Going to WET 2014

Today I travel to Copenhagen to hang out with OMG and Krazy Kris for a night before the WET tournament begins. 10 European teams of great caliber face off during three days in Malmö, my old hometown. I am looking forward to see this, I am looking forward to be a part of this.

I am  part of an European Allstar team that is going to bout against Team Finland on Sunday and on Saturday, Team Sweden has practice, at 07.30 AM... I am looking forward to both occations.

I miss NYC, especially a certain person that I grown very fond of, a person that makes my heart skip and jump, but I m also happy to be back in Sweden where it all began four years ago. Sometimes it's hard to feel so torn between two different places. 

Swedish Championships in Rollerderby 2014

I know this is real late, but I've thrown my life in a crazy direction and made a bunch of rational and probably irrational changes... And it has lead to no blog in a while, since I frankly have not really had my computer around not time to write. This is about to change....

Last year I stod on the bench, coaching my team to a gold. I felt like i was a part of that gold, even if a torn hamstring the previous month stopped me from any sort of rollerderby action. It was awesome to bench, but I still love playing rollerderby too much, I still love skating fast and hitting hard, I want ready to retire. 

So this year I got to skate in the finals against Crime City. It was superduper fun but hard to play. This was my last bout with Stockholm for quite a while...  Both Stockholm and CCR played well, but in the end Stockholm took the win. This was a real hard bout to play, and both teams deserved to win. 

It was also my last bout with Stockholm for 2014...

ECDX weekend was awesome

Of course it totally sucked not to skate and the lack of pool. ECDX pool has always been an amazing experiance, I will always rememebr when Montreal had a little danceshow for us. And talking about Montreal, their spacewolf pants this year are aaaamazing! Keeping the dream alive.

It was real fun to see Tiger Bay, Helsinki and of course Crime City play, it's so amazing and awesome to see how well  European teams are performing, and proving over and over that Europe is underanked. Victoria from Australia showed that they very much deserve the ranking that they are at.

 Crime City vs. Providence was REALLY exciting, I am SO impressed over how they kept it together and played well, despite that Juciy, one of their skaters, broke her ankle in the game the day before.

Other games that were ttally worth watching were Montreal and Terminal City that played a tight and superexciting game, Gotham vs. Philly that was a little tigher than I would have assumed, but freaking LOVE to watch Slaydie and Diva go at it. The clash of the Titans! And damn Bonnie, she's just sort of "OK guys, I am just gonna stick myself between you and slide by". Impressive and lovable!

I also had a good time just haning out with friends talking about rollerderby, watching rollerderby and having a few beers. I was stayng with OMG and Bonnie and even if they were playing I think I was the first one to fall asleep. I've become such a sleeper the past year... Sleeping is goood for you!

Today I'm going to practice and I am very excited about it, YAYAAAAA... I gotta go rollerskating... Tomorrow I think I am gonna go outdoor rollerskating, I miss it! Just skating up the West Side High Way on Manhattan is SO MUCH FUN!! (fuck running, when you can skate) I once made Trish do it with me, and she got the worst blisters, so my mission is to get her a pair of better fitting skates...

Heading to ECDX

Been in NYC for a few days, really been feeling quite crappy and tired... Haven't done much but hang out with OMG and Bonnie, been to a practice and watched soccer with my Colombian friend Sunny... yeah... good times! Oh, and of course I got to see one of my best friends Only who is in town with Helsinki ROllerderby.

Today I'm heading towards ECDX in Philly, more about that after this weekend. But in short hand I get to see Tiger Bay, Crime City and Helsinki Rollerderby play american teams. It is always awesome to see how European teams fare in USA, since we all seem to be quite underanked.

I am bringing my skates, but with outdoor wheels and my running shoes, after feeling crappy for a few days I just can't wait to work out again.

Bout against Crime City 2014

Crime City is our biggest competion in Sweden, last year we played each other 3 times, and we beat them twice and them us once. So this weekend we went down to play them again, it was sort of a big deal since two of our main blockers left Stockholm. Emma Ryssfemma is doing the babything and Kix acctually moved to Malmö, and was going to play against us. I would lie if I said I wasn't nervous.

Playing CCR is always really emotional, partly because that they are my old team and also because so many of the girls on the team are my good friends and teammates on Team Sweden.I want them to do good! This being the first time for us to bout without Kix, and having her play against us, was of course also a factor that made the game a little extra emotional.

At the same time I was SUPEREXCITED to have two new girls on our Allstars playing their first bout with us, and both Panica and Mounty did amazing. The entire team did freaking amazing, I am really proud to be a part of this team, to captain and coach. Everyone has such a great attitude and their heads on their shoulders, we skate well together and push each other! I like that!

The bout was close, Stockholm took the lead from the beginning, but it wasn't like it felt like we were winning at any point, Crime City really gave us a run for our points. And once again this gives me so much hope and happiness for the future of Swedish rollerderby.

I got awarded MVP, and that always feels really good, but without my team being so awesome I would not be able to play as well as I did.

In three weeks we will be playing against Rocky Mountain, and that will really be something... the last bout we play in Sweden before we head over to Beach Brawl and play Houston, Steele City and Tampa... yikes! It's EXCITING and sooo amazingly crazy. I rememember two years ago, when talking about bringing Stockholm Roller Derby to USA, just was a dream, something we barley thought ever would happen... and NOW, it's what's happeing! 

Bouting Go Go Gent and loving Stockholm Rollerderby

There is always something to bouting a team you have never bouted before, and Gent was such a team. I had seen them play on several occations, and for some reason I had this feeling of not really knowing what to expect out of it. I am ALWAYS nervous before a bout, a little less know when I'm not in a regular jammer-rotation... (thank god for Loony, Slinky, Chaos and Juana) My friend Meredith did some elaborate make-up on me, so that was new and looked quite cool.

Before our bout I had a few minuted to watch BSTRDs play really well against Västerås. It was great to see how much both our B-team and Västerås have developed the past year. It gives hope for the future of Swedish rollerderby.  After our bout we also found out that Dock City beat Helsinkis B-team in Helsinki and that Crime City beat Hellfire Harlots down in Malmö... so it was truly a great day for Swedish Rollerderby... Nevermind, now I totally strayed from the topic as I so easily do.

We won!

Playing against Gent was fun, they are a good team, but their jammerpenalties was what really made the huge difference. I must say that I am very proud to be captain over Stockholm Rollerderby Allstars, it's a very smart and welltuned team that stod on the track together this past Saturday. We wetn out on the track with a plan, and we even tried a few new strategies, and it worked very well. Everyone are growing into their positions and the attitude on the bench was just awesome and upbeat.

Playing was superfun, and I felt like I had a great bout and so did everyone else, we just kept on trucking and it payed off.

Me sending some love to Kix in the box...

After the bout I went home - took a shower and laid on my bed for 30 min drinking an oatmeal stout just basketing in the amzing sound of nothingness and a tired but clean body. The afterparty felt real far away, but I knew my duty as a good little derbygirl and packed myself to the afterparty for some social engagements... 

SM in Rollerderby

Rollerderby - we are deeply in love, you are my longest relationship (ok, snowboarding lasted longer) but I have given you everything, and I am pleased. We are in this together, and sometimes you make me cry of frustration...

I remember when I returned to Europe 2,5 years ago - Sweden had five derby leauges, none of them had ever bouted with a full roster. So it's quite amazing that this weekend Sweden will have their first National Championships with eight teams! Sweden now has about 20 leauges and still growing, we are a recognized sport and in all of Europe rollerderby is growing.

I love you rollerderby! On or off saktes, you are always a joy... and a freaking PAIN!

WFTDA Annual Meeting - exciting things

A few times that thought of not being involved on rollerderby has hit me - and I really conmsidered it, but then I always have to rethink it because I go on amazing journeys and rediscover the essence of why I started rollerderby from the get go.

PPL that work (non-payed) in the oragnization got a hat... so we could recognize them and say how  much we appreciate them (and also to ask them questions)

This year I had the opportunity to go to the WFTDA Annual Meeting that was held in Florida, Stockholm has just gotten our fullmembership and we were allowed to bring two reps, all leauges that are full members are welcome to join. And it was AMAZING to sit around and discuss the sport that we have built, the sport that we all love and try to draw up guidelines for what the future will entail.

Crime City Rollers representing by Muffa

WFTDA har grown out of a few leauges deciding it be good if they all played under the same ruleset; back in the day - like 10 years ago, there was no agreed upon ruleset, and teams would come together and decide  before the game what was legal and not legal. I mean, I started 6 years ago, and I can say, that was never the case for me, but I also know how the existance of WFTDA has hightened the level of gameplay, it has made us grow into organized, amazing, strong athletes, in a very revolutionary way.

It is very cool knowing that WFTDA is expanding internationally, that we have more and more European leauges joining, Australian, Asian - it's a worldwide revolution, of a sport that was founded and most people thought was a fad, traditional sportsfederations laughed at us and the newspapers thought we belonged in "nöjesidorna". The ruleset is getting translated and as a small step of that a few of us international skaters, translated the WFTDA missionstatement into our native language. I must say it almost made me cry to stand infront of hunderads of WFTDA reps and read out the missionstatement.

WFTDA is so much more than a platform for competative play, it's a forum for disscussion, for developing, for asking questions, to answer questions and to make your voice heard and your vote count!

We all walked around with little nametags, the sticker showed how many times you had attended, This was  my first year, so I had one! 

WFTDA Annual meeting was amazing - we sat indoors in sunny Florida  from 9am until 5 pm and shared opinions, thoughts, dissaponiments, views and visions. We shared what has worked for us, and what is not working, and then we had free drinks (true story, the hotel had an open bar for an hour) and kept on talking poolside. 

Only at WFTDACon you will end up in a cuddlepuddle with some of your favorite skaters!

Stockholm rollerderby vs. Crime City Rollers: PART 3

Our Fresh Meat came and cheered us on!

Third time is a charm, whatever that is supposed to mean, this is called part three, since it's the third time Stockholm and Crime City play each other.....
So the first full WFTDA sanctioned bout in Sweden happened yesterday. Stockholm and Crime City have done lots of firsts, and it's about two years since we played the first bout in Sweden... In Malmö - and at that time me, Loony and Firebird all played with Crime City, and now we play with Stockholm, both amazing teams, and I'm so happy to be a part of Swedish rollerderby!

I been sort of not into derby lately, I've acctually honestly thought about retirement, I've just felt like I don't have it in me. But after this weekend I do feel much more positive and I remembered why I love rollerderby... I still have decided to re-prioritise some things... Life will rule rollerderby and not the other way around! Yesterdays game was fun, I wasn't prepared for it to be as much fin as it was and our off-skate is freaking HILLERIOUS, we all do the off-skate and then randomly starting to sing "My Girl" and half of the team don't really know the lysrics, but we fake it really well...

This is how much fun it is to talk about line-ups before the game...

We won yesterday, and the game was a nailbiter, it was our first game with the new rules, and we had one player foul out, in the last 10 min, I guess it could have been worse. We are still playing rollerderby, and as long as we keep it legal, the changes aren't that crazy different... Oh, and I got MVP and it really meant a lot to me, thank you CCR, and thank you STRD for helping me pushing myself and being a part of something that is amazing, and sorry I've been pissy and difficult lately...

I also wanna give out Fresh Meat an extra shoot-out for coming down and cheering us on, we needed that extra love!

I love rollerderby Sweden, you guys are awesome, I love the hard work we put in together! Amazing!!

My really cute MVP award!

And I do admit I love my A-team a tad extra, what is there not to love after seeing them sing karoke or dance at the stage in sports bras? Seriously! I must say I miss Husse, with her in the crew we knew we would win the afterparty, she's an animal... (and she was good to have on the track too)

Lets continue work hard and have those stupid laughs together..: and the drive to play great and amazing derby (and it feels good when we win too)

Karoke afterparty... and seriously... me and Becky do NOT sing... Amy is the star!

STRD Allstars team meeting

Our Allstars are all moooodels..... 

So another day with no practice, so we had a team meeting instead. I love my team, everyone are so sweet and silly, we also have a few new additions to the Allstars, that I hope will work out really well. It feels like the season hasn't really started yet and people are just done decompressing from last season...

We are playing Crime City on Saturday. That will be fun and also my last weekend trip in quite a few weeks.

Don get me wrong, I love to travel, but it's really tiering, and I wanan be home and cuddle!

Look HOW excited we are... probably need less cupcakes and more beer?

Gothenburg vs. CCR B

Last weekend I took a roadtrip to Gothenburg with Kix and Kim, to go watch CCR' B-team play Gothenburg...
It was great to spend soem time just driving through a very beutiful Sweden, it always strikes me how amazing and striking my native country is, dressed up in orange, yellow and red leaves falling off. The sun is still just a tad warm, and winter is just sneaking up on us... Ahhh...
 last time they met about 8 month ago, CCR beat Gothenburg with over 100 points or somethign like that, I did have a feeling that Gothenburg had gotten much better, sicne tyhey been working really hard the past month... and that really showed during the bout.
It was a nailbiter, and both teams were fighting really hard, there was really great derby played, and I didn't know who to cheer for... CCR were better at pointprotecting while Gothenburg had amazing walls, that worked fantastic together.
It really isn't often that I get to watch derby, and I forgot how much fun it is to sit in the audicence and just watch... and I am acctually allowed to scream at the referees... (not that I ever would... right.... )

Four minutes left and it could go either way... (GBG to the left and CCR to the right)

CCR showing off their new bout shirts! 

Ready set go! 

Kix gives teh game and the afterparty two thumbs of two! 

Stockholm vs. Malmö

We won.... The Final Score was STRD 169 – CCR 122
I am very proud of my team - they played very well. After a rocky start we regained our feet under us and started to chip away on the lead that CCR earned. I don't think I have never been so nervous EVER playing a bout, it is really weird to play a team that you feel you aer such a big part of.
I loved Crime City - but Stockholm is "mina drömmars stad" and even when I hate it the most - I love it even more.
AND WE SOLD OUT - over 700 tickets! Yaya! That was REALLY exciting! I'm so excited we had such a fab audience cheering both for us and for Crime City! It was truly lovly and made me hopeful for the future of Swedish Rollerderby!

It is really exciting that Sweden has not only one but two teams that are going to the AP/WFTDA tournament in Berlin, and that we both are really able and work so hard to improve our derby, fitness and awareness.

The bout Saturday was our second sanctioned bout, and we are really hoping to soon become full WFTDA members, there are so many exciting things ahead of us - I love rollerderby - I really do - this is what I do to put a smile on my face. And I know that I at times go close to teh fire and almost burn out, but for most of the times, it's worth it in the end...

TOMORROW! WE ARE PLAYING IN STOCKHOLM!

Well, to be honest, we are playing in Solna Hallen - but how cool is that!? It's gonna be frealing fantastic! Swedens two best teams are going head to toe in a great game... and I have very deep ties and connections to both teams!

If you are in Stockholm, you really should come and watch it! It will be a BLAST! Don't miss out! Just COME!! Game will START at 17.00!

You can still get your tickets online OR just buy them at the door! This will be KICK ASS! 

Going South for the weekend

So this weekend I decided to go to Malmö and pay my old leauge a visit, and it was a good trip. They had an intraleauge bout: Lammkött vs. Pantertanter (Lambmeat vs. Golden Girls) So if you were 29 or over you were deemed to be a Pantertant and  if you were younger you were a Lambmeat.
The bout was very close and it made it quite exciting to watch, Team Sweden skaters Evil Eye, Ninja and Ankefar were Oldies while Curly, Alotta and Fenix were all Lambchops... yum yum...  I know I have said this before, but I probably will again, and again... I am so proud and wexcited about how far Swedish rollerderby have gotten, how much we are pushing ourselves, how hard we all work to make it better. I am proud of each and everyone that are involved in derby!
I sat next to Fluke and we had smuggled a beer in, so we could drink and watch a bout... I can't even remember last time I just went and watched a bout without NO responsibility surrounding the event. It was quite AMAZING!

Pantertanter warming up

Objects might apper closer, it still is almost 6 ours between Malmö and Stockholm

Aloha and Ankefarfar (Ankan wins best outfit)

Lammkött warming up

Derbyfestival in Malmö

This weekend was so full of things that I don't even know where to begin, not at all... we fun we had sun, and rain, and skated, and skated, and ate too little, got weird tans, wore to big bout shirts and to small hotpants. I got kissed and sun kissed and I smiled, a lot!

Vagine Regime Nordic played our first bout against Crime City Rollers A-team and the Swedish Meatwalls won against all the other contries until yesterday in the final - when we ended up with a draw against the Finns... 92 - 92

It was a really amazing weekend with dancing in the rain, hanging out with amazing people and lots and lots of skating... and I can't complain about getting to bout too much - even if I now (and yesterday) suffer from a real bad cold and some bruises...

Thanks to everyone that made this happen, I know it was really hard work! 

Dancing in the rain

Spending the weekend in Malmö at an amazing derby festival!

Sometimes I forget why I love derby so much - and today made me remember!

Our bout was cut short because of rain, and instead of crying we ended up having a danceparty in the rain!

I probably will be sick tomorrow and regret bouncing up and down for 1 hour in the rain... But it was worth it.. The sun was shining and the rain poring down, the music poring and a bunch of awesome girls dancing and life just felt quite perfect...

March Attacks Crime City

So I'm on my way to Malmö, since Stockholm Rollerderby will kick off a derbyfilled weekend with playing London Roller Girls B-team in teh early afternoon tomorrow. I'm nervous but not nervous, at this point there is nothing really to be done, than to have fun and trust my team. And my team is very trustworthy... we have done our best out of the few practice times we have had, and at some times VERYcold practices. Stockholm are a bunch of amazing derbyplayers with lots of ambition, and for all I know, we can only get better.
Crime City have been really kind and helped us in Stockholm out a lot - to able Stockholm to be able to have this bout, so a big THANK YOU to Malmö and the amazing derby community that thrives there. I do miss those girls of Crime City alot - and it will be AWESOME to see them play against London after us...

I'm very excited about Swedish Rollerderby and the way we are heading - it is amazing what we have acomplished in such short time and Happy Birthday to CCR turing two years!

So now line-ups are written, boutfit and skates packed, butterflies and unicorns in the belly, smile and a good attitude... yeoo, it is all ready to get on the train heading towards Malmö... I'm ready to have FUN with my teamates!

Tour de Force - full platta in Malmö

First we benched for Gothenburg

...they did amazing for their first bout

And then we watched CCR's A-team win against Paris

So we all piled into my car and went to Malmö to participate in the usual derby awesomeness - me and Loony helped Gothenburg on the bench for their first bout ever. It was awesome, and they did so great for their first bout ever. I was very impressed by Gothenburg and was happy that I could help making their first bout a little easier. They have a few girls that really stood out, MadFish got MVP, even if she almost got seven trips to the box... but I thing the nerves got the best out of her. Villa will become great with some more experianc, patience and practice, and I was really suprised in a good way by Sandy, she really has developed since December when me and Loony coached in Gothenburg. In general - everyone looked great and amazing, and I was superexcited to share thier first bout with them! And i got to dress up - I litterly was wearing a dress - I did feel like a tranny, and Evil Eye apperently really like me with lipstick and looing like a tranny...

It was awesome to see that CCR were looking amazing, it was a little sad not skating with them, and I think we miss it more than we will ever admit, sometimes it's hard to turn to new pages in life. But for once I got to watch a bout and drink some beer and just hang out with friends... It was great to see all of the Crime City players, but also Titty was up from Stuttgart and I had the great company of my lovley car-companions Kix, Only, Loony and Amy....

I must say that Crime City really looked very together, Ninja and Firebird wall looked nice and strong, Ankefar jammed like the awesome jammer she is and so did Curly, and as always I loved to see all of the really nice packwork out there by Crime City...
Paris did not look to bad, but at times they seemed a little disorganized on the track, and I missed seeing Amelia in the pack -and I saw much more of her jamming. I was very impressed by Paris Machete, she had some really great blocks and waterfalling action out there.

Towards Malmööööö and Tour de Force

So I'm filling my car up with Loony, Kix, Amy and Only and heading towards Malmö this weekend, ahhh... it's gonna be so much fun! CCR's A-team are gonna be beating up on Paris, it's their first A-team game since me and Loony moved, so we will not be missing that! Not at all, it will be stellar! I think it's gonna be a great bout to watch!
Before that Gothenburg will bout for the first time ever against the more seasoned CCR's B-team, and me an Loony have promised to help Gothenburg on their bench. It will be really awesome and fun, to see all the growing talent of derby in this northern part of the world. I am so EXCITED!

I am also sooooo excited to see all the girls in Crime City too, I miss them soo much, especially all the girls that played on Team Sweden... oh oh oh... and Titty from Stuttgart will be coming too... it's gonna be a blast! And I also heart Amelia Scareheart from Paris, so it will be SUCH a blast and amazingness to get to see all those lovley people!

Current Swedish Roller Derby

So the past year there been an explosion in Rollerderby leauges in Sweden and also the first National Swedish team was created and went all the way to Toronto to bout.... So I decided to make it easier for you if you were looking for where to start with rollerderby in Sweden. And I appologize if not all the leauges are here, please let me know if I missed someone and I will make sure that they will go up too...
I'll start from the north, and go south:

Slaughter Daughter Roller Derby - Luleå
Ume Radical Rollers - Umeå
Östersund Rollerderby - Östersund
Sundsvalls Demolition Rollers - Sundsvall
Borlänge Näsblod - Borlänge
Gävle Rollerderby - Gävle
Uppsala Roller Derby - Uppsala
Västerås RollerDerby - Västerås
Stockholm Roller Derby - Stockholm
Royal Swedish Roller Derby - Stockholm
Norrköping Roller Derby - Norrköping
Lindköping Roller Derby - Lindköping
Karlstad Rollerderby - Karlstad
SufferCity Sweethearts - Lidköping
Tinderstix City Slammers Roller Derby - Jönköping
Växjö Roller Derby - Växjö
Gothenburg Rollerderby - Gothenburg
Dock City Roller Derby - Gothenburg
Halmstad Roller Derby - Halmstad
Helltown Hellcats - Helsingborg
Visby Valkyries - Visby
Crime City Rollers - Malmö
Malmö Royals Roller Derby - Malmö
Soul Sisters (junior derby) - Malmö

Team Sweden Roller Derby - Swedens finest...

I am excited to see that Rollerderby is growing past what I ever thought was possible - Rollerderby been my love for the past four years, and now when hitting my fifth season... I am excited... I am happy... even if there are days I feel really really burnt out! It is all worth it!