Magnolia Roller Vixens take the lead in the last jam - Final Score: 103 Magnolia / 99 Prisskillas

Similar to many sports, sometimes the lead change happens in the last minute or so of a game.  The Vixens played hard, on a 4 game winning streak, the game against the Prisskillas, would end that streak if they lost.  They won, and continue on a 5 game winning streak and this is a huge accomplishment for this team.  As stated in a previous post, the Magnolia Roller Vixens have supported Memphis Roller Derby from the beginning, and I am proud to say I learned Saturday night, that as a mentor league, one can only wish the best for the apprentice league, and sometimes although a loss is a loss, I would much rather lose a game in the last minute of the game to such an awesome team as Magnolia, than to lose like that to a stranger.  Congratulations Magnolia Roller Vixens, you earned it!  Here are some pics from the game, courtesy of Rhett Amick, www.rhettamick.com.

You can also find more photos on our PrissKilla Prezley's facebook page and Magnolia Roller Vixens Facebook page.  If you're so inclined, please fan our PrissKilla fan page on Facebook! :) Derby Love.

Dirty C

I was an Angel of Death, and it was fun!

On June 18, I picked up a game with the Angels of Death (AOD) and it was a lot of fun and a great learning experience.  It was the first game skating since skating with the Beach Brawl Sk8tr Dolls (BBSD) in August of 2009.  The bout was called "Schools out for Summer." We lost this one, however, I am certain every team member both borrowed, new, or veteran, skated away learning new strategies.  We skated against the Women of Mass Destruction, which is currently Memphis Roller Derby's (MRD) inter-league season champion.  The AOD held that title the first three or four years of MRD, however, teams change and they are currently short a full roster and borrowed a few PrissKilla Prezley's (PKP) to fill the void. 

This Saturday, in Jackson, Mississippi will be my second game back on the flat-track, and I am very excited about it!  The bout is called R2 BEATU, a play on R2 D2, and because the PrissKillas are fem-bots from outerspace, I think this will be a very fun bout!  The bout is hosted by WFTDA's apprentice league, the Magnolia Roller Vixens, founded by former Captial City Rollergirl, Rowdy Reeta Richochet. 

Magnolia Roller Vixens have supported MRD from the beginning, and it is so exciting to see their progress through the ranks of WFTDA.

Roller derby is a transient sport, and I am thankful for that.  It is refreshing to know that if I need to move to a different city, there will be a roller derby league there.  Rowdy Reeta and I skated as teammates together with BBSD, me as a BBSD and Reeta as a pick-up skater...it was a lot of fun, and I know I won't enjoy skating against her this weekend, but this is the sport of roller derby.  Play tough on the track, then play hard at the after party!

If you are interested in taking a trek to Jackson - you can purchase tickets here:  Magnolia Roller Vixens and on Facebook @ R2 BeatU

On July 16th, 2011, the PrissKillas bout again, this time against the Angels of Death.  This should be an exciting game too!  Support your local roller derby!  Tickets available on-line at: Memphis Roller Derby

This is Memphis - Photo project by Michael Cardwell

Michael Cardwell is a local photographer who aims to give a personal face to the city of Memphis through a series of upper body, black and white photographs.  The project is called This is Memphis, and features people from all walks of life who work in organizations and individually beautifying, creating social programs, promoting sports and health, education, music, art, and recycling.  Michael Cardwell should be included in his own series because his photos are emotional and heartfelt.  I wanted to be a part of this project because Memphis is a city I feel is very misunderstood.  Please visit the website and scroll through.  The photos are amazing. http://thisismemphis.com/.  Here are some of the Roller Derby girls photographed.

 

Tips for Newbies - Flat-Track Roller Derby and Outdoor Recreational Skating

In response to reading a newbie tips and tricks for new skaters to the sport of roller derby, needless to say, I was very disappointed. The blogs lack of substantial information for a skater entering the sport was somewhat appaling and the language is offensive. The uninformative blog inspired me to compile an informative and educational list of real tips and tricks for newbies as opposed to the "shut-up and skate, you're not here for fun," attitude of some leagues. Non-professional leagues that are not paid as professionals must understand that someone joining a pay-to-play sport is doing it because they want to have fun, meet new people, excercise, and hopefully inspire others to a healthy active lifestyle.

I created a PDF file, so here I will screenshot and post as JPG's.

New Derby Girl Checklist

Embarking on the journey of playing roller derby?  This a practical guide to reduce the confusion and fear and provide a little insight from veteran skaters.  Ultimately, how you mix and match the ingredients will come to you in time, when you find the combination you feel most comfortable with.

Be prepared for anything.  If a first aid kit is not available at practices through your league, make sure you stock your skate bag with items that may come in handy in case you are injured during practice.  It is better to be prepared than to find yourself with a muscle strain or a cut and there is no medical aid nearby.

Essentials:

§ Skates - Helmet

§ Skate Tool

§ Knee Pads

§ Elbow Pads

§ Wrist Guard

§ Mouth Guard (get a carrying case)

§ Skate Bag or Rolling Suitcase

§ Duct Tape

Non-Essentials: (Useful Items to Carry in Your Skate Bag)

§  Ibuprophen (reduces swelling)

§  Tiger Balm or Icy Hot (something for your muscles)

§  Ace Bandage

§  Kwik Lube

§  Mole-skin (for blisters)

§  A few extra bearings

§  Band-aids

§  Lip Balm

§  Ankle Wrap

§  Anti-bacterial Hand Gel

§  An extra shirt

§  Medical Tape

§  Survival Ice Packs

§  Bottle of vitamin B complex

§  Blister Pads or Gel

§  Toe Nail Clippers

§  Scissors

§  Shin Guards (not for everyone, but they protect against skate wheels, rope track burn, and sliding injuries)

Derby Definitions

GEAR:

·         Quad Skates - Four wheels in a square pattern.

·         Mouth Guard - Protects teeth from damage.

·         Knee Pads - Protects Knees

·         Elbow Pads - Protects Elbows

·         Wrist Guards - Prevents wrist injuries

·         Bearings - Are located in the center of the wheel and are the buffer between the hub and the axles.

·         Trucks - Are located in the front and rear of the skates attached by a nut.  Loosening and tightening trucks is important to fit your needs.  If trucks are too loose, you may not have proper ankle support and slide.  Trucks that are too tight can cause the same affect.  It's important to check them periodically and adjust.

·         Cushions - Cushions are located above the trucks.  They provide shock resistance and wear down over time (see anatomy of a skate).  As cushions wear down, it's important to tighten the trucks for a snug fit.

·         Durometer - Hardness of the polyurethane of a wheel.

·         Polyurethane - Plastic rolling surface of the wheel.

·         Hub - The hard nylon or aluminum middle of the wheel the polyurethane is attached to.

 

Common type of STOPS:

·         Toe stops - Executing a 180 degree turn and stopping, using the toe stops.

·         Hockey stops - Depending on which foot you find most comfortable, an abrupt stop utilizing mostly one leg/foot, hard cut to come to a complete stop.

·         Plow stops - An effective stop with a wide stance.  Also known as "snow plows," is opening both legs and putting pressure on the front wheels and front right or left side whichever is more comfortable for you.

 ·         Power slide - Another abrupt stop that uses side skating and an abrupt turn in the opposite direction.

Anatomy of a Quad Roller Skate
Although the toe stops are different and this is not a speed skate boot, many of the components are similar..

Anatomy of a Quad Roller Skate
by Dave VanBelleghem
 This article by Dave vanBelleghem includes an exploded diagram of a quad roller skate with each of its parts labeled.

For those of you that don't know a pivot pin from a speed cone, here's the biggest parts diagram I could find for you. The parts are numbered and correspond to the list beneath the diagram. This is a double action plate quad skate. 1 cushion above and 1 below the truck.
  1.    Plate (made of aluminum or plastic like material)

2.    Kingpin (or Kingbolt)

3.    Cushion Retainer (made from aluminum)

4.    Cushion (made of rubber)

5.    Truck

A.    Pivot Pin

B.    Axle

6.    Action Nut

7.    Pivot Cup (made of rubber)

A.    Pivot Cup Hole

8.    Toe Stop (non adjustable bell type)

9.    Toe Stop Bolt

10. Speed Cone (Washer)

11. Bearing

12. Spacer

13. Wheel

14. Axle Nut

15. Heel Brake

A.    U-Bolt

B.    U-Bolt Mounting Washers and Nuts

16. Toe Stop Mounting Block

17. Boot

18. Laces

19. Plate Mounting Bolts and Nuts

QuadSkating.com

PO Box 12320, Venice Beach, California 90295 USA

Email Address

Thank You Dave!

Inserted from <http://www.quadskating.com/skates/anatomy-quad-skate.htm>

PADS - DIFFERENT STYLES AND COMPANIES

·         All pads are not created equal, however, in general finding  pads that fit is important.

·         Poor fitting pads can cause serious injury (slipping), circulatory problems, numb feet, shin splints and pain in the lower and upper extremities.

·         New skaters usually purchase set of pads from Target or Wal-Mart.  Although the sets offered are inexpensive, they rarely provide the proper protection for full-contact sports.

·         Invest in a reasonably priced set of knee and elbow pads to protect your knees and elbows.  I prefer Pro-Tech wrist guards because they have a light mesh material and after removing the top nylon wrist shaper, they are very comfortable.
Here are a few links to skate pad manufacturers that are well established and provide proper protection for the sport. There are more manufacturers of pads so research to the type that suits you.
Pro-Tech:
http://www.pro-tec.net/

Triple 8's:
http://www.triple8.com/
187's:
http://www.187killerpads.com/
Pro-Designed: High-end custom pads
http://www.prodesigned.com/
Scabs
http://www.skates.com/Smith-Scabs-Pads-ELITE-KNEE-PADS-p/sg12.htm
Atom (owned by Atomatrix)
http://www.atomgear.com/protective-wear.html
TSG
https://www.ridetsg.com/

Anatomy of a Wheel
Finding the right set of wheels can be difficult for new skaters, without the proper knowledge of wheel terminology.

Wheel Terminology:
Duromete(aka Hardness)r:  This refers to the how hard the wheels are ;0).  Similar to buying clothing, different manufacturers try to create a uniform system of sizing, however; not all wheels will meet the criteria and the color of the wheel in some cases determines the hardness.  In general, the higher the durometer number, the harder the wheel.

 Hardness ranges from 60-100 and are good for varying skate surfaces.
The description of a wheel translates to (62mm x 43 mm) = H x W.

OUTDOOR WHEEL SUGGESTION:
Outdor (Recommended)
Kyptonics (Route) Wheels are excellent for all terrain outdoor skating.
They are tall wheels, verysoft and easy to skate any outdoor surface with ease.  They are available in:  Route 70's (70 mm high), Route 65's (65 mm high), Route 62's (62 mm high)  They have a softness of 78a and color does not determine hardness of these wheels.

P"Pusher" Positions

You may hear the term "pusher wheels" mentioned in derby and ask yourself "what does that mean?"

Pusher wheel set-up: Is the mixing of two different wheel hardness to theoretically achieve speed with grip for less slide out on the corners. 

Using a pusher set-up is skater preference. There are arguments for and against using a pusher set-up, so if you decide you want to try it, here are a few different styles of pusher set-ups.

H = Harder Wheel
S = Softer Wheel
*Be certain to use the same width and height when using two sets for pusher set-ups.
Wheel positions usually refer to a Z pattern:

     BEARINGS

      Bearings are important for speed.

      The higher the ABEC- rating, supposedly, the faster and smoother the roll of the bearing. Some skaters dispute this, and honestly, I question it as well. I have tested all levels of bearings as well as red swiss and so far what I've noticed is that ABEC-5 and above roll smoothest as long as they are maintained. Also available at a higher cost are ceramic bearings. Ceramic bearings do not rust and are virtually indestructible, at a cost.

ABEC - 1, ABEC - 3, ABEC - 5, ABEC - 7, ABEC - 9, Swiss or Ceramics

Cleaning & Lubing Bearings

It's good to clean your bearings every few months or before each game, whichever one prefers. Be certain to prevent damaging the bearings while removing and make sure they are snug when placed back in the wheel after cleaning.

Some people prefer not to use alcohol to clean their bearings, but I have not had any trouble cleaning them this way.  Water is a no-no.

If anyone cares to comment with suggestions or links for more information for future derby girls, all comments and links are welcome.

Officially on the PrissKilla Prezleys...again.

After skating for the Beach Brawl Sk8r Dolls for most of 2009, I moved back to Memphis, took a year off being on a derby league to pursue my education. I re-joined Memphis Roller Derby in January and now placed back on my original team the PrissKilla Prezleys. It is a different team from the team we started in 2006, however, I believe I will the only original member on the team.

I will try to keep this blog updated more than last year and I will post some tips and tricks for newbies, with links to other helpful sights for new derby skaters.

Updates

Many moons circled and many wheel rotations since last I updated this blog. A brief account of the past year is coming soon, but for now I will say that I have received my GED from Northwest Florida State University and now I am attending classes with the University of Phoenix working towards a masters in special education. I returned to Memphis in September of '09 and started college in November. I decided to take some time away from roller derby to pursue my education and I am finally coming to a point where I feel I have the means to join again. I will update the past year with photos and videos, hope you enjoy them. :)

Change of Venue - for Dirty Constance

I've moved to the Emerald Coast and joined the Ft. Walton league, Beach Brawl Sk8tr Dolls. The founders have been around for almost 3 years, but with the size and turn-around, keeping a full roster has been a challenge. The Sk8tr Dolls have also had their fair share of name changes throughout the years. Formerly, Okaloosa, then Emerald Coast. The name Emerald Coast was too similar to Seattle's derby league, so the league finally settled on Sk8tr Dolls.

They've played 4 games, 1-3, yesterday being their (our) first win. I joined 4 weeks ago, and in that time I've learned a lot. Moving from a large league with 4 teams and 1 travel team to a league with a roster of barely 14 is eye-opening. There is a different dynamic that is exciting. A younger league, packs move slower, more injuries and falls, but after skating 3 years with Memphis, it's not any different than where we (mrd) were when we first went into season 1.

I'm really happy to be here with the Sk8tr Dolls! It's an exciting new adventure for me.
Here is the season schedule.

Check back for even more events, appearances and bouts!

Jan. 17 - BBSD vs. Red Stick Roller Derby (Baton Rouge) Away

Feb. 7 - BBSD vs. Red Stick Roller Derby (Fort Walton Beach) Home

Feb. 15-16 - Sunshine Skate (Tampa) Away

March 7 - BBSD vs. Capital City Roller Girls (Jackson, Mississippi) Away

April 4 - BBSD vs. Gainesville Roller Rebels (Fort Walton Beach) Home 1st WIN!!!

May 16 - BBSD vs. Mobile Roller Derby (Mobile) Away

June 6 - BBSD vs. Capital City Roller Girls (Fort Walton Beach) Home

June 21 - BBSD vs. Bradentucky Bombers (Sarasota) Away

July TBA - BBSD vs. Gainesville Roller Rebels (Gainsville) Away

July 25 - BBSD vs. Sintral Florida Derby Demons (Fort Walton Beach) Home

Aug. 15 - BBSD vs. Sintral Florida Derby Demons (DeLand) Away

Sept. 12 - BBSD vs. Greater Jacksonville Roller Derby (Fort Walton Beach) Home

Sept. 20 - BBSD vs. Jacksonville Roller Derby (Jacksonville) Away

Oct. 10 - BBSD vs. Greater Jacksonville Roller Derby (Jacksonville) Away

Nov. 7 - BBSD vs. Jacksonville Roller Derby (Fort Walton Beach) Home

I'll keep you updated as to any changes in the schedule.