AUGUST 27TH: DURANGO DERAILERS VS. CCD SUCIAS

This past weekend the Sucias took another win against the Derailers of Durango Colorado… but it was the first for me. Saturday was my debut as a skater for Crossroads City Derby. I transfered in June, after moving from Farmington, NM.

You might have caught a glimpse of me on the track… tall, pale and a head full of red hair.  You might have asked your person next to you, “Who the hell is Rx Bex?” Yeah I heard you say that.  It’s cool! I didn’t expect you to know… but my team knew.  So did the Durango Rollergirls, who were the first league I ever skated with, and they have always been a league I have highly respected.

A long story short, I knew the Sucias were bouting the Derailers a few short months after my transfer, and I knew I wanted to be a part of it.  I also knew it would take a lot of work.

Fast-forward to bout day, I found myself in a Sucias jersey (squeee!), lacing up my skates, knowing the degree of competition we were up against. We warmed up and prepared mentally for what we were about to do,  and the second we took the track, magic began to happen. I felt like part of a giant yellow and red machine… like a team…. The Sucias!

A great skater recently told us “Be the Awesome, ” and on bout night, that’s what we were. Yes, we had some indestructible walls, some great traps, wicked jammer kills, and who could forget our Pa-pa-pa-power jams Pa-pa-power jams (muh muh muh muh), but I feel what allowed us to play with the edge that we did was our degree of athleticism, and or team’s cohesive spirit.

Really, you can do anything for two minutes, but against Durango you can expect to play a very exhausting physical game. They’re great competitors, and while playing them, we found ourselves having to adjust our strategy. It all made for a great game and we all had a great time, and for that we thank the Derailers.

If you want a recap of the entire bout, I’m sorry you really had to be there, but here are a few moments I remember:

– Hippie Check’s power jam in the first half that took the score from 19-14 to 34-14
– Barbie Bombshell… always a bombshell
– Racky Balboa… not ejected!
– Great pack work with Hell Paseo.
– Puncher Villa’s pixie jamming
– Rise and Shiner’s epic power jam after the half
– Venomous DiMilo’s  shimmy through the front of the pack.
– Rx Bex (moi) jumping over GG Slam and Brickaus Betty
– Choni Chaser’s grasshopper blocking
– Hearno Evil… what can’t she do for two minutes?
– General Grant Slam’s Pa-pa-pa-power Jam bringing the final score to 135 to 76!
– Crazy cheering on the bench with the rest of the team.
– Charity Bomb’s bloody nose
– Jenny Jolts, the human wall
– Mouseattak-Her’s jammer kill on the inside line.
– “Awesome”- (ah-sum) noun. refer to Sucias, the All-Star Team of Crossroads City Derby

It’s really great to be part of an awesome team!  Thank you Sucias, and Congratulations on a huge win!

-Rx Bex, 30mg

AUGUST 20: REGULADIES SHOOTOUT

The Reguladies wrangled up a few members of the Picacho Posse and local law enforcement to train us in the way of the gun. Our teachers were fantastic and patient as our wiggly lady arms took to the targets. As each stage progressed we grew more comfortable and confident. By the end of our lesson, we were sniper material 

Thanks guys, we had a blast. Hope to see ya again now ya’hear?

AUGUST 13 – 14: BONNIE D. STROIR BOOTCAMP
August 20, 2011
CCD had to opportunity to skate with Bonnie D. Stroir, founder of the San Diego Derby Dolls and roller derby legend. We were joined by members of the Lea County Roller Wenches from Hobbs and Silver City’s Skate the Wilderness. Skaters from all levels participated in the boot camp, from the experienced veterans down to the recently drafted fresh meat.

At first I was apprehensive about having 40 girls with varying skill levels on the track all at the same time but Bonnie’s teaching style immediately put me at ease. She broke skills down to the most basic level and progressively added to them. Can you skate backwards? No? Go practice that. Yes? How about backwards on one leg? Ok, how about skating backwards on one leg and then changing directions? Bonnie kept adding complexity and eventually had most of us performing a waltz jump.

After the skills session we progressed to strategy, starting with the most basic plays and working up to more complex situations. Bonnie would start with a lecture and demonstration, then she’d send us out to practice for no more than 5 minutes before calling us back in to critique if we were doing something incorrectly or to add a step if we were ready. Luckily she also gave us ample time to stop and take notes; I’m sure I’m not the only one whose brain was completely overwhelmed at certain points! The last section on Sunday had all of us on the track in full pads but wearing sneakers. This was a great equalizer, and I saw many of the newer girls gain confidence when skating was removed from the equation.

A colossal amount of information was presented, and I realized that what we learned is applicable to everything we do in life, not just derby. Keep moving! If you fall down, get up! Don’t brag about how awesome you are, let your actions be your voice! Be kind to your friends (and your knees). It’s nearly impossible to simultaneously be fast AND agile. Don’t let people get to you. Stay focused on what you CAN control, NOT what you can’t. Trust yourself and your teammates. As Bonnie D. Stroir taught us: LiveLoveDerby.

– Nikki Six-Shooter, #colt45

JULY 27 – 31: ROLLERCON 2011
August 5, 2011
Rollercon 2011 was an overwhelming success! The conference this year boasted 3,000 registered skaters and volunteers. Crossroads City Derby was proudly represented by 11 skaters, Coach Bombshell, our General Manager Andrematon, and our very own announcer Gonads O’Brian. The conference was contained within the Riviera Hotel and Casino and offered three sport court tracks for classes, and one main track that hosted challenge bouts, scrimmages, and the highly anticipated Bay Area vs. Mile High WFTDA sanctioned bout. Rollercon was well organized this year and the managers were well prepared for the onslaught of derby-hungry skaters that poured into the City of Sin. So much happened during the five day conference! The best way for me to break it down is to give you three categories: the learnin’, the livin’, and the lovin’.

First, and most importantly, the learnin’.  Classes were easy to get into for the most part this year. We were honored to not only watch but learn from skate greats like Quadzilla, Medusa, Ivanna S. Pankin, Atomatrix, and Punk N. Da’Trunk just to name a few. Not only were their skills on display at close range, they were also able to break down those skills into tangible bits for all levels of skaters. Classes broke down skater skills beginning with the basics and advancing up to fancy tricks that can be used by both blockers and jammers. Our brains were truly spinning faster than our wheels trying to digest all the information! Off-skate seminars were also offered covering topics from skate maintenance, to cross training, and announcing for derby. The options were endless!

Team Speed vs. Team ArtisticAnother amazing opportunity involved both watching and participating in all the challenge bouts that took place on the main track. Our first surprise was watching our very own General Grant Slam and Barbie Bombshell as they made their way into the Speed vs. Artistic challenge bout. They skated amongst co-ed greats like Quadzilla, Krissy Krash, Speed Dealer, Tannibal Lectar, and Isabel Ringer. Those ladies skated their hearts out and made CCD proud as they held their own in an advanced level 4 bout! Of course the Speed team took the win with a score of 257 to 52.

Another highlight came about on Saturday morning as team Borderland, comprised of skaters from EPRD and CCD, took on the Heartland. It was an experience of a lifetime as guest skaters Goodie Two Skates, Dahmernatrix, and Muffin, took the track with the Borderland babes. It was a crazy 30 minutes as we learned alongside some of the best. At one point during this bout I learned the best lesson I would take away from Rollercon 2011. Dahmernatrix and I were the only blockers left on the track for team Borderland and honestly my brain froze. She looked me in the eye, grabbed me by the shirt and yelled GOAT! I quickly sank back into position and was glad for the guidance. Later as I apologized to her for freezing up she passed on some brilliance…”go where the awesome is”. At anytime on the track there is something awesome happening, if you aren’t in it, get to it QUICK! Borderland walked away with a win of 95 to 82 but the lessons we learned will extend far beyond that 30 minutes of fantastic experience.

Now on to the livin’.  It is Las Vegas after all and the livin’ was anything but easy! Many of our skaters represented CCD as part of the Volunteer Army that staffs the beast that has become Rollercon. Their shifts ranged in duties from handing out goody bags for Skate Safe to laying down the main track, checking ID’s and guarding secret rooms full of merchandise. They were able to make some amazing contacts for our league and secured some sweet swag as well! The night life offered opportunities to open scrimmage, check out the lights, and indulge in some much needed relaxation time. Some folks found their way down the strip, others attended the Black and Blue Ball, the Derby Wedding, and most made at least one appearance at the 24 hour pool party that lasted all 5 days and nights! There was zip lining down Freemont Street, martini drinking atop the Stratosphere, beer drinking out of boots at Gilley’s, and a tiny bit of gambling. Overall we were exhausted from hours on skates during the day but we found our way into a bit of fun because that’s how we roll!

CCD Wedding Pyramid! Congratulations Hell Paseo & Christy K.Now on to the lovin’. We were privileged to witness the beautiful commitment ceremony between our own Hell Paseo and her lovely bride, Crossroads City Derby NSO, Christy K. Tears were flowing, even from The Venomous Dimilo, early Friday morning in the little Chapel in the Riviera. I was proud to stand at the altar as the Maid of Honor, as Racky Balboa gave away her derby sisters at the top of the aisle in honor of CCD. The ceremony was heartfelt and beautiful…and then we formed a pyramid at the altar, took some pictures, and got back to business! Congratulations to the newlyweds and best wishes for many years to come. Their union was a true symbol of the derby love this league has facilitated, and we couldn’t be happier these two have found each other.
– Puncher Villa #1919