Days of Hands

Saturday was great fun.  Owen didn’t skate very much, but he did get out on the rink floor in his brand new skates for a bit and then was content to play with the arcade games and eat cake and ice cream.  I thought it was kinda cool to go to a nine year old’s skating party since I remember my own ninth birthday skating party 20 years ago!

Practice yesterday was exciting, and we’re really moving forward now that our coach is setting up a new structure for new recruits.  We covered slicing, edging, and plowing after an extended squat drill.  A new class will start every three weeks, and will move forward together as a distinct group.  Next week, the girls on my level should be testing on everything up to blocking, and those who pass will move on.  Those who don’t will get a copy of their score sheet to see what they need to work on and will be able to test again soon.  I’m nervous but confident.  I’m spending as much time as I can on skates, and working hard to keep up.  It’s paying off, and people are noticing!  The coach even gave me the job of leading the cool-down stretches yesterday.  I’m trying not to freak out, but I have no idea how I’ll do.

After the advanced skaters took the track, most of the new girls sit down and watch and visit.  I wanted to work on my plow stop more, since we had been taught a different way that we would need to use from this point on and I was struggling to get it.  We are allowed to use the end of the rink to work on our own and I generally try to make use of this time whenever I can.  I got the hang of the new form for the plow stop and skated figure eights with a few other girls to work on my crossovers in the opposite direction.  They are really coming along!

Tonight is scrimmage practice, so Mo and I are going to get there early to get in some laps and drills before sitting down to work stats.  Our first bout is next month, and I have so much to learn!  Mo has been more or less drafted as our Head NSO, because she has some experience and can coordinate the rest of us.  I’m excited to have a job to do, and can’t wait to be out there on the track with all the fans and the music…  even if I’m not skating just yet, it will still be a great thrill.

This weekend is the Tornado Alley Rollergirls Bout Against Breast Cancer, and quite a few of us are planning to attend.  I’ve been encouraging people to come along, and our group is definitely growing!  Derby is more fun when shared :)