So, I’ve been totally slack with this blog for months now. I’ve posted the occasional flyer or video or, more often, reposted other cool derby-related blog posts. Suppose I could bring out all the usual excuses of having no time, etc, etc. I won’t though; excuses suck.

I played in my first proper bout last month. Pretty pissed that I didn’t document it in words. There’s a video though. Being my first bout (in front of 3,000 people no less!) meant it passed in quite a blur. I don’t feel I did much. That’s not me being down on myself, after all I took down their jammer, formed some good walls, worked well with my partner, so I did ok. I didn’t get the chance to jam, that’s ok too, I don’t think I’m fast enough or agile enough yet to be a jammer.

On the jammer topic - I’ve been jammer in scrimmage, even lead jammer on quite a few occasions. However we all know scrimmage and bout are two totally different scenarios. I aspire to be a jammer in a bout, when I get my stepping sorted (and I’m working on that, trust me!). I’m a good positional blocker, I have great awareness and communication, so I’m using my strengths as much as I can and concentrating on fixing the things I need to - getting lower, hitting harder, becoming more agile.

Anyway, after the exhilaration of my first bout I experienced a massive derby low a few weeks later. Some call it the meh, the inspirational Bonnie D.Stroir calls it having DMI (a derby mental injury). Without going in to all the boring details, I basically got upset that I didn’t make the cut for the A grade team. Part of my frustration was a lack of feedback and communication within our team, but as I said I’m not going in to the details of that here - it wouldn’t be appropriate, and they’re being resolved now, which is all that matters.

My point is, I believe I’ve come through the other side. I’m now looking forward to my next reserve grade bout (next Saturday - check it out!), and I’m working on my internal locus of control. I may not be the youngest skater, or the fastest skater, or the most agile skater, but I’m going to be the best skater I can be.

Constant and never-ending improvement is mine! Oh yes, it’s mine.