Tales from the Fresh Meat Locker ~ FM Christine

I have a new obsession–it is ROLLER DERBY.

When I told my friends and family this, they just kind of looked at me and said, “yeah…okay…”. I guess to them I am not the stero-typical girl they remember seeing on the television on Sunday mornings when roller derby was a televised event–throwing clotheslines and knocking girls over the wall. I will be the first to admit–I didn’t think that I would actually go through with this. I get all keyed up about something, participate in it for a little while and then get bored and quit. With derby, it’s different. I researched it, took notes, printed out the WFTDA rules, track requirements, ref signals, etc… After numerous emails to ThunderLips & Frankendoll, I attended a Saturday practice. OH MY GOODNESS…these ladies were hardcore, yet extremely approachable. I ordered my gear, went to the pre-boot meeting and waited for bootcamp day. That was an adventure–during our first time trials, I fell 3 times, had to quit because I knocked the wind out of myself, but I didn’t give up competely. Bam Bam & ThunderLips skated next to me during my laps and cheered me on. After bootcamp, I went home feeling exhilirated and couldn’t wait for our first practice! Even though I bruised my tailbone during bootcamp, I kept coming back for more–working through the pain, knowing that I could do this.

As the weeks have gone by, I have seen an improvement in my skating skills (thanks to a few coaches who helped adjust my skates & gave me pointers!), I have made new friends and I have found a new family. I would do anything in the world that I could for my derby sisters. I hope to one day be able to skate in a bout and hear the crowd cheering for me and the rest of the DDG!

–FM Christine

2 Comments

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  By FM Christy, April 12, 2010 @ 2:04 pm

  I’m so with you!! How lucky are we to be a part of this?!?

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  By Robyn, April 12, 2010 @ 4:55 pm

  you are awesome! it’s people like you and the other freshies and vets that keep me coming back for more punishment every week.

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