LETS TALK ABOUT ROLLER DERBY

Remember that time when I was in New Zealand and I went to my first roller derby bout? Remember how I had the overwhelming sensation that it was something I had to do? Remember how I said I was going to give it a go? If I learned anything from the Kiwis in New Zealand, it's that you should always give it a go. If you are thinking about skydiving over mountains, just give it a go. If you are standing on the ledge of the Auckland Harbour Bridge, looking down 40 meters with a bungy attached to your ankles and can't find the strength to lean forward, just give it a go! Feel like going to Australia for the weekend, alone? Give it a go. Want to go camping for 9 weeks, even though the last time you spent any significant amount of time outdoors was when you were 8? GIVE IT A GO! You will be extraordinarily glad you did. You'll get scared, you'll stink, you'll get bruises, and plenty of tears. You're chute may not open and the bungy might break (just kidding) but you'll be glad you tried it! Fact of the matter is, challenging yourself to do things that you never thought you could, or would even want to, do is always worth it.

So, like I said, roller derby. After watching the girls bout and hearing about practice from my friend Kate, I decided to give it a go. The entire day before my first "practice" I was mortified. I was having nightmares of giant, beautiful, powerful women plummeting me to the ground. I was expecting to look like a complete idiot in front of skilled skaters, having them laugh at me the entire time. I was scared I was going to get hurt. The last time I actively participated in any kind of sport was my freshman year of high school, and I still totally sucked. Even worse, the last time I skated was when I was in middle school and on an all-boys inline hockey team. I mean, even if you don't know anything about roller derby, and you've seen the movie Whip It- you can probably understand my initial fear.

I was so incredibly wrong. Roller girls are the best human beings on the planet. Sure they look scary and beautiful and tattooed and intimidating on the outside. They have to! They have to convince you that they are going to kick your ass! It's in their job description. During practice, these girls are the most supportive women in any sport around. When you fall, they laugh and help you up, probably will clap too because your fall looked so utterly awesome ( and they're glad it wasn't them). They push you to your limits, make you sweat, whine, and so sore you can barely sit on the toilet the next day. BUT IT TOTALLY RULES.

Roller derby is my soul sport. I feel totally connected with these women, like I finally am part of something that I love and enjoy to do. I never feel stupid or inadequate. I always laugh. I always have fun. I always learn something new with each coming practice. For example! The first time I skated with the Hellmilton Roller Ghouls in NZ, I could barely stand up on my skates. Last week, while practicing with my new team, The Columbia QuadSquad, I JUMPED CONES! I can do cross-overs! I can do single, double, and 180 knee slides. I can do a plow and T stops. I can skate backwards and on one foot. I can skate while looking behind me, and even sort of pull of maneuvering between people. I mean, I have an incredibly long way to go, but I look forward to it.

Sunday is my favorite day of the week. On Sundays, for three hours, I get to strap on all my beautiful new gear and my sexy skates and practice doing something I love. I've been doing derby for about 4 months now. Four months ago I couldn't skate. Four months ago I didn't even know what roller derby was! Look at me now! I even have a derby name! "Smack Kerowhack".

Life is just full of so many wonderful surprises. And how are you ever going to find them if you don't suck it up and try something that scares the shit out of you? Lesson. Learned.