Two games... where has the time gone?

So, I promised an update from the game in Madison last Saturday and time has flown by so fast this is the first opportunity I've had to post since then. This was my first inter-league game and I must say, "WOW". What an amazing experience. The hosting team gave us a great goody "basket" before the game and pie afterwards. Considering we won, the pie was super nice.

For those of my readers who are not yet up on all things derby, inter-league games are (typically) made up of skaters from a league's home season teams and there are only 14 roster spots to fill (instead of 20 for home season). As a pack consists of 5 people (4 blockers and 1 jammer), this means 3 packs constantly rotating. Lot's of game time!

I had the opportunity to skate with 2 skaters from another home team in my pack and I have to say it was great. We worked well together and communicated, which is the biggest thing you can do during a game. We did a good job of holding their jammer back and recycling when she got past us.

The most exciting part for me during this game, though, was that I was asked to jam. As a skater that normally blocks, I'm always willing to step in when needed, even to jam. I am not the strongest jammer, but I can typically hold my own, especially given that I am strong enough to take most hits without falling or losing my balance. And I must say, I held my own very well. I jammed 3 times and got lead each time! Plus, I racked up 28 points for my team in those 3 jams. So, yeah, it was a great game.

I'll keep my synopsis of last night's home season game short. It was awesome! Two teams went into our game undefeated and my team came out the other side victorious. The pack I work in the majority of the time is fantastic! When one of my teammates pushes me (especially toward a line), I know she's using me to hit a jammer.... and it works! I am very happy with my overall performance last night. I went into the game with a goal of two jammer take downs, and while I didn't meet that goal, I did have a few good jammer take outs, which is pretty darn good too. My rookie year is turning out to be one fun ride! Note: It's also pretty cool when a long time vet (jammer) from the opposing team says to you at the after party, "I hate you.", to which I respond, "Why?". "Because you're an asshole" is what she replied back to me with a smile on her face. I'm not offended. I'm flattered because I know I gave her hell on the track and it made me happy.

Bitten by the Derby Bug

Today is my first travel team game against Madison, skating with the B team.  I've had one home season game and I'm trying to stay calm right now.  I've had a decent breakfast, fixed my lace covers and done my nails so far.  Up next, some skate maintenance to put in fresh bearings so I can roll like a maniac.  An update will be forthcoming.

The A Team

Today our travel teams had a makeup practice for all the crazy cold weather we've been having.  As a rookie (in general and) lucky enough to have made the roster for the B team's upcoming game, I'll take any possible practice I can get to and try to make the most of it.  We typically practice for 2 hours with a 1 hour overlap where the A team skates with us.  At the end of our two hours, the coach for the A team invited any of the B team players to stay and skate if they wanted.  And so I did.  And here is what I've learned.

It can be a soul crushing experience as a new player to be skating against the best skaters in the league.  If you let it.  I read an article by another derby girl that nicely explained the pros and cons of a mixed practice, especially from the point of view of the less experienced and skilled player.  So, while I was definitely a fish out of water, I took every opportunity to learn from the better skaters and pushed myself even harder.  Many times during the drills I felt as if I was falling short and was disappointed in myself.  But then I realized, each time I focused on something I that wasn't doing well, I got a little better.  I'm still way out of my league, but I'm going to focus on the fact that these awesome skaters let me join them and even took the time to teach me to be a better skater.  Derby love!

When it Rains it Pours

I think 2014 is going to be an interesting but good year for me.  In the past, I've thrown myself into one thing with a single minded determination that pushes everything else to the side.  I'm trying something new this year and throwing myself into many good things.  Here's hoping I make it!

As always, work has kept me busy and will continue to do so.  I'm finally going to get another analyst for my department, which means I might actually get to finish a project that I've been working on for a few years that continues to get pushed to the back burner.  Plus, our new IT Director gave me a very high compliment after a meeting I ran.  I guess my inner techie shined a little too much.  Maybe I should consider a career change?

My boss has been trying to schedule trips to the UK and Asia for us to catch up with the controllers there, but we've had a lot of scheduling issues.  Thankfully we will not be going to the UK this month since its already jam packed with stuff to do, but I'll be heading to Asia in March.  I've never done it before, but I'm thinking about taking a few extra days at the end of this trip to go someplace for fun.  But where to go?  I've never traveled in Asia for leisure.  And since I'll be alone, I want to make sure I'm going some place safe.

I'm also sitting on two advisory boards right now, one for Microsoft and one for a user group for an ERP system.  I started out with the user group as just a regular user going to the conference to learn more.  The next year I went I was asked to be a speaker, which was a completely new experience for me.  Despite nerves, I did a decent enough job that they asked me to be a track leader the next year.  Now I've filled the Quality Control role on the advisory board.  I've never done anything like this before, so my fingers are crossed I pull this off.

And then there's derby.  Not only am enjoying my rookie season on my home team, I've been rostered for my very first travel team game coming up next week.  I am SO excited to be getting the opportunity to skate with other girls from my home league.  Friends not involved in derby are always surprised by how many days a week I practice, plus trips to the gym, but it's paying off.  Can't wait to report on this game!

Here's to 2014 being amazing!

Is it bedtime yet?

Starting time: 11:37 pm 

Late practice.  It's one of the down sides to roller derby.  Every other week my team has practice from 8:30 to 10:30 pm.  We're lucky that we only have to do this every other week because another team in the league has to do it every week.  Despite having a full day of work and being bone tired after 2 hours of grueling practice, falling asleep on a late practice night is almost impossible.  Even after a nice hot shower, the endorphin rush keeps me awake way past a reasonable hour......

But, I guess just the exercise of writing this blog has been helpful because I have been staring at the screen too long.  Despite many articles stating that unplugging from technology for at least an hour before going to bed, maybe this is really the answer. 

Ending time: 11:47 pm (10 minutes and a pitiful blog entry later, I think I will try to fall asleep now.)

New Beginnings

I've been skating for just over a year and I figured it's about time for me to start chronicling my experiences with roller derby.  I want to make sure that I remember this time for how awesome it is, and maybe share a little of my life with people.  So I'll start with a re-post of the article I wrote for my company recently, which is a quick overview of my derby beginnings.  I hope you enjoy!

My passion for roller derby began when Dicky Yau, our Finance Manager in Asia, visited from Hong Kong.  I took him and my husband to our first Brewcity Bruisers (BCB) home season double header on April 16, 2011.  We watched teams of women take to the oval flat-track, and Jammers scored points as the opposing team’s Blockers threw hips and shoulders to knock them down.  I was captivated by these amazing women.

It had been years since I’d been involved in sports and longer since I’d worn roller skates, so it took me an entire year to get up the courage to get involved in one of the 10 most demanding extreme sports (http://www.buzzfeed.com/redbull/the-10-most-demanding-extreme-sports-594m).  In May 2012, I attended a roller derby boot camp, and I was hooked.

I tried out for the Fresh Brews that July - the training group for women hoping to be drafted onto one of the four Milwaukee home teams - but without the skills required to play, I didn’t make the cut.  I was disappointed but determined, and in November I joined the Brewcity Bootleggers, the BCB recreational league.  For the next 7 months I went to 2 practices every week and learned to block, hit, fall, and “jam.”  I even scrimmaged with the Madison rec league.

Months of pushing my limits and coming home with bruises and sore muscles made me stronger, faster, and more confident.  When I tried out for the Fresh Brews again in July 2013, I made it!  Now came the hard part.  For the next 4 weeks the training intensified, and I worked with the 24 other women who’d made the cut, focusing on becoming better players and preparing to learning how to hit - because what’s roller derby without a good hit?

As August approached, we all agonized over our skills, but the months of hard work paid off - I made the second cut.  I was so close to my dream of making a home team.  The final 4 weeks of training involved sessions with each of the 4 home teams - the Crazy 8’s, Maiden Milwaukee, Rushin’ Rollettes, and Shevil Knevils - getting to know the experienced skaters, learning from them, and seeing how well I might fit with their teams.

On October 18^th, 2013, the moment I’d worked toward finally arrived, and it was one of the most nerve-wracking days of my life.  The BCB Fundraising Gala was paired with the first-ever public draft.  I knew there weren’t enough open spots on the teams for everyone (22 Fresh Brews, and 3 transfer skaters from other leagues), and I’d seen them all skate - I was up against some very talented women.  Text messages were sent at 7:30pm to those that didn’t make it.  My phone was silent!  I could finally breathe - I’d made the draft!  At 9pm that night, it was announced that I’d been drafted to the Crazy 8’s, the team which had won the last 3 home season championships; and a new chapter in my life began.

This crazy sport has also given me opportunities to become more involved in my community.  Our Mission Statement says that the Brewcity Bruisers is an athletic organization that fosters strong women; offers opportunities for positive change in women’s physical, social and mental health; delivers a quality women’s sport; and support our community both physically and financially.  I got my first taste of this in July when I participated in the BCB annual “Give Back” picnic where people from the community came out to skate with the players, listen to music and hang out.  It’s important to this league that we help make the greater Milwaukee area a great place to live, so a portion of the proceeds from each bout is donated to local non-profit groups, and throughout the year our players volunteer in community service events.  

I couldn’t be happier to be involved with such an amazing organization, and going into the 2014 season I’m excited to skate on a great team as we work to uphold our record!