DON'T MIX UP: Quedalles Vs. HDG | France Vs. Nederland

Team France 439 - 22 Team Nederland
Quedalles 231 - 100 HDG
  PARIS, 22 JUNE 2014

 The scores are eloquent enough... Team France dominated the whole game, leaving only 6 lead situations to the Nederland, and managing 4 jams of 2' containing the Dutch jammer on their initial pass (random facts).

However, to both teams' credit, despite the score gap separating them, they remained fair-play in the purest derby tradition, in a game that remained pleasant to cheer for, despite the lack of suspense!

Le Patin Français Triple Header

On December 14-15 took place the official public kick off of the 2014 Team France of Roller Derby. The team was announced in late August and the 40 of us had met once at the occasion of our first training a few weeks ago.

PRG Quedalles (121-177) Rollergirls of the Apocalypse

Team France Blue (301-122) Les Restes de la France I

Team France Red (213-67) Les Restes de la France II

The presentation of the French Team was organized as a Double header with an introduction game. That is to say THREE BOUTS in-a-row for the lucky spectators who managed to get one of the 700 tickets that were sold out in hardly 30 minutes on the Internet... The venue was the same as for the Paris RollerGirls All-Stars' last home game of the 2013 season against Team Unicorn which had encountered the same sold out problem last June.

BCRD Private Workshop w/ Bonnie Thunders & OMG WTF

WHAT A GREAT COME BACK SURPRISE!

Not being very familiar with the PODIO platform used by Bear City Roller Derby to communicate within the league, I'm very often (always) missing points, small or big... Fortunately, I also have concerned friends who help me out!

Explaining my upcoming Team France / World Championship 15-day trip to one of them, the day before I left, she pointed out that I would be back just on time to enjoy Bonnie and OMG. Wait, you got me lost, here. What?

This is how I learned that there would be a (free!) private BCRD workshop on the Saturday and Sunday following my return, i.e. 5+4=9 hours of Gotham coaching. Groovy!

2013 Shanghai Slalom Open (Stream of Thoughts)

The UNOFFICIAL backstage experience of my umpteenth trip to China*...

For more journalistic write-ups on the competition itself, check out the REPORT TRILOGY on worldslalomseries.com by yours truly:

• 2013 SSO DAY 1: Pair Classic, Speed Trials, Junior Classic.
• 2013 SSO DAY 2: Speed Finals, Senior Classic, Slides.
• 2013 SSO DAY 3: Battle, Medals.

► THU. AUG. 1^st : Traveling.

After a 19-hour trip: two planes with a four-hour stop in Dubai --excluding the Bordeaux-Paris train of the previous day, the hour of metro to get to the airport and the two-hour wait to board... and the hour of bus to get from Shanghai airport to the hotel...
AFTER A 19-HOUR TRIP (I don't count the extra, it's too depressing) I'M IN SHANGHAI!

Let's not complain, though: I experienced a long flight in BUSINESS CLASS for the first time in my life. I had already been upgrated once, but for a short trip and didn't enjoy it much. But I could have had champagne if ever I had drunk alcohol.....

The P Word - The Complete Season 3

Season 3 has already come to an end. This is when you want to relive the whole season at a stretch...

• S03E11 07/06 PRG A (163-158) Dublin Roller Derby "No Merci"
• S03E10 06/22 PRG A (149-150) London Rockin' Rollers "Moulin Bruise"
• S03E09 06/08 PRG B (173-155) Hérault Derby Girls
• S03E08 06/01 PRG A (170-163) Team Unicorn "Unicorn"
• S03E07 05/18 PRG A (182-243) Kallio Rollin' Rainbow "Au Revoir: AY879"
• S03E06 05/11 PRG B (131-193) Petites Morts Bordeaux
• S03E05 05/04 PRG A (266-085) Ruhrpott
• S03E04 04/20 PRG A (197-139) Inglorious Bombshells
• S03E03 04/06 PRG A (193-205) Leeds Hot Wheel
• S03E02 03/02 PRG A (153-117) Nothing Toulouse
• S03E01 02/16 PRG A (152-170) Royal Windsor Rollergirls "DerbyversaIIIre"
• S03E00 10/27 PRG A (132-182) Gent's Cuberdonnas "Hell on Wheels" (PILOT)

No Merci! Paris PRG Vs. Dublin DRD (A&B)

PRG All-Stars (163-158) Dublin A

PRG Quedalles (207-135) Dublin B

July 6th, 2013 / Dublin (IRE)

The write-up is less factual than the previous ones because:
1) I have less material to rely on and
2) although the two games were of pretty good quality and although the All-Star bout was thrilling with suspense, it is not what prevailed for me in the weekend. Still, they were the most delighting cherry-on-top. On top of what? On top of a marvellous ultimate experience, of which I wanted to make the most in enjoying each and every second. Sports yeah, but people most of all.

NO MERCY. Our last game(s) of the season. MY LAST GAME AS A PARIS ROLLERGIRL. My ultimate experience fully and officially belonging to that group of girls with whom I developed bonds so strong that it still surprizes me.

A perfect trip from A to Z. From the two Parisian teams travelling together, being hosted together by the most wonderful people, double winning together against such lovely opponents in an amazing atmosphere, having some quality time together, at night and in the sun, partying, dancing, laughing, chatting -- crying too, a bit -- a cluster of overwhelming emotions. Together.

West Track Story 2013

One year after "4 Matchs et 1 Entraînement", the tournament concept of the Nantes Derby Girls evolves into "West Track Story". Bigger, better, harder, stronger.

The Parisian Quedalles (our B-Team) and the Duchesses of Nantes have reenlisted this year too. The players of the capital are ready to fight for the title they won last year.

Two European teams have made the trip to complete the casting: The Belgian Brussels Derby Pixies and the English Birmingham Blitz Dames.

Key-words: show and performance!

The event took place on Saturday March, 9th from 12AM to 10PM, an afternoon during which four bouts were going to follow one another.

BIRMINGHAM BLITZ DAMES : 181 // 97 : DUCHESSES OF NANTES

• The Parisians were not playing the first game so that they could have a look at their potential future opponents, Nantes and Birmingham. The latters, whose captain Violet Attack was in Team England 2011, imposed their style -- and their strong built -- right away, leaving no chance to the Duchesses despite their determination.

In the meantime, the Quedalles were busy fixing unfortunate mishaps: a lost mouthguard replaced by a team-mate's spare one, molded at the last minute thanks to the kettle of the food stand, or a broken plate and a desperate seach for substitute skates in size 36, amongst other stressing surprises. Routine, right?

Derbyversaiiire: Paris Vs. Windsor

by CélEye KOPP

Paris RollerGirls All-Stars (152-170) Royal Windsor Rollergirls

Panam Squad (193-167) Kamiquadz

February 16th, 2013 / Paris.

Our DERBYVERSAIIIRE was celebrated this weekend with a big double-header as the new season kickoff, featuring the Paris RollerGirls All Star Vs. The Who Dares Windsor (the Royal Windsor A Team), preceded by a men's derby game opposing the Panam Squad to the Kamiquadz.

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.

One year ago... I left my knee in Team France

One year later...
"with" and "without"...

One year ago the French Team was in Toronto for the first ever Roller Derby World Cup.

One year ago the French Team played against Sweden. HERE

One year ago I had a little misfortune...

One year later, I am (almost) back to square one.

One more month to hold on and I can close the chapter!

RELATED POSTS:

• News of my knee for nosey people
• Toronto World Cup Coverage
• I left my heart in Team France
• World Cup Preliminary Groups Draw
• 2011 French Team

BOOTCRAMP Berry

This weekend, I was coaching in a BootcRamp in Bourges (fra) together with Wheely Wonka and Cherry LieLie, while Maëlstrom and Watzé were running a ref clinic in parallel.

The Paris RollerGirls were in da place, baby!

The event was extremely well organized and ran smoothly from A to Z. Seven out of the nine of us who were staying at Mojo Mama's place were sleeping in Oto's room (her two-year old son). Three words: Pa-ra-dise. It is only one word indeed, but it is worth three at least. Tons and tons of toys. A room carpeted with mattresses. A childhood dream!

Thank god the bootcramp participants did not see us like that, we would have lost all credibility. Forever. Ever.

Saturday. Cracking start.

Most of us arrived on Friday evening, but the event started on Saturday at 1PM. Yet, we were in the gym at 9AM to help setting up the track and everything, and we all had lunch together after a brief but efficient general presentation: organizers, coaches, refs and participants.

Be There or Be Square

-- Last Thursday was Rockabilly Party Time!

Sally Broyeur landed with an underground hall she had booked for a concert which was cancelled.
We had the place already, let's have a multipurpose-party: support party, introduction of the Paris RollerGirls freshmeats, preview of the 2013 calendar, merchandizing and surprises!

The place was a charming rock'n roll basement under the Belushi's Club, very comfy with a bar and a small stage, and the theme was 50's-60's Rockabilly. Simple and efficient.

We danced all night to the sounds of the three DJs, DJ Winny Mc CORMICK (house, hip hop), DJ SID (dj drum and bass) and SYLVANIE DE LUTECE.
Meanwhile, the photos of the 'making of' of the Calendar were following one another on the wall thanks to Butch's projector. And from time to time we would have a break: we officially welcomed our freshmeats on stage, our president made a small speech, the calendar team unveiled the cover of the calendar which Mrs. Hyde had printed on a canvas sheet at work...

RollerCon '12, Las Vegas: Night Life

Last year's RollerCon was an Epic Fail for me. Remember...

This year was faaar better and I could enjoy all the facets of the event. At least the two main ones: Day life (i.e. skating) and Night life (i.e. partying).

At first, I had decided that I was going to the RollerCon for a special purpose: SKATING.

...But then I started to take an interest into the EVENING schedule.

1. The whole thing about standing in lines to attend classes and wearing full gear on was part of why I only bothered attending on-skate classes the first 2-3 days, when it was not yet totally crowded. (see part.1)
2. The other reason was that I was sore all over (I confess) because it was the first time in 8 months that I was doing REAL derby moves. No matter how hard you train off-skates in rehab, there is nothing like the real thing. At least, I was glad I had the time to loosen up a bit on skates with my resuming of rollerdancing a couple of months before! 
3. The last main reason why I got more flexible with attending on-skate classes, was that I also had a go at partying (I confess too) and that it obviously became harder to be effective at day-time...

RollerCon '12, Las Vegas: Day Life

Last year's RollerCon was an Epic Fail for me. Remember...

This year was faaar better and I could enjoy all the facets of the event. At least the two main ones: Day life (i.e. derbying) and Night life (i.e. partying).

 This year was particularly huge. 5 to 6 thousand derbypeople in the same hotel, the Riviera down the Strip in Las Vegas. 5 days of non-stop events, on skates, off skates, on track, in pool, on dancefloor...

Off-skate workouts, conferences, on-skate classes, scrimmages and bouts constituted the day-time events and were organized in parallel in several rooms.

The off-skate part was made of workout classes and conferences on various subjects. Except for the pool workout for which the pool of the hotel was reserved (obviously), the workout classes took place at the very last floor of the Monaco Tower with a large bay window onto the city and the desert in the background. Stretching classes at 7PM with the sunset over the city were great.

La Grosse Rollerdisco de Paris at La Main Jaune

The ONWHEELZ rollerdisco party was back yesterday evening and took over a mythical place in the Parisian history of roller-skating for a very special occasion...

Created in 2007, the OnWheelz is coordinated by my rollerdancer friend Jim and it is none other than the reference skating party in Paris.

It is not settled in a particular place because we have no roller-rinks in Paris (even in France, I know it is sad) so that there are only one or two events organized per year. It used to take place in a sports hall that we, derbygirls, know pretty well by now as it is our bout place.

Unfortunately for the event, the hall went from private to public, which means that it has to close at a "decent" time at night if it is to be booked... but midnight is more about starting than stopping partying.

Last year, the bet was taken to create a "before party" followed by a roller derby demo [video], but partying with the sunlight filtering through the roof windows lacks rock'n roll.

Who's Next: Violent & Funky

Who's Next is a semi-annual show presenting trend forecast collections and up and coming designers. Lasting 4 days, the event is huge and covers 6 halls with women's and men's wear, urban wear, leather, shoes and accessories.

All the stands of clothing brands are displayed in the halls. In order to liven up the atmosphere, some Dj stands are scattered here and there and you can have a drink, a snack or even a full meal if you are ready to pay the price.

The halls are all carpeted in white, in order to "hide the hideous damaged floor". Indeed we quickly realized that underneath, there were various traps to avoid: cracks, holes and sewer drains for the most common ones... And like any white public floor, it didn't survive the first day and turned into a black-spotted carpet.

PRG-CPHG: All-Stars Vs. Rollin' Heartbreakers

Paris RollerGirls All-Stars (167-107) Copenhagen Rollin' Heartbreakers

April 28th, 2012 / Paris. 

Twice doesn't make it a habit, but the two following articles are going to be in French. It's a two-part full report on the Double-Header opposing both the A and B Teams of the Paris RollerGirls and Copenhagen Roller Derby.

(...) Aux suivantes ! Après la rencontre des B-Teams des deux ligues, les A-Teams s’échauffent sommairement, car l’heure tourne (beaucoup trop) vite.

PRG-CPHG: Quedalles Vs. Kick Ass Cuties

Twice doesn't make it a habit, but the two following articles are going to be in French. It's a two-part full report on the Double-Header opposing both the A and B Teams of the Paris RollerGirls and Copenhagen Roller Derby.

Ce samedi a eu lieu le premier « Double-Header » organisé par les Paris RollerGirls au Gymnase de Bercy, à Paris. L’événement opposait les PRG aux derbygirls de Copenhague dans deux matchs d’affilée.

Première partie d'une série de quatre affiches
à mettre bout à bout pour redécorer votre intérieur.
By GOSH, évidemment!

Lipsticks & Mouthguards

 "Rouge à Lèvres et Protège Dents" was the title of the bout opposing the Paris Rollergirls B Team, the Quedalles, to Anvers's One Love Roller Dolls (10 A-players out of 14) on Saturday 14th, for the Titanic's 100th anniversary and my dad's birthday.

It was organized in Lille, half-way between the two cities, on the occasion of the "Quinzaine de l'Entorse" (Two weeks of the Infringement Association) in partnership with the "Rencontres Féministes" (Feminist Encounters Association). These Two Weeks, the aim of which is to highlight links between arts and sports, have been perpetrated for a few years now...

With Wonka, we were put up at one of the organizers' apartment, a two-storey place she shares with  three other flatmates. Great place, great people!

Derbyversaire 2 "Freaky Derby Day"

Yesterday -- Sunday, March 4th was the official celebration day for the second derbyversaire of the Paris RollerGirls. This year because of the lack of sports facilities for skaters in Paris, the PRG couldn't take the risk to organize a bootcamp. However, an event was organized on the fly when we learnt a couple of weeks ago that we could book the hall where we usually play our games in Paris.

The actual derbyversary date of the Paris RollerGirls is on the 14th of February... Saint Valentine day. No use to wonder why Paris Brings the Passion: it was Cupid's birthday gift!