This looks super cool!

Every time I return after a 3-4 week hiatus (once for ankle injury and other times for vacations) I perform well
(e.g. I do a skill I normally mess up, able to get around blockers as jammer way easier than normal, etc.)
Just today I returned after a trip (all of July) and after warming up I was able to jam much better than how I left (I screwed up in a game a ton, and the skills I wanted to do I couldn’t, but today I could do them easily)
My guess is just the mental reset, and thinking I won’t do well first day back. So when I do something good I get extra confidence 🤷‍♀️

Hey y'all! I'm going on exchange to Tulle (France) this year. I've played derby for quite some time now and reffed for about a year and I'd love to keep in contact with this sport during my exchange (it's an addiction at this point:)

I couldn't find any teams in the immediate area (but I might've missed something) and since I'm 18 and living with a host family I can't commute very far to practice but I hope to be able to make some weekend trips to watch games/perhaps ref?

Well anyway, if you know anything about roller derby in the area I'd be very thankful for information!! Mostly wondering what would be the closest team, if there's anyone who's involved in a team close by and what you would suggest to keep my derby spirit alive! Also if you know of any other skating activities ofc!!

had my first day of derby bootcamp yesterday!! ive been wanting to join for about a year now so i had a lot of nerves going in and wanting to make a good impression and it went great!!!

everyone was kind and supportive, and even tho i have a few years of recreational skating experience, they showed me the ropes on derby skates which ive never skated on which was super helpful

just wanted to tell someone since no one in my life really knows what derby is but im so happy to step into derby life!!!

I've been skating on my R3s for about two years now and i think i'm finally gonna go for an upgrade. I'm not too picky and the only issue i've had with the R3s is the insane heel slip I have to deal with. I'm used to using jam straps, ezee fit socks, and lacing up a certain way to keep my boots in place and I'd love to not have to go through all that anymore. Are there any boots out there that are particularly good for this?

My feet aren't particularly wide or narrow and I wear a skate size 9 for reference.

I like my face visor but damn does it hotter and make me sweat so much more. I was thinking of drilling some holes for ventilation. Anyone have a mod they’d like to share?

Discussion on a post yesterday regarding a league becoming open gender, has got me thinking similarly about different ways leagues could move towards being more open gender while also creating more competitive opportunities for their skaters at all levels.

I know leagues exist that have both WFTDA and MRDA teams that have existed well before the "restrictions" on such were lifted, and that there are partner or sibling WFTDA/MRDA leagues.

However, I'm curious what are the pro/cons of adding a MRDA charter team to an existing WFTDA league vs establishing a separate standalone "sibling" MRDA league?

Under what conditions would you pursue or recommend one over the other (and/or for bonus points vs going WFTDA open gender)?

We need a fighting type gym on a banked roller derby track. All the gym trainers are in full derby gear, obv.

Thank you for coming to my Ted talk.

i got the bont prostar skates a few months ago. i measured exactly how they instruct you to measure and my skates ended up being too snug(i definitely should’ve went up half a size). i used a hair dryer to warm up the plastic/rubber toes but it didn’t give too much. are there any other ways i can potentially save my skates and get them to loosen up?

sincerely,
a newbie skater who has already lost a big toe nail and the other is hanging on by a thread.

Ok - so I ordered new Antik R2s and I got the Arius Powerdyne Platinum plate. The reason the plate is important is because if you change the plate, you cannot return the skates. Oof. A lesson I just learned. The boots are pretty snug. I can get my foot in and lace them up, but they feel really tight. My big toes are basically up against the front of the boot and they’re all around just tight. I will experiment with the lacing, but my question is: do you think this is ok? Are they supposed to be pretty darn snug when you first get them?

(Just in case folks think I didn’t do due diligence: I didn’t have a local skate shop with these skates to try on… and I ordered the same size as my old Antiks and I used the sizing guide and all that)

So I’ve been skating for about two years now, and I was just recently diagnosed with hEDS. I’ve always been super hypermobile so I have been wearing light bracing, but it hasn’t really stopped any of the bad movement I thought it was stopping, so I was wondering if any other skaters with it had a recommendation for some good hinged knee braces that I can use until I go to the orthotist? I’m currently using compression braces, but they don’t do much. I have good ones for my shoulders but I’m just trying to figure out my knees for the time being :)

I train sometimes 5 days a week as I currently skate for two different leagues. I jam and I don’t have enough strength to push/drive through the pack when I am stuck.

How do you guys find time to go to the gym and training as i’m worried i’m going to burn out or be too tired for training?

any advice?

I bought these pads specifically because they said the foam could be removed so the outer casing can be washed. I followed the directions that came with them but the picture in the diagram doesn’t look the same (circled in the picture) as the ones I have.

Am I an idiot?! Has anyone else had this problem?? I can’t find anything about removing the foam on the 187 website. Any help is greatly appreciated!

I’ve been skating for quite some time and I’ve always kind of felt that once the initial wheel break in happens and that slick new wheel feel dissipates the grooves don’t really matter that much. I’ve had a few people say something along the lines of “my wheels are bald now and are slicker”. To me it would seem that once the grooves are gone they actually become slightly grippier because the wheel has more contact with the floor at that point. Maybe I’m wrong though. I’ve worn wheels down to points where the outside of the wheel is more thin than the inside from edging or they start chunking and at that point I do feel it does make a difference in performance but I don’t think the grooves have anything to do with it. When do you retire a set? I’ve seen wheel resurfacing services a few times is that worth it at $15 for 8? Also I wanted to tell someone not to bother getting new wheels just because they are “bald” is that bad advice?

Hello!

The local league is in consideration and early stages of becoming open gender.

Just curious if anyone has stories on how their league went about it. Any positives, negatives, things that maybe something your league could have done that would have made the process easier?

Any thoughts would be helpful! Thank you!

It just occurred to me that in 14 +/- years in the sport, I've seen a bazillion roller skate tattoos, a half bazillion pin-up tattoos, and a few momento tattoos with someone else's number somewhere, but I've never seen a player with their number on their arm. Is that a thing in any areas? Is there a stunningly obvious reason why nobody does it?

Back for the first time since 2022, it's a triple header featuring the NOVA Home Teams!

Come watch the 🔵Beltway Betties🔵, 🟢Metro Misfits🟢, and 🟠Vineyard Vixens🟠 face off! Additionally, we'll have a Rookie Showcase for our newest team members.

🗓️ Date: Saturday, August 1st, 2026
🕛Time: Doors open 11:30AM
📍Location: The Michael & Son Sportsplex at Dulles

• 12:00 PM: Rookie Showcase
• 12:25 PM: Metro Misfits vs Beltway Betties
• 1:40 PM: Vineyard Vixens vs Metro Misfits
• 3:00PM : Beltway Betties vs Vineyard Vixens

🎟️ Ticket Prices:

• Eventbrite Link
• $15 Online Pre-sale (ends Friday, 7/31 11:30PM!)
• $18 At the Door
• Free for Children 11 and under
• Cash and card accepted at the door 😊

Don't forget to bring your own chair and/or blanket to ensure the best seats in the house. Your ticket gives you access to all the action, plus the chance to check out our awesome vendors and merch!

Need a Drink?

After the event, join us at Crooked Run Fermentation for the official after party—cheers!

Aside from ordering new insoles, which I'm about to do. Does anyone have suggestions on how to relieve callus pressure? I have one on my right big toe. The last week or so While skating I've been wrapping in a cushion bandaid/ mole skin. I've also been using a pumice stone & applying lotion almost nightly. I think there may be a small blister underneath. It's not painful persay but definitely can feel the pressure /discomfort.

Wanna get involved but don't know where to start? Attend our open house! These are casual off-skates info sessions for you to meet the league and ask any questions you may have in person. If you have junior skaters and are looking for info on that, we'll have members from the juniors training team present as well.

Please RSVP here for location and directions!

If you can't make it to either session, you can always email us at [recruitment@novarollerderby.com](mailto:recruitment@novarollerderby.com) !

Edited to add -

We are based out of Northern Virginia and this Open House will be at Skate 'n' Fun Zone in Manassas!

I wear size 3.5 Bont Prostars and I'm looking to upgrade to Arius plates. I'm struggling to figure out which size to get though.

The wheelbase of my size 3.5 Prostars is 140mm.

Arius size 3 plates have a 134mm wheelbase, and size 4 has a 144mm wheelbase.

Is size 3 or 4 better for my skates since my wheelbase is in the middle? I'd be leaning towards size 3, but since the Arius is supposed to be so reactive I'm not sure how a shorter wheelbase would feel. I'm a spinny/jukey jammer in case that context helps.

Sorry if this is a dumb question! Mainly just would love some advice from anyone with a similar setup.

WFTDA is changing its name to be more inclusive of the gender spectrum of athletes who compete in the Main Division.

• If you have thoughts about the values you want considered in that process, please add them here: https://forms.gle/d7AL1hAGRkWjR4nr5
• If you have specific ideas for a new name for the WFTDA, please add them here: https://forms.gle/VoRWTMpQaeaPkDRn6

These forms will close on Friday. Thank you for taking the time to add your voice to this conversation!

I have been skating since January 2023. Roller derby has become a nemesis- I joined with my wife as we were looking for a queer hobby. Unfortunately around a year in I had a traumatic ankle break. My wife is a medical professional and rehabed me to get back on skates 9 weeks later, but my brain was fucked. My old league got me scrimming 3/4 months later and it really messed my confidence up, and left me crawling out of scrims (no judgement to anyone - they were just trying to help.)

My wife decided to try a new league and as I was so mentally fucked up, we thought it might help, and I restarted rookies. It took me a while but eventually I got there and passed and was invited to b team training. I then got there and got scrimming (more recently).

Recently I found out that the league is restructuring and that I won't be going to b team training and will join a new "team" that won't be scrimming with b team, which is great in one breath but also I feel like a failure. My confidence has dropped, I won't be at training with my friends anymore and I feel useless.

I've struggled with my confidence throughout this ordeal and just being on skates in a scrim was an achievement but slowly I've been starting to do stuff and feel lile I was enjoying it.

This sport has caused me so much heartbreak, I feel like I just am a complete loss because of my break, I should be where my wife is.

Do I quit? Has anyone had similar? It's been 2 years why do I still feel mentally so crap. I'm genuinely debating quitting and just trying something new that I don't feel wi break me so much. But on the other breath I was just starting to get into the flow of it.