 Minneapolis, MN – Dreams were realized and hearts were broken on July 16, 2011, when the North Star Roller Girls held tryouts at the Minneapolis Convention Center. 43 women and one man (more about him later!) battled through a nearly four-hour test of endurance, agility and skill to try to become a part of Minneapolis' only women's flat-track roller derby league.
One phrase that fell repeatedly from the lips of many veteran skaters in attendance: thank God we're not at the Hole. With outdoor temperatures in the 90s and high humidity, those who had been there before could only imagine the misery if tryouts were being held in NSRG's former non-air-conditioned industrial warehouse home. The Convention Center was not only comfortable temperature-wise, it allowed the league to hold only one tryout session instead of the two protracted sessions held at the Hole last year when 60 skaters tried out.
The single-session format led to a much longer and more challenging tryout. Skaters were tested in their abilities to stop and fall in a variety of ways, to weave and turn with ease and skill, and to maneuver, fall and block within a pack. There was also the daunting “25-in-5”, where skaters are given to five minutes to skate as many laps around the track as possible, aiming for the WFTDA minimum of 25 laps. Non-skating time was filled with crunches and push-ups to test both strength and attitude of those trying out. One skater described it as “grueling”, and another was proud of the fact that she “didn't bitch once” during the nearly four-hour ordeal.
As in previous years, the positivity and supportiveness of the recruits was a stand-out feature. At a time when it could have been so easy for each recruit to be looking out only for herself, the cheers of “you can do it!”, “keep it up!” and “good work!” were genuine. Most of these skaters had been rolling together since the beginning of clinics in April, and some go back further into rec league skating during the last season. Several had tried out for NSRG before. The individual desire to succeed was high, but the group mindset was also very strong.
The trainers also wanted to see the skaters do their best and were rooting for them even as they were pushing them to skate their hardest. NSRG veteran Roller Vixen started out the recruiting season training at clinics with some skaters who could barely roll from one end of the hall to the other. Having had to miss the middle and end of the clinic season, she noted the awesome progress of the recruits from the start of clinics to tryouts.
After tryouts were done, the team captains sat down to deliberate in one corner of the cavernous hall, and the skaters took off gear in the opposite corner. The skaters enjoyed cake while they rehydrated themselves and filled the nervous waiting period before the results announcement with celebratory hugs, shoulder rubs, lots of smiles and sighs of relief (“Thank God it's over!”). Some touched up make-up; some sat in solitude with headphones in their ears.
The discussion about the rookie cut went on so long that the league pressed up against its 5 o'clock curfew and had to vacate the hall; head recruiters Wanda Gogh? and Jowanna BEAT announced the results in the hallway. In the end, NSRG welcomed ten new people to its ref staff and 27 new skaters to its team ranks, including two who will convince you that age is just a number (on both ends of the 18+ spectrum). We can't wait to introduce them to you in the fall when we start our sixth season.
Oh, and that lone fella who tried out? Watch for him wearing zebra stripes this November. He said he “got his ass kicked” and had fun in the process. - Ayn Rant |
