Angels in the Off Season

So, now that the season's over, everybody's sticking to a liquid diet — flax /raw/acai berry egg protein shakes — and getting plenty of exercise, right?

More like leftover turkey, pumpkin pie and candied yams. It's a rough time to have so many delicious leftovers in the house because Rocktown hasn't been practicing together much lately. It's cold outside, making this a popular time for families to rent out our home rink for parties, inconveniently, during practice time.

Still, RTR is a team of dedicated athletes who are working their bods in the interim. Some of the Rocktown Rollers share their routines:

• Knasty Knitter: Random sit ups, squats and calf raises in the shower and an upper body workout courtesy of the youngest of the wee ones. ;)P (She's the proud mother of two.)
• BamBam Brawler: Pushups ARE happening. ::grumble grumble:: and open skate whenever possible. I entertained the thought of going biking (it's the thought that counts, right?) and then realized its 38 degrees outside.
• Rosie the Retaliator: I will be doing step aerobics tomorrow. I might be crying during and after, but I will be doing it.
• Eff In Aye: I went to the gym yesterday and ran two miles and a bunch of weights too. I found out that i can leg press 300lbs for 4 sets of 10. :)
• Revenga d'Nerd: During off season, I: 1) Search for the weight I lost during derby season and find it at the Thanksgiving table. 2) Skate my guilt and gravy away at open skate. 3) Practice side stepping & juking in the back yard with my dogs, desirable ... dog toy in hand.
• Afro Die T: 2 minute sprints - at least a 7 or 8 on treadmill (to simulate a jammer jamming) then walk for 1. Repeat for 30 min. Change elevation a few times. If I get bored I'll go backwards or do sidesteps for a bit (NOT AT A 7) Get too tired do 2 on 2 off, but no more than 3 times (ie once every 10 min)

Keep up the good work! There are only five days left until Season's Beatings! Zombies vs. Robots! Pirates vs. Ninjas! Zebras vs. Skaters! Exhibition bouts between Richmond and Charlotte! The River City Rollergirls are hosting the all-day event Saturday at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. Info here.

Happy (belated) Thanksgiving! See you Saturday!

Calling all derby girls!

Rocktown canceled the August 29th bout with Star City so players could attend the funeral for Kitten Vicious in Lynchburg. It was a beautiful service, and we appreciate the support and understanding of the derby community and our fans.

It was important for us to be with Kitten's family last Sunday, but what we really need now is to play some derby.

SO, we're hosting an impromptu public scrimmage on Sunday, and we need players. Girls from RVA, Cville and other teams have signed up to play. RTR will split up and mingle with the players from other teams. We also need referees, NSO and spectators.

The bout will start at 4 p.m. Sunday at Funky's Skate Center, 100 Miller Circle, Harrisonburg. The event will be free and open to the public. (If you'd like a refund for last week's bout, bring your ticket. Funds from un-redeemed tickets will go toward a memorial for Kitten Vicious. More on that later.)

Tell your teammates, neighbors, babysitters, mothers-in-law. Get pumped, and we'll see you Sunday!

Kitten Vicious (1984 - 2010)

Jennifer "Kitten Vicious" Moreland gave the Rocktown Rollers everything she had in the month since she joined the team. Her speed, her sweat and her energy.

She was an enthusiastic, knowlegeable and diligent jammer. She was always full of good ideas (i.e. The Kitten Pounce) and encouraging words for her teammates and earnest Fresh Meat. She did the same for the Blackwater Rollers and the Richmond Derby Demons.

It was a devastating blow to learn that kitten was killed in a car accident on Wednesday morning.

The RTR team and Blackwater ref Starecrow spent much of the day tearfully remembering her cheerful personality and love of team and sport. It helped that we were there together.

It also helped that Kitten's last few days were happy ones, filled with hopeful conversations with good friends and lots of skating. Tuesday's scrimmage practice was amazing; the team says they've never had it so together. That night, Kitten played the Zombies board games at the Artful Dodger.

Another thing that made the day more bearable was the support we received from the wider derby community around the country. Kind words flooded in from Harrisburg, Richmond, Jersey, California, Colorado and beyond.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, everyone. You've proven that derby builds strong families, even without blood relations.

The latest news is that Kitten's wake will be in Lynchburg, VA 6-8:30 p.m. on Saturday, and the funeral will be at 3 p.m. Sunday. (Stay tuned for locations.)

In solidarity with Kitten's family, RTR and the Star City Roller Girls have agreed to postpone this Sunday's bout, perhaps to the following week.