By: uDDer Chaos

Brick Wallace, Beginner Speed Coach

Sick Town Derby Dames recently expanded its practice schedule to include two weekly Speed Skate Sessions. One for beginners on Friday nights from 5:30 -7:30 taught by Brick Wallace and intermediate/advanced sessions taught by Eric Ohling, Sundays 3:30-5:30.

To be honest when I first heard about this, as a beginning skater, I felt a little intimidated. After all I am just barely able to do 25 laps in 5 minutes without falling. I knew nothing about speed skating beyond what I have seen on television. But I did want to go fast.

It turns out Speed Skate Practice offers so much more than speed to aspiring derby dames and team members. Yes, learning to go fast is part of it but what does that actually mean?

According to the speed skate trainer Brick Wallace, “Speed skating is about getting the foot work of skating down better, it makes skating so much more efficient.” She says, “Speed skating helps skaters be more stable on their skates, learn not to kick back (we call it horse kicking), and be able to spend derby practice learning derby rather than trying to figure out where their feet should be placed.”

During the practices I attended we primarily focused on “skating the track,” crossovers, circle exercises, using your body appropriately, and endurance.

Brick also introduced us to outdoor skating skills on the OSU and 53^rd street bike path. This was a great training exercise for league bonding, stability, strength, and endurance. Not to mention a convenient, weather permitting, practice option.

I asked Brick why she liked teaching speed skating and she said, “I want to learn to skate for speed. I can’t do derby anymore because a while back I concussed and then went into a bout too soon and re-concussed. I tried to ignore it for years and it became worse and worse until I just couldn’t deny any longer that I had already done too much permanent damage to myself. I miss competing so much! I miss how hard competition makes me work on my physical conditioning. I would love to compete in speed someday.”

Eric Ohling, Intermediate/Advanced Speed Coach

Her motivation to expand herself as a skater definitely comes across in her training at the speed skate sessions. She pushes us really hard and gives a lot of very helpful feedback.

The long-term vision for speed skating is to have a nationally competing speed team in the mid-valley, pulling skaters from the derby leagues and the community.

Many people in their 40’s would love to skate for speed, but are not really interested in starting a full contact sport like derby (not to say there is anything at all wrong with starting derby in your 40′s or later, people do it all the time; it’s just not for everyone).

Personally, I love Friday Speed Skate Sessions. It is a great outlet at the end of the long work week to release all of my mental and physical tension. It also allows me the time and instruction needed to improve my skating for derby without having to think about 100 other skills at the same time.

Sometimes skaters from the Candy Stripers join us. It really motivates you to do better when a 14-year-old girl can lap circles around you without breaking a sweat. Speed is awesome!

If you’re interested in joining our speed skating sessions, please visit Facebook and search for our group, Valley Speed at the CDC.

Volunteer of the Month:
Jim “MacGroovy” Magruder
Interview by Meat Candy # 72

MacGroovy has spent the last year making Sick Town look good either
through his photographs or with his mad cage dancing skills. Sick Town
would like to thank MacGroovy for the time and energy he dedicates to our
league.

MC: Tell me about the first time you have heard about Sick Town and what was
your first impression.

JM: Anne and I were at Calapooia Brewery one night, and I noticed a Sick Town
flier on the bar. I remembered TV roller derby from the ’60s and told Anne,
“We’re always looking for something new and fun to do. Let’s go check it
out.” The bout was not today’s usual family friendly event; the announcer
did bumps and grinds in the middle of the track to entertain the audience.
However, the skating was exciting, and I thought it was ready made for a
coffee table photo book.

MC:. You’re planning on writing a book about the league! How it that going?
JM: I’ve spent a year learning to photograph derby, studying the sport and
getting to know Sick Town members. Now, I’ve distributed a questionnaire to
begin gathering information from individual members about their view of
derby. I’ll also be doing in-depth interviews of a cross section of the
membership. I hope by fall to begin planning and writing the book. I’ll
probably produce it as both an e-book and a conventional print version.
MC: What would it have been like to be a fly on the wall when you first
approached Sick Town?

JM:. It would have been a lot like it is now as I’m around bouts, meetings and
events. Most members have become used to me and speak freely when I’m
around. I’m pretty used to women because I have a sister, a daughter and a
wife. However, Sick Town folks still contribute to my on-going education
every once in a while. It’s fun to continue learning. LOL

MC:. You’ve kind of become steeped in Sick Town. You even have your own
Derby name! How is this different from any other projects that you’ve worked on
in the past?

JM: As a newspaper reporter, I always worked at being objective and detached
from the people I was writing about. That isn’t possible this time. I
realized after a few months that I have caught the Sickness and that this
book is coming from my heart, rather than my head. What I want to do now is
to tell outsiders about the amazing people and the amazing sport I’ve become
part of. The book will be a success if outsiders can understand through its
pages what derby is all about and why it is such a compelling sport.

MC: You have been to so many bouts, home and away, as well as other STDD
events spreading the Sickness with your amazing photography. To date, what
has been your favorite event?

JM: Not counting bouts and dancing in the stripper cage at an after party,
RollerCon in Las Vegas and the recent board retreat are the two most
powerful events I’ve experienced. Sharing RollerCon with Sick Town folks,
the knowledge I acquired there and the size of the sport blew me away. At
the board retreat, I saw a group of volunteers come together more positively
and more effectively than at any similar retreat I attended during my years
working for some high-powered, national companies. Any organization with a
board as dedicated and talented as Sick Town’s has a bright, bright future.

It is our mission to spread The Sickness as far and wide as we possibly can.  To aid in this effort, we present to you the Sick Town Newsletter!  Our goal is to bring you a quarterly update on our skaters, our teams, our public events, and tons more good stuff.  The first copy is available as a PDF download; click the link below!  If you’d like to sign up for the newsletter mailing list, please e-mail sicktownnewsletter@gmail.com

STDDnewsletterFeb13

Every year, our very own HotBoxxx hosts what is arguably Corvallis’ best house party of the year.  Attendees, no matter their gender, age, etc., are required to wear a red dress.  A handful of talented DJs demonstrate their skills on up to three different stages while hundreds (yes, hundreds) of people dance the night away, fire dancers wow a crowd outside, and an endless string of taxis carry off revelers late into the night.

Since Sick Town’s inception, we have provided a corps of volunteers to prep HotBoxxx’s house with strings of red lights, black-light bulbs, miles of crepe paper, and as much red as possible on any available surface.  And, of course, GLITTER!!!  The party has become a fund-raiser for our league, and we look forward to it all year long.

But, HotBoxxx has neighbors (very generous, tolerant neighbors).  And the event, previously by word-of-mouth invite, has gotten a little too large for a house party.  So this year, the famous Red Dress Party is moving to SubZero in downtown Corvallis.  Come join us for awesome music, great drinks, and all the dancing you can handle!

• Saturday, February 16, 9:00pm until the bar shuts down
• SubZero – 126 SW 4th Street, Corvallis
• Cover at the door:
  • If you’re in a red dress – $10
  • If you’re not in a red dress – $15, and we put you in a loaner dress!
• Must be 21+ years old

Our 2013 Season Opener will be an intra-league bout pitting Sick Town against Sick Town!!!  We’ve divided our ranks to pit Team Black vs. Team Blue.  Cheer for your favorite skater’s team, or both teams in this oh-so-SICK bout.  No matter what, Sick Town wins!

The Details:  Advance general admission tickets are available for $10 at The Uprise Skate Shop and Aqua Seafood & Steaks in Corvallis, or Abby’s Pizza in Albany, or at Brown Paper Tickets!  General admission tickets at the door are $13, or $10 with a military ID.  VIP tickets are available for $12 in advance or $15 at the door, and guarantee you a front row bleacher seat.  Kids 5 and under are FREE!

As always, we’ll have Ninkasi Brewing and 2 Towns Ciderhouse stocking up our beer garden, and Wildflour Confectionery will provide delicious cookies and treats in addition to the usual selection of food.

We’ll have our kids’ table going throughout the bout, as well as a kids’ oriented half-time (to get the wiggles out!).  You can also make your own sign to cheer on your favorite skater at our crafty table.

After the bout, come hang out with the team at Harrison’s Bar and Grill in Corvallis for our after-party.  Be sure to tell the staff you’re with Sick Town when you order, and they will generously donate 10% of the proceeds to our league!  Thanks, Harrison’s!

Are you curious about our bouts?  Never been to one and want to know what it’s like?  Check out this video by Crackpot Productions.  It captures the essence of awesome that we bring to all of our events.

Your next chance to join in the action is October 27, at Sk8full Dead!

Our Fall Season is coming soon!  You can see Sick Town’s S*M*A*S*H Unit back in action for three  home bouts in the coming months.

• September 29, 2012 – Sick Town S*M*A*S*H Unit vs. Southern Oregon Roller Girls

• October 27, 2012 – Sick Town S*M*A*S*H Unit vs. Lilac City Roller Girls

• December 08, 2012 – Sick Town S*M*A*S*H Unit vs. Oly Rollers’ Dropkick Donnas

As always, our bouts are located at the Linn Co. Fair & Expo, in the Santiam Building.  Our bouts are family friendly, and feature a half-time show dedicated to kids in the audience.  You can always find Ninkasi beer and 2 Towns Cider in our beer garden, and plenty of food and beverage options!

You can purchase tickets to any of our bouts through Brown Paper Tickets for $10 in advance.  You can also find tickets locally in Corvallis at The Uprise Skate Shop and Aqua Seafood & Steaks, and in Albany at Abby’s Pizza (service fees may apply; cash only please).  Your favorite Derby Dame can also hook you up with advance tickets.

At the door, you can purchase tickets for $13.  Bring a canned food item for a donation to the Linn Benton Food Share for $1 off the ticket price.  We also have VIP seating available, which guarantees you a front row view!  These VIP tickets are limited in number, and are $15.

On 01 June, the WFTDA announced the newest crop of leagues to become full members.  And wouldn’t you know…Sick Town Derby Dames was on the list!  We’ve been working toward full member status for quite some time now through the WFTDA Apprentice program.  And now, all the hard work has paid off!

Sick Town sends huge thanks, gratitude, and appreciation for all the effort and hard work to everyone who made this possible.  It took countless woman hours to get our league to this crossroads, and we couldn’t have done it without each and every one of you.

So what does this mean for us?  Well, being a part of this international association of derby leagues means we’re stepping up our game!  Sick Town will now compete for rankings in the Western Region, covering California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Hawaii, Idaho, Alaska, western Canada and even Australia!

It’s that time again – come watch Sick Town kick off its 2012 Season with our first bout, March Radness II – Sibling Rivalry!  This intra-league bout will pit us against…ourselves.  That’s right, our skaters have divided into two teams, Country Club Crushers and Sick Pistols, in a fight to the finish.  You’ll see some of your favorite veteran skaters from years past as well as lots of brand spankin’ new faces.

This family friendly event will feature half-time games for kids’ participation, a kids’ crafty table, food, beer by our sponsor Ninkasi, wine, and all the hard-hitting action you can pack into one night.  Advance tickets are available for $10 at The Uprise Skate Shop and Aqua Seafood and Steaks in Corvallis, and at The Cash House in Albany (CASH ONLY; a service fee may apply), or contact your favorite derby dame.  You can also purchase tickets through Brown Paper Tickets.

Our S*M*A*S*H Unit will be making the short trip down to the Emerald City to participate in The Big “O” Tournament!  We have two bouts scheduled over the weekend – Saturday, 5:00pm and Sunday, 2:00pm. 

We’d love to see our fans in the audience, cheering our skaters to victory!  Follow the link above for ticketing information, or sign up to be a volunteer in return for free entrance.  Information on how to volunteer can also be found at the link above.