Weekly Rollup and Open Thread, 4/29/2011
Bonnie Thunders and OMG WTF's New York City skate shop gets the New York Times treatment, and DNN gets its second Gray Lady reference.
The UWM post buries the lede, but press on -- you'll learn about Rejected Seoul's efforts to launch a collegiate roller derby program.
DNN consigliere, gonzo derby writer, and law professor DF finally published his academic paper on the derby names Master roster. Freakonomics takes note!
Roller derby is blowing right the hell up in South America (thank you, Whip It), and no evidence of this could be more clear than a Chilean company's attempt to manufacture quad skates suitable for the sport. God bless 'em.
Meanwhile, Ivanna S. Pankin and Trish the Dish spread the gospel at a boot camp in Columbia. If you're more tenacious than DNN, you can probably determine the Spanish translation of "anterior cruciate ligament" from this local news video clip.
BADJON created a delicious video of Lowcountry Highrollers skaters prepping for a bout.
Godmothers of flat track derby Texas Rollergirls just celebrated the 8th anniversary of their first bout. Katy Crocker reflects on why TXRG reminds her of her grandma.
In this week's feature video, Denver Roller Doll Bijou Blacnbleu tackles her multiple sclerosis head on with help from her league's skaters, with help from crosstown Rocky Mountain Rollergirls. She's already hit her fundraising goal, but MS really needs to get its ass totally kicked, so if you love you some Denver derby, please do your part.
Comments
TEXAS IS THE REASON!!!!!!!
In all good fun =p A little song in honor of my friends the Texas Rollergirls TX2 KILL3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-cFtSPIF4Q&feature=related
Roller Girl Needs Help
Lori, aka Lmbr Timber Onu of Emerald Coast Roller Derby, was victim of a severe domestic violence attack on April 23, 2011. Lori is having surgery to repair broken eye sockets, nose and cheek bones. She faces a long recovery and mounting medical bills with no medical insurance. ECRD and many other people who love Lori are planning events and fundraisers to help. Please stay tuned to this page for info:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lori-Aid-2011/195305623846343?sk=wall
Colombia was so AMAZING
If the high altitude is contributing to the incredible athletes in Rocky & Denver, then we better watch out for Colombian skaters, because the altitude in Bogotá is roughly twice as high as Denver. They say: "Bogotá se encuentra cerca de las estrellas." - Bogotá is close to the stars. There are awesome facilities (huge complexes of Olympic training venues in every sport for obvious reasons) and massive support for derby there. The training camp we did was beginner level, but these skaters won't be beginners for long. What holds them back the most is an accurate Spanish translation of the most recent rules! We had to tell them our Officials often have trouble agreeing on what the English words mean, even. But they're scrappy and driven so I know it won't hold them back long.
And there is an inline manufacturer in Medellin, Colombia who is also working on skates for derby - and their first pass is really good! Keep an eye out for those Colombian teams and for Canariam Skates.