If I poke you what colour do you bleed

Ask any die hard Leaf fan “if I poke you with a needle what colour will you bleed?” They will tell you “Blue all the way.” (I know this cause I work with one and I lived with one for 22 years)

If you asked me, if you poked me with a needle what colour I would bleed. My response would be Red and White (the colours of my home team the Death Track Dolls)




Bout poster from my first derby bout
I had ever seen

 The first real derby bout I ever saw was the 2009 ToRD Semi-finals between the Chicks Ahoy! And the Death Track Dolls. This was before I was even in “Fresh Meat”. A friend and I decided to go after I had decided I wanted to play. So we made our way up to the Hangar at Downsview Park.

The place was packed. And without really knowing what to expect we found ourselves sitting on the floor in the suicide seats.  I can honestly say I knew nothing about either of these two teams. I really didn’t know any of the skaters or the history. I was going into this game knowing nothing! But when I left that is a different story.

It looked obvious that the Chicks were the better team; they had the endurance and the skill to win. By half the Dolls looked tired and were struggling to try and play catch up with the Chicks. People in the stands were getting up to leave; they figured this game was over. But like any avid sports enthusiast my friend and I stuck it out. The Chicks continued to dominate by putting points up on the board and with 10 minutes left in the bout it really did look like the game was over.

Then something happened. What I don’t know but from somewhere deep within the Dolls bench they picked themselves up and quickly began putting points up on the board. The Dolls came within 1 point of upsetting the Chicks lead

It was within that (The TSN turning point as I like to call it) moment I knew I wanted to be a Death Track Doll. Their never say die attitude, the “we are going to do this as a team” motto is what inspired me and drove me to do my best while I went through Fresh Meat and to stand out during the draft processes. I knew I wanted to skate with this group of talented, driven ladies. The ones that may be down but sure as hell not out! They rose to the challenge that was put in front of them. And since then they have done it on a number of occasions.

In 2011 the Dolls once again went to The Beast of the East a tournament held every year by Montreal Roller Derby. The Dolls went in there just hoping to not get eliminated on day one. We kept telling ourselves “let’s make it to Sunday” and with their determination, will power, hard work and tenacity not only did we make it to Sunday but we walked away with the 3^rd place trophy.

I am not being bias okay maybe a little. But there are a lot of teams out there that inspire me and challenge me. I just wanted my first post on a team that inspires me to come from my home team. The team in which I have started this amazing journey with. A team in which really has become more of a family and less of a team.

© 2011 Dan Lim Photography Inc. http://www.danlimphoto.com/

These girls each and every one challenges me, push me and inspire me to be greater and faster. No matter how long or short it maybe (my roller derby career) or where it will take me, I will never forget where my roots came from.

So now I ask you this. If I poke you what colour do you bleed?

What is Derby Turn-Ons



Photo courtesy of © 2011 Dan Lim Photography Inc.

 http://www.danlimphoto.com/



Hey there!

This is SlamWow from Toronto Roller Derby. And I skate for The Death Track Dolls as my home team and just recently joined the Bay Street Bruisers ToRD’s newest addition (Traveling B-Team).

I have been skating with ToRD since I was drafted in February 2010.

I first found out about ToRD and roller derby in September of 2009 when I stumbled across a demo bout being held by ToRD, during the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). They were there promoting the movie "Whip It" at Young and Dundas Square.

I had never seen a roller derby bout. Had no clue what this sport was all about or how it was played. I went home that night and started to do some research and I e-mailed ToRD to find out how to get involved. I was put on a waiting list to get into what they call “Fresh Meat” It’s a course that teaches you how to skate, fall, hit, jump, whip and play derby!

Now for those of you who know me and for those who don’t, I am not a very patient person and I if I want something bad enough I will not give up until I get it. So needless to say I e-mailed ToRD almost every day for a month to see if I was off the waiting list.

Persistence paid off. I got an e-mail to attend a “Meat and Greet” on October 29th, 2009 at what was ToRD’s new home The Hangar at Downsview Park. I didn’t know what to expect when I arrived. There were about 60 or so other girls there. We all sat on the bleachers just waiting.

Still again not knowing what I was going to be getting myself into we were introduced to a few skaters Lucid Lou (who at the time was head of the Fresh Meat Program) Penny Whistler a member of the Zebra Mafia (they are the Refs) and Landshark who was a jammer for the Death Track Dolls. We were also introduced to Kandy Barr founder and owner of RollerBug Skate Corp. (also later I find out she was a founding member of the league).

They each talked to us about the league and what was involved. They told us how big of a commitment this was and if you were serious about this to sign up. Kandy Barr took our foot measurements and hooked us up with our Fresh Meat Packages. (this included skates and all the protective gear we would need)

On November 6th 2009 I strapped roller skates on for the first time and have since then never looked back.

This blog is about people, places, food, drills & exercises that inspire me challenge me and drive me to be the best I can be. One thing I have learned from attending boot camps is this sport will not grow unless we all share our knowledge. And that is what this is for!

So welcome and enjoy!

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