muddy river rollers - moncton roller derby

Our League has a really great private page where we discuss all sorts of details that pertain to running events, practices, fundraisers, parties, and our social lives.  But this past week, a thread caught the attention of almost every one of our members and it has been running like wildfire ever since.  It has even spilled off the page into real conversation and a lot, and I mean A LOT of jaw dropping.

Recently, a user from our muddyriverrollers.com webpage sent us an anonymous message that shocked our webmistress Brandy Swifter so much that she posted it on our private discussion page, and it read (unedited), in reference to women's roller derby:

"I am disgusted that this is allowed in our society.

I thought canadians were against violence against women and expolitation of women for mens entertainment."  

Really?  I mean, really?  It's rare that I am shocked for words, but when the comments started flying and Brandy Swifter suggested that I blog about it, Eve McQueen stated "If she's not interested - I would totally write about it. When I first heard of derby, as a feminist, I wasn't all that down with what I thought the idea of it was, a year later I've obviously been converted :)".  At that point I agreed that I would not only blog about it, but I would blog the hell out of it.  There are probably more than just black and white opinions on this statement and I am curious what they are.  My own is simple: women's flat track roller derby is empowering to women, and there is no oppressor.  It seems that most of the women I play with agree.

Ms Hate's response to the comment was "Funny, because to me this was a natural thing to do as a feminist. Sexuality on our own terms, and tough girl attitudes."  Some humour popped in with Dr Johnny Capote (a well known derby league advisor, www.canuckderbytv.com) when he asked that if that comment were indeed true "does that make me a pimp?".  Floor Play was laughing when she said "aaahh, how I could rant about that comment.  This person is obviously unaware of the term 'Derby Love'"  On a more serious note, Eternal Glamnation retorted "‎'Allowed'...what a great word. We don't need permission and we certainly don't need censorship."  Smasherella echos that in saying "I feel more empowered as a woman, more confident as a whole because of derby. Anyone who gives it a chance quickly realizes it's not all about skating and hitting".

Now, derby has really evolved from what it was in the 1970's  Many members of our community who have never seen a recent game ask us, "Is that like with the clothes-lining and women beating each other up?"  No, it's not.  It's a team sport that requires strategy, endurance, strength, speed, a sense of humour and a tough skin.  The goal is for 2 scoring players (called Jammers) to get through a pack of 8 (4 friendly and 4 opponents, called Blockers).  Physical contact is necessary for this to happen.  Players will be pushed and shoved and often knocked down so that the Jammers can score points.  It is not for the entertainment of our fans, male or female.  We love our fans with an obsessive passion, but honestly we would, and do, play derby even if they aren't there.

Violence is defined as the use of physical force to apply a state to others contrary to their wishes.  Stepping onto a derby track gives all players permission to use whatever force necessary, within the strict guidelines of the 31 pages of WFTDA rules, to block the opposing team and to score points.  That's not called violence, that's called Derby.  I'm proud to be a Canadian who is against violence against women.  In fact, I think you should visit this website to get a better perspective on what true violence against women is: www.cdnwomen.org/EN/section05/3_5_1_1-violence_facts.html

I really believe that everyone has the right to their opinion.  I'm just disappointed when ignorance is what fuels a comment.  Had they not posted anonymously, the Muddy River Rollers would have gifted two free tickets for the user to come see what modern day derby is all about!

I hate admitting this, but my gear stinks.  One night at practice, moments after taking off my skates, one of the most beautiful of our players says "what the f--- is that smell?"  I told her it was my skates.  When she didn't believe me I held them a little closer to her and she said "yup, it's sweat."  I make no excuses for the scent of my gear, only apologies.  At the same time. I'm not the only lady in the locker room whose skates come off smelling less than roses so I thought it would be a good idea to share my gear cleaning journey with you.  I do believe I have tougher than average odours.  I also have a limitation to what I use because I skate bare footed and am sensitive to the chemicals that I will absorb into my system as soon as my feet start to sweat.  

When I first came across this problem it was very minor.  After all, my gear was brand new, and simply airing was enough for it.  It took awhile before we started to search for the dead animal in the house.  Once the culprit was discovered to be my gear bag then it was a simple process of washing gear immediately after practice, including the bag, and leaving it all to air dry.  That lasted for awhile, and then the honeymoon was over.  Sunlight became my newest friend.  I would wash the gear and lay it in the sunshine, including the skates with their laces open as wide as they could go and the tongues hanging out.  Finally, a solution that was simple, and healthy.  As much as I continued to clean my gear though, I also continued to sweat every practice, and I added some gaskets to the mix.  It made matters worse and soon, no matter what I was doing, nothing was getting the smell out.

Then, it was Google to the rescue.  After all, I cannot be the only one with this issue.  I was right.  It's a huge issue, and there are hundreds of solutions.  Among them were all those listed above.  So, I started trying some of the simplest ones.  I found a bottle of Fabreeze™ and sprayed all of my gear  liberally.  I ended up with a migraine the next two practices.  I then filled my skates and coated my pads with baking powder and left them to sit for hours to absorb the smell.  It made no difference.  A few sports products exist on the market to eliminate odours and kill bacteria, and they just don't make a difference, and they also led to migraines.   I tried washing the pads and spraying my skates with three different kinds of vinegar and it made no difference.  Isopropyl alcohol was one of the highest advised products out there to kill athlete odour in its tracks.  It never was up against my gear before because, it made no difference.  I considered bleach at one point, but even if it did kill bacteria, it was going to deteriorate everything at a rapid rate if used consistently.  Somebody recommended Gold Bond Powder.  So again I filled up my skates for hours, vacuumed them dry and put my nose too close to unfortunately discover, you guessed it, no difference.  I even tried vodka (such a sad waste) and the smell was still so bad that my husband thought someone may have vomited in the van after I had skated the PRIDE parade with my teammates.

I had nearly given up though when I jokingly said "maybe gin will work better".  So, after soaking my skates in the laundry tub with a generous portion of gin and a moderate portion of natural laundry detergent, I am proud to admit that my gear finally smells less like roadkill and more like beloved equipment.  I think the essential oils in the detergent might be key too.  It was a matter of finding just the right chemistry for my own body type.  And, I am very grateful, because I was seriously considering investing in all new gear.  Yes, it was that bad.  I think I might market my cleaner and call it Skate Martini®.

The best place for me to go for a run is up at the lake. The road is hilly, the trees arch overhead, and it takes very little to quiet my mind. A few steps into the dense woods and I'm greeted by birdsong and an incredible quiet. There is no traffic, and rarely do I even encounter other people. My mind is able to wander and come back to the surroundings, and I listen to the rhythm of my foot falls and the way the gravel crunches underfoot. I smell lush leaves and always find roadside wild raspberry bushes. A squirrel or a rabbit scurries away as I pass by, and then I finally feel it… I've stopped thinking about Derby.

Once I learned that the Derby Monster was a real creature, I quickly started to search for ways to tame the Beast. I don't really mind how all-consuming the sport can be, but I think that balance is essential to a healthy life. It can be hard to find that when everything on your calendar is roller skate-centric. I even find that my once regular chiropractic appointments have shifted to minor track related-injury treatments. A full body massage at the spa sometimes turns into a painful reminder of every fall and hit on areas I don't even remember landing on or crashing into. So, it can be hard to quiet the mind, even when actively trying to.

It's vital to find that balance. It can make you a better skater, committee member, teammate, and friend. So how to do it? Here are some simple ideas:

• Carve out time for yourself. Add it to your calendar in an appointment fashion so that it's blocked off, and nothing can interfere with it.  Treat it with the same value as you do a practice, or a bout.
  
  
• Don't volunteer for everything. Your league needs you, but if you are burnt out six months from now, it won't matter that you attended every event and were Most Valuable Volunteer. In direct opposition, if you never volunteer for anything (I know and respect all the reasons why you don't), make a point to at the next function. It really contributes to a healthy sense of community.
  
  
• Meditate. It doesn't have to be where you sit cross-legged on a cushion with incense burning and pan-flute playing in the background (unless that's your thing, and in that case, have at 'er).  But daily, there should be a time and place where you deliberately slow down, quiet your mind, and focus inward. It will contribute to your well-being and your sense of balance.  
  
  
• Get some sleep. So many things get in the way of sleeping soundly. Late night practices shift body rhythms, and after practice drinking can interrupt your sleep patterns. I'm not suggesting not to have fun, but if you find yourself lacking energy and looking for ways to not be overwhelmed by the Beast, then this might be a good area to examine.
  
  
• Eat some real food (that's fruits, vegetable and whole grains), and plan some healthy eating for days that you will be skating. Derby is fun and playful, but it is a sport and it makes demands on your body. Feed those muscles, ligaments and systems that are working hard. It will reduce your amount of injuries, speed your recovery time, and increase your endurance both on and off the track.
  
  
• Be positive. This is a hard one to master, but it can shift the focus of league issues that effect you directly and that's the real goal. If you believe that things could be done differently and better, then you really should speak up. Remember though, criticism rarely garners results without offering a solution. Make a point to praise those that are doing the work, even if you feel it could be changed for the better.
  
  
• Hydrate. You know how much you drink during a practice?  You actually should be drinking like that all day long. Nothing affects mood more than being dehydrated. If you're cranky, reach for a drink (martinis, coffee and caffeinated beverages don't count).
  
  
• Learn to take a compliment. Praise does wonders for self-esteem. If someone is taking the time to point out your brilliant abilities, it's because you are worthy. Don't undermine yourself by talking them out of the compliment. It might be hard to say thank you at first, but it gets easier and you'll come to learn that it actually contributes to your overall health!
  

Did you know that Saturday, July 16th is "I Love Roller Derby Day"?  Well, it is! We think that's fitting since we'll be kicking off the first day of training and exhibition bouts in our First Annual Muddy River Atlantic JAMboree. We are so excited to be hosting teams from all across Atlantic Canada. skaters, referees and non-skating officials will be joining us from Ottawa, Fredericton, St John, Halifax, Newfoundland, PEI, Ottawa, and Dieppe.

Learning the ins and outs of how to create an event of this proportion has been a most incredible experience. Derby experts Dr. Johnny Capote, Georgia W. Tush, Lime, and Viv the Shiv are making a special trip to bring their knowledge to our Atlantic leagues. They have been invaluable in helping us along, every step of the way. League creator and President of MRR, Burn'n Rub'her has been tirelessly attending to every detail imaginable, and all with her award-winning smile! There is a small core group of women who are at every meeting, practice, fundraiser, and community event and they are the heart of our League. We inspire one another to want to make this event the one that is talked about for years to come!

Derby girls are impatient by nature. It might be the very thing that draws them to this fast-paced, no-apology sport! This weekend of training is going to challenge that very notion. We'll have to remind one another that the person running the score-board has never done it before. The goal isn't to have perfectly run jams; it's to offer the freedom to learn a new skill in a low-pressure setting. It's about sharing personal knowledge with each other. And, not just from the trainers to the participants, but among one another. The goal is to learn, and to have fun while doing it.  

To the public, I hope you'll come down to the Red Ball Internet Centre on Saturday, July 16th from 1:30pm - 7:30pm and Sunday, July 17th from 1pm - 6pm to see all of the amazing Atlantic roller derby leagues show off their skills and what they have learned. The venue itself is fun as they have a full bar upstairs and they allow you to bring your beverages right down to the track. For the first time ever, we are on the large rink that has full seating, but we're still encouraging you to bring your chairs and floor pillows to the suicide seating. It's an event for all ages, and kids under 10 get in FREE! A single day entrance is $10.00, or $15.00 for a weekend pass. They can be purchased at Spin-It, Cut Throat Pizza, online, or at the door.  If you're lucky, and you comment on this blog you could win 2 free weekend passes. Draw to be held on Thursday July 14th at 10:10am.

In a day mixed with summer sunshine, and a drenching downpour, a number of our very own MRR skaters became part of local Classic Rock Radio Station C103's street team. Our league is branching out all over the place, and in an effort to spread the word, we've partnered with the amazing people at C103. A small group of us donned our skates, wearing station t-shirts and carrying stickers and temporary tattoos and we went out in search of fans for both the station and roller derby.  

What's amazing is that if you are handing out anything on the downtown streets of Moncton while wearing street shoes, it's hard to get attention. The girls of Muddy River Rollers learned a long time ago that if you take to the streets in your skates, that the public will actually come to you, and they want to know what you're doing rolling around town.  Tonight was no different… we took to the streets and shared the excitement of Canada Day with the people of Moncton. We handed out stickers to promote their social summer, and helped little ones add C103 logos to their cheeks and hands. While doing that we were able to promote our upcoming JAMboree on the 16th and 17th of July at the Red Ball Internet Centre.

All night long we encountered people eager to know more about the sport, and excited to get the free give-aways from the radio station. Questions from young and old were posed to us about things as simple as how we can skate in fishnets, to intricate details about the rules of play. We dropped in to favourite sponsors Cut Throat Pizza for dinner, and even later in the night to St. James Gate. The one thing we are learning is that our community is at the heart of our sport.  Without our sponsors we would not be able to host events like the Muddy River Atlantic JAMboree. Without our fans, we would simply be a great group of ladies rolling around a flat track.

The night ended with most of the new street team being happily tired. We learned that a few roads in downtown Moncton are really hard to skate on, but most of them are exciting.  We found out that skating in the rain is a challenge, but if you keep moving you can almost dodge the raindrops. We found out what we had suspected up to this point was true… Moncton, and surrounding area is embracing this new sport and they want to come watch us play. Muddy River Rollers are no longer Moncton's best kept secret, and C103 might just be the ones responsible for letting that cat out of the bag!

There is no such thing as free-time when it comes to roller derby. There is not one of us on our league who has more free-time than another. We might perceive that somebody does, but when it really comes down to it, how we spend our time not tending to responsibilities is subjective.  

I remember after having children wondering what I did with all of my spare hours. I think I must have read novels, and gone on long walks, or headed out for a bike-ride only to return 3 hours later. But, that all seemed like a distant memory once I had my children. I think it's the same with derby. Eight wheels on your feet has an interesting way of transforming your life. Ask any derby girl and they will say the same thing. It's universal; the derby monster will eat your life.  We even have a term for the unfortunate spouses who love us, bruises and all. We call them "Derby Widows". I've taken to calling my teen daughters "Derby Orphans". Those friends I had, pre-skate days, they may even be "The Long Lost Ones", and I may only see them when I have a bout and they come to watch!

A really fantastic derby-centric movie was released in 2oo9, and it drummed up a lot of enthusiasm for the sport. It was fun, and exciting, and touched on the camaraderie that exists naturally when women take to a track. In my opinion, it lacked one little detail, and it's a big one. It's something called "Committee Time". There is so much that goes on behind the scenes that has little to do with skate tools, fish nets, and a hip whip. A league is an organization, run by a Board of Directors, and fuelled by the enthusiasm for the sport.  It is complex, and demands skill, intelligence, a sense of humour, and the ability to be flexible.  

Forgive me for stereotyping, but keep in mind the women who are drawn to this sport. They are strong-minded and willful. They know what they want and just how to get it. So, it can be difficult to navigate all of the roles necessary in running a league. There are social events, community events, fundraising events to the point that the word 'event' just might give you a twitch. Being in the league is a real time commitment. It's worth every minute you spend though.  Feel the rush of pushing your jammer through the pack to get 5 points and it all makes sense. Being the jammer and getting through the pack for the 5th time in a bout and all of a sudden the contracts you wrote for the JAMboree fade to a distant memory. Like anything else in life, hard work pays off. So, just a reminder to those that we push to help… your efforts will always be rewarded.

I didn't know I could fly.  What a feeling!  It was a mixed emotion though.  I don't know how many players went down in front of me, but I could see no way out.  Stopping wasn't an option because there just wasn't time.  It all happened in a split second.  My shin made contact with 4 wheels and both my legs went out behind me and I dove head first with a helmet cracking thud.  For a fraction of a second I was fully airborne, and had I not landed on other players, I would say it was pure fun.  My jaw bounced off a shoulder, I knocked the wind out of myself, and I looked under me fearfully to find someone else saying at the same time "are you okay?"  Okay, I lied…it was pure fun.  

I have written three posts in the last little while that I had to shelf because they were either a touch too personal, or there was a chance they would be misunderstood. People all think that derby girls are tough. The real truth is that while we're strong, we all have feelings, and those feelings can get bruised as easily as our asses. 

Winning our first double-header of the season last weekend has put us on one edge of a double-edged sword. When I say "us" I mean the Daughters of Anarchy, and the Lumbersmacks, because I play for neither. I am using "us" as a league reference, because it just makes relaying the information easier. I play for the Reines of Terror, making me the outsider looking in. Confused yet? Welcome to Derby. I was an NSO, doing a fantastic job according to some, and poor according to others. But, either way I watched our teams win both bouts, against challenging opponents from St John. 

I keep bragging about how amazing Muddy River Rollers are, and despite that being narcissistic (since I am a MRR), I really believe that there is something unique about this league. At the same time, after reading other derby blogs, and hearing dozens upon dozens of skaters, there is a chance that I've got it all wrong. 

Screech…needle off the record time…What? The MRR are not one of a kind? 
There are so many new derby teams joining leagues all over Canada and the rest of the globe. PR spins everywhere use phrase in the media like "the Wheel Deal" when writing about this incomparable sport (and don't think it was an accident that I used the word "spin"). It's as if they are trying to be as clever as the team or player names that creative women come up with for themselves. Everybody wants to be aligned with the mystery that is the gumball toe-stop skate world. It's like the newest bar in town that everyone wants to be seen at!

Derby is new to the Maritimes, and every league here is busy learning the ins and outs to a sport that is part business, part entertainment and part sport. There is so much more to being a derby girl than slapping a pair of Scabs™ on your knees and lacing up some Reidell's®. You can't really just skate. You become part of something more. When an event comes to town you will have to learn that a big "X" on a whiteboard means 'crossing the track', or that 4 whistles mean the jam is over. Still confused? That's what makes it a sport!

Nobody has all the answers. No one person can run a league. The person that knows that best is usually the one in charge. At the end of the day, in my mind it should just come down to one single question to every person who laced up, wore a t-shirt to support, carpooled to cheer on, or bought drinks at the afterparty. That question is: did you have fun? The answer is always unanimously "YES"! Because, despite any of the real complaints, "NO" is the one I have yet to hear!

There's something about the end of practice that has me looking back at how much fun I had.  I can be a tad cynical sounding in practice, because I voice my opinion, even if it's not popular.   But, roller derby is exhilarating, as much for the personal interaction as the sport itself.   Imagine, the kind of women that are drawn to derby are not the kind you would think of as shy, or quiet.  We all think a little outside the box, and we find out super-fast that we need to have a thick skin.  If I'm a blocker during a bout, my job is to push you off the track and stop you from getting in the way of my jammer.  That means that I really can't be worried about your feelings.  I will do that off-track.  I'm not even allowed to argue with the referee.  Just skate hard, get points for the team, and take a whip so that it's both helpful to me, but exciting to watch!

Nobody who knows me well will be surprised that my co-captain tonight said to me "eyes on the track and shut it" while gesturing a nice lock and key motion in front of her mouth.  In any other context I probably would have felt badly; but I'm not going to be a better player if someone has to worry about my feelings.  Shut it I did, and focused on what I should have been focusing on in the first place.  She did say sorry, and I thought that she had nothing to be sorry for at all.  I will not learn anything if I don't listen to all the players, giving both good and bad feedback.  

A lot of us come into this sport for a variety of reasons: it's cool, it's fun, you get to wear awesome gear, it is a fantastic physical workout, and as Willy Wonka said, "if God had meant us to walk, he wouldn't have invented roller skates".  I'll tell you though, when you take an elbow to the face, or your own blocker knocks you down when you're jamming, the first words out of your mouth are not "thank you very much".  I am inspired by women who can come off the track and share their feelings with one another to the betterment of the team, and be met with understanding and a positive outcome.  We are building amazing teams in this league. 

Muddy River Rollers is a strong group of women.  They are going to be worth watching at the first bout at the Red Ball Centre on May 14th.  It's a double header with The Daughters of Anarchy, and The Lumbersmacks competing, and everyone is working super hard to make sure that not only will it be a huge success, it will be super entertaining for the audience.   Every league member is excited, so we'd like to share that.  In case you want tickets, they can be purchased at both Spin It, and Cut Throat Pizza locations in Moncton.  You can also purchase them online.

A bunch of the league was out last night after practice for "Team Beer", and one of the members mentioned that her husband says we have a name for everything, like when we go out for drinks it's "Team Beer", or if we have a meeting and are going over the rules it's our "Ref Round Table". And it's true; we do have a name for everything. It simplifies things.  After all, even though only about 30% of the ladies drink beer at Team Beer, it certainly is easier than "Team Beer, one with tomato juice on the side, a few vodka and soda, a large cold water, red wine with ice, Mike's Hard Lemonade, Smirnoff Ice and a house red."  Because really, there are so many details in derby, that's what it would be like if we didn't give everything a name.

Derby is a complex sport, and we're being all too clearly reminded of that as we all prepare for our first bout of the season on May 14th at the Red Ball Internet Centre.  For starters, each team has 14 members, but only a maximum of 5 of them are on the track during each Jam. So, with two teams, there are a maximum of 10 ladies, tearing up the track to mad cheers from the audience. Pay attention to the 2 with the stars on their helmets.  They are the Jammers, and they are the only ones on the team who can score points.  Then there's the Pivot (but that's a complexity whose explanation I'll save for another day).  She's a blocker, and it's up to her and 3 other Blockers to get their teams Jammer through the pack and to block the other team's Jammer from getting through the pack.  Each Jam lasts for two minutes. Unless there is a Lead Jammer, and then she can call it off.  To start the Jam, the whistle blows and the pack starts and once they have all crossed the start line, a second whistle blows and the Jammers start. See, "Team Beer" is starting to make a lot of sense right about now.

But, if you think the game itself is complex then there's still a huge part of it which I actually see as the unsung heros of the sport. Those are the officials. The are actually 8 refs at a bout that are on skates. Then there are another 13 that are called Non-Skating Officials (NSO's). The thing is, when there are 10 helmets and 80 wheels spinning around a track, all of them trying to serge one another out, it really takes a lot of eyes to follow the action.  There are 29 hand signals for penalties alone, and both players, refs and NSO's need to know them all. Minor penalties need to be tracked, because if a player gets 4 of them then she's in the penalty box. The rules of derby are extensive and the refs need to know them even better than the players themselves, and they have to call them the second they see them.  There is no second guessing, and no instant replay. So, you can imagine that the players aren't thanking them for sending them off the track!

The fun part as an audience though is that you don't need to understand all for the little details to enjoy watching a bout.  It is fun, and exciting and the crowd always gets into it.  I can't wait!  Hope to see you there!