Whips and Whip It

Rink Rash

So another week of derby has come and gone, and I learned lots at this week's practice! We started learning how to do whips, which are some of the coolest derby tricks. Basically, a whip is an assist technique that helps one skater use another skater's momentum to propel her through the pack.

I love whips! When you are the jammer and scrambling to get through the pack, seeing another skater's hand reaching out for you to swing you through and speed you up is awesome! We did tons of them - whips on the inside, whips on the outside - and my body feels every muscle that was involved.

We also did some more light scrimmaging to help us get used to skating in pack formation and recycling. Recycling is another one of those things you have to do in derby. It is a technique that ensures that there are no openings for the opposing team to use to their advantage. Practice was, as usual, fun, exciting and muscle-soring, which was a good thing.

Speaking of derby and a good thing, Whachamakillit and I went to see "Whip It!" Sunday during the Saints game. It was a feel good, coming of age flick that stars Drew Barrymore, Ellen Page and Juliette Lewis. Ellen Page plays Bliss Cavendar, a Texas teenager whose mother forces her into beauty pageants. Of course, she ends up falling in love with roller derby. Who could blame her? There were some great derby action moments in the scenes, although they didn't call any penalties for so>me of the outlandish stunts they pull on the track.  

Of course, seeing a movie is no substitute for checking out the real bout taking place this Saturday, October 10, at UNO's Human Performance Center.  Doors open at 6 pm and tickets are on sale at www.brownpapertickets.com.

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