The Dire Skates Roller Derby Team is about to enter it's 9th season, and well, we want to know if you have what it takes to join our ranks. Me especially. I want to know if you have what it takes. Do you? Do you have what it takes to be A Dire Skater?
Do you have a desire to be a part of a team; to build lifelong friendships; to learn; adjust your inner reflection and skate right out of your comfort zone?
Do you have the desire to be encouraged and supported by a group of women and men that will become like family?
Do you think you could encourage others and fiercely support them? Do you think you're a person that gives up easily, or would you say you're the person that just never quits?
Do you have the desire to get your blood pumping and your heart racing while making yourself proud of YOU? Do you have the desire to meet personal goals regarding your health and fitness? Do you want to learn new skills and be a part of a fast growing and super bad ass sport? I feel like these are pretty easy questions for you to answer about yourself. So do you....have what it takes?
If you answered yes to even one of my questions I hope I see you this upcoming Sunday. You see, so far, you are what I'm looking for in a team mate, and I want to start our relationship on the right foot, with encouragement.
I think you can do it. I'd like to see you believe in yourself and TRY.
I understand your hesitation if you feel you aren't the strongest skater, I really do. I'm starting my 8th season in roller derby and I'm still not the strongest skater, but listen, I believe in myself and I bring other strengths to the table. My strengths? Probably my greatest strength is that I never give up, ever. I'm gonna keep picking myself up and moving forward always, whether on the derby track or right smack dab in the middle of this crazy thing we call life. I may be small, but I'm not one to be overcome. I have been told that I'm boney my whole life, but it's a strength of mine so I embrace it. Remember, I'm not the strongest skater, so I need an arsenal of weaponry. Mine are my bones. I know that sounds silly, but it's truth. My best weapons are my shoulders. They say my bones are made of knives, so I use that ol' shoulder "blade" to my advantage. Hahahaha,see what I did there? But enough about me. What about you? What are your strengths? Think about them for a minute. Shoot, write them down and read them back to yourself. Then make plans to come see me and my team mates and sisters this Sunday for Dire Skates Tryouts. I'll be the goofy one skating around in the silver glitter helmet cracking jokes, talking about the great "poop button", telling my friends they smell bad, and encouraging you to keep trying because if I can do this I KNOW you can too.
Know this about yourself. You can learn anything. You can improve things you put your effort into. You can build yourself into someone you look up to. I mean it, you can. Be your own biggest fan. Do something that is just for YOU. And have pride in that thing. Have pride in yourself.
If you're already pretty accomplished at rolling around on 8 wheels bring yourself, test your mettle. You can skate, but can you skate roller derby? YES! Absolutely you can!
So, if you have skates, get them out of the closet/garage/ attic/ storage unit and dust them off. If you have protective gear like a helmet, knee and elbow pads and wrist guards don't leave them at home, you'll need them. Whether you have all this gear already (somehow magically) you'll need a mouth guard. You can pick one up for a $1 anywhere sporting goods are sold. Bring all this stuff, and your self and be ready. It's gonna be fun. So....much....fun.
The Dire Skates are looking for skaters, those interested in PLAYING roller derby and those interested in REFFING roller derby. Does this description fit you? Do you have a desire to be involved in the sport but you're just not so sure about hitting or being hit while on wheels? If this is you, you're absolutely VITAL to the sport of roller derby. Without referees there would be no roller derby. EVERY team needs refs. You could show up to tryouts on Sunday and make EVERY BODY'S day. Seriously.
As a roller derby team we are obviously looking for skaters, but something you might not know is that we want and need folks who have zero interest in skating but still want to be a part of the team dynamic. Huh? Why? Well, at every single game (or bout) there are jobs that need to be done. Someone needs to keep track of skater penalties;someone else needs to count points; someone needs to watch the clock so on and so forth. There are "jobs" that we need to fill for every home bout of each season. Non-skating officials are essential to the sport. If you have no interest in skating, but you've been to a bout and you just HAVE to be a part of derby I'd like to shake your hand on Sunday. I'm not kidding.
So, what's it gonna be? You going to actually hold up your list of New Year's resolutions and check one off the list, or are you going to keep doubting yourself? This is entirely up to you. I trust you'll make the right decision. Since you will, you're going to need some information.
Team tryouts are on Sunday, January 14th from 4-6pm at the Skate in Richmond. Here.....look at this.
I'm so excited about tryouts and I'm looking forward to meeting you I'm sure you've cleared your schedule and I'll get the pleasure.
Derby love,
DJ Smear-O #1013
