CT Rollergirls

We're the Daughters of the American Derby Revolution, - Connecticut's premier women's flat-track roller derby league, and a proud member-league of the WFTDA. Founded in 2006 we are non-profit, no-pants, and all business.

[ctrollergirls]

CTRG is hosting a 5K!  Join us on October 25 at East Shore Park in New Haven!

[ctrollergirls]

I am looking to start participating in roller derby.. I have no experience. How can I sign up for classes or take part in a beginners practice? I am near Southington ct

Oh hi!  If you're still looking to start skating, there are lots of options in CT. Most rinks host open skates, check their schedules.  CTRG occasionally has beginners skills bootcamps - we don't have any scheduled now, but when we do, all that info will be on our facebook page.  The next round of tryouts will likely be this winter (November-Decemberish) and all that info will be on our fb page once it's scheduled.

Otherwise, there are some derby-ish skating classes around the state - Derby Lite is in Waterbury and RollerDurance rotates around the state (at least they used to, their fb page looks like they might just be in Vernon for the time being.).

Good luck!!

[ctrollergirls]

Stepford Sabotage Gearing Up for Spring Roll

This week, the CT RollerGirls’ All-Star Stepford Sabotage is hitting the road for their first tournament of the year. Spring Roll, held annually in Fort Wayne, IN, is hosted by the Fort Wayne Derby Girls, and includes over 22 teams from WFTDA and MRDA bouting the weekend of May 16-18. Last year Sabotage came out of this tournament with a 2-1 record, losing their first game to the Fargo-Moorehead Derby Girls, but rallying to beat the Tri-City Roller Girls in a rankings upset and win their final game against the Hammer City Roller GIrls’ Eh! Team. This year Sabotage (ranked 93) is playing sanctioned bouts against Glasgow Roller Derby’s Irn Bruisers (104), The Chicago Outfit (66), and the Twin City Derby Girls (70).

Sabotage’s Spring Roll roster boasts a number of skaters new to sanctioned tournament play with CTRG: Lady Trampler, NDuce N Agony, Mama Hotep, Kill-Ty, Stick up Kid, and Monkey Brains will be traveling to compete with a WFTDA charter team for the first time in an invitational tournament. For some, it will also be their first-time bouting an international team who are traveling all the way from Scotland! Sabotage will be coached and managed by our friends Cirkle Jerk and Fro Serious from the Connecticut Death Quads, and look forward to seeing them take the track for MRDA standings against the Race City Rebels, the Carolina Wreckingballs, and the UK’s Southern Discomfort.

Cars and minivans are being rented and loaded with snacks, protein powders, water, and what-not for the journey to Fort Wayne. Krazy Legz Nikki and Parker Poison are bringing a pancake maker to turn their hotel room into a diner. Your Mom is making sure her bout underwear is clean! Monkey Brains, C Mya Rage, Doomcake, and Assistant Captain Black Cherry are attempting to compile a fourteen hour pump-up play list. NDuce N Agony has been trail hiking with her kids on her back and eating actual spring rolls for good kharma! Inspirational videos are downloaded and ready to play on repeat in the team’s hotel rooms (while they – of course – eat pancakes, sporting clean bout day underwear).

After weeks of cross training, scrimmaging, and practice, Sabotage is prepared for road trip and battle! Deep InCider came to visit from Mass Maelstrom to help tighten the team’s walls of death, and Sabotage picked up a last minute closed-bout with New York’s Bad Apples. This week, new shiny jerseys have just been delivered, and the team is mentally preparing. They are watching footage, hitting the gym, and maybe even getting some rest. Sabotage’s focus, team work, positive attitude, and work ethic looks stronger than ever!

Please Considering Donating!:

http://www.gofundme.com/6ngxzg

Visit these sites:

http://www.ctrollerderby.com

ctdeathquads.wordpress.com

http://fwderbygirls.com/springroll/

[ctrollergirls]

You shop at Amazon, right?  (Of course you do.)  Next time, use the above link, and Amazon will donate a percentage of your purchase to CTRG!  It's quick, it's painless, and you don't have to do a thing but buy that sweet jet-engine juicer you've had your eye on.

[ctrollergirls]

Click here to support Connecticut Rollergirls Stepford Sabotage

Our A travel team, The Stepford Sabotage of CTRG, has been accepted to participate in 2 roller derby tournaments this year! Spring Roll in Fort Wayne, Indiana and the East Coast Derby Extravaganza in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Teams from all over the world (Australia, Finland, and Sweden to name a few) will be at these tournaments and we are so excited to be representing Connecticut.  CTRG is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and is entirely skater owned and operated. Since 2006, we have remained dedicated to nurturing strong, healthy, and diverse women that can be role models to girls of all ages; to instilling a sense of family, loyalty, hard work, and competitiveness in all of our skaters; and to fostering community, sportsmanship, and athleticism.  Going to tournaments is expensive. We have entry fees and travel expenses for the whole team. Please help us get to these tournaments so we can represent Connecticut. Any amount will help. Thank you! Visit us at www.ctrollerderby.com

[zbunnyzero]

[ctrollergirls]

Lately at CTRG we have been talking a lot about how and why to destroy a bridge.

This is how you destroy a bridge (and conveniently fail to become the bridge yourself).

Learning!

[ctrollergirls]

CTRG's favorite photog, Jeffrey Kerekes, came to our junior derby bootcamp and took a bunch of sweet portraits.  These girls are so rad, we can't wait to have another!!

[ctrollergirls]

I MEAN COME ON.

(Photo by Jeffrey Kerekes)

[ctrollergirls]

Check out these rad photos of CTRG's junior derby bootcamp by Jeffrey Kerekes!

[ctrollergirls]

Hi there! So I live in bethel and I went to a junior derby boot camp that was in Waterbury. I know all the stops and the falls and stuff like that but I don't have anywhere to practice. I was considering going to an open skate somewhere but I figured that stopping in the middle of a bunch of people skating would cause problems for other skaters. Do you think I should practice outdoors on pavement? Or should I just go for it at an open skate?

Hi!  Yay!  We're so so excited that you came to bootcamp!  We often practice skills at open skates - the most important thing is to be aware of your surroundings and what's SAFE and appropriate for the situation you're in.  If the open skate is crowded, stick to practicing your stride and stance and don't practice stops or falls.  Use your good judgment, be sure that you're not disturbing other skaters, and have fun!  (And wear all your safety equipment!)

If you're going to skate outside, cement is easier to skate on than asphalt - try an empty basketball court or something like that.  And we hope to see you back at our next bootcamp, August 20!

xoxo,

Your Mom

[ctrollergirls]

I am 14, can I do it? Or do you have any other suggested places that take 14 year olds?

If you're between 5 and 17, you're eligible to attend CTRG's junior derby bootcamps.  Location, cost, and requirements can be found on the CTRG event pages for the bootcamps, which are happening August 8 and August 20!  Come learn to skate from your favorite rollergirls! 

[ctrollergirls]

Can you advise a beginner skater on what type of skates to buy. I am a fan that dreams of playing derby, but needs some serious practice gaining skills first!

Buy skates that fit!  Most starter skates run around $100-$150 - this is a safe bet if you're not entirely certain that derby is for you.  Riedell R3s and SureGrip Rebels (these run really large, and are quite wide) are probably the most popular starter skates around.  They will get you through a season or so, and will at least let you figure out if roller derby is really The Thing For You.

If you want to buy swankier skates (and you're not vegan) go for a leather boot whenever possible - they will break in better and conform to your foot better.  If you can AT ALL, go to a skate shop (if you're CT local, Five Stride in Brooklyn and Bruised Boutique in NH are the closest around) and try stuff on before you buy.  And if you can't try them on, talk to the staff from whatever shop you're buying from and get their help choosing a boot and a size.  Skate sizes run weird, so the size you get really has more to do with the brand and model of skate you're getting than the size shoe you wear.  (For example: I wear a size 10 ladies shoe.  My skates are a 7.5.)  And skates should fit tightly - not uncomfortable, but there should be very little room for your foot to slide in the boot.  This will take some getting used to.  Know that, as much as you love them, if you're skating hard, your skates will eventually wear out - talk to a skater or a skate shop employee about skatenance - what you should be looking for and possibly fixing to keep your skates in working order for as long as possible.  

And I know you didn't ask, but in terms of other gear, buy the nicest kneepads you can afford.  For my money, 187's Derby Pro kneepads are the best around - lots of padding (they're a little bulky and will take some getting used to), and a relatively narrow profile so that they're safe enough for the derby skater but don't trip them up.  Keep skating!!

xoxo,

Your Mom

[ctrollergirls]

Hey, y'all. It's time for the CTRG Scholarship for Women Athletes again!

Deadline is May 1, 2013. Application form and printable flyers available at the website!

Please share!

[ctrollergirls]

When will the junior roller derby league start? I'm really interested in doing derby in highschool but my age won't allow me to play

Honestly, we don't know yet!  We're still in the research phase, but as soon as we have dates and a program set, we'll post it here.  Keep skating!!

[ctrollergirls]

Check out Shovie Lovie!  We're calling it now: this little monster is going to be captain of the Stepford Sabotage in 2025!

[ctrollergirls]

Is the a age limit for roller derby, if so is their a league for teenagers?

CTRG is an 18+ league.  We would like to start a junior league sometime in the future, but nothing is in place yet.  I know that Gotham Girls Roller Derby runs a junior program - they are likely the closest option.  Good luck, and keep skating!  We hope you try out for CTRG once you're 18!

[ctrollergirls]

The CT RollerGirls are raising money to send their WFTDA charter team to Spring Roll in May!  We're sending a 16-person roster and two of our twenty* coaches all the way to Indiana to (hopefully) kick some butt and take some names at this 3-day tournament.  Give some love and you can get all kinds of stuff in return.  Plus!  CTRG is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, so a portion of your donation is tax deductible!  Help a derby girl out!

*maybe it just seems like twenty