Weeks 5 and 6: Crossovers continued, Backwards Crossovers, Magic Circle

Once we get the basic mechanics of skating down, we begin to move into some refining skills that impact speed and efficiency. In roller derby, a crossover is used particularly on the corners as an efficient skating stroke to maximize your push within the momentum of the derby track. Gravity is working against you on the corners, so we also use what is referred to as the magic circle, or the diamond, which shortens the distance around the track. It's essentially creating a diamond shape or a circle within the oval. See diagram below. Note corners 1, 2, 3, and 4, as marked. Derby direction is counter-clockwise.

                                      1                                                                                 4

 

                                     2                                                                                  3

It is important to know where the momentum of gravity will begin to work against you. In the same way that it works against you when you are trying to become faster at your laps, this is also an important thing to keep in mind as you become a derby blocker. That jammer that you are blocking against will find it very tricky to recover from the momentum of a properly placed hit or booty nudge at turn 1 or 3, for instance. Likewise, jammers learn where blockers naturally stray from the inside line (turns 2 and 4) creating holes they can sneak on through! Pay attention, freshies. This is fundamental, and oh-so-important.

With forwards crossovers, we talked about the job of the left leg, which is to deliver an "underpush." We practiced pushing the wall with both the right leg out to the side and then with that back leg underneath, feeling the engagement of the muscle groups of both legs. The Neutrino of Rat City Rollergirls best demonstrates. I'm not even going to try to compete with her amazingness, she has it completely broken down in the most entertaining way possible.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFFu1kY_h0E

Backwards crossovers are a lot like frontwards crossovers, although they are more like sticky-skating ones. Does that make sense? It starts with a backwards watermelon (or scissors) motion, then the right leg will drift behind the left leg to deliver a momentum push and propel you a bit. To complete the motion, you pick up that right foot and put it back where it first began. Watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JIzx482y_g