Derby stance

Ok, so roller skating is getting more comfortable and less wobbly everyday.  Watching a few derby videos online has helped and i think as long as i keep my knees bend and look ahead rather than down, things are doing ok.

Realise i definitely need a proper practice space for the team (who hopefully after a meet and greet next week will start meeting regularly to practice).  Am looking into getting names registered and according to some roller girls actually getting your desired names on the two evils register is taking a v v v long time, so as soon as the team meets and we sort out who definitely wants to commit and who doesn’t, i will get a list submitted.

Some teams also seem to be registered as a not for profit organisation, which makes a lot of sense in terms of organising everything and dealing with funds and stuff, although is quite a formal step so early in the game.  But hey, in for a penny in for a pound?

I have been quite cheeky asking for a few favours from people locally, but in the long run, once we are world famous (:D) it will pay off for them, hopefully.

Need to have a think about fundraising activities that we could do to get some money to buy equipment and fund venue hire and stuff, so many things that i want to do, but logically, one step needs to come before another.

creepy houses and skating venues

Went to check out a house today for my father who has been looking to move house for the last three years.  He has looked at about a million houses and none of them have been right, and as this one was in my neck of the woods, he thought i would have nothing better to do than to go and check it out.

It was weird.  Weird little rooms all, but huge and interesting.  Took about a hundred photos which took an age to upload and send him.

Off to check out a possible practice venue tonight and meet ‘The Sheriff’ all going well, it should mean we can start setting up a regular program of practices and start to get this team on the road.  All going badly, we will be back to the Harvey Hadden (but that is not such a bad thing).

Will report back tomorrow.

Venue Progress

My visit to Harvey Hadden last night yielded positive results  (despite having to go away and come back an hour later due to the massive youth job fair that seemed to be going on the first time i arrived with about a million cars there.)  They are willing to let us hire the hall for roller derby (yay!) and the size and rates don’t seem to bad (people are going to need to pay subs, but the more people we can get to come the cheaper things will be for everyone).

Also have potentially a coach and another venue option (although from the sounds of it we may need to have both venues due to the pillars in one and have general skate practice in one and derby practice at Harvey Hadden).  I know that Harvey Hadden wouldn’t be the easiest place for everyone to get to if they don’t drive, but it is apparently on a bus route – NCT28 so hopefully this shouldn’t be a problem (if it is people coming to the central practice could always buddy up with others and lift share.  (i would be going there from beeston, so would be able to offer a ride to a few people).

I am planning on sorting out if both venues are viable and then setting a date for first meeting and putting some flyers out – most likely first meeting will be in the next 3 weeks (so that there is time to drum up enough interest to pay the costs, sort out some insurance (we need this for practicing at Harvey Hadden, so am going to look into now) and create and put some flyers out around town and notices on message boards.

If you are still keen to be involved can you post me a comment below – ‘i’m in!’ or something similar  or join the live group here – http://nottinghamrollergirls.groups.live.com/ or both!!!!!

Whip it.

A little slow to the game to mention the film ‘Whip it’  directed by Drew Barrymore – hopefully it will get a UK release because it looks excellent – check out the trailer here…….

That aside – off out for a run tonight, trying to get my general fitness levels up.  Doing daily skating practice which makes me realise i need to toughen up my thigh muscles and back – so squats and crunches may have to be added in for a bit of toning.  It is a tough road to getting game fit (or even being able to skate without dying or breaking my face on something) but hey nothing good was ever easy

Am really pleased by the interest people are showing in kicking off a Nottingham Homegrown Derby team – with a bit of effort, we can sort out a program of training and find ourselves a venue to start practicing in.  If anyone wants to jump of the wagon before it skates off to greatness sign up here!!!!

Where to Practice?

So i figure in order to get team members, i need to sort out a venue to practice, figure out what kind of things we need to practice and put up some flyers and hope that people will come.

Am going to put together a list of local lesiure centres and see if i can get an idea of availability and price and then i will have to look into knocking up some kind of flyer to post around town.

If anyone has any good suggestions or wants to volunteer to help me out with any of the above, please just stick your hand up!  (or like message me, that will probably be a lot more effective).

Most of the kit sorted – except helmet and elbow pads.  But the skating is coming along nicely – just need to learn to fall down more, and in the right way