#pace lines

Two weeks ago I wasn't my best at roller derby practice. For some reason I just lost all of my confidence, I couldn't relax and I guess I wasn't believing in myself. But this week I entered the sports hall with my quads stuck firmly to my feet gliding round the track I felt better, reassured and unhinged. I started to bend my knees and my legs started to do all the work, getting faster and faster around the track I felt more confident and self assured in myself. I could do anything I was getting faster and faster and I could feel a huge, immense grin spread across myself.

I was back in business.

The whistle blew and all the girls skated to the centre of the hall about to begin our warm up when as soon as I knew it The Tyrant (my fairy derby Godmother) came sprinting in carrying a leopard print bag and slid up next to me. As soon as I knew it she grabbed my toe stops and pulled out my new, lovely, pristine Gumball toe stops! Most girls get excited when they get a new pair of shoes or a new haircut but for me, the roller derby world has got into my veins and now I get super excited when I can customise my quads! 

As quick as a flash my brand new spanking toe stops were on my feet and I was ready to try some deadly toe stop runs! Straightaway we were back on our feet getting ready to pace line. Last week I could barely keep up with the pace line which is one of the reason that got me so upset with derby, but this week? This week I was back to my original derby- loving self keeping just the right amount of closeness to the gal in front and managed to weave in and out of the line with much more comfort. This pace line felt like it was never ending but I was enjoying every minute of it. But what was coming next was what I was really excited about.

It was finally here, we have finally started to learn about roller derby techniques and tactics that we would use when trying to block jammers. We were taught about "The Wall" and the wall is a techniques where the blockers stay in a line together as one and try to keep the same speed so when the jammer from the opposite team comes along they are going to find it much harder to get past the pack and score points. Knees bent, we had to lean into each other so the jammer would have no room to push through. We set off slowly round the track to get a feel of this position, I found it really tricky as the girls and I were so close our wheels could've easily knocked each other which would've made the whole "wall" crumble but each lap we got better. Two of the main league girls; The Tyrant and Diagnosis Mauler came behind us to let us know what parts of the wall she could've easily pushed her way through, helping us realise where we need to be closer and also reminding us that communication is very important in roller derby. We practiced this move again but in pairs just so we could get use to leaning into one another and also how close you have to be in this sport!!

Called into the middle to relax and quench our thirst we were going to practice our falls as we haven't done it for so long the main league girls who were coaching us at the time thought it would be a good idea to quickly run over falls as during a bout when you fall you have to get up within 2-3 seconds! When we were told this I just thought to myself;

"No way! I can't do that!"

But as soon as the group did their first knee tap I was up like a shot! For every fall that was called up I managed to get us with ease! It may seem quick but 2-3 seconds is plenty of time! All the girls were doing well and the instructors were more than pleased with all of us and even though I managed to get up with no help I was sweating buckets practicing those falls!

The lesson was nearly over so Diagnosis Mauler thought it would be a good and fun idea to try and attempt some other falls, one of them which is now my favourite fall is the baseball slide.This is when you fall on one of your knees and use your other leg to slide whilst keeping your legs down and your back leg up against your bum so it's easier to get up. I absolutely adore this move! When I first tried it all I felt was a massive WALLOP as my thigh hit the floor, I thought if I kept doing this I would be on my way to getting my first, mighty derby bruise! But before I knew it we were trying another fall; The 180. The 180 is very similar to a knee tap but as you fall onto that knee you turn yourself around so you're facing the other way, again I enjoyed this move because when you got that spin right I felt a massive woosh and the fall was over in the blink of an eye and I was back up on my quads skating in the opposite direction. 

And before the lesson even started it was over in a flash.

I was so proud myself when walking out of those sport centre doors and started to believe I can do this and I can do roller derby. But the best part of the lesson was being told by one of the main league girls that,

"You were amazeballs!"