Wheel-O-Mania: what I skate on

I have many girls asking me about wheels, right now I'm on Atom wheels and have been since May 2010, a combination of G-Rods as pushers and Lowboys. I really like this combo, and it works well for me on lots of different surfaces, but I have a feeling that lots of girls wouldn't find it sticky enough, especially not on those slick sports-hall floors lots of Scandinavian girls skate on.
I think my preferred combo for those would probably be Stingers as pushers with G-Rods and if the floor was really slick I'd probably go all in on Stingers - all eight... and yes, I am on the narrower wheels. I used to be on Heartless, but they were to narrow for me when jamming, I lost too much speed, and what they made up in agility wasn't worth it. The slim Atom wheels are a little wider than Heartless and it made a huge improvement in my jamming! It was actually OMG from Five Stride who talked me into going a tiny bit wider, and I totally blew her off about it, but she is a person I really trust when it comes to gear! And it showed out to be true, it really did improve my jamming...
Another wheel I have heard lots of good things about are the Atom Poisons, and I think that those and also the Radar Ghosts are good cheaper alternatives for girls that want a cheaper sticky wheel, those wheels are so called hybrid, and can be skated on both indoor and outdoor. The Ghosts are the narrow version of the Radar Shadows and Poisons come both in narrow and wide!
I am actually quite a fan of the Radar Flat Out for minor outdoor skating and  for slick indoor floors, they also come in a narrower version, the Flat Out's also make for a very good pusher wheel.

Wheel preferences can be quite induvidual, and I know girls that like their wheels to be superduper sticky and girls that like their wheels to slide, because they feel that it gives them more control. I preferred more sticky wheels when I was less skilled, and I don't mind a little more of a slide to my wheels now. Also the success or failure of a wheel depends on your skating-style, your weight and skill, just because your best friend likes a wheel does not mean you will be as crazy about it!

The best way to figure out if you like a wheel is to borrow it from a friend and see if it works for you, and in worst case buy it, and then re-sell it.... and most wheels take a couple of hours to get broken in and also used to, before you can really decide if it's a good fit for you! But I must say that both the girls at Five Stride Skateshop and Fast Girl Skates know what they talk about, and they interact with amazing derby-girls on a daily basis... and therefore are a great resource!

What do you skate on? And do you like it? And why??

Copenhagen to Stockholm - NO accidents

 (photo från Malmö stolen from mirijam.blogspot.com)

So me and Malou made it up to Stockholm from Copenhagen, despite blizzards and late trains... Our train from Copenhagen to Malmö was about one hour late, and when we got to Malmö we had to dig my car out with a tray, since we did not have a shovel. And there was about 50 cm plow-wall to dig throu to get to the car. MOHAHAHAHahaha.... but who deosn't like to dig out your car at 3am??
The drive took about 12 hours, and that is almost double from last time I drove Stockholm - Malmö.... yepp, it was taxing and time consuming, but it was worth it to be able to get to my family on Christmas Eve!

Snow, snow, more snow and familytime....

(Snowblades anyone? Medborgarplatsen in Stockholm by HyperNova)

We are heading to Stockholm later today, right now we're in the middle of nowhere in Denmark... First we are going to celebrate some Christmas with Malous family and then grab a train back to Copenhagen, collect some presents and head to Malmø, grab my car and slowly start to make our way up to Stockholm, to celebrate more Christmas with my family.

Hopefully we can get some skating in, I'm coaching on the 26th of December and then I think we might try to go to Frysen on the 27th and do some indoor ramp-skating!

Lesbian Drama and snow

 (Snowy streets in Malmø, picture stolen from sydsvenskan.se)

No kidding, Scandinavia is frozen, we are deep in the fridge, there is snow and ice wherever we turn, and it is not common. I know, we get snow, in the NORTH, north of Stockholm where I am from, NOT in Copenhagen and Malmø, not to this extent... this will be a white christmas. Trains are late and cars slide of the streets and I have left Copenhagen to spend the 23rd at Malous family and then we will be heading up to Stockholm to spend the rest of Christmas with my family!

Me and Malou just discovered Lip Service... a lesbian drama series from BBC, and Frankie is HOT HOT HOT... and looks and acts EXACTLY like Shane from L-word. We don't care, we still think she is hot! Same, same but different! So tonight that is waht we are going to do, watch the last episode of Lip Service! Sadly there are only six episodes so far, but I am planning on writing nice little letters to BBC BEGGING for another six, because SERIOUSLY, it is better than L-word because there is no annoying Jenny... peeew...

Me and Malou are going to practice with the Stockholm girls on the 26th, well, I think I am probably coaching, and it be awesome and fun! I miss skating...

Car accident and scrimmage

( Hyper Nova jamming blocked by me, Smashed and Vicious Kali)

This weekend I headed towards Gothenburg to scrimmage with them and Stockholm. In my car I stuffed Krazy Kris, Mad Malooney, Evil Eye and Muffa from Copenhagen and Crime City. Only about ten minutes away from Malmö my car decided to lose traction and sway out of control ending up doing a 180 on the highway. We ended up facing the traffic stuck to the left side rail having to climb out the passenger side window into kneedeep snow... and then we stood around in kneedeep snow for an hour, slightly schocked until the tow truck could unstuck my car from the railing and the police stop the traffic so we could turn the car around...  yeah... did I mention that Sweden has gotten a lot of snow the past weeks?

But we decided to continue towards Gothenburg, but on a train, since we were quite shaky and no one of us really felt like driving after the incident. I texted the girl in charge and let her know that I could not hold the practice on Saturday, but I was still on for Sunday, my head was feeling mushy and my hands were shaking.

I haven't been skating much latley, it has been good for my body to take a little break, but I will soon be back on my skates in full force.

Whatever, we made it to Gothenburg on a train thruogh a white, white Sweden, but arrived four hours later than planned and quite still in shock. After skating around a little, trying to help girls with posture and giving hints and help it was time for scrimmage. Well, that's at least what I thought, but we were left with a paper to sign up for if you wanted to jam, and the girl that was in charge of the scrimmage were nowhere to be found. So without any direction we all looked around, saw that most girls were wearing black we put white shirts on and stood around waiting while the refs organizing the last minute things. I skated up to them and asked if they wanted any help, but they really had everything under control.
I don't think that the paper with jammer-names ever got used, not that I was signed up, sicne I decided that I would be more helpful in the pack, talking with girls in the pack.
I finally saw the girl organizing the whole thing and asked her for helmet panties, she laughed and said ''OOoooPS'' and complete chaos came into force for a couple of seconds until one of the Gothenburg girls came up with a pair... scrimmage saved...

I ended up playing in only three jams, and then I spent the rest of the time organizing the white bench, I am much better at bench-coaching than running line-ups... a few of the girls had never been in a scrimmage before, and I kept on trying to boost girls up to go out on the floor and play together, and jam even if they thought they couldn't... together... and they did a good job! It was good for me, even if it was a little sad not playing, but I know since way back that I have a hard time to play nice and not hit hard, and some of those girls should not be hit hard, because the skills were really on different levels.

All the skaters from Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmo and and the one Umeå girl did a great job, and it is good to see that derby are striding forward in the distant north were I was born! Oh, oh and not to forget the refs that helped out from Finland!

It all ended up being quite a good weekend with friends, I got to see Husse, Smashed, Kajsa (Fröken Sverige, HyperNova and the rest of the bunch!

Thanksgiving the Swedish way

Me and Em, mostly Em since she lived in Stockholm, have thru the years collected some American friends in Sweden, and we have also collected some American traditions... Thanksgiving happen to be one of them!  Sometimes Americans asks me why we don't celebrate Thanksgiving, and that really makes me think that those people may not know why they have an eating fest every November...

Ah, nevermind, nevermind friends... We had some friends over the weekend after the American Thanksgiving and I know that was a couple of weeks ago, but I have been in turkey coma ever since... How do you American guys do it?

We did have the American dude Karl slice the turkey, Em did the basting, stuffing (andother thing I just cannot learn to like) and the gravy, I did the basting liquid and yummy brussels sprouts with bacon and garlic. Sunnee who is American created yummy truffel oiled mashed potatoes,,, and Jesper who's got an Amercan girlfriend in Texas took an international approach and brought cheese, wine and he even made a yummy lentil soup. Half Italian Joakim was a no-good-slacker and just sat around and looked good, but you can get extra credits for that... well, in all fairness, he brought beers and wine...

Death by Sushi

All you can eat sushi can really kill you...

Coffe and Snow in Copenhagen

It is snowing outside, and me and Loony were supposed to go out running, but instead we went for a brisk walk to the shopping mall and got some Christmas gifts. Just some small trinkets for friends in US and Sweden...

Since I can't get a gym-membership until January, I'm holding out and trying to figure out ways to keep active. Me and Loony had a bright idea about going out running the other day, now we are both sore... and now it's snowing, so running is even lower on the priority list than it was before. As soon as I have finished this post, I'm gonna throw myself on the floor and do some push-ups and sit-ups, maybe some ACL-dips and other fun little things.

I really miss skating, I really miss derby, it is fun coaching, but it's just not like being a part of a team, not at all! Buhuu... sniff... sniff... I miss hanging out at Five Stride with OMG and Bonnie and I miss going to Treasure Beach with Fisti and Justin and finding trash that we call treasures... I totally miss Kakes being just as bitchy and honest as just she can be, and I miss Bunny hopping around and having awesome drunkan adventures and sober adventures... I miss eating food with Pie (she also has a very funny and awesome boyfriend, he's approved) and talking food and weird things with Suzy... I miss all that... yes I do... but don't get me wrong, I am happy being with my lovly lady in Copenhagen, it just be a little more awesome if all my friends were at the same place and if there was a place to skate all the time around the corner from here!

So now I'm gonna drink another tall glass of coffee and do those boooring exercises I know that I need to stay fit... and tonight we are going out for sushi with Krazy Kris and Martattack from Copenhagen Rollerderby and that will be totally YUMMY!

First German Championships in Rollerderby

 (Boutcasting with programs, weinshcorle and a mic)

So me and Loony boutcasted for Derby News Network (DNN) from the German Championship in Berlin, and that was real fun. First time ever, so it was a little hard, especially since i was not really familiar with any of the German skaters. Loony played Hamburg before, and been to some bootcamps, so she recognized some of the girls, making it a little easier.
We really did not know until the day before that we were going to do the boutcasting, so we were as prepared as we could be. I sat on a ledge and hugged Loony while we both spoke into a shared mic, and drank some weinschorle... it is my favorite thing to drink when in Germany... that and Weissbier. We were trying to figure out the girls name from the programs and their numbers.... yeah, it was not the easiest, and out voices were starting to crack after a while... but it was fun! Did I mention it was fun!

 (Master Blaster jamming for Berlin Bombshells photo stolen from the book of Faces)

Both Stuttgart Valley Rollergirlz and Berlin Bombshells looked awesome, they had great skaters, good strategy and were a really good match up, and made for a great final. They for sure dominated the other three teams, Essen, Barock City and HanseConnection... those other three team were not really cohesive teams, sicne they had to borrow girls, to make up a complete rosters and it is always harder to play with mixed teams than with a team you always skate with, since derby is a teamsport, and knowing your team and strategy is an important part.

I am so excited to be back in Europe, being able to help in so many different ways, boutcasting, coaching, workshops... yepp... anything where I am needed is totally worth it! Being a part of history being written, is so amazing and watching derby grow as a sport warms my little Swedish heart, and I saw girls from allover Europe in the audience, lots of Swedish (from Stockholm Rollerderby and Crime City Rollers- that's Malmö) and French girls from at least Paris... and Germans of course!! Oh, funny thing, I got interviewed by some German media, and proved that I acctually can speak German, well sort of. Klick here and wait for 1.41 min... and you can share the experiance...

It was really awesome to be back in Berlin, I have not been there in four years, and then I spent a summer, this time it was frozen, and we walked everywhere on Sunday and Monday. We were supposed to take the bus back home on Sunday, but when we came to the bus, we realized that Loony by accident booked the ticket for Monday, so we just had to turn around and spend another day in Berlin. Smashed and CallaVera from Stockholm Rollerderby were awesome enough to hook us up with some bedspace in theri hotel, after some beer-drinking.

(May I introduce you to CallaVera and Smashed from Stockholm Rollerderby)

But now both me and Loony are back in Copenhagen and getting some rest and going to the gym, it was an amazing weekend, and I am really looking forward to what German Rollerderby will look like next year, at the German Championships... but this upcoming weekend we are going to Gothenburg to participate in a mixed scrimmage between Gothenburg Rollerderby and Stockholm...

I am off to Berlin and the German Championships

(on the bus with some Crime City girls)

First time ever I get to see European Rollerderby, it is really, really EXCITING! I have just watched some online before, but this is first time I get to see multiple bouts and in Germany... in Berlin that is one of my favorite cities in the world, so this will be a very, VERY exciting weekend. I'm taking a bus from Copenhagen to Berlin with a bunch of Swedish and Danish rollergirls, we packed candy and some wine for the trip... WEINSCHORLE!!

See you on Sunday... this blog is ready to party!

Dear Santa

 (I always put the jammer cap on crocked, photo by Joe Rollerfan)

I only want ONE thing for Christmas, and that is a gym-pass... Maybe this or maybe this or maybe something different, it be more fun to work out with Loony.... I want to have a gym-pass so I can go to the gym a couple of days in the week, so I always feel like I have the opportunity to go to the gym, just the common gym... working out, maybe on the treadmill and maybe with free weights... I would even really like to be able to once in a while be able to take one of those gym classes... not aerobics, but boxercise or something silly like that, or maybe yoga... if all those things could be delivered for me in a little pass for Christmas... then DEAR SANTA I'd love you even more!

I just got a new pair of skates, I have all the roller-derby gear I need, we all know I can always have a cool t-shirt more or less, toe-stops are always hot and Five Stride just got the Gumballs in stock, and those toe-stops are Bonnie Thunder approved... Oh, when I come to think about it... of course I do want new wheels, I want the Stinger Slims, wheels are always on my list over hot things to own, love and roll on.... Maybe I actually start to think that I might want some new trucks to... but I do like the nylon... I do... but OMG have been on me for a looong time I should upgrade to some light aluminum trucks... but I can be stubborn when I want, and my trucks are so nice and orange and I don't know if I am ready for the big leap, I leap so well on nylon...

Yeah, dear Santa, I know.. .it started out as ONE thing, but a girl gotta have dreams, and wishes...

Skatepark with Stockholm Rollerderby

 (Loony and Kix checking the pool out)

I really love skating, like A LOT! And since Stockholm RD still have the problem of getting a place to practice, they substitute some of their practice with some skate park action. And I tell you dear friends, those ladies are KICK ASS!

(Hyper is hyping up )

Malou is still with me in Stockholm, and I totally dragged her along, and she loved it JUST as much as I do! I still highly doubt that either of us will EVER dare to drop into the vert-ramp. If anyone does, I do put my money on that it will be KixDeVille from Stockholm. I swear dear friends, she is a little insane! Actually, I think they are all insane, but sanity is probably overrated anyway, right?!Can't wait to see Stockholm bout Malmö in March, it will be the first bout in Sweden... HOW EXCITING!

(Hyper is going big while Kix, Twisted, Annika and Becky watches)

My derby husband

(Me and Endless Justin)

Most derbygirls have a derbywife, I have two, almost three.... I believe it is OK to get a wife per year that you have been skating... (FYI my wives are - ReAnimeHer from Rat City, Colt 45 from Texas, and Smashed not Strrd from Stockholm, this one I don't really know how it happened...) but I also happen to have a derby husband, he might not always admit that I am his wife, but I am, and he might actually be the wife and me the husband. I endorse queerness and do not like to define things.

I had the plesure to travel with him all this year, and there is just no other like him (or Fisti) and therefore he (and Fisti) are now a part of my ever-growing family. He's a very awesome person, a little thoughtful and he doesn't really get that stressed out when me and Fisti run away from him when he is trying to get our drunk asses home from afterparties, he just gently sights when Fisti is half-dressed and I am jumping up and down and we are supposed to be at the venue in about five min to warm-up for Nationals. He just sort of nods in an agreeing but not really agreeing way when I ramble about something that I might or might not be upset about. He also is about the best lineup runner and also a very mellow and supportive coach! He used to be a ref, so he seem to know everything, and he is also really artsy and pain quite fantastic paintings, and he's a teacher and teach students about art history and stuff...

I would write much more about him, Fisti and their amazingly pathetic but awesome dog Mason, but I totally have to hug my girlfriend who still claims to be hungover since Saturday...

Crazy life and crazy life

I think the past week has been one of the busiest and craziest in a looong time, I have not been this exhausted in a loooong time. Lot's of decisions to be made, and lots of things to do and get done.

I am really, really, REALLY sad I missed Gothams awards party, especially since I heard I tied with Pie for the Manhattan Mayhem MVP Award.

This past week I did that TV thing, had a Thanksgiving dinner with my friends and attended the Stockholm Rollerderby Winter Bash. Makes my life a little crazy busy, real long days and nights and very little sleep. And Malou came here Saturday night, to make me feel like I at least have my girlfriend around me! Oh yeah!

On Saturday me and my roomie (Em) actually made it to the gym, and that was really nice, I like being at the gym and working out, I just wish I really had one place I lived, and right now it feels like I am split between three places. I really want to get a gym-pass, so I feel like I can go to the gym everyday... that is number one on my Christmas gift list...

You and me dear derby world

First of all, I totally miss Manhattan Mayhem, I had a great season playing in orange, but that is not waht this blog is all about. This is about the Allstars... 

So hello dear derby world, I am in search for a new leauge, leaving your old sucks... I have cried many nights missing the wonderful girls of Gotham Girls! It is not easy to leave the team you just placed third at the WFTDA Championships with, to skate with another leauge, not even knowing what leauge you are to join.

I am very passionate about derby, I gained so much playing derby, I also gave up a lot of things. I have not been on a vacation for three years, because all my money spent been on ''Derby vacations'', I can't complain, but it would be really nice to go to a beach an lay out or go somewhere to just surf and get that tan I look so great in... but NO, I go to somewhere and hang out in a dirty wharehouse and get blisters! But it has been totally worth it, every stride has been totally worth it.

It makes me sad that I missed my mothers 6oth birthday and her major birthday party, because I had a bout with the Gotham Allstars in Portland. It was not an easy choice, but I knew that if I skated this bout and proved myself to be a worthy part of the Gotham Allstars, I would have taken a step closer to becoming a starter for Eastern Regionals. Because my goal was to play WFTDA Championships, and that's it, it was a choice I made, I don't regret it, but sometimes I feel a sting of sadness because I knew it was something that was important for my mother, and I had to miss it.

Right now I am just fine coaching, and I know that I wanna skate with my girlfriend, but it all depends what makes us both happy...

I cooked in the name of derby

(I feel a little split in my life)

The past week I spent shooting for a Swedish familyfriendly show... yepp... I did, I cooked for people with cameras on me, but I also got to show of my skills in other areas. Can I tell you it was quite an adventure... I love food, I love cooking food, I have traveled the world eating... and now I have done it on TV. Ugha... I must now flee Sweden, it is done!

Just to make matters worse, I was already signed up to make a week-late-Thanksgiving dinner with my roomie... so right now I'm basting a turkey and preparing brusselsprouts, missing out on Stockholm Rollerderbys Friday night practice... I guess this is a REAL break for me! But on Monday I'll be skating with Loony at the indoor skatepark here in Stockholm!

Six month

Me and Malou... six months... it just sucks we aren't together here in Stockholm, or there in Copenhagen to have an amazing night together... She is sad, and it is frustrating when I can't be there for her to make her smile and laugh.

16 degrees below zero Celsius

Beloved Stockholm, you are so cold, I wanna huddle under a blanket, and I really should go to the gym and not drink wine and eat fantamazing food!

Secret Project Week

I am in hiding this week, I'm on a mission, and it will be revealed later next year, but right now, I'm quiet like a mouse. This project does make me stay out late and drink more wine than I normally do, so I can say I am a little distracted from other things that should be done.

Tonight I have to dress a little glam... ahh... I don't think I own something glam anymore... Ughaaa...

Busy bee cooking week

 

Oh yeah...