That My Friends Is Why We Wear Helmets!

Finally we have graduated to scrimmage practices, time to play with the pack and start to learn the rules and game play of Roller Derby...Finally time to learn how to block..aka hit....who knew I would like that part so much but it's F@$cking awesome! (I will explain in another post how to block and what is legal and what is not.)  The first couple of weeks I had to sit out due to a broken toe (not derby related).  I can not tell you how bad it sucks to sit there watching and not get to practice.  This week I did get to do some pack drills, turns out I may have a pretty good bootie block (this will be most helpful...LOL), I even took my shot at jammer for a couple drills...that was a lot of fun, we all should learn to do it and we will, but I think I enjoy the blocking most of all.

Last night we were doing some pack drills.  One jammer, 5 blockers on the track.....I am making way around the track as part of the pack and Vigilante Banshee falls (she hurt her ankle quite badly a couple practices ago and reinjured it last night...hope your feeling better today girl!) ...it was either skate right over her or do a Pornstar (aka Four Point Fall) Heres a little clip explaining the Pornstar but you have to picture it with Vigilante on the floor and me flying over the top of her legs while landing into a darn good Pornstar ..LOL

I get up and go again, smiling at what I think was a dam great Pornstar!!.....And it happens, I wipe out again however this time not with such grace....Im going around the turn, wipe out land on my butt, and my head bangs on the concrete floor.  I hear Coach Pixel Ninja "Are you OK can you keep going?" I bounce to my feet, shake my head and off I am again saying "Yup, Im good".......make a couple more turns around the track, smiling having fun then BOOM....wipe out again!...This time right square on my butt with my head hitting the concrete so hard it bounced! I hear a huge "Ohhhhh" from my teammates and I hear again from Coach " Are you OK?" I roll over on my stomach, laughing and crying at the same time...."I'm OK but I'm done for tonight"! I am fine, no concussion or anything but it did leave me dazed and confused for a couple of minutes, and a stiff neck today! 

All I can say is my helmet prevented a potentially serious injury last night! It is however very important to always wear it and to wear it proper adjusted to fit you and straps done up.  It happened so quickly I would hate to think what would have happened if I didn't have one.  Our helmets are lined with softer foam than bicycle helmets and are made for multiple impact use. The helmets also are designed to cover more of the back of your head which is ideal for the unexpected backwards falls that can happen in derby, especially while learning to skate.  It is not recommended to buy a second-hand helmet as it can be hard to tell if a helmet has been damaged in a crash.

.....I think I maybe should move the new helmet further up the list on my wish list, just to be on the safe side.  :)