Follow the most serious banana here: daphnedoesderby.tumblr.com
EDIT: I've decided to keep posting the best stuff here, but for reblogs, links and extras, tumblr is the place to be.
Friday 4 November 2011
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
For ease of following, daphnedoesderby has moved to tumblr!
Follow the most serious banana here: daphnedoesderby.tumblr.com
EDIT: I've decided to keep posting the best stuff here, but for reblogs, links and extras, tumblr is the place to be.
Follow the most serious banana here: daphnedoesderby.tumblr.com
EDIT: I've decided to keep posting the best stuff here, but for reblogs, links and extras, tumblr is the place to be.
Missing Practice
I had to miss Thursday night's practice and will be missing tomorrow's as well for family reasons. This makes me quite glum, because I always feel like if I'm not improving, I'm regressing, and I'm letting myself down. Especially with the upcoming AIRD bout.
However, today I have realised that my left knee hurts a little bit when I put pressure on one spot in particular (likely because I fell quite heavily on it last week). Also I was doing the plank last night while waiting for the microwave to heat up my hot chocolate, and I think I overexerted myself and let my spine take too much of the pressure, so that's feeling a bit out of sync as well.
Love it when recovering from injury and family commitments overlap. Feels so efficient.
However, today I have realised that my left knee hurts a little bit when I put pressure on one spot in particular (likely because I fell quite heavily on it last week). Also I was doing the plank last night while waiting for the microwave to heat up my hot chocolate, and I think I overexerted myself and let my spine take too much of the pressure, so that's feeling a bit out of sync as well.
Love it when recovering from injury and family commitments overlap. Feels so efficient.
Thursday 3 November 2011
Humble Beginnings
Just found this in my inbox.
from: daphne
to: info@blitzdames.com
01/08/2010
Hi!!!
Just wanted to check if it's cool to come along this saturday? totally new and have no experience or equipment, and I think I might get demolished in actual roller derby, but it seems kickass and I'd love to get more involved and see what you guys do.
Thanks!
from: info@blitzdames.com
to: daphne
04/08/2010
from: daphne
to: info@blitzdames.com
01/08/2010
Hi!!!
Just wanted to check if it's cool to come along this saturday? totally new and have no experience or equipment, and I think I might get demolished in actual roller derby, but it seems kickass and I'd love to get more involved and see what you guys do.
Thanks!
from: info@blitzdames.com
to: daphne
04/08/2010
Hiya,
thanks for getting in contact with us, sorry I didn't get back to you sooner.
It's fine for you to come on Saturday, we have hire equipment for you to use, but we do give these out on a first come first served basis.
I've attached our induction FAQ below, but please let me know if you have any more questions.
Look forward to meeting you,
Violet Attack
Well done, past self, for being brave and taking your first few steps towards derby. It's more worth it than you could ever have imagined.
What to Wear
The perennial question for all women.
It may seem strange, but for me, the hardest thing about wearing the hijab is selecting clothes.
Since I choose to cover all skin except my face and hands and wear clothes that are not form fitting, every outfit I wear has to be carefully chosen. I can't just throw on jeans and a t-shirt (or if it's cold, add on a hoody). My outfits generally consist of jeans, a dress/tunic, a long-sleeve t-shirt under that, a matching headscarf and footwear. And does it ever break my heart when I prepare a wonderful outfit and realise at the last minute I don't have a headscarf that will go with it.
When I went to my first derby session, I asked Ellen Rage what she wore to derby. "Not a lot," she said.
My typical derby outfits are loose trousers, a baggy t-shirt and a long sleeve t-shirt under that with a short hijab. Sometimes I wear a skirt, sometimes not. It's a good thing I'm cold blooded, or I'd overheat. Some people feel that wearing a lot of clothes slows you down, but I started skating with the belief that if the way I dressed made me slower, I would train harder until I was faster. It's worked well for me so far.
I've found roller derby, and particularly the dames, to be very flexible in what I wear. Most of the time, my attire goes ignored. That's something I adore about derby. The only thing you're judged on is your attitude to skating. Everything else is secondary.
It may seem strange, but for me, the hardest thing about wearing the hijab is selecting clothes.
Since I choose to cover all skin except my face and hands and wear clothes that are not form fitting, every outfit I wear has to be carefully chosen. I can't just throw on jeans and a t-shirt (or if it's cold, add on a hoody). My outfits generally consist of jeans, a dress/tunic, a long-sleeve t-shirt under that, a matching headscarf and footwear. And does it ever break my heart when I prepare a wonderful outfit and realise at the last minute I don't have a headscarf that will go with it.
When I went to my first derby session, I asked Ellen Rage what she wore to derby. "Not a lot," she said.
My typical derby outfits are loose trousers, a baggy t-shirt and a long sleeve t-shirt under that with a short hijab. Sometimes I wear a skirt, sometimes not. It's a good thing I'm cold blooded, or I'd overheat. Some people feel that wearing a lot of clothes slows you down, but I started skating with the belief that if the way I dressed made me slower, I would train harder until I was faster. It's worked well for me so far.
I've found roller derby, and particularly the dames, to be very flexible in what I wear. Most of the time, my attire goes ignored. That's something I adore about derby. The only thing you're judged on is your attitude to skating. Everything else is secondary.
Wednesday 2 November 2011
Profile: Violet Attack
Name: Violet Attack
Rank: Captain
Team: Birmingham Blitz Dames. Team England.
About: When I first set about contacting the dames, I sent an email to them and Attack emailed back very nicely. 'How sweet,' I thought. Little did I know. When I'm mentally practicing blocking, I like to visualize myself hitting Attack. Half rollergirl, half robot, she's something fierce.
Violet Attack's official BBD profile can be found here.
Her Team England profile can be found here.
Japan Video
Here's a video my roommate in Japan made with me for some My Chemical Romance competition. I don't really like My Chemical Romance, but she really did, and she talked me into it.
I'm not sure I could explain this video if I wanted to, so I'm just not going to try. I hope that's okay with everyone.
I'm not sure I could explain this video if I wanted to, so I'm just not going to try. I hope that's okay with everyone.
All Ireland Roller Derby Bout
On Tuesday the roster for our upcoming home bout against All Ireland Roller Derby was announced. My name was on it!
The bout is the first of a double header. The second is AIRD against an all-star midlands lineup. The first is against the Blitz Dames A-team. The fearsome Roisin Roulette is playing for Ireland, against us. I don't feel good about this.
It's my first ever A-team bout and I'm quite nervous. There are a few usual A-teamers that are unavailable to skate that day, rather than me having wrestled my way in, so I feel that I'm not really up to A-team standard. However I spend a lot of time shouting at people to be more positive about themselves, so I will have to take my own advice.
I am not panicking. I am zen. Everyone has been incredibly supportive and I feel lucky to be part of such a wonderful league.
What most worries me is somehow not skating to my full potential.
Also, what to wear.
The bout is the first of a double header. The second is AIRD against an all-star midlands lineup. The first is against the Blitz Dames A-team. The fearsome Roisin Roulette is playing for Ireland, against us. I don't feel good about this.
It's my first ever A-team bout and I'm quite nervous. There are a few usual A-teamers that are unavailable to skate that day, rather than me having wrestled my way in, so I feel that I'm not really up to A-team standard. However I spend a lot of time shouting at people to be more positive about themselves, so I will have to take my own advice.
I am not panicking. I am zen. Everyone has been incredibly supportive and I feel lucky to be part of such a wonderful league.
What most worries me is somehow not skating to my full potential.
Also, what to wear.
A Brief History of Daphne
April, 1990 - Daphne is born.
July, 2010 - Daphne goes to her Blitz Dames induction.
August, 2010 - Daphne goes to Japan where she gets to grips with basic skating, recklessly endangers her own life and jumps over a snake while skating (careening with no control over her actions) down a hill.
January, 2011 - Daphne returns to England and starts skating weekly with the Blitz Dames.
March, 2011 - Daphne passes basic skills
July, 2011 - Daphne skates on an amalgamated Blitz Dames B-team in the Fast vs Furious Smacky Races bout.
October, 2011 - Daphne skates again on an amalgamated Blitz Dames B-team against the Dolly Rockit's B-team, the Raggy Dolls at the Rolling Dead bout. Daphne was voted MVP and had a lovely write up from the Dollies.
November, 2011 - Daphne is skating in the dames A team against the All Ireland Roller Derby in the AIRD vs Blitz Dames bout. See here for more information.
2012 - who knows?
July, 2010 - Daphne goes to her Blitz Dames induction.
August, 2010 - Daphne goes to Japan where she gets to grips with basic skating, recklessly endangers her own life and jumps over a snake while skating (careening with no control over her actions) down a hill.
January, 2011 - Daphne returns to England and starts skating weekly with the Blitz Dames.
March, 2011 - Daphne passes basic skills
July, 2011 - Daphne skates on an amalgamated Blitz Dames B-team in the Fast vs Furious Smacky Races bout.
October, 2011 - Daphne skates again on an amalgamated Blitz Dames B-team against the Dolly Rockit's B-team, the Raggy Dolls at the Rolling Dead bout. Daphne was voted MVP and had a lovely write up from the Dollies.
November, 2011 - Daphne is skating in the dames A team against the All Ireland Roller Derby in the AIRD vs Blitz Dames bout. See here for more information.
2012 - who knows?
What Makes A Rollergirl?
Society is split into two groups. Women who roll, and women who do not roll. (What do you mean there is another gender? Are you talking about referees?)
Rollergirls can be found everywhere. Schools, offices, department stores, circuses; they fit - for the most part - quiet neatly into society. But most women are not rollergirls.
Here's what I think makes a derbygirl:
Active
I know a lot of women - myself included - that have never taken sports seriously before roller derby. However, if you're not willing to step up, get into shape, use muscles you didn't know you had and sweat (a lot), you're never going to be a derbygirl. Rollerderby is a sport, get it?
Tenacity
Derbygirls don't give up. Derby is hard! It involves being exhausted and achey, throwing yourself into unfamiliar situations and pushing yourself to skate just a little bit faster when you're already two steps away from passing out. To me, that all sounds awesome. To some people, not so much.
Confidence
As fearless as rollergirls tend to look, derby can be scary! For starters it takes a lot of courage to come to a fresh meat training session with thirty-odd women who look prone to violence. In my first few weeks of derby I dreaded going to practice because I felt out of place and I didn't know anyone. I constantly second-guessed myself, but in the end I dredged up the confidence to do what I wanted to do, and am so grateful that I did.
Lining up on the jam line is also pretty nerve wracking. I overcome this by making small talk with the other jammer about their tattoo(s). If they don't have a tattoo, this works doubly well for confusing them and throwing them off their game.
Toughness
This is the sticking point for a lot of wannabe rollergirls. Roller derby is full contact. You will get hit, and it will hurt. You will fall; that will hurt too. You will be sweaty and gross and sore and exhausted and kind of nauseous. You will break all your nails and maybe more than that. Possibility of injury is something that even experienced skaters struggle with, but I try to keep it in perspective. Roller derby is about as dangerous as horse riding and loads of people do that. It's much safer than Quidditch.
DERBY FACTOR
This is a combination of all the other factors, and then that magical something else that all derbygirls have. It's something that makes the calmest, mildest lady turn into a furious skating machine. What is it? We may never know...
Rollergirls can be found everywhere. Schools, offices, department stores, circuses; they fit - for the most part - quiet neatly into society. But most women are not rollergirls.
Here's what I think makes a derbygirl:
Active
I know a lot of women - myself included - that have never taken sports seriously before roller derby. However, if you're not willing to step up, get into shape, use muscles you didn't know you had and sweat (a lot), you're never going to be a derbygirl. Rollerderby is a sport, get it?
Tenacity
Derbygirls don't give up. Derby is hard! It involves being exhausted and achey, throwing yourself into unfamiliar situations and pushing yourself to skate just a little bit faster when you're already two steps away from passing out. To me, that all sounds awesome. To some people, not so much.
Confidence
As fearless as rollergirls tend to look, derby can be scary! For starters it takes a lot of courage to come to a fresh meat training session with thirty-odd women who look prone to violence. In my first few weeks of derby I dreaded going to practice because I felt out of place and I didn't know anyone. I constantly second-guessed myself, but in the end I dredged up the confidence to do what I wanted to do, and am so grateful that I did.
Lining up on the jam line is also pretty nerve wracking. I overcome this by making small talk with the other jammer about their tattoo(s). If they don't have a tattoo, this works doubly well for confusing them and throwing them off their game.
Toughness
This is the sticking point for a lot of wannabe rollergirls. Roller derby is full contact. You will get hit, and it will hurt. You will fall; that will hurt too. You will be sweaty and gross and sore and exhausted and kind of nauseous. You will break all your nails and maybe more than that. Possibility of injury is something that even experienced skaters struggle with, but I try to keep it in perspective. Roller derby is about as dangerous as horse riding and loads of people do that. It's much safer than Quidditch.
DERBY FACTOR
This is a combination of all the other factors, and then that magical something else that all derbygirls have. It's something that makes the calmest, mildest lady turn into a furious skating machine. What is it? We may never know...
British Roller Derby
Roller derby is a sport with many faces, all across the world. It's got its own little culture which is part of what makes it so fantastic.
What derby means to people differs from country to country, league to league and person to person. For me there are three things I love about roller derby, which hooked me in and kept me coming back again and again and again.
They are fitness, skating and the people.
Fitness
In my fresh meat days, Mimey Vice, while putting us through an excruciating round of Circle of Pain, told us that "you don't do derby to get fit, you get fit for derby." Be that as it may, the health benefits of derby cannot be overlooked. Derby wakes up muscles you didn't even know you had. It gives you an intense cardio workout and most importantly, it's about 1400% more interesting that going to the gym.
When I first started skating the three hour session on a Saturday would wipe me out for the entire weekend. Now I hardly feel it.
I also enjoy feeling smug whenever I hear about how unfit the rest of England is.
Skating
I've liked skating since I was a child, but there's something about the sport of roller derby that I just love.
Maybe it's playing a team sport, maybe it's skating fast, maybe it's shoving someone so hard they fall over. Either way, I always leave a session smiling.
Amazing people
Never in my life have I met a more interesting, powerful or supportive group of people. Sometimes outside of derby I don't speak at all because I have used up all my words chatting to people at practice. And I have a lot of words.
Roller derby attracts a subsection of women that are incredibly varied, but uniformly awesome. If you've ever wondered why everyone around you seems so uninteresting, it's because the good ones are busy beating each other up on the roller derby track.
What derby means to people differs from country to country, league to league and person to person. For me there are three things I love about roller derby, which hooked me in and kept me coming back again and again and again.
They are fitness, skating and the people.
Fitness
In my fresh meat days, Mimey Vice, while putting us through an excruciating round of Circle of Pain, told us that "you don't do derby to get fit, you get fit for derby." Be that as it may, the health benefits of derby cannot be overlooked. Derby wakes up muscles you didn't even know you had. It gives you an intense cardio workout and most importantly, it's about 1400% more interesting that going to the gym.
When I first started skating the three hour session on a Saturday would wipe me out for the entire weekend. Now I hardly feel it.
I also enjoy feeling smug whenever I hear about how unfit the rest of England is.
Skating
I've liked skating since I was a child, but there's something about the sport of roller derby that I just love.
Maybe it's playing a team sport, maybe it's skating fast, maybe it's shoving someone so hard they fall over. Either way, I always leave a session smiling.
Amazing people
Never in my life have I met a more interesting, powerful or supportive group of people. Sometimes outside of derby I don't speak at all because I have used up all my words chatting to people at practice. And I have a lot of words.
Roller derby attracts a subsection of women that are incredibly varied, but uniformly awesome. If you've ever wondered why everyone around you seems so uninteresting, it's because the good ones are busy beating each other up on the roller derby track.
Derby Dictionary
under construction
BBD: The Birmingham Blitz Dames.
Circle of Pain: series of exercises designed to improve derby related muscles.
Fresh Meat: new skaters who haven't really been hit yet.
Derby name: an alternate name you skate under.
Team Zebra: the referees. They do seem to have a jolly old time.*
*© Chinablade
BBD: The Birmingham Blitz Dames.
Circle of Pain: series of exercises designed to improve derby related muscles.
Fresh Meat: new skaters who haven't really been hit yet.
Derby name: an alternate name you skate under.
Team Zebra: the referees. They do seem to have a jolly old time.*
*© Chinablade
Profile: Mimey Vice
Name: Mimey ViceRank: Head Ref
Team: Team Zebra, Birmingham Blitz Dames
About: Considered by most to be a veteran dame, Mimey's 'stern face' is feared on the track. Many a skater has been reduced to tears after being whistled off by Mimey. It's not doing the time, it's the disappointment in her eyes that really gets to you.
Aside from reffing, Mimey likes to walk into practice with an expression of muted surprise. "Oh, are there people on roller skates in here? How odd," she seems to be thinking. She is often in charge of training up the fresh meat and leads an unparalleled circle of pain.
Mimey's official BBD profile can be found here.
Tuesday 1 November 2011
Origins of a Roller Girl
A lot of people say to me, "Daphne, what's a nice girl like you doing in a violent, tattoo-infested sport like Roller Derby?"
Or they would, if they knew what roller derby was.
I first heard about derby from my good friend Ellen Rage, though I had no idea what the sport was and she finally settled for having me watch Whip It. Yeah, I said it. Ellen Page got me into roller derby. DEAL WITH IT.
After that I found the Dames and went along to one of their Saturday training sessions. It was pretty intimidating, but as soon as I put on my skates I felt 100% cooler, and I knew I was on to a good thing.
From there it was a slippery slope.
I guess the conclusion is, thank goodness for Ellen Page.
Or they would, if they knew what roller derby was.
I first heard about derby from my good friend Ellen Rage, though I had no idea what the sport was and she finally settled for having me watch Whip It. Yeah, I said it. Ellen Page got me into roller derby. DEAL WITH IT.
After that I found the Dames and went along to one of their Saturday training sessions. It was pretty intimidating, but as soon as I put on my skates I felt 100% cooler, and I knew I was on to a good thing.
From there it was a slippery slope.
I guess the conclusion is, thank goodness for Ellen Page.
Profile: Ellen Rage
This is my very lovely Overseas Derby wife who introduced me to the crazy world of Derby!
Name: Ellen Rage
Rank: Co-captain
Team: Arkham Assailants, Psycho City Derby Girls
About: Born in Boston she moved to Florida and started skating two years ago. Known for loving pandas and making her subordinates cry she is quite sweet at heart.
She has yet to send me any merch from her league though.
If you want to see more of Ellen and the Orlando City Rollergirls (and why wouldn't you?), check out their tumblr.
What Is Roller Derby?
When someone asks me what I did on the weekend I'm always torn. Do I take the easy route (lies) or the honest route (derby)? If you tell someone you did roller derby on the weekend, one of the following will happen.
a. the person will nod and turn away, because they didn't understand what you said but they are pretending they did. (90% of the time.)
b. the person will tilt their head to the side in thought and say "like in that film with Ellen Page?"
c. the person will frown at you. "Huh?"
Then you're faced with the 'how to explain?' because the majority of the time, the person talking to you does not actually want a ten minute breakdown of the rules of roller derby. I generally say "it's like rugby on skates" which is a pretty decent explanation, I feel.
That leads to the inevitable:
"isn't that dangerous?"
Yes. Yes it is.
This is normally where the conversation (and sometimes friendship) ends.
For a better explanation, check out the dames' 'What Is Roller Derby?' page.
a. the person will nod and turn away, because they didn't understand what you said but they are pretending they did. (90% of the time.)
b. the person will tilt their head to the side in thought and say "like in that film with Ellen Page?"
c. the person will frown at you. "Huh?"
Then you're faced with the 'how to explain?' because the majority of the time, the person talking to you does not actually want a ten minute breakdown of the rules of roller derby. I generally say "it's like rugby on skates" which is a pretty decent explanation, I feel.
That leads to the inevitable:
"isn't that dangerous?"
Yes. Yes it is.
This is normally where the conversation (and sometimes friendship) ends.
For a better explanation, check out the dames' 'What Is Roller Derby?' page.
Who is Daphne?
Hello!
This is the blog that belongs to Daphne du Gorier, of the Birmingham Blitz Dames.
Q: What is the deal with Daphne?
A: Daphne is a muslim-rollergirl-maniac. She's sort of funny.
Q: Muslims? Like those dudes with the turbans?
A: Yes, exactly like that. (No, not at all.)
Q: What is this 'roller debris'?
A: Roller derby is a sport that leads to extreme poverty and a tendency towards violence.
Q: 'Daphne du Gorier'? Is that her real name?
A: No! It's her derby name. Rollergirls have their skating alter egos to add to the awesome. Daphne du Gorier is inspired by Daphne du Maurier who is a fantastic author she admires.
Q: Should I read this blog again?
A: Yes, read this blog at all times.
This is the blog that belongs to Daphne du Gorier, of the Birmingham Blitz Dames.
Q: What is the deal with Daphne?
A: Daphne is a muslim-rollergirl-maniac. She's sort of funny.
Q: Muslims? Like those dudes with the turbans?
A: Yes, exactly like that. (No, not at all.)
Q: What is this 'roller debris'?
A: Roller derby is a sport that leads to extreme poverty and a tendency towards violence.
Q: 'Daphne du Gorier'? Is that her real name?
A: No! It's her derby name. Rollergirls have their skating alter egos to add to the awesome. Daphne du Gorier is inspired by Daphne du Maurier who is a fantastic author she admires.
Q: Should I read this blog again?
A: Yes, read this blog at all times.
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