Fresh Meat: Week 1: Practice 3

So I know I am way behind on my practice recaps, but this particular practice was way less than interesting and for the most part not effective at all. So I showed up for practice Friday and there were maybe 4 people there. That number increased slightly, but not much at all. There was a lady there that was showing the fresh meat stuff and while she is a good skater, she knows nothing about derby. She used to be a figure skater and where a figure skater keeps her weight and where a roller derby girl keeps her weight are completely opposite. There was a lot of random skating and no specific instruction. Although, I did get to see Cam and Bo do some leg whips. If you have never seen one...check out youtube. So that was Friday. Nothing special.

Fresh Meat: Week 1: Practice 2

So practice was much, much better last night. I feel like I got so much more out of practice last night than I did Monday night. GB our fresh meat coach was not there so we were left with the speed skating coach and his brother. They have both been skating for longer than I have been alive. It was nice. They broke things down into smaller parts. Since there were only 5 of us in the pond there was a lot of 1 on 1 time. I feel like my crossovers improved quite a bit, enough that I finally started to realize just how slippery the crappy wheels on the crappy skates I have are. We did more of what we did on Monday; crossovers, tstops, falls & skating on one foot. He had us trying to change direction on one foot which really made me nervous, but I was able to do it pretty well. Candy was there to remind us to stay in derby position. That is one thing I really need to work on. I always feel like I am pretty low and then Candy yells get lower. It is so hard when you can't see yourself. That was the other thing I liked more about this practice than the last one. We were constantly receiving feedback from someone. It's nice to know when you are doing something right or wrong. On Monday we just skated in a circle for hours with out anyone saying anything other than let me see you do a crossover, which, IMO isn't very helpful. If there is no one giving you any feedback are you to just assume that you are doing it right. I guess this week I will be breaking down and ordering some pads. My knees are taking a pretty bad beating from all of the falling with my crappy pads. I am feeling less tired today than I was Tuesday after practice. Looking forward to Friday's practice...wondering what we will be doing. If we will be skating with the big girls. Loving it!!!

Fresh Meat: Week 1: Practice 1

So last night was my first night of Fresh Meat practice with the Lakeland Derby Dames. I had been awaiting that day for so long. Skating as much as I could and learning as much about roller derby as I could. I was pretty excited when I woke up at 9 yesterday morning knowing that in a few hours I would be a my first practice. However, as the day went on the excitement settled and nerves began to kick in. I could feel my stomach forming knots, my legs were trembling, and I couldn't focus on anything. I am not really sure what I was making me so nervous...I guess it was just a combination of things...Had I remembered to pack all of my gear, what would we be doing, was everyone going to be better than, were they going to be nice? I finally arrived at practice at 7:30 got all of my gear checked & paid my dues. Everything was good except I need to try and reform my mouth guard. Finally, 8:00 time for us to start practice. GB our fresh meat coach just had us start skating around in a circle for a bit, just to see our skill level out of the gate. She then when over double knee fall, derby position, and t-stops with us. We stretched, had very few water breaks, & skated around in a circle for what felt like forever. It was exhausting and to be honest a bit boring...I am sure it will get better. I got used to all of the fun drills that April and I were doing that just skating in a small for almost 2 hours isn't very fun. I know, I know, it's not supposed to be all that fun in the beginning...it's hard work! The one thing I am thankful for is that I am not sore....not even a little (well, except for that blister thing on my toe). I guess all of the skating and working out I have done for the past 1.5 months has paid off. I am looking forward to Wednesdays practice and what it may bring with it.