Here's the poster for this weekend's bout in New Plymouth. Ooooohh aaaaaarrrrhh!!

Skates for girl giants

I love all things roller, including this pair-o-skates from Preen. They look like Victorian torture devices or zombie bandages, don't you think? Post-modern and pretty, but pants on the rink. But I love how roller skates are so covetable that people would want them just because they like roller skates, not because they can roller skate.

Beyonslay, blocking legend

This skater is amazing!!! I am in awe.

Skating clock-wise

The other night at practice we started doing some endurance skating in the wrong direction. Not because we forgot which direction to skate, although that can happen, but just in case there are skaters with back troubles, or skaters who have a right leg that is disproportionately larger than the left one, which could also happen, I'm sure. You'll be a much stronger skater if you can turn in both directions, or do t-stops with either foot. If you're using your whole body equally you'll have lots more options for blocking, getting out of the pack's way, and picking up speed.

Music video - Don't let it get you down - Miriam Clancy

Well, I might as well post this vid too, since this week it's all about me and my fame. I'm in there somewhere, roller skating around. This was shot last year with some of the Pirate City Rollers at Skateland. It's not really a roller disco kind of song, but I love a bit of gratuitous skating anyway.