It’s kind of a dreary day and I wanted to ride my bike to work today but the forecast calls for rain all afternoon. Hopefully I can bring it to work tomorrow but until then I want to share a video that has continued to inspire me since I first saw it a few years ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z19zFlPah-o

This is Danny MacAskill doing what’s called trials riding. More often its done in natural environments and on rocky areas but obviously it works in the city. What I didn’t expect after seeing such amazing talent is that even though he is sponsored Danny isn’t pro. Despite the incredible amount of talent and dedication he has he still works a day job as a bicycle mechanic at a shop.

Anyway I just wanted to share this little gem with everyone. Short of a good Kung Fu movie nothing gets me more amped to start moving than this video.

By Colleen Smith

The girls of Memphis Roller Derby headed back to FunQuest for a double header on Saturday, February 13th. The first bout was a match-up between the Memphis Hustlin’ Rollers (MHR) and the Arch Rival Roller Girls of St. Louis, MO (ARRG). Coming off of a loss from the Naptown Tornado Sirens (Indianapolis’ travel team), the Hustlin’ Rollers were ready to put up all they had for a win on the home turf. The bout started off on a level playing field. The MHRs kept up the pace all around in speed, hard hits, and points. At half time, we were within 6 points of the ARRGs. But after half time, St. Louis picked up the pace, and Memphis started racking up the fouls. Toward the end of the bout, ARRG took advantage of our foul trouble and pulled off a couple of power jams. The final score was ARRG 172 and MHR 92. The MVP awards for the two teams went to Enya Nightmare (of ARRG) and Brooken Bones and Lil’ Cinner (a tie for the MHR’s).

The second bout of the night was a pre-season re-match between the Angels of Death (AOD) and the Women of Mass Destruction (WMD). The last time these two home teams met on the track was for the 2009 Championship Bout back in May. Very eager to finally beat the undefeated AODs, the WMDs brought a tough fight to the table. The pre-season bouts between the home teams ensures that the newer skaters (“newbies,” or “fresh meat,” as the veteran roller girls call them) get a chance to experience the game without the final scores counting toward any team records. Both teams had to exclude several “veteran” players to allow this to happen. That being said, there were a lot of fouls and other minor rules broken on both sides, but it was a learning experience for all! The AODs stayed on top for the entire game, but the WMDs were not far behind. The final score was AOD 104, WMD 87. Had there been a few more jams in this bout, the WMDs might have tightened up the gap. But, in the end, the AODs’ desire to keep their undefeated status won the game. All the “newbies” did a fantastic job, and it’s clear that the training and preparation they received has paid off. The MVP awards went to Lady Problems (WMD) and Lena Deadtrick (AOD). Once Memphis Roller Derby gets through these pre-season games, all teams will be allowed to play with full rosters. And then the fight for the Championship will be even fiercer!

Memphis Roller Derby seeks new home in Midtown

By Colleen Smith

For nearly two years, Memphis Roller Derby has practiced and bouted at the “House of Bruise” (the Youth Building at the Mid-South Fairgrounds), and at the end of February, we must say goodbye to it. The City plans to demolish the building sometime in March. We will be returning to our old stomping grounds, FunQuest in Collierville, for our February 13th bout. Midtown, specifically Cooper-Young, has been the ideal location for our league. It’s easily accessible to our league members and our fans and definitely contributed to our success these past two seasons. We will miss the Fairgrounds, we will miss being members of the Cooper-Young Business Association, and we will miss the after-practice hang-outs in Cooper-Young.

There are several promising leads in our re-location. We’ve contacted WellWorx gym, the Naval Base in Millington, and the indoor sportsplex on Willet, just to name a few. The City of Memphis is also trying to do what they can to help us find a new home. Recently, the Center City Commission also took interest in our plight. I am amazed at (and proud of) the effort our league has shown in resolving the dilemma. We are not professional athletes, we are not paid to do this, and yet we run every aspect of the organization by ourselves. We all have jobs and other non-derby priorities, yet somehow manage to search the city, meet with potential property owners/managers, and begin negotiations.

Ideally we would like to stay in Midtown. If anyone knows of an available space, here are some of our requirements:

Our track alone is 88’ x 53’, but we need an additional 10 feet around the perimeter for insurance purposes. That would total about 7,900 square feet. However, we also need room for benches, seating, and merchandise sales so, after factoring all that in, it comes to 12,000-15,000 square feet total. An open expanse building with no support poles is ideal. I can tell you from experience that those are no fun to run into when you get blocked out of bounds during a game! In addition to those requirements, we would need plenty of parking, good bathrooms, a skate-able floor, heat and A/C, and the ability to sell beer.

Thanks Cooper-Young for all the support you’ve shown us! Don’t miss our next bout. I know it’s a chore to leave the Parkways, but head out to Collierville and support your local roller girls! Check out both our website, www.memphisrollerderby.com, and our fan page on Facebook.

Colleen Smith runs Tsunami Restaurant with her husband, Ben Smith. She is a mother of three children, is a papermaker, and skates for two of Memphis Roller Derby’s teams: the Memphis Hustlin’ Rollers and the Angels of Death.