On February 16, 2013 thirteen women set out on an adventure that will surely change the lives of those that complete the ten weeks of training: Fresh Meat Boot Camp. They all showed up at 10am at the Meerscheidt Recreation Center rink out back not knowing exactly what to expect. Some had skated before with other leagues like Derbal Remedy in Alamogordo, NM or Minor Threat Junior Derby here in Las Cruces. Others had skated on and off throughout their lives and are looking for that next challenge. And then there are those that had never put on a pair of skates until a few months ago when we started the off-season open skate. These are your 2013 Crossroads City Derby session 1 Fresh Meat:
For two days the “freshies” were introduced to the world of women’s flat track roller derby. They were taught how to balance on eight wheels, how to fall without getting hurt (and yes, falling is a part of derby), how to stop, what a good stride looks like and what derby form is. The veteran skaters showed the freshies agility and footwork, how to transition from skating forward to skating backwards and the importance of warming up before practice starts and cooling down and stretching at the end of practice. They were then introduced to the Dark Side of the Bout (our gracious volunteer referees and non-skating officials), to the anatomy of a skate and skate maintenance. And all this was only the first day.
On the second day of boot camp, the freshies got their first taste of skating together in a 25-lap pack drill. Pack skating is a critical skill that even some of the most experienced skaters must continue to work on. After the pack laps came review time for stops and falls and the introduction of pace-line skating while maintaining distance and touching. Then the fresh meat group was treated to a 30-minute scrimmage by the veteran skaters where they were asked to right down questions that came up during the scrimmage. The last on-skate activity of the day was a focus drill where the freshies had to skate in a pack while looking around, calling the location of the drill leader on the track (inside, outside, middle) and the number of fingers being held up. To end the boot camp the skaters where given the opportunity for one-on-one instruction and a Q & A session with the coach and veteran skaters.
Now begins the 10-week journey to full-league membership. They will be drilled, tested, drilled some more and tested again. They will form a bond that only previous fresh meat groups understand. They will help each other up time and time again. And on test out day, they will stand united, screaming encouragement to one another as they are put through the WFTDA minimum skills test.
So we congratulate those that have decided to take this challenge. And we wish them luck!!!
Coach
- Andrea Ceniceros
- Kathy Davidson
- Vanessa Estrada
- Kelsey Gaffney
- Starla Hackler
- Katrina Hawkins
- Hannah McCurdy
- Melina O’Donnell
- Laura Ramsey
- Amber Rodriguez
- Mary Beth Smith
- Bonnie Thorkildson
- Valerie Trujillo
For two days the “freshies” were introduced to the world of women’s flat track roller derby. They were taught how to balance on eight wheels, how to fall without getting hurt (and yes, falling is a part of derby), how to stop, what a good stride looks like and what derby form is. The veteran skaters showed the freshies agility and footwork, how to transition from skating forward to skating backwards and the importance of warming up before practice starts and cooling down and stretching at the end of practice. They were then introduced to the Dark Side of the Bout (our gracious volunteer referees and non-skating officials), to the anatomy of a skate and skate maintenance. And all this was only the first day.
On the second day of boot camp, the freshies got their first taste of skating together in a 25-lap pack drill. Pack skating is a critical skill that even some of the most experienced skaters must continue to work on. After the pack laps came review time for stops and falls and the introduction of pace-line skating while maintaining distance and touching. Then the fresh meat group was treated to a 30-minute scrimmage by the veteran skaters where they were asked to right down questions that came up during the scrimmage. The last on-skate activity of the day was a focus drill where the freshies had to skate in a pack while looking around, calling the location of the drill leader on the track (inside, outside, middle) and the number of fingers being held up. To end the boot camp the skaters where given the opportunity for one-on-one instruction and a Q & A session with the coach and veteran skaters.
Now begins the 10-week journey to full-league membership. They will be drilled, tested, drilled some more and tested again. They will form a bond that only previous fresh meat groups understand. They will help each other up time and time again. And on test out day, they will stand united, screaming encouragement to one another as they are put through the WFTDA minimum skills test.
So we congratulate those that have decided to take this challenge. And we wish them luck!!!
Coach
