Freeskate Mashup TEASER: the tradition behind the falls

www.online-skating.com

A few months ago, I translated the rules for an upcoming freeskate video contest organized by the skating website I work for. A revival of the genre, interesting!
A few weeks ago, a friend of mine, who used to take part in such online freeskate video contests at the time they were thriving, told me that he was going to register.

A few days later, the webmaster of the website told me I should submit a video too. Indeed I should and I would love to. Got to find the time, the spots, the cameras...

With no defined idea in mind, I talked to Photographer Julie who did this amazing series of shots during the summer, about a vague video concept.
Challenge accepted!

Wearing pads kills your survival instinct

- I sprained my neck...

- Again? How?

- Was standing and I just fell. Again. Is it bad?

To get a full view of the situation, let's mention that this is a derbygirl conversation, i.e. that the context includes rollerskates and pads (incl. helmet).

It is common knowledge that MEANINGLESS FALLS ARE THE MOST INSIDIOUS. You are more likely to hurt yourself real bad in falling from an idle standstill, simply because you are not ready nor is your body. You are relaxed, not aware of the danger lurking 'round the corner. It bursts out for no reason, you get frightened because you are not expecting it, and you lose balance without being able to stabilize. Follows an unmastered fall, with your body either very tense because of the fright, or very relaxed because your brain didn't even have the time to warn it. In both ways it can lead to a complete disaster.

Bad timing...

Lately, I translated an article on the optimal moments of the day to go skating, according to your body rhythms.

FRENCH and ENGLISH versions
on online-skating.com

Obviously, it works for skating as well as for any physical activity: the article breaks down the different times of your body's circadian cycles (internal clock) as well as its chemical reactions to those different phases... and concludes with the best time slots to be active according to your body's awakeness.

The specific vocabulary is obviously explained with everyday words, and the article highlights the main ideas of the concept.

I am not writing a post to advertize for it, though:

As soon as the first lines, it re-activated forgotten memories carefully filed in a corner of my brain.

Paris RollerGirls 2012 Fall Workshops

Dimanche 7 octobre by Kozmic Bruise
Dimanche 21 octobre by Cherry Lielie
14h-18h

Stages de 4 heures encadrés par les Head Coaches PRG, comprenant un échauffement en baskets, un cours de patinage avec accent sur les bases du patin et du derby, ainsi qu'un atelier de règles sur le derby.

Ces stages ne sont pas adressés à des patineurs et patineuses débutant(e)s, mais sont ouverts à tou(te)s:

Prétendantes au recrutement
Quaddeurs et Quaddeuses novices en derby
Derbygirls et boys de toutes ligues

FMyLife #1: Lazy leg squats

Today, in showing the next warm-up drill to the whole roller derby class:
 

"... And then, while the first half of you is doing 5 laps, the other half is doing wall squats leaning on your toe stops like that no to..." *WHAMBAM* fall.
 

I had forgotten the lazy leg parameter in a fit of enthusiasm. FML. 

News of my Knee for Nosey People

Before dedicating an article to the World Cup in Toronto, I’d like to share an unfortunate consequence: My knee didn’t survive the tournament, which led to a couple of misfortunes…

I know the question is burning your lips: How did it happen?

I took a hit, fell on both my knees like a rock’n roll guitar player (hell yeahh). And basically that’s it: hyperflexion and bad luck.

It didn’t hurt. My leg just wouldn’t respond – which is quite annoying when you’re in the middle of a jam. Made me think it was not a big deal at first. But seeing no improvement whatsoever and still feeling no pain as days went by, I started wondering – eh!

As soon as I came back from Toronto, I followed the advice of the physiotherapist: I saw a good bunch of practitioners (thanks dad) and did a MRI.

Bad Habit...

My good habit turned into bad habit.

When I feel myself falling, I anticipate before I touch the ground in positioning myself in a secure position. It's instinctive. I've acquired this habit along my dozen years of inline freestyling without pads. I'm thus used to land with optimal positions to preserve my knees, buttocks and wrists.

Good habit, right.

My Top-3 landing techniques:

• American Splits: (my fav. by far) it's the best one to disguise your fall into a super-stylish cartwheel at low height ending up with smooth American splits... and up!
• Push-ups: using my arms like springs to smoothly get lower as possible and get up.
• Save-Yr-Ass Technique: That's the very one about which this whole article is about...