You never forget your first time...

I met the school physio today. She's a very nice, very tiny lady and I get the feeling that I will be seeing a lot of her in the future.

Last night was scrimmage night, and my first ever time doing actual, real-life, oh-jesus-help-she's-coming-right-for-me scrimmage. I like to think that in all the chaos I held my own and didn't make too big a tit of myself (though getting sent to the box for forgetting what cutting was was something of a low point). It was chaotic and terrifying and the BEST fun I have had with my clothes on since I discovered that motorbikes can go really, really fast round corners. I played jammer twice and spent the rest of my time playing blocker 2. I did OK as jammer, got past some people and didn't get too pwned (though the iconic Fia Fasi Oe? gave me a comprehensive lesson in jamming etiquette about three seconds into my first jam- my side stil hurts)

Ironically, the reason I went to see the physio was not due to some enormous sideswipe or vicious elbow, it was because I feel over during a drill (not all my fault, I hasten to add; wall drills are a lot tighter in big girl land) and my left arm decided to bend back a liiiiiittle further than is strictly necessary. Shoulder was pretty sore, not worth stopping for and a hot bath and copious amounts of voltaren have eased it today. Physio said to rest for a couple of days (No gym! No swimming! Sad face!) and come back and see her if it's not better by Thursday (now known as league training day).

So, as is my current trend, what did I learn?

1. Cutting is important. Don't do it again.
2. No skating back to the penalty box, you gotta go all the way around
3. I have a LOT to learn.

I need to work on my hits, my rules knowledge, my inside line, how to get through teeny gaps when jamming, the list goes on....

I really enjoyed blocking and being part of a pack, but jamming was AMAZING. I read an article a while ago (that I can't find) that said the best way to become a jammer is just to jam. Put a hand up every time they ask who wants to wear the big star pantie, offer yourself, don't afraid of screwing up and just keep at it. So I will. I want to be a great all-rounder, but jamming is pretty damn great (when I'm not in the box).

So, so much to work on, and that's not including the four or five other posts on gear (part 2, and HI to everyone who tweeted, favourited, or commented on that!), wheels, and various other bits and bobs.

This site has got almost 1000 views since I started it in January, and I estimate that nearly 200 of them will be from people other than myself and my mum, so HELLO! and YAY!

Right, now where did I put the Voltaren....

Skate me sideways!

Yesterday was the fresh meat open skate (part 2) and I was there, handing out sign-up sheets and generally being a big, smiley, hopefully-not-to-scary point of contact. I decided that I would use the time before the hordes arrived to practice a new skill, so that I can keep up with my "always take something away from your skate". When I was looking up those videos for my last post, I came across the ever-lovely Bonnie D. Stroir of the San Diego Derby Dolls on youtube, explaining how to skate sideways and do a powerslide.





As is the way with derby, I went "I gotta learn to do THAT!". Being naturally pigeontoed, standing with both feet splayed like that feels very strange to me, let alone skating. But I watched the vid, practiced the technique in my room, and then on the rink. I'm nowhere near powersliding yet, but I'm starting to get the idea of how to skate sideways! I love that there is always something new to learn in derby, that as you go further the bar gets higher.

Yesterday we did a few jams as part of the fresh meat open day, so the new skaters could get a feel for what derby is. I wore the pivot cover for the jams (not that it made much difference) and it was a seriously good wake-up call for me and the other recent graduates. Scrimmaging does not equal skating, hits hurt more in a pack and chaos rules the rink. Tonight is the graduates' first ever scrimmage practice, and I get the feeling I'll be sore tomorrow. Ironically, my wrist is really sore today, will be strapping it up tonight. Why's it sore? I fell over playing red light green light at the open skate yesterday. Doing a t-stop. Sigh....