Aloha all!
I had a nice vacation in Minnesota visiting my family, snuggling my dog, and playing with friends. While I was gone basking in 40f temps and watching the leaves change colors, Peku led Week 6 review of transitions and backwards skating. The next week was our planned out initiation hike up Kokohead, where unsuspecting newbies were garnished with warpaint and packed into cars, then forced to hike up Kokohead with PRD skaters cheering them on! I hope that was a really fun and rewarding experience. We want you to all feel like you are a part of our derby ohana, because you are. If you would like a derby mentor as you press on through your fresh meat training, reach out to a PRD skater you admire or contact me and I will find you a cheerleader :)
Week 8 was this past Saturday, 10/26. It marks 2 months into your journey, and the last day of brand new skaters joining our intake. Please welcome those last few brave girls into the fold and include them in your skating plans throughout the week! They have a little catching up to do and will appreciate your support and encouragement. We have some great stuff planned for you in the next month, so try to make all of the Saturdays! Our assessment date for White Star is tentatively planned for SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30th. There is no guaranteed second makeup assessment date, so please make plans with work and/or childcare and/or derby widows so that you can be present that day. Earning your White Star is MANDATORY to join in with regular PRD practices at a non-contact level. As a White Star, you can do the warm up along with many of the drills that do not involve hitting. You will be taught Orange Star skills in the PRD practices, so it is critical to pass your White Star on the test date or you will need to retake fresh meat in the Spring. Please contact me with questions/concerns. You have 1 month to turn up the juice and learn all of your skills! Please be reading the most current WFTDA rule set as well, as you will be taking a written test on basic rules.
Saturday began with a 20-minute off-skates workout by White Dynamite, followed by a dynamic warmup to stretch. We then launched into 60/100/squats to get our heart rates up and work on our derby legs. We did some falling and stopping relays, then some punishing 2 or 4-pt fall suicides. After water, we worked on some partner work with mirror image drill (mimicking everything our partner did in a mirror image) to work on agility and response as well as maintaining eye contact, then we did some couples skating around the rink to get a feel for skating with a buddy and working together. We then learned new skills, starting with PUSHES. Remember with pushes that the "pusher" is slightly drawing in the "pushee" by the hips, before saying "push" and launching the "pushee" forward. As a "pusher," you are grabbing your partner by the waist or hips, NOT pushing into her back, her legs, or pushing her down. Make sure it is a fluid action that begins with that draw-in so that the "pushee" is conscious of your intent. Making her fall defeats the purpose :D As the "pushee," you should be in derby stance (sitting in your invisible chair, with your legs in a wide stance shoulder width apart). Be prepared for anything in the pack by remaining low and forward. Do not get accustomed to standing upright or you will be a giant target for a big hit onto your butt.
After pushes, we learned HIP WHIPS. The "whipper" remains in her low derby stance, ready for anything. The "whippee" announces "whip" as she grabs her partner by the hips and propels herself around the left or right side, stepping into the motion. There are no free rides. If you are taking a whip and stealing all of the momentum of your buddy, be courteous and use quick feet out of the motion to maximize your newfound speed. It's rude and less effective to just coast and go "Wheeeeeeee!" haha. Practice quick-stepping out of the whip and gaining more speed.
OUTSIDE WHIPS. Same thing: no free rides. The "whipper" extends her right arm backwards, thumb up. 'Thumb up' is important because 'thumb down' could dislocate your elbow. When the "whippee" grabs for your arm, you are keeping your arm completely rigid and whipping your buddy in front of you. Be conscious of where you are whipping her, and where you are on the track. Whipping someone going into a turn is usually a bad place, but coming out of a turn is great! You are steering. Make sure you are not whipping her into another skater or into the bleachers... where you stop your arm is where she will go. Practice this and work on transferring all of your momentum to your buddy. You should come to a complete stop on the track after administering a whip, so make sure to start sprinting to regain speed (and getting back into the pack, once we get to that point). The "whippee" will be grabbing your forearm and hand, or both hands (palms down) on her buddy's forearm. The "whippee" should not be crossing her own arms in the exchange. Make it simple and easy: extend your arms forward until they are completely straight (to get maximum momentum), grab your buddy's forearm and hand (or just forearm), and pull her arm towards your pelvis in a thrusting motion. Whips are a two person job. Your buddy is offering you her speed. Make sure to fulfill your end of the bargain by being prepared and stepping out of the motion after she has launched you. It's pretty disappointing when you give your jammer all of your momentum and then watch her fall because she wasn't prepared for the speed she would get!
INSIDE WHIPS are a bit different: you're not really "whipping" your buddy so much as guiding her, then pushing. As the "whipper," you are offering the "whippee" your right hand on the inside of the track. The idea is that you will give your buddy your place on the track and possibly sneak her up the inside. She will take your hand and you will guide her forward into your spot while simultaneously pushing her on her tailbone with your left hand. Again as the "whipper," this should be a complete transfer of momentum and you should come to a stop, so be prepared to have to sprint to regain your own speed. The "whippee" should allow her buddy to guide and push her through, then step out of the push with a burst of speed. Make it count!
Just a forewarning on whips in general: In game play, we always strive to have perfect form by practicing this stuff until it's second nature, but sometimes things aren't perfect and jammers take whips off of our jerseys, off of our hotpants (giving the audience a show), belts, or just off of a single hand. We make it work. You will need to be ready for anything, so working on your core, center balance, and recovery from being jostled is critical to becoming a safe skater in the pack. Work on skating on one skate, transitions, backwards skating, fast feet, shuffling, and whatever other agility we've learned so that you're comfortable on your skates. Get low, get your feet in a wide stance, and be aware of your surroundings.
There are plenty of skills for you to be working on this week, so get out there with your fellow freshies and start hustling! I want you all to pass at the end of the month, so if you're behind because you started late or are a little delayed in learning certain skills, reach out to vets and get some help. This is on you!
Hugs and Slugs,
Calamity
I had a nice vacation in Minnesota visiting my family, snuggling my dog, and playing with friends. While I was gone basking in 40f temps and watching the leaves change colors, Peku led Week 6 review of transitions and backwards skating. The next week was our planned out initiation hike up Kokohead, where unsuspecting newbies were garnished with warpaint and packed into cars, then forced to hike up Kokohead with PRD skaters cheering them on! I hope that was a really fun and rewarding experience. We want you to all feel like you are a part of our derby ohana, because you are. If you would like a derby mentor as you press on through your fresh meat training, reach out to a PRD skater you admire or contact me and I will find you a cheerleader :)
Week 8 was this past Saturday, 10/26. It marks 2 months into your journey, and the last day of brand new skaters joining our intake. Please welcome those last few brave girls into the fold and include them in your skating plans throughout the week! They have a little catching up to do and will appreciate your support and encouragement. We have some great stuff planned for you in the next month, so try to make all of the Saturdays! Our assessment date for White Star is tentatively planned for SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30th. There is no guaranteed second makeup assessment date, so please make plans with work and/or childcare and/or derby widows so that you can be present that day. Earning your White Star is MANDATORY to join in with regular PRD practices at a non-contact level. As a White Star, you can do the warm up along with many of the drills that do not involve hitting. You will be taught Orange Star skills in the PRD practices, so it is critical to pass your White Star on the test date or you will need to retake fresh meat in the Spring. Please contact me with questions/concerns. You have 1 month to turn up the juice and learn all of your skills! Please be reading the most current WFTDA rule set as well, as you will be taking a written test on basic rules.
Saturday began with a 20-minute off-skates workout by White Dynamite, followed by a dynamic warmup to stretch. We then launched into 60/100/squats to get our heart rates up and work on our derby legs. We did some falling and stopping relays, then some punishing 2 or 4-pt fall suicides. After water, we worked on some partner work with mirror image drill (mimicking everything our partner did in a mirror image) to work on agility and response as well as maintaining eye contact, then we did some couples skating around the rink to get a feel for skating with a buddy and working together. We then learned new skills, starting with PUSHES. Remember with pushes that the "pusher" is slightly drawing in the "pushee" by the hips, before saying "push" and launching the "pushee" forward. As a "pusher," you are grabbing your partner by the waist or hips, NOT pushing into her back, her legs, or pushing her down. Make sure it is a fluid action that begins with that draw-in so that the "pushee" is conscious of your intent. Making her fall defeats the purpose :D As the "pushee," you should be in derby stance (sitting in your invisible chair, with your legs in a wide stance shoulder width apart). Be prepared for anything in the pack by remaining low and forward. Do not get accustomed to standing upright or you will be a giant target for a big hit onto your butt.
After pushes, we learned HIP WHIPS. The "whipper" remains in her low derby stance, ready for anything. The "whippee" announces "whip" as she grabs her partner by the hips and propels herself around the left or right side, stepping into the motion. There are no free rides. If you are taking a whip and stealing all of the momentum of your buddy, be courteous and use quick feet out of the motion to maximize your newfound speed. It's rude and less effective to just coast and go "Wheeeeeeee!" haha. Practice quick-stepping out of the whip and gaining more speed.
 |
| Great execution by one of the best, Jackie Daniels of Windy City. Notice the jammer pushing off with her right skate. She's ready for take off!! Photo: Gil Leora. |
INSIDE WHIPS are a bit different: you're not really "whipping" your buddy so much as guiding her, then pushing. As the "whipper," you are offering the "whippee" your right hand on the inside of the track. The idea is that you will give your buddy your place on the track and possibly sneak her up the inside. She will take your hand and you will guide her forward into your spot while simultaneously pushing her on her tailbone with your left hand. Again as the "whipper," this should be a complete transfer of momentum and you should come to a stop, so be prepared to have to sprint to regain your own speed. The "whippee" should allow her buddy to guide and push her through, then step out of the push with a burst of speed. Make it count!
Just a forewarning on whips in general: In game play, we always strive to have perfect form by practicing this stuff until it's second nature, but sometimes things aren't perfect and jammers take whips off of our jerseys, off of our hotpants (giving the audience a show), belts, or just off of a single hand. We make it work. You will need to be ready for anything, so working on your core, center balance, and recovery from being jostled is critical to becoming a safe skater in the pack. Work on skating on one skate, transitions, backwards skating, fast feet, shuffling, and whatever other agility we've learned so that you're comfortable on your skates. Get low, get your feet in a wide stance, and be aware of your surroundings.
 |
| Pants-off in public! Photo: Jules Doyle |
Hugs and Slugs,
Calamity
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