May 13, 2016
The Dollies bring the Trash Talk
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The Dollies bring the Trash Talk
A post about roller derby (the first of many, I assume...)
I was introduced to the roller derby world in October 2012, a week after I had been offered my first full-time library post in Bradford. I was staying with friends in Leeds for the weekend while I found some accommodation, and they took me to see Leeds Roller Dolls' last bout of the season. I didn't entirely understand what was going on, but I knew that whatever was happening, it was awesome.
In 2013, I went to almost all of LRD's home bouts, and a couple of other local leagues' bouts too, but I decided that I wanted more. I wanted to be as cool as the fierce women I admired so much. In the spring, I visited a friend in Coventry who plays derby, and she took me to a Saturday afternoon roller disco at a local leisure centre. I had owned a pair of skates when I was very young, but had been too scared to wear them. Ever. So really, this was my first time skating. And it was totally terrifying, because we were the oldest and tallest people in a hall full of kids who were doing all sorts of tricks. By the end of the afternoon, I managed a couple of slow laps, unassisted, and that was my mind made up: I had survived without anything bad happening, so there was hope for me to really try this.
A couple of weeks later, I went to another LRD bout. I also went to the after party, where I got a little tipsy, came home, and bought skates on the internet. The following week, some time in late June, I attended LRD's weekly open skate session that anybody is able to attend. It was there that I met my derby wife (<3), as it was her first session too. We learnt how to get up from the floor without using our hands, and we did some basic stride work. I took part in 27-in-5, where I got either 9 or 11 laps - my memory isn't great, so let's say 10. I continued going to this weekly session, until LRD opened up their rec league in August, the Wrecking Brawls. Between its birth and my exit at the end of September, I learnt - alongside my beloved wifey - about quite a wide range of stuff. Lots of lemons, lots of backwards lemons, lots of plows, whipping, positional blocking, jumping (and landing on my arse...) and a whole bunch of pack work. I made a lot of friends, and knew that derby was the one thing I didn't want to lose when I moved away. I was absolutely gutted to be leaving LRD.
So, when I moved to Loughborough, I had a choice of a few leagues (Sox Pistols, Hellfire Harlots, and Dolly Rockit Rollers), and I tried them all out so that I could pick the one that best suited me. I know I would have faired perfectly well at any of them, as everyone I met was lovely and enthusiastic and helpful. Ultimately, I chose DRR because of their established 12-week newbie programme, which I knew was similar to LRD's training.
Since my joining them at the end of October, I've made some fantastic friends. It was difficult hearing about all the things the Wrecking Brawls and my derby wife were getting up to whilst I was starting at the beginning again. LRD taught us stuff that we have only just started covering here at DRR, and some of which we still haven't covered, so it's been fairly frustrating for me. However, I know that all practice is good practice, and boy do I need it! Ultimately, it's taken me a long time to be stable on my skates, and it's only now that I'm starting to catch on to other skills that I've been trying for a long time. Whilst my head is ready to be covering bigger and better things, my body hasn't caught up yet, so covering and re-covering has been super useful to me. I'm just impatient.
I'm aware that I'm a rambler, and this post is getting pretty lengthy, so I'm going to cover the other things I have to say in list-form:
Things that I find hard about roller derby
I have never played a sport before. This is all completely new to me, and therefore challenging. My body is basically saying 'WTF' over and over again.
Watching people who have been skating for less time than me progress super quickly. Don't get me wrong, I am really really happy for my friends, it's great to see everyone being so freaking awesome, but comparing myself to others is getting me nowhere. I know I shouldn't do it - this is my own journey, and I've already come so far, but I do wish it came as easily for me as it does for other people.
I am incredibly hard on myself, about absolutely everything in my life, all the time. Roller derby is no exception. I am pre-disposed to hate myself, and when I can't get a skill I get incredibly frustrated at myself.
My current annoyance is laps. I am consistently getting around the 20 mark, and that's just not enough. Whilst being aware that it's double my first efforts, I'm even more aware that I need to up that by another quarter to reach the next level in DRR, and up it by even more to pass my minimum skills and be able to bout. I put my all into laps and I'm still so far away. I genuinely have no idea how I'll ever up that to 25, and then 27. I just can't do it, and currently I spend the rest of every day I attempt laps feeling absolutely shit about myself. It's an unreasonable and pointless reaction, but it happens.
Things I love about roller derby
The feeling when I finally achieve a new skill. I'd often heard people say that you'll just have a day when something clicks. The day I clicked with T-stops, after literally months of accidentally transitioning instead, felt absolutely amazing. The same thing happened with crossovers, and a few other skills. I'm on top of the world when I master a new skill.
Skating. It's fun. Actually having a pastime that isn't posting about every single detail of my life on Facebook. I hated school P.E. so much that I never thought I'd ever be able to partake in sport. I was wrong. This is good news.
Thinking about how far I've come. I remember that first time on skates very fondly. I am particularly happy that I now fall forwards. When I started skating, I fell backwards. A lot. On my third week at LRD open skates, I fell backwards, landed on my skate, and had a bruise bigger than my hand on my arse, with a line running through it where the plate had been. 5 months later and I still don't have feeling on the middle of that patch of skin. Personally, I took way too much enjoyment from such an epic bruise, but I am happy to announce that I haven't fallen backwards once since I left Leeds...
Getting to spend lots of time watching and helping out with a sport that I love, and also getting to travel the country whilst doing this. I love coach trips (but only if they have regular toilet breaks).
My new friends. As a socially awkward human bean, I find it quite difficult to make friends these days. However, diving straight into the Dollies has been incredible. I've never felt part of such a lovely group of people before, and I wouldn't give them up for the world. I can't wait to get to know them even better.
Drew
x
We had a really great trip up to Leicester on November 3rd to take on the Dolly Rockit Rollers. It was a hard fought bout and the Dolly's got the win, but we had so much fun!! Until next time DRR! Final Score DRR 263 - 71 BBHR
Here are some photos from the bout.
Credit: © Russell Stainer
My past month as a Dolly.
So I skate for the Dolly Rockit Rollers in Leicester. They’re a super awesome roller derby team and also my third family (after the Copestakes). In the past month I’ve had some real highs and a crashing low. I’ve been told by many Dollies that it’s best to focus on the highs and get your awesomeness into perspective, so that’s what I’m going to do. Yesterday we attempted laps (you need to complete 25 in 5 minutes). Previously I’ve managed 24 and I thought yesterday would be my day, but I only managed 22.5. I was gutted. I cried. But the Dollies pulled me through. They put it all into perspective for me. Which brings me into the positives. Recently I’ve conquered transitions, which I haven’t been able to do for years, I can now skate backwards, do a derby stop and our team captain said my crossovers were awesome and so graceful.
So today I’m trying to be positive. I’ve shaken off yesterday’s disappointment, I’m revising for my rules test next week, I’ve picked my skate name and number and I’m determined to make the team!
From now on, I’m DisGrace, no. 35, yeah?
Sheffield Steel Roller Girls next bout - against the Dolly Rockits - is on the 7th of September. It's going to be ace so make sure you get along to it it
TANK GRRL TICKETS GIVEAWAY
We are giving away a pair of tickets to Tank Grrl! This fab prize gets you into our next bout on 1st June ABSOLUTELY FREE along with entry to our rollerdisco afterparty.
Apparently Tumblr doesn't like Rafflecopter widgets, so to enter go along to our Facebook page and follow the instructions. :D
The Dollies wish you luck and look forward to seeing you there!
https://www.facebook.com/dollyrockits
It's been six weeks since I strapped my skates on for my last practice with the Birmingham Blitz Dames, and today I went to my first practice with Leicester's Dolly Rockit Rollers.
The Blitz Dames have a good relationship with the Dollies and they frequently visited for scrims and bouts, so when I realised I would have to switch teams, I was relieved that I wouldn't be skating with complete strangers.
The Dollies knew I was planning to attend practice, but I have an odd paranoia about attending events with skaters that don't know me so I still felt nervous.
That said, as I went through the familiar motions of getting ready for a practice, putting on my skating clothes and tying up my hair, I felt a sense of calm. It was the first time in a long time that I'd felt like Daphne du Gorier, and I'd missed it.
As most of the league were bouting at an away game it was a quiet practice with the advanced skaters enjoying a free skate. This was perfect for me to chat to a few people and assess myself. With every lap I felt more confident and relaxed.
The Dollies are not the Dames. They don't all know me, laugh at all my jokes no matter how bad, and ask me when I'm going to update my blog. They are, however, really friendly and welcoming. I hope we'll have a lot of fun together and I can make some more awesome derby friendships.
For now, I need to be assessed before I can skate more than once a week. I have an inkling that this is a good thing as in all the excitement at the end of practice I forgot about that small but crucial thing called stretching.
Eight excellent reasons to attend Slice Grrls this Splatterday
1) Dolly Rockit Rollers take on Croydon Roller Derby. It looks to be a closely fought, super-exciting match up!
2) Our opener features skaters from Coventry, Hellfire Harlots, Nottingham, Croydon, Shoetown Slayers, Mean Valley and of course the Dollies!
3) We have a LICENSED BAR!
4) There is a bring-your-own-skates roller disco at the venue after the bouts. (We're ordering in pizza, and it's free entry to all spectators)
5) We'll have the usual raffle with awesome prizes to be won (think skate pads, gift sets, sweet treats and booze)
6) We have an enviable selection of cakes.
7) Did we mention the licensed bar?!
8) Tickets are only £6 in advance - that covers both bouts and the afterparty. Bargain.
See you there, yeah? :D