Quad skating derby girl needs speed

[Black Jena]

Calling all skaters...

I am a new roller derby player and I am having difficultly with gaining speed on the track. I'm looking for all of your tips, experiences, stories and resources. Did you overcome speed issues? Do you know a good online resource of videos that might help with technique? I need all that information! STAT. I would like to hear from people in all disciplines of skating.

Your help is invaluable to me, and it could make the difference in my decision to tough it out with my team... or pack it in. I need to improve my game, and it's contingent on me getting faster.

Thanks so much!

Black Jena

[uelsk8s]

i would reccomend you find your closest indoor speed team and skate a few practices with them.
getting faster is not easy and wont happen overnight, but as long as your having fun it will come soon enough

[Kennedy]

Originally Posted by uelsk8s

i would reccomend you find your closest indoor speed team and skate a few practices with them.
getting faster is not easy and wont happen overnight, but as long as your having fun it will come soon enough

Exactly what I was going to say. Focus on building strength and working on technique. The speed will come in time.

I was a session skater and I thought I was fast, until a few top ranked speed skaters showed up for session. Naturally I tried to hang with them but I couldn't. I learned a lot by watching and trying to keep up. It wasn't long before I started going to speed practice. What a difference speed practice made.

[Black Jena]

Thanks a lot guys...

Just wondering, are most speed skaters performing on inline skates? And is there such a thing as Quad Speed skaters? I don't know if the experience of inlines would transfer well to quads if I was watching, or trying to particpate with such a team.

Thoughts? .. and thanks

Black Jena

[uelsk8s]

yes most speedskaters these days use inline skates.
the best derby girl in our area skates speed with us on inlines and plays derby on quads. but we do have some of the other derby girls practice speed on their quads.
i think the inline training transfers well.

[eduardoritos]

Yesterday I've skated whit two racers; god, what speed. I know I can skate speedy, but if nobody force me...

[PowerSnatch]

I think I wrote an identical post about 8 months ago! Being a derby girl halfway through a second year, I can offer this advice...CROSSOVERS.

The key to speed in derby is effective use of crossovers where you are pushing with both feet during the cross. I continue to work on mine. You want to focus on crossing above the knee and getting a true power push from your left leg.

Practice small circle drills and try to be able to cross effectively in both directions (for balance).

This is the key.

[sk8scott]

To follow-up on PowerSnatch's suggestion of crossovers:

You'll know when you're getting them right, 'cause it feels so good! When you nail your crossovers on a turn, it feels like you're being fired out of a slingshot. It's a total rush!

----Scott

[Jim White]

Agree with all the preceding, except: If you will perform on quads, train on quads. Some derby teams invite inline speedskaters to do speed drills with them, and some derby skaters go to inline speed practices. Most inline speed teams will let you train with them on quads if you are a serious, hard worker when you are training, and try to fit into their culture.

There are quad speed teams, but not many. Ask around, or post your location here.

[roller_dudette]

Are there any speed practices in Maryland?

[Jim White]

I'm not sure about Maryland. I think there are teams in DC, WV, Philly, and Virginia, so it would depend on what part of the state you are in. There's also one just north of Hagerstown, if you don't mind crossing the Mason-Dixon line (Gettysburg lives yet). Best would be to come to a speed meet in Roanoke, VA, Labor Day weekend, and talk with skaters there about who does what where.

[roller_dudette]

Well, I'm on the MD-DC-VA boarder and will be working in Northern VA. I maybe out of luck....... Darn, I'm FAST!!

[Jim White]

OK, if you are fast, shouldn't take any time to hook up with
http://www.capitalracing.com/

If any problems, come to Roanoke (unless you're afraid to hook up with other fast skaters, LOL).

[roller_dudette]

Well, I also do quads and no, not going to spend $3K on inlines, but for what I skate on, I'm FAST. Just working in N. VA soon, that would be a LONG hike, bummer. The practice during the week is at 6PM, I'm coming from dullas airport area............

[Jim White]

not going to spend $3K on inlines

???

that would be a LONG hike

Some people do it, some don't. (This paragraph really belongs in my reply to Bridging, the other topic in this forum.)

[roller_dudette]

Originally Posted by Jim White

???


Some people do it, some don't. (This paragraph really belongs in my reply to Bridging, the other topic in this forum.)

Well, some of us arent rich and like to eat and have a roof over our head lol. I also LOVE my quads. I wish there were more options for speed skating on quads. I used to compete in high school and college as a runner and really enjoyed the racing!

But I'm going to a job thats an hour out of the way, its a new career, and also taking 2 night classes, plus addicted to skating lol, so a busy schedule for sure! An extra 2+ or so of driving is a little much right now. I must sleep in all honesty. Cant think and train without sufficient sleep.

[xlracer]

RD the only current quad speed league in the US is in the Great Lakes area
around Chicago and Ft Wayne IN and surrounding locations. There are several teams that practice and compete on Quads and Inlines. They have league meets and welcome anyone to attend. My best suggestion is to talk to your local rink owners about letting you start up a quad speed class. Many of your speed coaches around are old quad guys and you may find one that would be willing to teach a one or two hour class a week if you have people interested. I get my quad racing time in teaching the Nashville Roller Girls how to speed skate. We do lots of dry land drills and skate skate skate.
We have fun work hard and they are getting stronger and faster every month.
BJ if your league does not have a speed coach, I encourage you to seek one out. I will be a great help to everyone. There are alot of us around that raced on quads for years that have alot to offer and love the resurgance of interest in quad skating because of Derby. Dont give it up keep working and the speed will come.

[roller_dudette]

I can try............ I did do a race in a rink once. Just one lap. It wasnt any fun cause it was for 16 and older women and I finished first and everyone else was a half a lap behind me lol. I just love my quads and the low cost with that in comparison. I would just do derby but I have doubts since I'm so petite that I will enjoy the contact part. Thats why I ended up a runner in high school. I got plowed over in field hockey lol. I used to love the racing though.

[Black Jena]

That's some good information... Thank you, everyone!

I am beginning to put feelers out for a speed coach. In the meantime I will practice my crossovers, (crossing above the knee!! wow, that's good), until I get the 'slingshot' feeing. Which is my new goal!

Any other speed info.. please continue to post.

Thanks!

Black Jena

[JerWA]

The local speed team here practices and races all year long on inlines, and really only break out the quads once a year in the month before nationals. Ironically, this year they got their butts handed to them on inlines, but took something like 5 first place wins on quads. Go figure. Anywho, the point being that while most speed teams will be skating inlines, that doesn't necessarily mean that's all they skate (or all the coach teaches). I would never have known about the local team also using quads if I hadn't asked.