Riot City Ravens!

My amazing team are going from strength to strength.

We had our first games against Wrexham and Bath and have lots lined up, as well as being part of the British Championships!!

Bath Roller Girls

Me Jamming!

Lead Jammer!

Blocking!

We have lots of new members and lots of newly qualified freshmeat who are sooooo nearly ready to play.

We were in the paper recently and have had lots of interest from the publicity, and have some fundraising activities coming up - this weekend we are bag packing at Sainsbury's in Newport.

South Wales Argus article: Weekend Magazine

Keep up to date with us here: Riot City Ravens Website & Blog

Bout day!

I got to play in a mixed opener for Swansea Roller Derby on Saturday.

I was on team back (AKA Team Snail) along with a couple of other Ravens and girls from across SE Wales (and the lovely Greta from Croyden Roller Derby).

We didn't play so well in the first half and were loosing by about 100 points, the second half however, things came together, our blocking was immense and our jammers pulled us back to within 14 points! So we were really happy!!

Here's me in action!

Photos by Stein Kiran

Not every day is a good day...

I had a great time at the Summer Mixed Scrim on Friday, here we all are afterwards...

I saw some friends who left CRG a while ago to join Bridgend Roller Derby, so it was great to play with them and catch up. I also got lots of amazing comments about how slim and different I looked, which is always motivational!

The Scrim was made up of a mix of players from all our local teams, Brawlers, Ravens, DVV, NPT, Swansea...the lot. A mix of abilities and so a great challenge. It was so satisfying playing against and along side some of the girls you watch at bouts and think are awesome. It was especially satisfying blocking those players and realising you can stand up to them! Yay!

Saturday I turned up late for my gym HIIT session, so made up the lost time by doing some weighted squats and deadlifts, I hadn't done them for ages and it was hard work! (I am still sore today, Monday).

Then, Saturday and Sunday were family days. Lots of eating out, treats and even a McDonald's!!! I know! I haven't eaten like that since before April, so it was kind of nice and also kind of scary. Thinking you'll wake up the next morning and be the old you! But, no. It's OK. I'm back on it today!

Me sporting my new top and denim jacket I got over the weekend.

Accountability...

One of the ways I have kept on with my weight loss and fitness drive is by involving other people (Roller Derby team mates) and also started an Instagram account to track my progress, @laurasfitjourney

Seeing progress visually is what does it for me. I love seeing how much healthier I look, slimmer and fitter I look in my 'selfies' and the roller derby photographs that get taken at bouts and training...here are a few from oldest to most recent..can you notice any difference?

5 1/2 months pregnant with baby #2

First scrimmage after baby, October 2013

First Open Bout March 2014

Bootcamp March 2014

April 2014 (just before I started my healthy eating)

Second open bout May 2014

Most recent friendly scrimmage July 2014

Health and fitness....

On April 4th this year I decided to make a change to my habits, to get fit and healthy and to loose my baby weight....

I have been on and off the healthy eating waggon since then, and have been exercising as much as possible! Gym and weights was my first thing, along with roller derby and now extra roller derby fitness and a personal trainer lead 6 week fitness course at my gym.

I have been juicing lots and drinking lots of water, as well as eating less chocolate, sugar and junk food! I still indulge now and again (I have eaten plenty of Ben & Jerry's, Pizza and Curry) but in moderation rather than every day.

Here are some of my favourite foods at the moment:

Green Juice: Spinach, Kale, Green Apples, Kiwi, Cucumber, Broccoli (Any mix of these)
Fruit Smoothies: Banana, water melon, strawberries, raspberries, frozen spinach, mango (Any mix of these)
Nuts and Seeds: mixed nuts (almonds, hazel nuts, Brazil, cashew, pecan), chis seeds, sunflower seeds hemp hearts, gogi berries
Other stuff: Eggs! Coconut water, almond milk, fresh fruit and veg, protein powder (soy or whey) to add to shakes, natural peanut butter, hummus, lots of water.

I have stopped eating and drinking so much of the following: diet coke and fizzy drinks, fruit juice, squash, chocolate, take aways, chips, crisps, sweets.

I need to look up my before measurements, then I will add them here:

Starting Weight: 159lbs (4th April 2014)

Current Weight: 140lbs (7th August 2014)

Before and after picture...

Sept/October 2013 (Size 14)                                                               August 2014 (size 10/12)

New beginnings...

Well. A lot has happened in the last 10 months...

I've returned to skating after having my little boy.

Irv, 10 months old now!

I've played in my first open bouts.

CRG v Swansea

CRG v Plymouth

I can transition stop at high speed!

I've been to a Rogue Runner Bootcamp.

I've trained with one of the men's Team America players Abe Drinkin'

I've scored some points while jamming in a scrim for the first time!!

And I have left Cardiff Roller Girls to set up a new team with other for CRG team mates.

It can only be onwards and upwards from here!

Exciting times ahead

Laura Face-Palmer xxx

I'm back!

My little boy is already 7 ½ month old! I've been back on skates since 3 weeks after the birth! So 7 months ish.

I've played 3 closed games and my first open bout already, as well as attending a boot camp with Rogue Runner from London Brawling. It's all go!

Since 4th April I have also started focussing on clean healthy eating and getting to the gym twice a week to do some weight training.

I'm aiming to get fitter, loose some weight (my target weight is 9.5 stone, current weight 11 stone) and feel happy in my own skin again.

I'm still breast feeding at the moment and will be going back to work on 10th June...so a few months to loose a few pounds and feel good for work.

As for 'Derby I'm aiming to get stobger, braver and better at stopping at speed!!

Training and a Bootcamp...

This weekend was full of 'Derby.

Friday evening David came to training again (to skate) and took some team pictures for the new website that's being developed..some profile pictures and some action shots. A few of the girls got really made-up - with make-up and face-paints! It was a good laugh and the training session was awesome.

We had 26 attendees, which I think is the most we've had since re-forming. We had some brand new newbies, and some guest skaters.

I took the newbies with Rhiannon (Grazed Anatomy) as some of our older newbies moved up to train with the big girls which was so good to see - they totally loved it too!

On Saturday, Marc our head Ref, Alex (Millertant) and I had an early start to get down to Barnstable for a boot camp with the Devon Clotted Screamers. They had Igormaniac (Ref) and Rolling Thunder (Jammer) from Southern Discomfort running an intermediates boot camp. It covered really useful drills, tricks, tips and tactical pointers, and was really inclusive. for the last part of the day they had a scrimmage and I got to ask lots of NSOing questions to Igormaniac and Arch Emily, and have a go at penalty box timing - which was a challenge!

I met lots of lovely ladies (and gents) and hope we can get together with DCS for a scrimmage some time!

Here are a few pictures from the day!

Alex, Marc, Rolling Thunder, Igormaniac, me!

Alex 'Millertant' 

Punishment for not staying close to the pack!

Getting ready to chase the other pack without loosing formation!

Training the newbies...

Last night I was training some of our newbies, we've just started a second training session in the week which is excellent as it means we all get to skate more!

It's always great fun with the newbies and we had lots of time to chat about 'Derby and kit and general enjoyment of skating..the best way to get fit!

Also, two of my original newbies (who have been skating for about 3-4 months) trained with the main team tonight, they really got stuck in and I was so proud seeing them weaving through a pace line for the first time! Go girls! x

Here's a picture of some of our newest girls!

On Friday we're getting some photos taken for the new website, we're going to be writing skater profiles too so people can get to know our team skaters and the newbies as well, everyone is going to be included, which is great.

David has offered to do all the photography and video, so he's got his work cut out!

LFP x

How it all started...

I first heard about Roller Derby when Tiger Bay Brawlers started having open bouts in Cardiff.

They had an intake session and a few of us went along to 'try out'...most of them had been to a Roller Derby bout to watch, I hadn't but got the gist of it and thought it sounded cool and a fun way of getting fit and meeting new people.

So on 15th April 2012 we headed to Penarth Leisure Centre to 'try out'. I had never really skated much as a kid and was wondering if I would even be able to stand up!

We were put through a variety of skills tests including stops, falls, skating technique and speed....it was nerve wracking in front of so many people, but also mega fun!

I came away thinking I'd been pretty rubbish, but had really enjoyed it and hoped I would get an invite to join their Fresh Meat...no such luck. So I started going to their Monday Recreational sessions to learn to skate properly...

Once I had been going for a month or so I was hooked and bought my own kit. I went to see my first bout between CROC and Swansea City Slayers...Then I found out that CROC who were running a 6 week beginners course, 2 hours per week and went to that as I was desperate to get more time on my skates...thanks to the head start I had from going to the TBB rec sessions, I managed to progress pretty quickly with CROC and by the end of the 6 weeks I was invited to train at their team sessions!

Then, CROC lost their skating venue and the team pretty much disintegrated...all while I was away on holiday. I came home and  had no team! I was gutted and got involved in the team meetings to sort out what we were going to do...some of CROC held fast and now, under the name Cardiff Roller Girls we're making an impressive come back - we have a training venue, a team and a strong beginners group too...we're looking stronger than ever and are now planning our first bout!

I was lucky that in this time of 'no venue' I was invited to join the TBB fresh meat session, and got to develop my 'derby skills, so that I finally passed my minimum skills in December 2012. I got to scrim with the boys team just before finding out I was pregnant! Since then I have had to reduce the amount of training I do and reduce the contact. Now I am helping to train the newbies,  ready for them to move up to train with the team and love it. I just wish I could be skating more too!

I'm really looking forward to getting back on my skates after the baby is born, and it'll be the perfect way to get back into shape and loose a bit of baby weight!

I've challenge myself to pass the new minimum skills (Jan 2013) by the end of the year, and start playing in 2014! Wish me luck!

Cute...

My little Roller Derby girl  (Ada, aged 3 1/2)

Derby name...

No 'Derby action for me this weekend - apart from training on Friday where both my husband David, and best friend G came along to train - so here's a little picture of my' Derby name necklace.

Made by the lovely Anna at X & O Custom Jewellery.

Spot the reference?

In the beginning...

That's me, far right in red!

Hi! This blog is to chart my rise in Roller Derby (kind of!).

I've been skating for just over a year, and am currently 6 months pregnant.

I'm a member of Cardiff Roller Girls and currently on our comittee as Head NSO.

I skate under the name Laura Face-Palmer #222.

While I'm pregnant I've taken on training up our newbies/fresh meat to a standard where they are ready to join the main team in training.

My plan with this blog is to chart my come-back to really playing Roller Derby with the team...I passed my minimum skills in December 2012 but have not been able to play full contact since then as I found out I was pregnant!

My plan in to get back on my skates (after the baby is born in early September) and get my (new) minimum skills passed by the end of the year...then I hope to make the team roster ready for some bouts!!

Wish me luck!