Smoky Bacon Part 4 // WFTDA Theory Test & Scrimmages

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RCR_LEAGUEPicture by Danielle Tempelaars

Had the most amazing training yesterday! It was our last Smoky Bacon-training, so everybody was pretty nervous. Not about the theory-test we had to pass, but about the fact that we would scrimmage with the Beef Jerkies later that training.
The WFTDA theory-test was to examine our knowledge of the roller-derby rules. 45 multiple-choice questions. To pass, you need at least a score of 38, so 7 errors were admitted. I wasn’t really prepared, and had only read the manual that very day. I could say I had no time, but really I was just lazy. Luckily I have a pretty good memory and things, especially useless stuff, easily sticks to my brain. So I was very glad to hear I scored 43/45. Hell yeah!

After taking the test, we went on the track. Seen as I finished early, I had plenty of time to skate peacefully, and warm up my shins. First time ever I could do that. The more time progressed towards the start of the training, the more Beef Jerkies came on the track. That’s an awful lot of people if you’re used to be with 12 people on the track. Before the scrimmages, we first learned a few more moves about blocking a jammer, this in partnership with a Beef Jerky. This came in very handy, because they have a better idea/view of what is going on, and just pull or push you with them.

Then it was time for the scrimmages! Each line-up was an equal mix of Smokies and Jerkies. It was really awesome! I jammed twice. First time went pretty well. Although I had to get pass 4 Jerkies, I started off with a powerjam, which made things slightly more relaxed. Second time, during my initial pass I performed a back block, which send me straight to the penalty-box. Oops… No idea for how long we scrimmaged, I guess for about an hour, just like an official bout. It went so fast!

After training, we headed to the cantine for a drink, snack and movie. Dolly Deathstar revealed a few awesome developments and goals for 2013. A few weeks ago there were a few job-openings, for which I applied. I’m proud to announce that Turkish Delight and I are going to take care of the league’s PR! We both first need to finish our thesis, but I’m really looking forward to it.

Seen as it was the last SB-training, I’m now part of the Beef Jerkies as #213 Dropdead Desi. There’s still some more time needed until I’m bout-ready, because of the whole bending my knees more-thing, but that’s just a question of training my ass off!

Roll on!
♥

Smoky Bacon Part 2 & 3 // Blocking And Jamming Our Asses Off

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Derby Army ShirtPicture: IDontSpeakVogue.com

Wooot! Still Smoky Bacon, still awesome! So about two weeks we got out second SB-training, and last Sunday our third one. Two weeks ago was all about blocking and not letting the jammer pass. I never fell so much as during that training. I almost broke my arm by falling on my butt and stretching my arm out to break the fall. I should probably not do that again. My teammate Helbak even made me fly at some point, because she pushed me, probably so on my turn I would hit the jammer. Unfortunately I got surprised, had a micro black-out and was suddenly on the ground. Damn what a fast sport. Shows again how unstable I still am. Have to work even harder on bending my knees! I like blocking, especially when I’m on the inner-line of the track. It gives me a certain stability I need and makes it easier for me to block a jammer.

Last Sunday, the day after the tournament, was something different and something we hadn’t really done before: Jammer-training. The muscle pain the next day was excruciating, but felt good at the same time. At least it means that I worked hard! I really like being jammer, but think I think I still have to work a lot on my cardio, not being afraid of checking people and/or getting a major. Getting a major as a jammer is really annoying, because it gives the opponent a powerjam, pretty much a free-pass to score. My first time jamming I had three majors, because of cutting. My knowledge of the rules wasn’t super yet, but still. So it scared me off a little. It’s quite some pressure.

I’m not sure yet what positioning I would like to specialize in, but it probably won’t be pivot. I’m so busy figuring out what to do during a scrimmage, that I don’t have time to think and tell other skaters what to do. Fortunately I’m not the only one thinking “what the hell is going on and what the f*ck am I supposed to do?!” during a scrimmage. This is because everything is going so fast, there are a lot of girls around you have to keep on your radar and we don’t have the correct reflexes yet. Dolly Deathstar explained to me this is a slow process, and that it takes years before those reflexes and perfect timing become natural. Yeahhh, but I kinda already need those now :P

Roll on!
♥

2013: A Skate Odyssey

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Oh dear! I owe you guys at least 3 to 4 articles. I’m so late with everything lately.. Anyways, to start with: last weekend I went to 2013: A Skate Odyssey, in Gent (Belgium), which was nothing less than an official WFTDA European roller-derby tournament!

“The starts are aligned this weekend; the time has come for a battle of astronomic proportions… Three days, ten teams, nothing but high-level derby. Some of the best teams in Europe will come face to face, eager for revenge, determined to continue their hegemony or planning a major upset… All with just one goal in mind: to be crowned the happy winner and to lift the trophy!”

SKOD 2013 bookletPicture by IDontSpeakVogue.com

It was something I had been looking forward to for a long time, so I didn’t even care when it was raining cats and dogs that morning and had to ride my bike all the way to my ride to Belgium. Can’t believe I bothered to wash my hair that morning..
After one and a half hour driving we arrived at the sports center where the tournament was held and entered. I didn’t really know what to expect, but I was stunned by the amount of people, skaters and more people present. Never seen so much people together during bouts or scrimmages. The Royal Windsor Rollers Girls were skating against the Rainy City Roller Girls Manchester, both teams from the UK. I didn’t know where to look. There were also stands from skate and roller-derby shops, and a lot of leagues were selling t-shirts. Shiny helmets, fancy wheels and bearings, Antik Boots,.. I was pretty much drooling all over the place.

After that first bout, we went for a drink. Our coach Jeroen from the the Rockcity Rollers was also there and said the bout of all bouts would start soon: the Tiger Bay Brawlers against Helsinki Roller Derby, aka the Turtles. Having heard a lot about the Turtles, and especially their awesome leggings, I got really curious.

TBB vs HRDPicture by IDontSpeakVogue.com

When that bout started, it was obvious that the majority of the RCR wanted the Turtles to win. When I asked why? “Because of their leggings!” Rrrriiiiiiggght. But no I was pro-Tiger Bay. I wouldn’t dare to say that the Turtles weren’t good, but I liked Tiger Bay’s skating-style way better. At first I didn’t know what it was, but after we watched a bout of the Berlin Bombshells against the Leeds Roller Dolls, it became clear. Helsinki, just like Berlin, calculated their moves, almost being predictable. Tiger Bay seemed way more intuitively, and didn’t think too much. Just going for it. I’m definitely a fan! Even got my own Tiger Bay t-shirt♥
After a very exciting bout, the score was 165 – 168, making the Tiger Bay Brawlers the winners of this bout. That’s like the most tight score I’ve seen in my roller-derby career ever.

During every bout we watched later that day, I was really focussed, and tried to see/hear every major that was given and to see why. Impossible task tho. It was handy to have one of our refs next to me, Jasper, who explained to me whenever I didn’t get something. Funny thing that I noticed a few moves I learned during trainings, or just learned the last training. I also surprised myself hanging in the curve with jammers, and sometimes checking together with a blocker. What do you mean I live “in my own bubble”?

TBB PivotPicture by IDontSpeakVogue.com

After an afternoon watching four bouts, having a too expensive burger, getting dehydrated because of all the drooling, taking pictures with an almost empty iPhone, cheering when someone shouted our league’s name, having fun with my teammates, I must say it was the roller-derby filled day ever. So far. And I enjoyed every minute of it. I was a little say I couldn’t watch the tournament finale, opposing Tiger Bay and Berlin. But I had my own training to worry about, even tho I was wearing their bright orange t-shirt in silent support. Can’t wait til next year. And beware, because I’m pretty sure the Rockcity Rollers will do anything to get a spot in the line-up!

Roll on!
♥

Army Bootcamp // Forward, March!

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ARMY_SHIRTSPicture: Pinterest.com

So I have this new thing. I’ve always had some sort of fascination for the army, especially their training. So when I found out about this bootcamp organized by three ex-soldiers in a local forest, I joined the first possible training. The first thing I noticed was that I was the only little blonde girl among a lot of tall guys. All nice ones tho. As soon as every attending person had arrived, the trainers got weights out of their car and went to get wooden beams they made out of tree-branches. Allright so far. Then everybody got something to carry. From wooden beams, some were worn by two people at the same time, weights and other things. As everybody got something we had to scurry. This isn’t tough, you might think, but it is after a while when you’re wearing something, heavy or not.

After doing that for a while, they made us stretch and do a few exercices, before picking up our gear again and scurried on. Again, after a while, strength-training was on the menu. Push-ups, crunches, planking, jumping jacks, some evil alterations of the previous mentioned things, you name it. Furthermore we boxed against a boxing-cushion “One minute full-power, full-speed!”, which is super-tiring “Don’t stop, keep going, come on!” and did even more cardio and strength-training.
It is “only” a 90-minutes training, must I was very happy with myself. The next day I felt every muscle of my body. Some muscles I didn’t even know the existence of.

ARMY_SHIRTPicture: Tumblr.com

I’m really enjoying it, and am now going every single weekend, even if I have to reschedule other things. Every training is different and forces me to work out. It’s good that there is always someone that pushes you and makes you push your boundaries. It’s also a good preparation for the upcoming Army Urban Run and the Mud Masters. I’m actually hoping they will plan extra training during evenings, or very early in the morning. It’s a better way to work out than going to the gym, because you use your entire body, instead of training specific muscles on those machines. Keeping on to this ;)

Stay strong!
♥

Smoky Bacon Part 1 // To The Next Level

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SKATES_NEW_SKINZPicture: IDontSpeakVogue.com

Very, very busy weekend. But I was lucky to have a few hours of rest inbetween appointments and trainings. Even got to finish the 7th season of How I Met Your Mother!

Anyways, remember I passed my test and became a Smoky Bacon? Well now we get drilled 4 weeks to prepare us to train with full-blown skaters, aka the Beef Jerkies.
This includes all kinds of exercices, mostly about blocking jammers. That was okay when it was only Freshies and trainers that are holding back. Now there’s some rocket coming at you full-power looking like “out of my way b*atch“. A few girls from the Suckcity Rock’N Rollerdolls trained with us. They said that within their league and during trainings they were taking it way easier on each other than we do.  I think it’s a good thing to get roughed up right from the start. At least we won’t have a nasty surprise during bouts or scrimmages against other leagues. I’m already collecting a few bruises. And enjoying muscle pain. Loving it tho! I also lost my toe-stop for the first time. Never had that before. Really shows how much tougher our new trainings are.

I’m so glad they prepare us first before we will skate with the real deal. Freshies before us that passed their test immediately started skating with the team, which was pretty rough. We have time to step up our game a little.
By the way, what do you think of my new DerbySkinz? Rocking the Rockcity Rollers-colors now ;D Thank you Turn Left!

Roll on!
♥

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Terrifying Derby Night // WFTDA Minimum Skills Test

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SKATESPicture: Pinterest.com

Can’t believe I’m typing this but.. I friggin’ made it through! I passed the Minimum Skills Test and am now no longer Fresh Meat. You may call me Smoky Bacon for the following month! One of the Freshies had the brilliant idea to all wear some leopard-print as a lucky charm. It was awesome to see everyone skate as a bunch of felines.

Especially at the beginning I was really worried and nervous. Of course this made me fail a few essential but easy skills, such as the T-stop, which only made me feel worse. Same deal with the 25 laps in 5 minutes. I had done it only twice before, during which I fell once, so I decided to take it steady and safe, instead of fast and unstable. 24 laps was the result. That’s not so bad but like a fellow-Freshie said “It’s a mental limit you want to reach or even pass”. 

Luckily, the more skills that were tested, I stopped shaking, the better I felt and the better my skating got. Stuff such as jumping, falling and shoulder-checking went great.

When the head-trainer told me there was a “yes” on the evaluation-form, I couldn’t believe my ears and actually got very close to sweep away a tear of joy. This was such an important thing for me to pass. Although I passed, they told me I made it through barely because of my stance. My posture is still way to straight (Say wuuuuut?! I swear I was all the way through my knees) and is an important point of improvement. If I don’t improve my posture, I won’t be allowed to scrimmage with the Beef Jerkies for the first few weeks, for everybody’s safety. Understandable, but it’s not something you like to hear.
This means even more posture-training, but I’m gonna nail this. I won’t let my physiological enigma of a body keep me away from scrimmages and bouts!

Roll on!
♥

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Bring It On! // My Running Agenda

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color_runPicture: The Color Run Nederland

So I might have been talking a lot about roller-derby lately, but let’s not forget running is also part of my schedule. I had a few months of winter-break, because it was cold, wet and my physiotherapist forbid me to run.. I picked up training again last week, in combination with a weekly army-bootcamp, but still have to take it easy to not overwork my shins again.

There’s a few runs I’m planning to do these upcoming months:

Unfortunately the Color Run was sold out within half an hour, but I managed to get a ticket. Not sure if my friend I’m supposed to run it with did, so might have to run it by myself. The Mud Masters will also probably be a solo-run.

You might notice these a short distances, 5 to 12k. Seen as I’m not a long distance runner yet, and never have done a run, I thought these were good to begin with. Besides, the two last runs on the list are not just about running, they’re huge obstacle courses, which is actually way more intense than a regular run. It’s gonna be so much fun!

Run on!
♥

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