Recommendations. Yup.

I spent way too long deciding on what, well, everything to get. It took me two weeks to decide on skates, and a month to decide on wheels. Well guess what - you don't have to. To save you the frustration I suffered from infinite selection and conflicting interests, I have for you recommendations on skates, wheels, and toe stops by brand and purpose.

SKATES


You can find complete skates in a lot of places online and if you're lucky at a sporting goods store where you live. There are a lot to choose from and all the technical jargon you read about the skate probably isn't helping you decide. Cool, I got you covered. So far I've had three different kinds of skates, two of which are black-listed here on RDB, and have sense spoken to every girl on my league (that I could hold attention with, anyway) about the skates I haven't owned. Here's the budget-friendly breakdown:



DERBY PREFERRED

• Riedell R3: These are the skates I own and love in an almost creepy manner. The boot is more comfortable than any shoe I've ever owned, and the other stock parts are mind-blowing (minus, the wheels of course, but that's every skate). Blocker recommended.
  



• Riedell 701 Torq: If you see a girl with awesome retro stripes down the side of her skate, she's probably got these. The boot is great, the stock parts are generally awesome, and the wheels they come with will last you longer than the stock wheels on the R3s. Pivot recommended.
  



• Carrera: There is a lot of good talk about this skate and the wheels are said to last a long time considering they're stock. The boot supposedly fits like a running shoe and the plates are fiberglass allowed for a lighter skate and thereby more speed. Jammer Recommended.
  

BLACK-LISTED

• Pacer F-14: These skates are a bad joke. The boot has absolutely no ankle support which lessens control and puts you at risk for a broken ankle; and considering the walls of the boot give completely, there's no telling what else you'll break. The stock parts are shit.
  



• Cobras: You think making a drive to Academy to buy these monstrosities will save you money but you're wrong. I made that mistake, skated on them once, and cursed them forever. They have plastic molded plates, NO TRUCKS, and the faux leather boot will eat your feet alive. There are no fucking parts.
  










WHEELS


I recently posted an entry all about wheels, their anatomy and why they are important, and even suggested a few brands. Here what I will do is firstly tell you DON'T FUCKING WORRY ABOUT THE COLOR. I want blue or purple, and as a blocker I'm a bit fucked on that, as all of the purple wheels are either best for jammers or come from a shitty brand. Also almost all blocker blues are light in color. But don't worry blockers, wheels best for what you're doing tend to run cheaper.


BLOCKERS


• Radar Zodiacs (red): I hear these are the absolute best for the blocker (apart from spending a fortune) and I would have gotten them myself if not for the budget crisis. No worries though, they're still reasonable so you could probably afford them yourself. They're well-made, have an aluminum hub, and last for a long freakin' time.
  


• Radar Mojo (blue): These wheels actually do come in a dark blue with a grip that serves the blockers, and they provide all of the assets as the above wheel for 10 bucks less.
  


• Hyper Withdoctors: These are a derby girl favorite, likely more because of the price than the quality and because they are the cheapest wheels out there that have aluminum hubs (important for 135+ pound skaters). However, talk is good and there has to be something to them for girls to keep coming back to an old favorite.
  

<== Post to be continued for jammers and pivots when I get some freakin' sleep.

Random Facts 1.1

Here is a short list of random facts involving derby, equipment and other stuff that might save you some time and money (well, maybe not money). I put them into poorly sorted categories for your convenience. Here goes nothin':

THE GAME

• When blocking you can hit the target anywhere on the front side from the shoulders to just above the knee. Hit them in the back and it's a penalty.


• The full toe stop (or turn-n-stop) is properly executed by turning completely around before dropping the stops. I figured that out the hard way.


• Your posture follows your view. Look ahead, not at the floor.

THE GEAR

• If the rim of your knee pad keeps giving you goose eggs, get new ones. Knee pads should be tight enough to groove thicker legs just a bit, but if they hurt they're too small.


• Stockings are not just a fashion statement. They protect you from rink rash and friction from your pads.


• Wear thick cotton socks like Hanes or the equivalent. Thin socks cause slippage in your boots and does jack in the way of blister protection.


• Your helmet should be tight, but if you get dizzy or have a headache, it's too small.

SKATE ANATOMY

• Buy a size down. Most if not all speed skates are made fore men so if you're a 9, buy an 8. If you're a 9.5, buy a 9.

Each wheel has two bearings, one on each side of the elevation inside the hub.

• Trucks are the braces under your skate that allow the wheels to pivot when you turn.


• Plates are the foundation of the trucks and the rods that your wheels sit on.


• The boot is well...the boot.


• Most quality skates (Riedell, Carrera, Pacer) can be taken apart completely and custom built from whatever parts you like.


• You should oil the rods to prolong the life of your bearings.


• Your wheels and bearings mean the difference between dragging ass and making your rookie peers eat dust.


• If your skates are too big you'll be skating inside your boot more than on the floor, leaving you with limited maneuverability and unbearable foot cramps. If they're too small your feet will turn blue and fall off. Not really but the shit hurts.


• To save the most money, buy a complete skate then only replace the parts you want. Replace the wheels no matter what skate you buy. Stock wheels are bullshit unless you buy a limited edition pair ala Confetti, which might be hideous but has damn fine parts for a stock price. Replace the wheels and laces, and you save yourself 40 bucks.

<== Well there ya go. Good luck, guys.

Mississippi Bloodslide

The Mississippi Roller Girls are coming to Alabama to take on Birmingham's own Tragic City Rollers in the final game of the TCR's 2008 season, the Mississippi Blood Slide!

Featured once again at Zamora Shrine Temple in Irondale, the November 8th bout teams TCR roller derby action with LifeSouth Community Blood Centers. First 25 donors will receive free entry to the bout, after the first 25 all donors will receive half off admission!

Zamora also features a full bar, concessions, and two levels of seating including the 18 and up "Thrash Zone"--you may end up with a derby gal in your lap! Tickets are $10 online and are $15 AT THE DOOR! Kids 8 and under get in free. Online ticket on sale NOW!

Half-time TBA and afterparty details TBA.


LOCATION:
Zamora Shrine Temple
3521 Ratliff Road
Irondale, AL 35210
TIME: Blood Drive starts at 5:00, Doors Open at 6:00, Bout Starts at 7:00
INTERMISSION PERFORMANCE TBA
COST: $10 online/$15 at the door/kids <8 free.

<== Posted as directed by the ladies.

New Wheels!

Finally, after skidding on bald Caymans for the past few weeks, Adam (my awesome boyfriend) made a sacrifice and sold a stack of games to get up money for my wheels. Due to my budget, I opted to get the red Sure-Grip Fugitives. They're not listed on the "All About Wheels" post, mainly because the hubs are nylon and nylon is notoriously undependable to skaters over 135 pounds. However, a busted plastic hub happens but it's no epidemic, not to mention the fact that Fugitives are a derby girl favorite no matter the weight.

Remember, unless otherwise stated the stock wheels that come with your skates are Caymans or something like them. They lose grip entirely after a month of normal wear and meet the bare minimum in performance.

Low Price Skates

Yes, the website looks atrocious, but don't be fooled, the quality and prices are incredible. Oh and the selection is nice, too. They carry pretty much every kind and brand of skate known to man. Quad speeds range in price from 60 to 700 dollars, and they carry every part you'll ever need as well. They've got skates, boots, wheels, bearings, toe stops, toe guards, and a vast array of each. And, as is a given, they're stuff is low price.

Fan Shirts and Anti-social Behavior

First we'll get the anti-social part out of the way. I don't really notice how I come off to other people, but I know it's black or white, I have no gray area. I've recently discovered the derby girls see me as very anti-social. I sit alone, I skate alone, I bitch alone. And of course when somebody tries to talk to me I've got either a "yes" or "no" response. What's my problem? Well, I have no problem getting to know a person individually, or even in twos or threes, but I shut down completely in large groups. Never been in one before so this is new to me. One of the rookies called me on it and wants to go to lunch. We'll see how it goes.

Moving on. PJ (blocker, I think) Commissioned me to design the graphic for the fan shirts to be sold at Mississippi Blood Slide, the last bout of the season where Lifesouth will be leeching blood to help people get in half-price. Oh and also for sick people. So I posted a few variations on the forum and so far this one looks like the winner:

<== Pending it doesn't end up being Roxy's derby zombie, which is also quite awesome.

League Photo Shoot

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. No, I have not been booted off the team - I've been busy, dammit. At any rate, things are going great with the league. We had a team photo shoot and when I showed up all the rookies had a jersey but me. I...was...pissed. Considering my GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder), my first reaction was of course "who's got a problem with me". It's a fair assumption that there might be something going on, sense I caused a lot of problems in the beginning and have had a few arguments sense, but I took a breath and surveyed the situation first.

Finally I asked Dixie why I didn't have a shirt and the reason was actually pretty damn funny: "Yeah well the largest size we have right now is this one", and she pointed to her own shirt, "And your lady parts aren't going to fit in it, so we have to order some more". I didn't have a jersey because I have big tits. Awesome!

On another note the other curvy rookie was actually wearing a borrowed shirt from one of the blockers. So we took individual shots which didn't help my self-esteem at all, what with the ex-boyfriend weight still apparent on and off camera. Then, we took the team shots which turned out to be pretty fucking fun. I think derby is really gonna help me get over myself and my long-standing bullshit. Hell, it already helps with the temper.