the debut of the Des Moines Derby Dames. It was another solid effort by OCCRG to vanquish the Dames 192-81 in our Malice In Derbyland-themed bout. We stymied their jammers and again constructed often impermeable walls. OCCRG also vastly improved in their efforts to control the pace to their advantage (i.e. speeding up the pace when their jammer was in the penalty box and slowing down the tempo when the other team's jammer was in the box).
As usual Bat R Up sent many girls down hard on the concrete. Left 4 Deadwards remarkably made lead jammer in all eight of her jams. I myself had a personal best in averaging 7.1 points per jam, including a 14-point jam in the second half (second only to a 19-point jam by Left 4 Deadwards, also in the second half). I also have to give praise to the Dames who fought hard in their debut against a team with significantly more bout experience (a rematch is scheduled in Des Moines on May 22).
And now for the photos!
Fast Bettie (left), myself and Killer Baker walling up front
Ophelia Fracture circling the pack as jammer; also seen is Shelby Flyin (argyle socks)
Bat R Up doing what she does best
Fast Bettie and Hitzy Blonde poses with young fans (and future roller girls?)
Also on a final note, Left 4 Deadwards has started her own blog and it's definitely worth checking out as she specializes in videos and editing.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Well. I can hardly believe a whole month has passed since I last posted, but things have been kind of hectic on my end and in my life, and sometimes it feels like derby is the only thing that keeps me together.
Anyway, the Old Capitol City Roller Girls went to Appleton, Wisconsin last Saturday to play Paper Valley’s B-team, the Flying Squirrels. We lost, but didn’t take it too badly as there were a lot of things playing out of our favor. One OCCRG told me point blank the team we were playing was not the same one she had played in early summer (i.e. there were mostly A-team girls skating), and the referees made some extremely questionable and often simply incorrect calls, like sending jammer GladI8Her to the penalty box several times for back-blocking or pulling on her own teammates (even though it is only an offense if it happens to a skater on the opposing team). There was also a lot of track-cutting that was not called and myself and at least three other OCCRGs took elbows and shoulders to the face. But I guess it was still good playing experience and also a solid example of how things are not always going to go your way at a bout and there is nothing you can do about it – and that is something I simply will have to accept. Although, I will add that the Paper Valley girls were very nice and welcoming.
But we’re not done with the season yet. OCCRG has accepted another bout invitation from the Muddy River Nightmares (formerly the Big Mouth Mickies? I’m not really sure anymore) of Clinton, Iowa and will travel to face them on Saturday, January 30th.
Some of the team, myself included, will also be skating in the January 9th expo called the 4 Rollers of the Apocalypse. Essentially the Quad City Rollers are holding a ‘mixer’ of four motley teams of skaters from OCCRG, Stateline Roller Derby Divas (Beloit, Wisconsin), Rockford Rage Roller Derby (Rockford, Illinois), Muddy River Nightmares (Clinton, Iowa), The Chicago Outfit (Chicago, Illinois) and the Mad Rollin’ Dolls (Madison, Wisconsin). Kind of a tournament-style event. It will be held at the River Center in Davenport at 6 PM. Hopefully we don’t get snowed out.
Anyway, the Old Capitol City Roller Girls went to Appleton, Wisconsin last Saturday to play Paper Valley’s B-team, the Flying Squirrels. We lost, but didn’t take it too badly as there were a lot of things playing out of our favor. One OCCRG told me point blank the team we were playing was not the same one she had played in early summer (i.e. there were mostly A-team girls skating), and the referees made some extremely questionable and often simply incorrect calls, like sending jammer GladI8Her to the penalty box several times for back-blocking or pulling on her own teammates (even though it is only an offense if it happens to a skater on the opposing team). There was also a lot of track-cutting that was not called and myself and at least three other OCCRGs took elbows and shoulders to the face. But I guess it was still good playing experience and also a solid example of how things are not always going to go your way at a bout and there is nothing you can do about it – and that is something I simply will have to accept. Although, I will add that the Paper Valley girls were very nice and welcoming.
But we’re not done with the season yet. OCCRG has accepted another bout invitation from the Muddy River Nightmares (formerly the Big Mouth Mickies? I’m not really sure anymore) of Clinton, Iowa and will travel to face them on Saturday, January 30th.
Some of the team, myself included, will also be skating in the January 9th expo called the 4 Rollers of the Apocalypse. Essentially the Quad City Rollers are holding a ‘mixer’ of four motley teams of skaters from OCCRG, Stateline Roller Derby Divas (Beloit, Wisconsin), Rockford Rage Roller Derby (Rockford, Illinois), Muddy River Nightmares (Clinton, Iowa), The Chicago Outfit (Chicago, Illinois) and the Mad Rollin’ Dolls (Madison, Wisconsin). Kind of a tournament-style event. It will be held at the River Center in Davenport at 6 PM. Hopefully we don’t get snowed out.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Time to get caught up with the Old Capitol City Roller Girls. We had a fantastically productive four-hour practice Sunday with the Minnesota RollerGirls coming all the way down to coach us privately. While it was a very humbling practice, we added quite a few new drills to our arsenal and we'll be a more formidable team for it.
The roster for the OCCRG versus Paper Valley Flyin' Squirrels bout has been announced and it looks like: Animal Mother, Left 4 Deadwards, Hellyna Bucket, GladI8Her, Killer Baker, Furious George, Triple D. Zaster, Ophelia Fracture, Hitzy Blonde, Recyclopath, VTrain, Anakova, Bat R Up and Toxic Sugar. I'm pretty excited about the line-up myself and road-tripping with some of my favorite gals.
I've continued to make some improvements on a personal front. I'm getting better at parrying blocks while jamming And on a side note I am learning to not take criticism from the coach so personally.
The roster for the OCCRG versus Paper Valley Flyin' Squirrels bout has been announced and it looks like: Animal Mother, Left 4 Deadwards, Hellyna Bucket, GladI8Her, Killer Baker, Furious George, Triple D. Zaster, Ophelia Fracture, Hitzy Blonde, Recyclopath, VTrain, Anakova, Bat R Up and Toxic Sugar. I'm pretty excited about the line-up myself and road-tripping with some of my favorite gals.
I've continued to make some improvements on a personal front. I'm getting better at parrying blocks while jamming And on a side note I am learning to not take criticism from the coach so personally.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Training for tomorrow
After taking a few days to come down from last Friday's sanguine derby high I can discuss the bout in just a little more detail.
As usual, Ophelia Fracture stole the show by running circles around the opposing the team, including a remarkable 23-point jam. Toxic Sugar earned quite a few oohs and aahs for taking out some of the Quad City jammers.
I myself had a night of personal bests. After having a dismal performance at the Studio 13-sponsored scrimmage --also against the Quad City Rollers-- where I averaged a pathetic 1.3 points per jam, I improved drastically to an average of 5 points per jam at Friday's bout. I even notched 14 points during one jam. I still have a long way to go as a skater but it was rewarding to see some improvement, at least stats-wise.
Yes, experience/more practices factors in heavily but I also finally managed to get a grip on my nerves that helped a lot. I kept my cool and tried to think positively in the hours before the bout, and performed so much better for it. I was relaxed and far more focused than I have been at previous competitions, which I attribute to knowing what to expect (i.e. prior bout experience), reading up on how to manage pre-show jitters and just feeling more confident in my own abilities as a skater.
Other accomplishments? Apparently all those Saturday nights spent attending open skate at the recreation center weren't for naught. I've gotten the hang of backwards skating and I have finally made some progress on T-stops (I'm much more of a plow-type girl).
Also looking to a four-hour practice this Sunday with a few of the Minnesota Roller Girls and I am very excited to announce that the Old Capitol City Roller Girls have accepted an invitation to take on the PVRG Flyin' Squirrels on their home turf in Appleton, Wisconsin on Saturday, December 5th!
As usual, Ophelia Fracture stole the show by running circles around the opposing the team, including a remarkable 23-point jam. Toxic Sugar earned quite a few oohs and aahs for taking out some of the Quad City jammers.
I myself had a night of personal bests. After having a dismal performance at the Studio 13-sponsored scrimmage --also against the Quad City Rollers-- where I averaged a pathetic 1.3 points per jam, I improved drastically to an average of 5 points per jam at Friday's bout. I even notched 14 points during one jam. I still have a long way to go as a skater but it was rewarding to see some improvement, at least stats-wise.
Yes, experience/more practices factors in heavily but I also finally managed to get a grip on my nerves that helped a lot. I kept my cool and tried to think positively in the hours before the bout, and performed so much better for it. I was relaxed and far more focused than I have been at previous competitions, which I attribute to knowing what to expect (i.e. prior bout experience), reading up on how to manage pre-show jitters and just feeling more confident in my own abilities as a skater.
Other accomplishments? Apparently all those Saturday nights spent attending open skate at the recreation center weren't for naught. I've gotten the hang of backwards skating and I have finally made some progress on T-stops (I'm much more of a plow-type girl).
Also looking to a four-hour practice this Sunday with a few of the Minnesota Roller Girls and I am very excited to announce that the Old Capitol City Roller Girls have accepted an invitation to take on the PVRG Flyin' Squirrels on their home turf in Appleton, Wisconsin on Saturday, December 5th!
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Hard work = sweet laurel
In case you haven't heard...
The mighty Old Capitol City Roller Girls won their first home bout on Friday over the Quad City Rollers with a final score of 185-91!!!
It was a special night not only because we were victorious, but because everyone seemed to be having a personal best effort. Our jammers skated hard, our blockers hit hard, and we looked out for each by assisting with whips and breaking down walls.
We also had a very good turnout of several hundred people.
Here are some photos from the evening:
MVP Ophelia Fracture (left) toes the line prior to the start
Sweet Abattoir pushes Shelby Flyin into the clear
Yours truly (third from left) jamming
Team meeting at halftime
Animal Mother (second from left) gets a whip from Fonda Cuffs
Ophelia Fracture (red star) scored an amazing 23 points during a single jam
Fonda Cuffs and Toxic Sugar celebrate the win
The mighty Old Capitol City Roller Girls won their first home bout on Friday over the Quad City Rollers with a final score of 185-91!!!
It was a special night not only because we were victorious, but because everyone seemed to be having a personal best effort. Our jammers skated hard, our blockers hit hard, and we looked out for each by assisting with whips and breaking down walls.
We also had a very good turnout of several hundred people.
Here are some photos from the evening:
MVP Ophelia Fracture (left) toes the line prior to the start
Sweet Abattoir pushes Shelby Flyin into the clear
Yours truly (third from left) jamming
Team meeting at halftime
Animal Mother (second from left) gets a whip from Fonda Cuffs
Ophelia Fracture (red star) scored an amazing 23 points during a single jam
Fonda Cuffs and Toxic Sugar celebrate the win
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