Field Theory: A Brutal Pageant Indeed
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I am still gutted that Smash Malice didn't win...Rita Anguish is the best pun I've heard in ages. But Suffer Jet, she was teh awesome.
Why can't there be roller derby every week?
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I feel like I need video to understand this sport.
Do the blockers ever skate backwards? It would be much easier to stop a player passing you. Or is skating backwards illegal?
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is skating backwards illegal?
yep. Check out the link to the rules on wikipedia.
Strangely though you're right, just watching it you quickly pick it up
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I am in love with roller derby. I roller skated as a kid, and currently own a pair, but haven't done much for years and years and years. I imagine you have to be pretty super fit?
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I still have "C'MON PAGEANT!" echoing in my head from Saturday night...thanks Hadyn! :-)
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Great writeup Hadyn,
is skating backwards illegal?
You're not allowed to skate against the flow of the game (anti-clockwise) but if you think you're woman enough to skate backwards *and* put in a body-check, I don't think anyone would have a problem with it. I imagine it's a quick way to end up on your ass and haven't really seen anyone try it, however.
Why can't there be roller derby every week?
Sounds like someone needs to learn to skate! Seriously, I'm sore and didn't go through half the crap the girls did. They'll be comparing bruises next practice, that's for sure.
Julie: Everyone starts somewhere. Skating as a kid puts you far ahead of where most of us started out. Google the Pirate City Rollers for Aucklands league if you're interested in skating up north.
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is skating backwards illegal?
Can't skate backward and can't stop, but it doesn't mean that you won't see it from time to time. Sneaky Darky laid an awesome hit in the last jam which landed her opponent on the floor and landed Sneaky in the penalty box. She stopped suddenly and laid a shoulder into the front of her target. Her crime was the stop. I think she strutted her way to the box.
I imagine you have to be pretty super fit?
Fitness can be built up. And if you're already able to skate, you'll get there faster.
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Sounds like someone needs to learn to skate!
I would love to, but am scared. I could barely skate as a kid, when I wasn't afraid of falling, and am currently covered in bruises from falling down the stairs in my house. I think roller derby would be the end of me!
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Megan: Think we weren't scared either? Some people are naturally fearless (Sneaky Darky learnt to skate and kick ass in the last 6 months or so) but most of us are just normal people. Many of us had never skated, or not since childhood, when we first got together.
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hink we weren't scared either
Hmmmm Fair Point. I'll do it if Julie does.....
Seriously though, I've been a fan for ages, and then a blogger I've read for years started doing it.
But I didn't realise how awesome you guys are until I saw it in the flesh (no pun intended). It's such a mix of serious athleticism, skills, fitness, pink, and that sound when skin hits wood at high speed.
Who was it that fell in (I think) the third jam near where Ginger Tonyx was standing that like, got major air? And got straight back up.
Incredible.
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Pretty good overall, for a début event.
Epic battery fail... not so good.
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Honestly, most of the jam is a blur for me (apart from the bit near the end where Suffer Jet got blocked into the crowd, allowing Perky Nah-Nah to take lead jammer. The crowd went fucking crazy over it, awesome!) so I wouldn't have a clue. Ginger might have a better recollection if she stops by here later on.
Can I just mention that you, the crowd, were awesome beyond expectation? Derby would be a lot less fun without people watching and cheering us on!
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I would love to, but am scared.
I was scared just sitting in the front row watching.
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Roller Derby was so awesome, but like Hadyn, I felt very inadequate in my crowd yelling. I am so much more witty at the wrestling. I suppose it was just because I was perving so much that I was reduced to merely yelling "Go Smash Malice!" (who I picked to support purely because Rocket Queen is my favouritest song ever).
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I felt very inadequate in my crowd yelling
Jo was sitting next to me, so she can attest that I relied on the tried and true "Woo" and "Yeah" and "oooooo"
apart from the bit near the end where Suffer Jet got blocked into the crowd, allowing Perky Nah-Nah to take lead jammer. The crowd went fucking crazy over it, awesome!)
That was, in fact, awesome. And she got straight back up. I am in awe of those women.
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This was the most brilliant piece of sports entertainment I've seen for a long time. As everyone says you pick up the rules quickly apart from the finer points.
For an inaugural effort what a great competition, performance and event. Well done Richter Roller Derby!!! Hope we see lots more of you.Thanks Haydn for the great write up and pix.
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You're not allowed to skate against the flow of the game (anti-clockwise) but if you think you're woman enough to skate backwards *and* put in a body-check, I don't think anyone would have a problem with it. I imagine it's a quick way to end up on your ass and haven't really seen anyone try it, however.
OK. It certainly works in ice hockey but probably doesn't translate well to roller derby. Being able to stop is pretty essential to it. I'd imagine having members of the opposing team on all sides of you would make it tricky.
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Strongly reiterating Greg and Plaid here when I say that the crowd *made* the game, such an awesome group of people to watch us the first time - and we're only going to get better... watch the website (www.richtercity.co.nz) for updates.
And who was it that got air? I think it was Tuff Bikkies - she flew at one point, straight on to her face, and LEAPT up and skated off again I swear, it was amazing. My Boy was totally buzzed on the part where she jumped over the corner of the track to take lead jammer. I suspect it was barely legal.
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My Boy was totally buzzed on the part where she jumped over the corner of the track to take lead jammer. I suspect it was barely legal.
That may have been of the two times I yelled "Fuckin' Hell Ref!!" The other was when a crashing member of Smash Malice tried to take Tuff Bikkies from the ground.
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Mike - great photos.
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3410,
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Cheers Noizy. I took enough to fill up a couple of 4GB cards, so you'd kinda hope there'd be a few good ones in there! (More megapixels is good, but the file sizes - yikes.)
I so nearly caught the airborne crash referred to above (it happened right in front of me), but the only photo of it is a blurry mess that was either the skater flying through the air or my thumb as I scrambled to get the camera up.
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To all who are keen to give it a go - seriously, just find some skates to borrow, hire or buy, and do it - it's awesome fun.
Ferg's on Queens Wharf hire out (inline) skates to use along the waterfront, and Kilbirnie Rec Centre has skate hire (inline AND rollerskate) and a nice flat indoor surface to practice on.
Kilbirnie Rec Centre is run by the WCC and runs adult learn-to-skate classes on Monday nights - give them a call to sign up (04 387 1491).
Full disclosure - I run the skate classes - and I'd love to see you there!
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Oh, should add that Upper Hutt Skating rink has an open skate session between 3 and 5 on Saturdays, it's free to hire quads with entry ($6 I think), and while they're not super awesome, they're more than enough to familiarise yourself with the movement again.
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Sue,
i was gutted to miss this
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