Shetations got married

I do not regret going to Shetations wedding, even if it meant that I only slept for 2 hours the night before a bout and had to take two flights to get there.  I had the greatest of times, and it was so amazing to be there.

They were both so beautiful and it made me tear up, and think about that we probably all have that someone out there, someone that will coem with you and hold your hand, that somone that will kiss your face when you sad and whisper comforting words in your ear, that someone that wants to be there for you, just because you are you....
 The cermony was in German, so I caught about half of it, but I mean, what can I say, I assume it was quite standard, it still is so tender and I'm amazed how they look at each other so tender and  lovingly. Ahmmm... ahmmm... . It is a little entertaining that both their first names are Franziska...

The wedding party was also fantastic with great friends and german food, I love the Berlin girls - they had also prepared a sining performance - that Titty and Anna made sure I was a part of. And then I danced, chatted and since I was gonna bout the next day, I limited myself to only two glass of wine... The partygirl in me did want beer, but the jock in me said it was forbidden... so I had a ton of Alcohofree beer, that made me piss like a racehorse...

Berlin is a city that has a spot deep within my heart - I love the city - and if I had any reason whatsover I wuould move there. Well, ecept from the smoking, what's up with the smoking? 

EROC for the third time

So many things have happened the past two years... I had just lived in Europe for about a month when I was asked to come to the first EROC - and it has evolved so much... European derby that is... my German has just gotten a tad better and I've visited Berlin probably about 10 times the past two years... VIVA Berlin... I had a short time I really thougth I wanted to move there, I still might be harboring a secret dream about Berlin... but I love Stockholm and I am getting quite serious about Stockholm being my hometown.

Anna and Titty - my weekend hosts

I am staying with Titty Twista and her GF Anna and I'm psyked to get to spend some quality time with them, just chilling and talking... Maybe some drinks and good food! I've made so many good friends through derby, and I am truly thankful to this sport that has made such a great impact on my life! Last year I stayed with Rotation and Shevil and the year before with MasterBlaster, and I am truly excited to see them all! It will be quite amazing!

When I came to Europe we only had one WFTDA leauge - now we have several - we have so many that we can sit down and discuss at EROC. I am truly happy and excited that rollerderby is pushing forward and to be a part of this! An to all the people that are in derby that have challanged me to be a better player, coach, captain and person in general!

STRD finally got our WFTDA-patches

London Calling: Euro Crash

As I wrote about a while ago, London Rollergirls put together their version of an European All-star team - and now it's only a week away... it's exciting and nerve-wrecking... and exciting... and I think I need to do some extra planks today... ahhhrg...
But below is the roster of the amazingness...
Cant wait to skate... 

AnDracula #16 - Big Bucks High Rollers
Chemikill Hazard #LD50 - Glasgow Roller Derby
Crazylegs #11 - Auld Reekie Roller Girls
Heavy Rotation #505 - Berlin Bombshells: Bear City Roller Derby
Jack Attack #101 - London Rockin' Rollers
Mad Maloony #221 - Stockholm Roller Derby
Martattack #4 - Copenhagen Roller Derby
Master Blaster #2 - Berlin Bombshells - Bear City Roller Derby
The Mighty Mighty Bash #888 (vice captain) - Brighton Rockers Roller Derby
Missy Rascal #6 - Rainy City Roller Girls
Rogue Runner #22 - Dolly Rockit Rollers
Suvi Hokkari #99 - Helsinki Roller Derby
Swede Hurt #46 (captain) - Stockholm Roller Derby
Titty Twista #81 - Stuttgart Valley Rollergirlz
Violet Attack #182 - Birmingham Blitz Dames

Berlin Bootcamp

Swedish Maffia on the same team... it was a sweet and fun scrimmage...

So last weekend I spent in Berlin, coaching an Advanced Bootcamp together with Suzy Hotrod, it was good to see her again and get som news from NYC. I miss Gotham at times like this, a lot...
The camp was good times, and lots of the girls were really talented, and it is good to see that continetal Europe has girls that will become amazing. There were girls from Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Poland, Luxemburg, France and Germany... and well... I am so happy to see the rate European derby is developing at, and I am glad to always have my dear Mad Maloony by my side.

I got to drink Club Mate and hang out with people I really like, we stayed with Shetation as usual, and that was as nice as ever, and Titty Twista was staying there too, and I heart her too.  On Friday night, we went to Master Blasters skate store opening, and it is really cute.  On Saturday we went out for YUMMY Italian food and then for a beer with the Stockholm girls... and on Sunday we went for food and beers after the Black and White scrimmage that ended the camp... and I almost forgot my skatebag there... yikes!

From Berlin with love...

We also call her MONKEY at times

Rotation also made us smell the flowers - there were signs with the Latin AND German names

Rotation took us for many walks - and everywhere I found something to play with

We had to hide in a play-house because it rained so hard, and then we walked to the car in our underwear

We went to Hanna Hellfires Baby Shower and I petted a dog

I did the Bunny with Bunny aka Beatrix Slaughter, my old team mate from Gotham

So I am currently suffering from writers block... so I guess I'll just go with the old saying, a picture say more than a thousand words, and just imagine how much those seven pictures with captions are saying... they just told you all EVERYTHING about my Berlin trip.... well, we also as I said earlier scrimmaged with the Berlin Bombshells (thanks for having us), I got SUPERSICK for 24hours and almost thought I was gonna die, we watched the worst movie ever... I promised not to tell ANYONE we watched it... we walked by Master Blasters skateshop that is under construction, and it looked hella nice, we spent lots of time with Rotation and as much time as we could with Shevil, since she had to work... and then we took the darn bus home...

And it rains again...

two of my favorite things in Sweden

We went to Berlin and it rained and the bout was cancelled (not because of the rain but because of Air France being bitches and going on strike). We scrimmaged with Berlin Bombshells and that was all good. It was fun to see Shevil and Rotation again, we made them shirts saying ''Swoony hearts Shetation'' and we stayed on their coach as usual... After Berlin we headed back to Malmö, just to move onto Stockholm, in Stockholm we went of an amazing outdoorskate and hung out with all the Stockholm girls.
And today it's time to head back to Malmö - more driving ahead and it's raining... I am honestly REALLY sick of driving and rain!

Berlin Bombshells vs. Copenhagen Rollin Heartbreakers in Berlin

Photo by Michael Witting

I am always delighted to watch bouts, I do like playing them more, but I must say that it is fun to get to play. European Derby is still so new and everything is sort of unknown - and coming to a bout is always interesting, since you never know what to expect.
Teams that win with 200 points, get beaten by 200 points, and since there is no real ranking system in Europe, it is hard to know what levels the teams that are playing on, and you don't know if you are in for a nailbiter or a blow-out.

So me and Malooney and some Crime City girls just leaned back to watch this bout...

I was quite certain that Berlin was going to win, but I did not know with how much, and Copenhagen probably have one of the fastest jammers of Europe in Martattack. The first two jams made the game look like it would be more towards the nailbiting side, but after that Berlin took control and never looked back... Berlin has really good packawareness, trackawareness and strong blocking... Bones from Berlin had an amazing hit and so did MasterBlaster, and Heavy Rotation did what I apriciate most among blockers, kept a jammer behind her, lap... after lap...
Krazy Kris from Copenhagen had one amazing apex jump, but most of the time Copenhagen seemed to have a problem getting thru any other jammer but Martattack and Kris, and they really could not contain any of the Berlin jammers, Zany Zunders and Master Blaster both blasted (no pun intended) through the pack, and kept on evening out the few points that the Copenhagen jammers managed to pick up.
Oh, oh, oh... and it was fun to watch... and Copenhagens gold outfits are truly creative and fun. But I cannot forget to mention that the AFTERPARTY had a pool by the river, and once again a rollergirl misstook the river for the pool... but swimming in a pool in Berlin and drinking WeinSchorle with amazing derbygirls... cannot COMPLAIN at all...


  It is awesome to see all the ambition there are in European derby, I love to be a part of all this, even if I do miss US play, but life is what it is, and I am happy to be where I am, in very exciting times of rollerderby in Europe. I truly love rollerderby - there is nothign that is as amazing as playing roller derby!

Burnt out and now a new candle...

Me and Rotation at the Fairytale fountain

So the past weeks been just terrible -nothing special - but the effect of taking on to much work finally caught up and I hit a wall... not very pleasant... but I went to Berlin with Malou and hung out with Heavy Rotation and Resident Shevil... We just went to watch a bout (Berlin A vs. Copenhagen and Berlin B vs Hamburg) without being signed up to do anything.... we went on a real vaccation, with very minimal responsibilities. It was really REALLY nice, and I feel like I have new powers and I can stop being bitter about doing tooo much work that I by the way probably took on myself.

wroooom I am an airplane

My knee was hurting and I didn't get to do as much skating as I wanted in Berlin, but I guess that was for the best. We did get some time on the old Templehof Airport - it is quite cool to be able to skate around on an old airport... wrooom... i am a flight.... WROOOOM.. I totally recommend anyone going to Berlin that's bringing their skates to go to Templehof and take a lap or two... bring a picnic and soem friends... have a weinschorle and get a tan... oh, and we also go interviewed by NPR!