Derby Journal #7 - Meet the Team
Starting this week, I'll be going to roller derby practice twice a week! If you find these roller derby babbles boring, I suggest you unfollow my roller derby tags. Hahahahaha. There's only going to be more of this.
Tuesdays is league practice, which means that Oslo Roller Derby's A team invites the freshmeats to practice with them. It's a little bit intimidating, especially since I've been watching this team play for a while now, and I really admire what they do.
We practiced basic skills, but the coach threw in extra challenges for the A team girls. They kept things fun and exciting, I was so nervous, though, I kept tripping over myself all the time. I haven't fallen down this much at practice yet. People applauded me, it's all good. After one particularly spectacular fall, a girl came up to me afterwards all "omg, you okay? I just saw a pair of legs flying past me"
I'm not sure what happened, but we were doing a drill where we were supposed to sprint for 1 minute. Speed is still an issue for me, so I'm a bit slow, and errr one of the A team girls came up behind me and like.. squeezed my bum? With both hands? I have no idea, but it really surprised me, and I went flying. My tail bone is a little sore today, but no bruises.
The most interesting drill was a paceline drill where we did c-cuts to weave in-between the people in paceline... but two going through together at the same time. I tried to find a youtube video that shows this movement, but I couldn't find any.
The coach paired every freshmeat up with girls from the A team so the experienced players could help the freshmeats through. It was really helpful and difficult and ahdgjkahdgja I loved it. Even though I tripped myself and tripped my partners and whoops limbs everywhere. That is until we started doing the same drill while the paceline was moving. Funny how roller derby stuff is easier when you've got some speed. I was paired up with one of my favourite players from the A team at one point, which made me nervous because she's a really aggressive player, and sure enough "CUT, CUT, CUT, GO RIGHT INTO THEIR HIPS~~~~~~~! CLOSER, GET CLOSER!" and so I did, and it was fun ahahahahhahaahha.
We also played a variation of tag, which was terrifying (all the A team jammers were it, and you had to escape from them omggggg their faces will haunt my dreams), and a variation of Red Light/Green Light. I am so glad we did these games instead of the usual 27 in 5 drill. I won't be as lucky on Saturday.
I'm surprised at how well I was able to keep up with the drills at this practice. Despite my nervousness and my falling, I felt like I belonged there, which I didn't expect at all. They're a welcoming bunch, even though they look a bit intimidating.
They also just made this promo video (I was there watching when they filmed this!) - they talk in Norwegian, but it's still a really neat intro to the team! Aaah, can't believe I get to practice with these girls!
Tuesdays is league practice, which means that Oslo Roller Derby's A team invites the freshmeats to practice with them. It's a little bit intimidating, especially since I've been watching this team play for a while now, and I really admire what they do.
We practiced basic skills, but the coach threw in extra challenges for the A team girls. They kept things fun and exciting, I was so nervous, though, I kept tripping over myself all the time. I haven't fallen down this much at practice yet. People applauded me, it's all good. After one particularly spectacular fall, a girl came up to me afterwards all "omg, you okay? I just saw a pair of legs flying past me"
I'm not sure what happened, but we were doing a drill where we were supposed to sprint for 1 minute. Speed is still an issue for me, so I'm a bit slow, and errr one of the A team girls came up behind me and like.. squeezed my bum? With both hands? I have no idea, but it really surprised me, and I went flying. My tail bone is a little sore today, but no bruises.
The most interesting drill was a paceline drill where we did c-cuts to weave in-between the people in paceline... but two going through together at the same time. I tried to find a youtube video that shows this movement, but I couldn't find any.
The coach paired every freshmeat up with girls from the A team so the experienced players could help the freshmeats through. It was really helpful and difficult and ahdgjkahdgja I loved it. Even though I tripped myself and tripped my partners and whoops limbs everywhere. That is until we started doing the same drill while the paceline was moving. Funny how roller derby stuff is easier when you've got some speed. I was paired up with one of my favourite players from the A team at one point, which made me nervous because she's a really aggressive player, and sure enough "CUT, CUT, CUT, GO RIGHT INTO THEIR HIPS~~~~~~~! CLOSER, GET CLOSER!" and so I did, and it was fun ahahahahhahaahha.
We also played a variation of tag, which was terrifying (all the A team jammers were it, and you had to escape from them omggggg their faces will haunt my dreams), and a variation of Red Light/Green Light. I am so glad we did these games instead of the usual 27 in 5 drill. I won't be as lucky on Saturday.
I'm surprised at how well I was able to keep up with the drills at this practice. Despite my nervousness and my falling, I felt like I belonged there, which I didn't expect at all. They're a welcoming bunch, even though they look a bit intimidating.
They also just made this promo video (I was there watching when they filmed this!) - they talk in Norwegian, but it's still a really neat intro to the team! Aaah, can't believe I get to practice with these girls!