Assessments results

The fresh meat group before assessments. Image by Melanie Bryan

Pre-assessment talk by head of training, Hooker

Yesterday we had our fresh meat assessments! We had seven girls go straight through and four more that we hope will pass their last phase in a couple of weeks. Assessments are a stressful time for new skaters. Keep in mind that many of these skaters have never done athletics at this level before. These skaters have been with us in GSORD since the middle of July, and in that time have practiced and perfected new skills that will put them on the track to becoming competitive derby players. For some skaters, this has been an easier journey (though never easy!) and for some, an almost insurmountable task. The skills they have had to learn range between standing on one foot to doing 25 laps around the track in 5 minutes and jumping over an object 6 inches in height (the dreaded red foam roller!). We have all seen them struggle, work incredibly hard, and shed many tears. We all know how it was like, and we have done our best to help them on their journey. We are honored to have such fighters join our league. If you are interested in joining our next group of fresh meat, please email membership@greensbororollerderby.com for more information. 

Height is a matter...

of perspectives!

J.B. Groans

This fresh meat cycle was a little different than previous ones. We had a male skater go through the entire fresh meat with us. He is one of our new referees, and in order to become one with the league and further his own skating skills, he decided to participate in the entire fresh meat training! This is quite unusual, but worked really well. He also passed assessments yesterday. Beyond skating with our regular fresh meat, he has also been attending special sessions with our current head referee, Freddy Mercury Poisoning, in order to learn the ref-side of things. We are happy to welcome J.B. Groans to our team of zebras! If you are interested in joining as a referee, you also need to contact the membership chair at the above email address. Refs can be male or female, over the age of 18 and does not have to pay dues! You are expected to come to practice and help out at scrimmages and bouts. 

Hailstorm Trooper

We also have three returning skaters! Johnny Applespeed, Crash Bandicutie and Daisy Chain-Saw have all returned to the league and we are very excited to have them back. We are hoping to see all three of them bouting with Greensboro Counterstrike in our November bout! However, this is not all! We have a transfer skater named Hailstorm Trooper who will also be skating with Greensboro Counterstrike! You will be able to see her in our Oct. 25^th bout with #48 (we miss you A-Ha!). 

Speaking of the next bout….. It's astounding… Time is fleeting… Madness takes its toll... But listen closely... Not for very much longer... I've got to keep control. I remember doing the Time Warp. Drinking those moments when… the blackness would hit me…. And the void would be calling… Let's do the Time Warp again…. Let's do the Time Warp again!

On Oct. 25^th we are putting on a Rocky Horror Picture Show themed bout! Check out the awesome poster made by Edward Fields! Come dressed in your finest Halloween/Rocky Horror costume and win some sweet prices! It will be at the Coliseum as usual, doors opening at 5. It is a double-header, with Gate City All-Stars playing the Cape Fear Roller Girls and Greensboro Counterstrike playing the Carolina Bootleggers.  Tickets are available at Brown Paper Tickets, from your favorite roller girls and at the door! We hope to see you there!