Team France Training Mar.5-9 2014

The second training of the 2014 French Team took place on March 5-9 in Bellenaves, France, not far from the location of the first training, lost in the middle of nowhere for a focused sports retreat. That March training was saved at the last moment by the local committee of the French Federation, Roller Auvergne, who most graciously offered us a training place, in taking charge of the renting fees of a brand-new gym for the whole 5 days. Such a gesture deserves to be highlighted.

ACCOMODATION

The whole event met some organizational problems due to the training place mishap but everything was solved for the best given the situation. We were hosted in two different places, which means the team was split into two groups, with the most convenient distribution according to car-sharing.

I was in the Bellenaves cottage with 14 other team mates, mainly Parisians and girls from Montpellier. We had the advantage of being close to the training hall contrary to the other (major) half who had to drive for 40 min twice a day. But they had a BBQ. And a football table game in their living room. So I guess we're even.

PSYCHOLOGICAL CHALLENGE

That second training was psychologically more challenging than the first. After the discovery phase where you learn to know each other, both on the track and outside of it, in order to create a team spirit, things have gotten more competitive with the sword of Damocles starting to hang over our heads.

EROC 2013

Version 2.0

The 4th edition of the European Roller Derby Organizational Conference was a 2.0 version of the event in a new venue able to host up to 5 conferences at the same time.

Except for the traditional scrimmage in the end, everything was off-skates. And I am not talking about physical workout but brain workout here! It was for the best as everyone could take part in the various debates on national and European structurations of Roller Derby, ask questions, say comments, compare experiences and situations, give and take advice...

The EROC adapted successfully to the current needs of European Derby. Of course, on-skate classes are fun and exciting, and I will not conceil that I was a bit disappointed in discovering the schedule at first... But thinking it over and with hindsight, we all basically know how to run a practice now... and derby has developped in Europe so that there are other (and better appropriate) occasions to attend punctual classes on bootcamps.

Derby Presentation for Gumbies

I am back in the CERS for my third and last stay. Like last time, I was asked to do a presentation of my sport in order to make the patients discover new disciplines. But this time, I had taken the time to structure it and make a powerpoint.

The presentation dealt with roller derby and slalom skating and how/where they are situated in the French skating scene. I am sharing it here... Note: most of the facts are simplified to be clearer, I know that some details given below are not exact but the main point is to make laypeople get acquainted.

Du Roller Derby à la FFRS?

Once doesn't make it a habit, but the following article is going to be in French. Anyway only French people will be interested as it is about the evolution of the integration of Roller-Derby at the French Federation of Roller-Sports!

I promise, next time I'll switch back to English!

Aujourd'hui, j'ai appris de source sûre qu'il s'est dit des choses intéressantes au sujet du roller-derby à l'AG de la FFRS (Fédération Française de Roller-Sports)!
Comme vous le savez, nous sommes toléré(e)s en commission "Course". Ce qui est bien mais pas top.