April 29 Bout Summary: Jelling as a Team

(W) Dirty Dozen 229 vs. The Quadfathers 80

The Dozen adjusted very quickly on Sunday to the strong jammers of the Quadfathers. We really jelled as a team in our second game of the year. The cycling was able to control the QF while our 2012 jammers were able to cut through the big defensive players of Utica.

Our early season games  have us well prepared for Spring Roll.  I am looking forward to May 12 when we take the track again.

-Will Jettison

(W) PVRD women 119 vs. Collision Coalition 80

I was very proud of all the ladies on Sunday- their teamwork and love of derby came together in an impressive show of skill and determination. We were able to play hard for each other and support each other on and off the track. Cycling and communication were our keys to a successful bout.

-Pink Panzer

4/29 ended up being such a unique bout experience. With both home teams combined, the ladies of PVRD were able to play together against an opponent. This allowed the mixture of all-star and new skaters to compete together in an entirely different way.

The ladies established such great camaraderie during this bout. Experienced skaters were making connections with their teammates, and newer skaters had insight and were asking poignant questions that in a seven-on-seven bout I would not have had the luxury to field.

All in all an amazing learning experience. I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome.

-Celia Casket

Photos courtesy of Jen Brock. See the full gallery here.

Ask the Team: Advice for a First Bout

With all four teams debuting at the beginning of this month, it seemed like the perfect time to ask PVRDers about preparing for bouts. At the Bunker, we asked “What advice would you give a skater, NSO, or ref about to participate in his or her first bout?”

The members had great recommendations, ranging from the practical (remember your gear) to the supportive (have fun!). From the number of smiley faces, we’re guessing they liked the question.

Still, there was a bit of Ask the Team whiteboard drama after one person wrote, “Wear pants!”

“(Opional!)” added a second scrawler. That caught the eye of one of our favorite refs, who has a strict rule when it comes to bottom coverage. We snuck up and caught her adding her own board amendments. (Also not optional? Refraining from sassing the refs.)

Among the skaters’ other recommendations:

• No Death, No vomiting!
• Accept the fact that you’ll be nervous, but once the whistle blows, you’ll be fine.
• Bring all your friendies!
• Have fun
• Don’t take it or yourself too seriously.
• Bring Painkillers -Jurasskick Park
• Don’t forget your skates! -Molly Musket
• Remember derby is fun!

What advice do you have for those about to skate or officiate in their first roller derby bout?

The Penguin Slide (Video)

Not to be outdone by the rocket-launching duo, PVRD’s stripes insisted that the best way to prepare for a bout was to do the penguin slide. Of course, you’re only successful if you can make it through without knocking down the hockey stick…

(Watch closely at 0:37 and you’ll see a toe stop come flying off.)

What’s your favorite way to prepare for a bout? Let us know below!

Tags: PVRD Stripes, skater fun

The Rocket Launch (Video)

How do Gnome and Lethe prepare for the upcoming PVRD bout on Sunday? Let’s just say there are countdowns and rocket fuel involved…

Tags: Gnome Ercy, Lethe L. Ejection, PVRD, rockets, skater fun, pioneer valley roller derby

Pink Panzer’s Top 5 Things Popular in the ’80s

Name: Pink Panzer

Hometown: Northampton, Mass.

Derby number: 88

Team: Quabbin Missile Crisis, WMDs

My top 5 things that were popular in the ’80s (in no particular order):

1. Hats (esp. berets – I had, like, 20 of them!) (And I was totally a valley girl – sort of.)
2. Milly Ringwald – Pretty much the reason why I started dying my hair…I mean, this is totally my natural color…
3. Perms  (Oh – it was bad in the ’80s – bangs and everything)
4. My denim jacket – it was acid washed, covered in pins and buttons and brooches, and I wore it off one shoulder.
5. Madonna – even though I didn’t really dress like her, she was everything that was popular in the ’80s.

My idea of a perfect derby day is: getting to play a fun and challenging bout – hard work is rewarding when you get to see it come together with your teammates!

My goals for the season are: to not get hurt – injuries suck! Nothing broken, no tears (as in muscles and tendons) and to be the best teammate I can for my ladies!

Tags: Pink Panzer, PVRD profiles, qmc, WMDs

Bats Hit Crazy’s Top Dogs and Summer Activities

Name: Bats Hit Crazy

Hometown: Rimavska Sobota, Slovakia

Derby number: 95

Team: WMDs, Florence Fightin’ Gals

My top 5 favorite things about summer:

1. Camping
2. Hiking
3. Rollerblading
4. Motorcycle riding
5. Mountain biking

My top 5 dogs and other canids:

1. Australian cattle dog
2. African wild dog
3. Dhole
4. Thylacine
5. Crazy mutt – dog

My idea of a perfect derby day is to wake up (obviously), eat an awesome breakfast, do some trail skaing, grab some beer and watch derby with friends.

This season, my goals are to perfect quick cuts, staying upright, and stopping on a dime!

Tags: FFG, PVRD profile, WMDs

Mom Rolls On: How I learned to stop worrying and love “The Mom”

I am a worrier. I worry about pretty much everything under the sun.
 
Roller derby has only made this worse.
 
We just recruited a new class of fresh meat in February, and I find myself strangely protective of them, especially when our vet skaters zoom around and push and hit each other in the vicinity of a fledgling freshie. The fact that most falls are minor has not prevented me from wanting to wrap each and every one in bubble wrap and give them a hug when someone hurts them. My motto isn’t “toughen up” it’s “I’m sorry that this is happening to you.” I’m that person reminding people to watch their fingers and to stretch an extra round before going to bed.
 
I’ve also told a teammate that her super cute gold glimmer bottoms, which were smoking hot, did not fit over the pads she should be wearing, since she just bruised her tailbone. She laughed, rolled her eyes, called me “Mom,” and then took my advice.
 
At some point I realized that I was doing all of these things subconciously and that these people, as much as I love and respect them, are not my children.
 
So why make it my problem? Well. I have the added experience (or burden) of knowing that you are all someone else’s children, and that there are a lot of mamas out there who worry every time their children tie on skates and go in circles hitting each other.  So. In an attempt to legitimize my worrying I’m going to make you this offer. Let your moms know that there is a tried and true mama in your league who is making sure that you’re okay, that you’re not getting hurt by doing stupid(er) things, and that you will always have someone with you at the hospital if things take a turn for the worse.
 
I am who I am, and if that person is a worrywart who wants your fingers to stay intact (so keep them tucked in darnit) then so be it. I am embracing The Mom.

Tags: Molly Musket, PVRD, roller derby advice