Mountain Derby Girls Roller Derby Blog

Roller derby on the reccession

aliceiswonderland@gmail.com (Alice) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:04:00 +0000

Womens flat track roller derby is completely run and funded by the team players themselves, with a little help from a few local sponsors. The team players do the marketing, advertising, business operations, human resources, game commission, public relations, training, bout production, volunteer coordinator, inter-league relations, events, merchandising, ticket and recruitment.

They play the bouts, pay for their own equipment, travel expenses and health insurance coverage, boutfits/uniforms and pay team dues each month.

The team players do not get paid or kick backs or government funds. Roller derby is not considered a professional sport. The roller derby news network sites and television broadcasts online and local do not receive paid revisions either. Yet they still find a means and the way to keep up the sport they love so well.

While professional sports worry about filling the seats to their huge bowls and stadiums, roller derby has been fortunate to see the increase in ticket sales and sell-out crowds. Gone are the days of $10 ticket prices for professional sports seats, but a roller derby ticket ranges $8-$12, and kids get in free. What a great deal because it still makes family outings to a sporting event a possibility for the public.

The fate of professional sports is in the hands large corporations with deep pockets. Stadiums and ball parks now have "sport suites" to cater to high-end customers, that drive up the prices for all of the fans. The new sports facility boom could take a big hit with some stadiums still sitting on the drawing board. Not to mention sky rocketing concession stand prices. The stadiums have plenty of empty seats which in turn workers are seeing a reduction in their working hours.

Roller Derby plays in arenas and smaller already built sports facilities, warehouses and fairgrounds most of these places allowing fans to bring in their own chairs or blankets. The smaller forums that have opened themselves up to roller derby, have low concession stand prices and allow you to BYOB (bring your own alcoholic beverages in) provided they are not glass. Not to mention this also contributes to the environment by not adding to the extra cans and cups that land fills are already on over load with. Reduce, reuse and recycle. The use of the smaller arenas has brought more working hours for the workers of the smaller venues.

Womens professional sports has been hit, golf in particular the LPGA, had to cancel seven tournaments because of the cancellation of sponsors. The WTA, Tennis world tour has only lost one sponsor and has not canceled any tournaments. Womens Bass Pro Tournaments have been cancelled altogether. Womens professional sports has definetly felt it, reminding us of the days of old and the All American Girls Baseball League in the forties.

Roller derby has the sisters doing it for themselves literally. While professional sports is suffering a loss of income, roller derby does not receive any income. Do they love their sport or what?

With the decline of tournament payouts and the steady costs of all athletes being able to provide their own equipment, we may see the decline of athletes in general that would normally be participating. In return some sports disappearing on the grander scale or a change of the "sports model" as we know it.

Will roller derby be the new demonstration of this? Only time will tell.

The next time your the roller derby teams come out on to the flat track, give them a standing ovation and cheer. Are you already doing that? The next thing you can do is write them letters, drop them an email, if you own a company become a team sponsor and still give the women an extremely long and loud and real proud standing ovation.

Hang in there, we are pulling for you.

By Tina Ranieri
From: www.examiner.com

High Country Hellcats 59 - Atomic Assault 162

aliceiswonderland@gmail.com (Alice) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:32:00 +0000

Thank you to everyone who made it out to our first home bout with the Central California Roller Derby Atomic Assault team !! We really appreciate your support!

Congratulations to Twisted Trixie, MVP Jammer and Sheeda Bomb MVP Pivot!

Check out the listing of our first score on Derby News Network

Remember ladies, if you want to join the league stop by our practices at
High Country Sports Arena on Sundays @4pm or Tuesdays @7pm.

Pictures from the Newspaper Article

aliceiswonderland@gmail.com (Alice) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:32:00 +0000

Roller derby photos by Amy of the Union Democrat

Date: 2/16/2010

Bout Press: Newsmaker of the Day, KVML

aliceiswonderland@gmail.com (Alice) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:25:00 +0000

From: www.mymotherlode.com

February 17, 2010 06:00 am

Mark Truppner, MML Reporter

A new sports team in Tuolumne County will host their first bout this Saturday night.

Sweet Alyce was Thursday's KVML "Newsmaker of the Day".

Sweet Alyce is one of nearly thirty females who are a part of the Mountain Derby Girls - High Country Hellcats ladies roller derby team.

The debut bout this Saturday night, will be against the Central California Derby - Atomic Assault Team.

The evening kicks-off at 6:30 and the night will include bar-b-que tri tip sandwiches, a beer garden and music by local band, Wreckless. The official bout begins at 8pm.

The Halftime show will feature belly dancing by the Raks Arabica belly dancers.

High Country Sports Arena, just off Tuolumne Road in Sonora, is the home for the team. The inaugural season runs through August.

$10 adult tickets are available in advance or $12 at the door. For more information call (209) 588-0776.

More information can also be found at http://www.mountainderbygirls.org

The "Newsmaker of the Day" is heard each weekday morning at 6;47, 7:47 and 8:47am on AM 1450 KVML.

Written by mark@mlode.com

Bout Press: Roller derby on display Saturday

aliceiswonderland@gmail.com (Alice) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:24:00 +0000

From: www.uniondemocrat.com

Written by Allan Mandell, The Union Democrat
February 17, 2010 03:00 am

The High Country Hellcats, a roller derby team made up of women who live in Tuolumne County, will host Atomic Assault on Saturday at the High Country Sports Arena in Sonora.

The bout begins at 8 p.m.

Hellcats head coach, Maria Hines, 45, of Sonora said, “You’ll see a lot of fast-paced skating action, tough girls hitting tough girls, and girls smashing into each other.”

Team performance?

“I wish I could say you’ll see a fine-tuned team from us,” said Hines. “But right now, we’re just a group of women that are putting ourselves out there for our first bout.”

Roller Derby has been around for more than a century and, thanks to television, rose in popularity during the 1970s.

The Derby takes place on an oval track. While the Hellcats have 24 women on their roster (from ages 20-through early-50s), only five per team are on the track at any given time.

Each team has one designated “jammer.” The eight non-jammers (some referred to as “Blockers”) must skate within 20 feet of each other, which causes what they call in derby vernacular a “pack.”

“You score a point on your own jammer’s second pass through the pack,” explains Hellcats’ team organizer Shelly McFarland. “You score one point for each opposing player you pass.”

So each team, by way of its jammer, is always on the offensive.

Of course, neither side wants to give up a point — so both perpetually pay attention to defense, too.

Which leads to ....

“Injuries,” says McFarland. “We’ve had a lot of injuries already.”

Each player must wear a helmet, elbow pads, knee pads, wrist pads, and use a mouth guard.

The Hellcats practice three times a week and will compete in an organized league this year called “Mountain Derby Girls.” The Atomic Assault, made up of players from Fresno, compete in the Central California Roller Derby League.

“I know nothing about the Atomic Assault except they are a brand new team like us,” said Hines.

The strengths of the Hellcats, said Hines, “are that we have some really good jammers that are fast and we have some blockers that are tough as walls.”

Hines has been a figure skater for over 30 years.

So is she ready to compete?

“Am I playing? Are you kidding me? No! I’ll just stand behind them, watch them, coach them, yell at them and be thinking, ‘You girls are crazy...’ ”

Sexy vs Tough: The Battle for Roller Derby's Self Image

aliceiswonderland@gmail.com (Alice) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 01:41:00 +0000

From: http://derbyhelper.blogspot.com

Do you remember what it was like when you were a kid and some mean kid at school was teasing you about your unpierced ears, your lame hair or your unimpressive makeup skills?

This girl sure doesn't.

Whenever that happened, your mom was there to tell you that you were special, all that matters is what is inside of you and you just have to believe in yourself and be happy with who you are. And then your dad came in right behind her explaining how the temple, the jaw and the neck are knockout points, followed by an demonstration of how to throw a punch straight from the shoulder for maximum face-damage potential.

Those dueling approaches to the same problem are very much still at war today within the hearts and minds of the rollergirls of today. On bout day, you're going into a hostile situation and you know a large group of people will be watching you. Your mom's contribution to your brain wants to project confidence and self-esteem to the crowd, which manifests itself by dressing to look sexy. Your dad's contribution to your brain wants to project the image of a warrior to the enemy combatants you are about to face, which manifests it self by dressing to look tough. The result of this internal struggle? Well, see for yourself...

Sexy

In this corner, we have hotpants, false eyelashes, short skirts, cleavage, visible panties, half-shirts and the omnipresent fishnet stockings. We have team names that contain Dolls, Dames, Wenches, Hotties, Bombshells, Vixens, Angels, Belles, Tarts, Hookers, Beauty Queens, Damsels, Harem, and various other deliciously provocative words. There are team photos that look like burlesque companies and individual player photos shot with such fantastic Playboy-esque values that sometimes I feel like *content deleted* inside *content really deleted* a gallon of WD-40 *content super-mega-deleted* with a waffle iron.

Tough

On the flip side, we have black leather, studded belts, camouflage, bandannas, warpaint, chains, skull tattoos, shaved heads, facial piercings and snarling expressions. Team names here contain words like Bombers, Warriors, Assassins, Battalion, Regiment, Brawlers, Razors, Bruisers, Ninjas, Hellcats, Pistols, Killers, Renegades and many other words that describe the average Chuck Norris movie. There are team photos that look like a group you would hire to launch a military coup on a medium-sized South American country and individual player photos that look like they should be a mug shot.

And some that actually ARE a mug shot!

So what does all this mean? Well, there's no real conclusion here, just a general observation that female derby teams and players tend to choose an image that portrays sexiness, toughness or some sort of synergetic hybrid of the two like fishnet-and-camouflage clad Hooker Commandos. If you happen to know any women who are attractive enough to draw a crowd of interested suitors and also tough enough to beat up the crowd of suitors and steal their wallets, we may have just the sport for them!

First Bout Flyer, by Pinkie Lee

aliceiswonderland@gmail.com (Alice) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 01:34:00 +0000

Bout Press: Modesto Bee

aliceiswonderland@gmail.com (Alice) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:53:00 +0000

Sports

Tuesday, Feb. 02, 2010

Camps and clinics registration

ROLLER HOCKEY (ok, you know what they mean...)

SEASON OPENER -- High Country Mountain Derby Girls presents the High Country Hellcats vs. the Atomic Assault of Fresno, Feb. 20 at High Country Sports Arena in Sonora (18960 Waylon Way). Doors open at 6:30 p.m., bout starts at 8 p.m. Tri-tip, beer garden, live music featuring Sonora's Wreckless. Presale tickets are $10 or $12 at the door. Limited VIP tickets are $20. Visit www.mountainderbygirls.org for more information.

Link

Mountain Derby Girls Maiden Voyage - First Bout is February 20th!

aliceiswonderland@gmail.com (Alice) — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 06:32:00 +0000

Press Release

Mountain Derby Girls
2010 Inaugural Roller Derby Season!

Contact: Sweet Alyce

Mountain Derby Girls

                        (209) 588-8161
                        sweetalyce@gmail.com
                        www.MountainDerbyGirls.org

Mountain Derby Girls ~ High Country Hellcats ~
vs
Central California Roller Derby ~ Atomic Assault ~

Who: Mountain Derby Girls (http://www.mountainderbygirls.org) and Fresno’s Central California Roller Derby (http://www.ccaderby.com) roller derby teams.

What: High Country Mountain Derby Girls presents their FIRST HOME BOUT!

When: Saturday February 20, 2010
Doors open and music begins at 6:30. Bout starts 8:00

Tri-tip sandwiches, Beer Garden, and Live Music with Sonora’s own Wreckless (http://www.myspace.com/rockwreckless)

Tickets available at High Country Sports Arena, Jamestown Harley-Davidson, Ed's Place, Togos, Sonora Family Bowl and Loggers Bar in Tuolumne City or purchase them online from Brown Paper Tickets @ the Mountain Derby Girls website http://www.mountainderbygirls.org/tickets). Tickets will also available at the door.

            Cost:   Presale Adult tickets $10
                        At the door tickets $12
                        All children's tickets (5-12) $5
                        Kids 4 and under are free!

Limited VIP tickets are available for $20. Contact Bobbie Miller (Stihl Queen) @ (209) 743-6796 for VIP tickets.
All seating, besides VIP seating, is on a first come, first serve basis.

Where: High Country Sports Arena 18960 Waylon Way in Sonora.

Why: To raise funds for High Country Sports Arena and its newest program, Women’s Flat Track Roller Derby. HCSA is a non-profit organization managed by a volunteer board of directors and run by volunteers in our community, and for the community. Proceeds will go towards buying roller derby league equipment.

Research on a roll

aliceiswonderland@gmail.com (Alice) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:58:00 +0000

From: www.leedsmet.ac.uk

Monday, January 25, 2010

Dr Samantha Holland

A Leeds Met researcher is investigating the newly-revived alternative sport, women's roller derby, which will be published as a book next year.

Roller derby is an American-invented full-contact sport where two all-female teams attempt to pass each other around a flat track at speeds of up to 30mph wearing skates.
It has a long history, particularly in America, and has recently seen an international revival, with teams being self-organised all over the world, including Leeds, Wakefield and Sheffield.

Dr Samantha Holland, Research Fellow at Leeds Met, has begun extensive sociological research into the area of gendered sport, violence and injury by studying roller derby practices and bouts (the term used for a public roller derby match), and interviewing players, both here in the UK and further a field in America and Canada.

Dr Holland commented: "There is currently a lack of sociological work about gendered injury in sport and so I want to find out how women rationalise the very real risk of serious injury, as well as examining issues such as sexualised display; physicality and empowerment; friendships and pleasure. Roller derby offers a space for women to find increased confidence through learning skating skills and forging quite intense friendships within their team. Being a derby player requires a certain amount of fearlessness and aggression not usually associated with women. Yet lots of different women play roller derby, of all ages, sizes and professions."

Dr Holland is currently interviewing local players about their experiences. She says: "The women I am speaking to report that joining a roller derby league was one of, if not the most, enjoyable, challenging and exhilarating things they have ever done - despite some of them recovering from a variety of injuries from a dislocated jaw to a broken leg."

EXCLUSIVE: Shauna Cross Talks About Her Whip It Experience

aliceiswonderland@gmail.com (Alice) — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 07:20:00 +0000

From: www.movieweb.com

January 22nd, 2010

Author Shauna Cross talks about her derby film

Most times, nine times out of 10 I'd say, if a book is optioned by a production company or a studio, a different writer will be brought in to adapt the book into the screenplay. Such wasn't the case with Whip It, which comes out on DVD and Blu-ray on January 26. The film was based off the book Derby Girl by Shauna Cross, who was actually a screenwriter who wrote the book based off her own experiences as a roller derby girl... which she quickly parlayed into a movie deal where she wrote the screenplay. Trust me, that's not something that happens every day, folks. I had the chance to speak with this unique writer about her roller derby days, the film and much more. Here's what she had to say.

Your book Derby Girl is based off your experiences in roller derby. I was curious why you didn't go the non-fiction route with the book instead of doing this fictional novel?

Shauna Cross: Probably because my own, complete, documentary experiences would be a little more boring. I always think its fun to be able to shade and tweak things to your point of view. There's also a great documentary about the revival of the sport, and I wanted more of just one girl's personal story versus a whole documentary that had already been done.

I read that you were basically shopping both the book and the movie around at the same time. How did that whole process work?

Shauna Cross: Yeah. I kind of accidentally went backwards. I started as a screenwriter, writing things here and there in Austin but nothing had been made yet. I just started this as a lark to write a book, just because I kind of had to get it off my chest. I wasn't sure it was going to be a movie or whatever so I just wrote the book for fun. The book sold pretty quickly and the movie sold immediately following that. The pitch sold so I ended up writing the book and the movie sort of simultaneously. It was quite an adventure. It was all derby, all the time.

It's interesting because you hear about people like John Irving with The Cider House Rules, it took him like 13 years to write the screenplay. I was curious of how the process of doing both the book and the movie went for you?

Shauna Cross: My whole thing is I became an accidental novelist. I was more of a frustrated screenwriter who went ass-backwards, basically. I fell off screenwriting and accidentally wrote a novel and the novel really pushed the screenwriting through. I think my secret was just to be a total jack-ass about it (Laughs). It was more like falling upwards. I highly recommend it.

Maybe I'll just start doing that then.

Shauna Cross: Unlike John Irving, I did not have a high-fallootin novelist pedigree career to protect. I was just shooting from the hip.

Did you find with the movie version that you were able to expand the world a lot more?

Shauna Cross: Yeah. I came from movies, and I always knew the cinematic three-act structure. That's always my taste, stories that move fast. The book is definitely more internal and her point of view and her voice. Once I started really working on the movie, it's really about building those characters around her, her teammates. You're writing parts that well-known actors are going to play, so you want to give them a lot to do. That was a new element of it that was really fun and really inspiring.

It must have been just a dream come true to see this cast assemble. You have so many amazing actors that came on board for this. What was it like when this cast started to come together and it started to become a movie?

Shauna Cross: It was surreal and it continues to be surreal. It's an amazing little family. I had always written the movie for Ellen (Page) because I had just seen Hard Candy and then in the meantime Juno happened so it was a weird, lucky thing. Even on top of that, once Juliette Lewis, Kristen Wiig and Drew decided to play a part, it was pretty special. Then there's Daniel Stern, Marcia Gay Harden, Andrew Wilson, the whole oddball, motley crew family that Drew put together, just got more exciting with every step. I think that's actually the hallmark of the film, the cast, because it's just a really great group. Sometimes you hear things about big casts, about how it worked on screen but a person might have been a jerk off screen, everyone was amazing. It was a good little family and it was the real deal.

I was actually at the event at the Doll Factory before the film came out.

Shauna Cross: Oh, cool.

They were talking about all the training that they had to go through for that. Were you hands-on with that, in the training?

Shauna Cross: Honestly, at that point, I kind of handed it off to some other girls in our league. I mean, really, I kind of had all the glory as the writer and I really pushed to get other girls in our league involved as much as possible. And honestly, I didn't want to be responsible for training everyone (Laughs). No, but we got Alex Cohen and Jennifer Barbee, who are L.A. Derby Dolls, they did most of the training and stunts and they were pretty great. Those girls definitely worked hard. Juliette was really funny because she totally lied when they were offering the part. She had no idea how to skate at all, so it was pretty funny.

I actually have some friends back home in Minnesota who are derby girls in a flat-track league and some of them came out here and played in a banked-track tournament and they said it was quite a different experience than the flat track.

Shauna Cross: Did they like it or were they overwhelmed?

I think it was a little bit of both, actually.

Shauna Cross: OK, cool! I love both banked and flat track. We did flat track before we built our track. We had a couple of opportunities to steal some time and skate on an old-school track. I thought I was going to die at first. I love both, but I love that banked track. You can go so fast and it hurts less to fall on that track, it's actually a softer fall. I know it makes a lot of noise, but it's softer than concrete. Concrete hurts. The track sort of bounces a little bit.

OK. Back home it's just concrete with painted lines, but the cool thing you have people just sitting right up against the lines.

Shauna Cross: Yeah, so when you fall you go flying into the audience. That part is great. I will say that I think that flat-track girls are a little bit tougher because falling on concrete hurts a lot more than falling on our track.

Since the movie came out, have you seen the film impact the L.A. derby crowds at all? Is there an increase since the film?

Shauna Cross: Well, L.A. is such a unique city because the community really supports the derby here, the flat-track league and our banked-track league. It always sells out but it's funny because our crowd has gotten a little more Hollywood hipsters, agent-types, so it's funny to see them in the mix at those things. I kind of feel like derby is cool enough without the movie. I think it's great that other people have discovered it or seen it, when they see the movie, they know what they're talking about. It's good for people to actually see it and the sport is so interesting that it's not fake, it's completely real and its set in this world of modern, aggressive girls with this complete camaraderie which is special for people to see.

Is there anything that you can say about If I Stay? I believe that is going into production soon.

Shauna Cross: Yeah. Dakota Fanning is attached and it's sometime this spring or summer. It's a really incredible story - how do I say it - it's an incredible girl's story that has a really intense, dramatic ending. I actually got to adapt someone else's book, this woman Gail Foreman, who wrote a really amazing story and that was a really fun adventure because I buddied up with her right away. It was interesting to adapt someone else's work, having done my own. I felt very empathetic and very protective about her work and I think having done my own, made me a better partner with her. It's been pretty good and hopefully we'll be shooting this year.

Well, I guess that's my time. Thanks so much for your time, Shauna.

Shauna Cross: OK. Thank you.

You can watch the fictional adventures of Ellen Page's Bliss Cavendar, based off the real adventures of Shauna Cross in Whip It when it hits the shelves on DVD and Blu-ray on January 26.

Wasatch Roller Derby will be playing their first charity game for the Utah Parent Center

aliceiswonderland@gmail.com (Alice) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 06:19:00 +0000

From: www.wasatchrollerderby.com/

Date:	Saturday, February 6, 2010
Time:	7:00pm - 8:00pm
Location:	Salt Palace Convention Center
Street:	100 South West Temple
City/Town:	Salt Lake City, UT

Wasatch Roller Derby is proud to present their opening bout for the 2010 season. Roller Derby action will once again be in full swing February 6th at 7pm at the Salt Palace (90 South West Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101). Wasatch Roller Derby will be playing their first charity game for the Utah Parent Center (www.utahparentcenter.org). The half time show will feature Rotten Musicians and the after party will be held at the W Lounge (358 Southwest Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84101) The 2010 season has started for Wasatch Roller Derby!!!

All tickets are general admission: $10 in advance, $12 at the door, children 5 and under are free. Tickets are available at Hoppers (890 Fort Union Boulevard
Midvale, UT 84047), www.wasatchrollerderby.com or at the door the night of the event.

Roller Derby, and the World’s Largest Breast Exam!

aliceiswonderland@gmail.com (Alice) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 06:20:00 +0000

From: www.bilgemunky.com

The Chesapeake Roller Derby is no mere pirate-themed roller derby team – nay lads, it’s a whole flogging pirate-themed LEAGUE! So if you’ve ever wanted to see guy and girl pirates get all garbed up, strap wheels to their feet, and then clobber each other, now’s your chance! Of course, I don’t actually know if that’s what roller derbiers do, but I’ve always assumed so based on movie previews.

Their first event is January 23rd, which will also include an effort to get into the Guiness Book of World Records for “the largest simultaneous self breast exam.” I’m unclear whether that means the largest number of simultaneously examined breasts, or the simultaneous Frpmof the world’s largest breast, but in either case it sounds like a party.

www.chesapeakerollerderby.com

Gloria Nord, roller skating star of the 1940s, '50s, dies at 87

aliceiswonderland@gmail.com (Alice) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:50:00 +0000

By ELAINE WOO - Los Angeles Times

LOS ANGELES --

Gloria Nord, a theatrical skating sensation of the 1940s and '50s who captivated audiences with her balletic agility on roller skates and later on ice, died Dec. 30 in Mission Viejo, Calif. She was 87.

Nord had been in declining health in recent months from a series of ailments, said her nephew Jerry Nordskog.

Called the Sonja Henie of roller skating, Nord first came to prominence in the early 1940s as the star of a roller revue called "Skating Vanities." She toured the country with the show's 100-skater troupe, jumping, waltzing, fox-trotting and tangoing across the stage
with wheels on her feet.

Her prowess earned her a roller-skating number in the 1944 Betty Grable movie "Pin Up Girl," which made the petite, curvaceous Nord a real pin-up popular with American GIs in World War II.

In the 1950s, Nord hung up her wheels to perform in ice-skating productions at London's Wembley Arena. She quickly became a favorite of English audiences and in 1953 gave a command performance before Queen Elizabeth II.

"She had such charisma on stage. You just knew you were in the presence of a star each time she came out," said former Holiday on Ice dancer Roy Blakey, who knew Nord and saw her perform many times. "All of her moves were based on dance. She had beautiful arm movements and high extensions ... when she would do the spiral, skating on one leg with the other in the air. She did beautiful split jumps. Everything was very graceful and elegant."

The youngest of five children, Nord was born Aug. 2, 1922, in Santa Monica and grew up there and in Hollywood. Her father, Andrae B. Nordskog, was a pioneer of the music recording business who brought some of the first concerts to the Hollywood Bowl.

Nord studied ballet as a child but enjoyed skating as a hobby. When she was in her early teens, her brother, Bob, made her a pair of roller skates, which she tried out at Sid Grauman's Hollywood Rollerbowl. Grauman cast her in an intermission show, and soon she was performing in exhibitions around the country sponsored by the magazine Skating Review.

According to Blakey, who runs a skating archive in Minneapolis, boxing promoter Harold Steinman caught one of Nord's performances in Chicago in 1938 and, inspired by three-time Olympic champion Henie's skating films and lavish touring ice shows, came up with the idea for a roller-skating extravaganza.

The result was "Skating Vanities," which opened in 1942 with Nord as the star. It played at major venues across the country, from New York's Madison Square Garden to Los Angeles' Pan Pacific Auditorium, and eventually in Europe.

Nord talked Steinman into dropping the show's original name, "Roller Follies," because she thought it misled the public into thinking they were paying to see a roller derby, the contact sport featuring roughhousing skaters jamming around a track. "The derby is terrible," she told the Saturday Evening Post in 1988.

The popularity of roller derby may have helped nudge Nord into ice skating in the early 1950s, when British sports promoter Sir Arthur Elvin made her an ice show star at his Wembley Arena. She performed regularly in England until 1958, followed by a short period in Australia, where she skated in "Ecstasy on Ice" and "Robinson Crusoe on Ice." She gave her last performances in the early 1960s in Los Angeles, Blakey said.

Her daring leaps and splits took a toll, as did her occasional falls, "particularly when they tossed me from one boy skater to another and the guy missed the catch," she told The Orange County Register in 1993. "I had a marvelous life, but I could hardly walk after skating a show." She retired to Orange County, Calif., and eventually had both hips replaced.

Twice married and divorced, Nord had no children. She is survived by two nieces, Carla Wales and Dorice Mabus, and two nephews, Jerry Nordskog and Brian Whiteside.

Photo: Gloria Nord (Left) and Sheila Hamilton playing Cinderella and Prince Charming on the ice at Empire Pool Wembley. Dec 1956. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)

Fort Wayne Derby Girls adopt family for holiday season

aliceiswonderland@gmail.com (Alice) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 04:07:00 +0000

FORT WAYNE—The charity-driven Fort Wayne Derby Girls have adopted a family this holiday season. In keeping with its philanthropic nature, the roller derby league has been collecting toys, clothing, boots and gift cards for the Hershman family of Columbia City. Two representatives from the league, Tonya Hamman and Jodie Chambers, delivered more than 40 gifts, including a washing machine, to the family on Dec. 23, just in time for the holiday.

When presented with the offer to be adopted by the league, Jeni Hershman said, “We are so grateful that you want to help our family. A few years back, we were able to do the same thing for a family, but to be on the other side is very humbling and hard to accept.”

Dave and Jeni Hershman have been married for 10 years and they have five kids: Alyssa, 15; Brandon, nine; Jayden, eight; Caleb, four; and Colton, deceased. Earlier this year Jeni was admitted to Parkview Hospital due to complications with her pregnancy. After a long hospital stay, she began battling an infection and doctors informed the family that there was nothing they could do to save the baby. The week of Thanksgiving, Jeni gave birth to Colton, who lived for only three hours. During Jeni’s hospital stay, Dave took time off of work to care for the kids, which has put a financial strain on the family.

Hamman, who headed up the effort to collect items for the family, said “Working as a team, on and off the track, we can make a real difference in our community.”

Fort Wayne is at the pinnacle of Indiana’s roller derby resurgence. Since October 2005, the Fort Wayne Derby Girls, a non-profit, volunteer-run organization, has raised $41,000 for local women’s and children’s charities. Now in its fifth season and second at the Coliseum, the league continues to support local charities.

For more information, contact Amber Recker, Public Relations Committee, Fort Wayne Derby Girls, at amber.recker@gmail.com or (260) 312-7343. www.fwderbygirls.com.

San Diego Derby Dolls Deliver over 200 toys to Rady’s Children’s Hospital

aliceiswonderland@gmail.com (Alice) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 01:12:00 +0000

From: www.missiontimescourier.com

On Wednesday, Dec. 23 at 4pm the San Diego Derby Dolls, in team uniform and on roller skates, will meet Rady’s Children’s Hospital nurses and management at the fountain in front of the hospital to deliver over 200 toys that SDDD collected during their Rady’s Children’s Hospital Toy Drive.

SDDD’s Dixie Ammunition explains that SDDD “has hundreds of fans and people that help us out, and we can’t just take all that and keep it all for ourselves. The community gives to us, so we decided to turn around and give right back to them.”

Toy bins were filled by SDDD skaters at team practices and by SDDD fans at a Nov. 21 and a Dec. 12 game at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The donated toys will be delivered to individual children as Christmas presents, as well as placed in the hospital game room where they will be taken advantage of all year long.

According to their website, Rady’s Children Hospital is “dedicated to excellence in care: the latest technology, the best equipment, the most progressive research and the finest teaching. We seek to rise above all expectations - because we believe that the life of every child is precious.”

For Rady’s to achieve their goal they rely on the support of donors and volunteers, and have for over 50 years.

Dixie says that “SDDD is proud to now be one of their many support systems and we look forward to a continued relationship in the future.”

There is already a tentative event scheduled at the hospital in the spring where SDDD will skate for the children at the hospital, giving them their own private show and an opportunity to be up close and personal with the team skaters.

About the San Diego Derby Dolls

SDDD was founded in 2005 upon the attributes of athleticism, integrity and respect. SDDD is proud to be San Diego’s premier roller derby league, as well as America's Finest Roller Derby league, being the nations first and only hybrid league of both banked track (the inclined surface) and flat track (on the ground) roller derby. The team fights for dominance across the state and nation.

While their uniforms may be stylish and their names are playful, do not be fooled by their appearances: SDDD members are athletes that play competitive and full contact roller derby for your viewing pleasure. Roller derby combines the hard hits of football and hockey with the speed and excitement of basketball and soccer. Unlike the 70’s era roller derby, this is unscripted and 100% real. No one can write this kind of action.

Article written by Kali Katt aka Nichole Gochmanosky, Communications Director ~ San Diego Derby Dolls

The Derby Wife Phenomenon

aliceiswonderland@gmail.com (Alice) — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 21:28:00 +0000

From: Starry Starry Fight #88 @ http://flattrack.blogspot.com

Nov. 28, 2009

I cannot count the number of times I have heard women say that they cannot have lasting female friendships. Sometimes, my very own own friends claim that female friendships are catty and superficial (ouch!) Other times, some of my most vocal female students argue that friendships between two women are doomed because women are just too competitive.

After hearing the endless claims that women cannot have meaningful friendships, I was perplexed when, two years ago, I found myself surrounded by roller derby women who had very intense friendships with each other and who were not afraid to admit it. Almost every girl involved with the league had formed a close friendship with another skater, and they kept referring to one another as "derby wives." Apparently, the derby wife trend is something that happens in leagues all around the nation.

After a little research, the best definition for a derby wife I have read is the girl who "reminds you of all the things you ever liked in anyone else." Your derby wife is the girl who will always talk to you about anything both on and off the track. Your derby wife is your competitor, but she still appreciates your talents and skills. And your derby wife never judges you, even when you get drunk and fall off of a bar stool while laughing maniacally (true story!).

I guess what surprises me most about the derby wife phenomenon taking place is how vocal we are about our the relationships we have formed with these partners. Instead of claiming that friendship is impossible, we openly claim that we cannot live without each other. We recognize that a blend of competitiveness and rivalry actually helps to cultivate the relationships we have with these women. There is even a book being published about derby wives called Derby Wives: Skate and Scandal by Dale. H. West (more on that book later, but the title alone makes me very skeptical and leads me to believe we are going to read yet another book about hot women sabotaging each other)....

Anyways, we have taken this word (which started off as a term meaning "whore" and since then has taken on so many heterosexual and capitalist connotations) and made it our own. This new language gives all of us a fresh way to think about the possibilities of female friendship and marriage.

P.S. Let it be known that I am a derby polygamist. I have 4 (four!) derby wives and am proud of it. I cannot live with out my Rioter's Block from BAD, Enya Nightmare and Danikka Doom from ARRG, and Sarah who has started as the best fan in the world but is gonna be a force on the track one day! Derby wives are so awesome that I cannot settle for just one and really, I shouldn't have to.

Posted by Starry Starry Fight #88

The Ettes Tour Diary: "...strong support of roller derby"

aliceiswonderland@gmail.com (Alice) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 18:15:00 +0000

From: www.magnetmagazine.com

...

Madison, Wisc., October 4
We haul ass from New York to Wisconsin to catch up with the tour with Juliette Lewis and American Bang, and it is fun to be on the road again. By this point, we are officially zombies, which just adds to that lawless feeling you get when you’re on the road, playing rock ‘n’ roll music. So we are quite giddy, actually. The Madison roller girls come out to the show: the Reservoir Dolls, if you want to look them up. The Ettes are in such strong support of roller derby, and Poni and I would rock that shiz so hardcore if we weren’t always on the road. Not that we don’t roller skate and hit each other. Poni says her roller-derby name is Helen Of Destroy. I think I’d still be Coco Motion. Git, git, git gone. I’m fuckin’ fast on skates.
...

Los Angeles, September 29
We’re in Los Angeles for the premiere of Whip It, the lovely and talented Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut featuring Ellen Page, Zoe Bell and Juliette Lewis, among others. It is really fun. The premiere is held at Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood. I dress up like a roller-derby referee (total fashion-fart coincidence, I just choke when there’s a red carpet involved), and the movie is great! The after-party is a star-studded affair (Judd Apatow! Ed Norton! Steven Spielberg!), and I make only a moderate ass of myself running up to Andrew Wilson to say how much I like him. And he is really nice and says, “You’re not from around here, are you?” because I have a Southern accent, and the smartest thing I can come up with? “I’m from space!!” and grabbing Poni’s arm and running away. Smooooooth.

I go back to the hotel, but Poni takes a taxi to her friend’s house and notices the meter is at $50. Poni is from Queens. She says, “No, sir, I don’t think that’s correct.” It starts that simply. It ends with her getting thrown up against the wall and her purse being stolen. By the cab driver. We know where you park your car, middle-aged Armenian cab-driver man on the east side of Los Angeles. It is a matter of time before we return, stake you out and fuck you up.

To cosmically make up for that, the next morning we get word that we are to perform on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon on Friday, so we fly back to Orlando, get our van down from the repair rafters and drive straight up to New York City!

...

Mountain Derby Girls First Scrimmage @ High Country Sports Arena - Nov 22

aliceiswonderland@gmail.com (Alice) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:04:00 +0000

The Mountain Derby Girls would like to thank all the SiNtral Valley Derby Girls and the Port City Roller Girls for coming up to Sonora for our first scrimmage. We appreciate all the assistance that you've given us, thank you!

Also, thank you to all of our friends and families who came out to cheer and support us. Great fun and a great scrimmage which ended in an (unofficial) tie score of 94-94!

Here's a video of the Last Woman Standing at the end of the scrimmage

"Roller derby and MBA? No way!" Nice article about BTrain and Suzy Strychnine from Wicked Skatewear/OC Roller Girls

aliceiswonderland@gmail.com (Alice) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:51:00 +0000

[Article from Jan Norman @ http://jan.freedomblogging.com OC Register interesting comments.]

November 14th, 209, 12:00 pm
7 Comments · posted by Jan Norman, small-business columnist

Here’s a combination you don’t find every day: MBA student and roller derby skater.

Suzy Dancisin, left, and Bethany Semeiks

That’s Bethany Semeiks who skates under the name “B-Train” for the Orange County Roller Girls and who expects to complete her masters at UCI in the spring.

She and Suzy “Strychnine” Dancisin own Wicked Skatewear in Costa Mesa. The company supplies clothing and accessories for — you guessed it - roller derby skaters. They team up with Iron Doll Clothing to provide custom uniforms for entire teams.

In fact she has used the business for some of her MBA work. Semeiks gives new meaning to the phrase “skating through college.”

“There are six people in my small group,” Semeiks says. “They actually present the project to me as the business owner, which is cute.”

With Wicked Skatewear and their membership on roller derby teams, the pair are doing what they love with both their leisure and work time.

Apparently a growing number of derby skaters are doing the same. The web site Derby Owned lists businesses from graphic design to promotional products that are owned by “derby girls.”

Semeiks is in Philadelphia this weekend for the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association’s National Championships, not as a competitor but a vendor. She said in a phone interview she is seeing more competition in this niche market “but competition makes me stronger, it makes me think strategically.”

Wicked Skatewear sets itself apart from other uniform and gear suppliers by sponsoring women’s amateur roller derby leagues. It sponsors 175 of the 300 (and growing) leagues and ships products all over the world. Here’s a sampling of the product line (click on an image for a larger view):

“These leagues are growing because there’s not much for women after college whee they can work their corporate life by day and be who they really are on the track on weekends,” Semeiks says.

Semeiks and Dancisin get along well in business even though they smack each other around on the track.

“We hit each other for fun,” Semeiks says. In business, “I handle sales and marketing and Suzy is vendor relations, accounting and finance. I don’t know how I’d do without her.”

Both are 29 and figure they can skate until they’re 40. “the business will continue regardless of whether we skate,” Semeiks adds.

They’re all ready thinking about moving into uniforms and accessories for other sports under the Wicked brand.

Declaration of Derby - WFTDA National Finals Weekend!

aliceiswonderland@gmail.com (Alice) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:37:00 +0000

Download the Hi-Res TV Spot!

With the 2009 Regional Tournaments out of the way, we now know the seedings for the Declaration Of Derby! The teams are listed below, along with their division and rank. The particulars of the event schedule such as bout times and intermission details will be announced shortly.

^{Click bracket graphic above to enlarge}

Day 1 starts at 2PM and features four bouts: ^{[Buy Tickets!]}

2:00 Doors Open
2:30 Opening Ceremonies
3:30 - 4:45 Black Game 1 (Madison/NC2 vs. Boston/E3)
4:45 - 5:15 Jon Goff (AKA Eddie Spaghetti)
5:15 - 6:30 Black Game 2 (Rocky Mountain/W2 vs. Houston/SC3)
6:30 - 7:00 Gregg Gethard
7:00 - 8:15 Pink Game 1 (Kansas City/SC2 vs. Denver/W3)
8:15 - 8:45 Brendan Kennedy
8:45 - 10:15 Pink Game 2 (Gotham Girls/E2 vs. Detroit/NC3)

Day 2 starts at 9AM and features six bouts: ^{[Buy Tickets!]}

9:00 Doors Open
10:00 - 11:45 Black Game 3 (Texas/SC1 vs. Black Game 1 winner)
11:45 - 1:00 Black Game 4 (Philly/E1 vs. Black Game 2 winner)
1:00 - 1:30 Joey Dougherty
1:30 - 2:45 Pink Game 3 (Windy City/NC1 vs. Pink Game 1 winner)
2:45 - 3:15 Wizards On Wheels
3:15 - 4:30 Pink Game 4 (Oly/W1 vs. Pink Game 2 winner)
4:30 - 6:00 Dinner Break - Sony Air Guitar & AC/DC Name That Tune!
6:00 - 7:15 Black Game 5 (Black Game 3 winner vs. Black Game 4 winner)
7:15 - 7:45 Doogie Horner
7:45 - 9:15 Pink Game 5 (Pink Game 3 winner vs. Pink Game 4 winner)

Day 3 starts at 12 noon and features the Championship and Runner-Up Bouts: ^{[Buy Tickets!]}

12:00 Doors Open
12:30 - 1:30 Championship Bouts Ceremony, Philadelphia Suns
1:30 - 2:45 Green Game 1 (Pink Game 5 loser vs. Black Game 5 loser) to determine 3rd and 4th place
2:45 - 4:00 WFTDA Speeches, LaSalle Step Team, Meredith Choral/Dance
4:00 - 5:30 Green Game 2 (Pink Game 5 winner vs. Black Game 5 winner) to determine National Champion and 2nd place!
5:30 - 6:00 Awards Ceremony

Last Updated on Thursday, 05 November 2009

Examiner Bio Sacramento rivals to face off for the first time

aliceiswonderland@gmail.com (Alice) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:28:00 +0000

www.examiner.com

When the New York Yankees play the Mets, they call it "The Subway Series." Similarly, when the Oakland A's match up against the San Francisco Giants, it's nicknamed "The Bay Bridge Series." So what do we call a roller derby bout against two teams in Sacramento? Perhaps "The State Capital Series?"

On Saturday November 7th, two longtime cross-town rivals will meet for an official bout for the first time since both leagues were founded in 2006. The Sacred City Derby Girls will be playing the Sac City Rollers at Sac's home rink, Foothill Skate Inn. Sacred will be sending their secondary travel team, The Disciples, and Sac will be playing their secondary team, the Folsom Prison Bruisers. Though the two teams have competed simultaneously in tournaments around the state, they have yet to meet head to head until this weekend.

The Folsom City Bruisers are fresh off a close victory (118 - 114) against the Harbor Hellcats of the Santa Cruz Derby Girls just two weeks ago. The Disciples will be looking for a win as they recently lost their two last bouts against CarnEvil of the Jet City Roller Girls (109 - 55) and against the Rocket Queens of the Angel City Derby Girls (73 - 60). However, earlier in the season they notched wins against the Silicon Valley Roller Girls secondary team, the Killabytes (148 - 44), and against the Battle Born Derby Demons (121 - 52).

The Disciples are fielding just thirteen skaters but will be bench-coached by the experienced veteran skaters Cash Money and Daddy's Girl. Sacred is looking to be a serious threat with their jammer line-up consisting of rookie phenom The 4 Closer, recent Port City transfer Razor Grrl, and team captain Pink Devil.

The Bruisers are sporting some new faces to their team as they acquired a transfer from the Ventura County Derby Darlins', Dr. Gyn O'Might and new skaters Ima MASHeen and Madame Chaos who just joined the team in August. The Bruisers roster also includes longtime member, Regulator, who will lead the team with her years of experience as a blocker.

It has been rumored for years that the relationship between these two Sacramento teams is less than friendly. Sacred City was founded when some Sac City Rollers grew frustrated with the team management and split to create their own league. Over the years, they've socialized and occasionally participated in events together. As time is apt to do, hard feelings have slowly given way to a derby sisterhood and friendship. Regardless of who wins this bout, it is nice to see these two teams finally come together and their collective Sacramento fans will surely be pleased to see more events between these two teams in
the future.

Tickets for this bout are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Children under 6 years old get in for free and kids from ages 7 - 12 get in for half price at the door. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit the Sac City Rollers website.

Disciples Roster: Aly Sylum / Atilla the Honey / Boom Boom Booty / Cha Cha Picante / DefVon1 / Hook N Sink Her / Judy Jettison / La Locahontas / Pink Devil / Razor Grrl / Starr Scandalous / The 4 Closer / Vicious Token

Folsom Prison Bruisers Roster: Aleithal Weapon / BiPolar Roller / Boob-A-Licious / Dr. Gyn O'Might / Ima MASHeen / Ivory Bones / Lipstick Librarian / Madame Chaos / No Holds Barb / Pity da Foo / Regulator / Sha-Naughty / Tiny Bubbles / Tripping Billie

Roller Derby on Oprah today, need I say more?

aliceiswonderland@gmail.com (Alice) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:59:00 +0000

Roller Derby Divas Video

Ali Wentworth and four perfect strangers are banding together to step out of their boxes. Watch as Ali's Daredevils take on the L.A. Derby Dolls in a fierce roller derby competition.

Roller Derby Wedding

aliceiswonderland@gmail.com (Alice) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 05:48:00 +0000

From: www.wjhg.com
A couple got married on wheels Saturday. Spencer and Kristina Brannon said their "I Do's" on skates at Rock It lanes in Panama City Beach.
Something old, something new. Add some wheels and you'll have a roller derby wedding too.
"We met in roller derby. He's a referee and I became a skater," Kristina Brannon, the newlywed skater said.
"We met on skates and when we go out skating is always a part of that," Spencer Brannon, the newlywed skater said.
Usually a bride's wedding day is the happiest day of her life. Add skates and it's even sweeter.
Saturday, Spencer and Kristina Brannon said their " I do's" on skates at Rockit Lanes in Panama City Beach. Kristina's coach officiated the wedding.
And it wouldn't be a roller derby wedding without a few falls.
Friends and family members shared the experience.
"Is this what you imagined for your daughter to get married? Not until the last year or so," Cathy Rynearson, the mother of the bride said.
"It's different but its fun. You know they told us to dress up so I did," Queen Ester Pryor, a roller derby skater said.
"The two rolled into each others lives over a year ago and they knew there was no end in sight. After the wedding, Spencer and Kristina shared their first skate together as husband and wife.
"She roller skated into my life and I didn't want to let her roll on by," Spencer said.
And they hope their rolle

From: www.wjhg.com
A couple got married on wheels Saturday. Spencer and Kristina Brannon said their "I Do's" on skates at Rock It lanes in Panama City Beach.
Something old, something new. Add some wheels and you'll have a roller derby wedding too.
"We met in roller derby. He's a referee and I became a skater," Kristina Brannon, the newlywed skater said.
"We met on skates and when we go out skating is always a part of that," Spencer Brannon, the newlywed skater said.
Usually a bride's wedding day is the happiest day of her life. Add skates and it's even sweeter.
Saturday, Spencer and Kristina Brannon said their " I do's" on skates at Rockit Lanes in Panama City Beach. Kristina's coach officiated the wedding.
And it wouldn't be a roller derby wedding without a few falls.
Friends and family members shared the experience.
"Is this what you imagined for your daughter to get married? Not until the last year or so," Cathy Rynearson, the mother of the bride said.
"It's different but its fun. You know they told us to dress up so I did," Queen Ester Pryor, a roller derby skater said.
"The two rolled into each others lives over a year ago and they knew there was no end in sight. After the wedding, Spencer and Kristina shared their first skate together as husband and wife.
"She roller skated into my life and I didn't want to let her roll on by," Spencer said.
And they hope their roller derby wedding will inspire others to take the plunge on eight wheels. They tell us skates will be involved during their honeymoon.

r derby wedding will inspire others to take the plunge on eight wheels. They tell us skates will be involved during their honeymoon.

Quad Skate Maintenance

aliceiswonderland@gmail.com (Alice) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:51:00 +0000

From: www.rollerderbydepot.com

The lifespan of a skate is based on its frequency of use, and the materials from which it is made. However, preventive skate maintenance can ensure that each part of a skate functions for a long period of time, and also functions correctly. During this brief, we will identify each part of a roller skate in detail, and discuss certain problems and occurrences to look for. We will also cover proper ways to clean and/or oil parts of roller skates.

One thing to keep in mind is that roller skates are mechanical, with moving parts that cause friction and heat. These elements are a large part in basic breakdown of the skate parts. Most maintenance and repair in the skate involves the plate/truck system, and the wheels/bearings.

Wheels
Most wheels are made of urethane compounds, which demonstrate properties similar to rubber compounds. Basic wheel maintenance starts with keeping wheels clean. Simple soap, water, and an abrasive cloth is all that ’s needed to keep wheels looking like new. It is important NOT to use any alcohol based solovents to clean your wheels. For indoor wheels with a grooved texture, it is possible to have the wheels re-grooved with a special machine that “shaves” off worn down layers to leave new traction grooves. Check with a local roller skate rink or shop for wheel grooving. Finally, the easiest way to keep wheels natural is by rotating them after extended usage. Wheels on the inner side of the skate tend to wear faster than wheels on the outer side of the skate.

Bearings
All bearings sold today are considered precision bearings, which means they are shielded and sealed to protect the bearings from dirt build-up. Some precision bearings are filled with grease in the openings to dissipate heat with wheel movement. Precision bearings should be removed from the wheel in order to be cleaned. Then the bearings can be immersed in a solvent (alcohol) and agitated to loosen dirt build up. It is possible to remove the shields and clean the inside of the bearings, however bearing damage can easily happen when removing shields.

Truck Assembly
The truck assembly is the part of the skate that is subject to the most torque action. This also requires the truck assembly to be the most stable part of the skate. The action cushions (bushings) are the primary working parts of a truck. Because of their functions, cushions are made of rubber or urethane. As skates are used, cushions will crack and split. It is important to be aware of the conditions of all cushions, as they may need replaced frequently. Another common maintenance issue with truck systems are bent axles. As weight and torque is distributed throughout the skate, the axles can bend as well, causing wheels to roll irregularly. Bent axles must be hammered out of the truck system carefully, so as to not damage the truck.

Plates
The plates basically serve to functions, to connect the skate parts to the boot, and to evenly distribute support for the front and rear truck systems. Most plates are made of aluminum (heavy and durable), or nylon/plastic (lightweight and compact). Regardless of the makeup of the plate, the hardest working part of the plate is the toe stop. Depending on how it is used, toe stops tend to wear faster than any part of the skate. Most toe stops can be rotated to even the usage, however it is recommended that toe stops be replaced to ensure they are used correctly.

Boots
A boot consists of outsoles, midsoles, and insoles, uppers (main boot body), boot linings, tongues, and tongue linings and paddings. The main function of the boot is to provide support and comfort to the foot, as well as protect the foot. Boots are made of leather or vinyl (synthetic) materials. Leather is the best material for boots because of its durability, and it also stretches to form to the foot for comfort. The process of forming this leather to the foot is “breaking in”, which is achieved through natural use of the boot.