Flippi, Loiri, ninaerwes… HRD’s player for April has many names. Flippin’ Lori Meyers was born from a wordplay based on the songs of Millencolin and Nofx, two of Nina’s favourite bands. Her number 2.8 is also a tribute to her love of music. Twopointeight, of course.

Nina is the player who lives with cats Turska and Rommi, tells the best bad jokes, is into photography, snowboards, and collects stickers and yes – is perhaps the most crazy about music.

Currently a member of HRD’s All-Star Ninja Turtles and the home team Hurtta Lottas, Nina was originally drawn to roller derby by its physicality, speed and strategy, as well as the growth and development of a new sport. The movie Whip It also played a part in getting Nina – as well as many other girls – excited about derby. In November 2010, during her freshmeat training period, Nina cursed transitions. The desire to become better at turning and skating backwards is still there.

Nina hasn’t had any serious injuries during her career, although she did spend a couple of weeks walking with crutches while recovering from a strained cruciate ligament.

Nina’s Finnish role model as a skater is Doris. Nina admires her team-mate’s wise and clean playstyle, and her ability to ”come up with solutions in tricky situations, do at least a hundred push-ups, hold a plank for 3,5 minutes, make me cheerful and tell weird jokes”. All in all, Nina sees Doris as a very good player. And lovely too!

Out of foreign players Nina admires London’s multi-talented Stefanie Mainey and Australia’s BB Bombshell, who doubled Nina’s love for the sport at her first bootcamp in Manchester. Also Stockholm’s flying Hyper Nova is a player whose team spirit and attitude in the game make even a defeat feel like a win for Nina.

Nina’s skating song is Highway to the Dangerzone from the soundtrack of Top Gun.

Flippi is an incredibly skilled and intelligent player. It’s easy to play together because you can always trust her fully. In addition to being a good derby player, off track Flippi is also a wonderful person who always saves the day. - Doris

Pic: Marko Niemelä

Stefanie Mainey Boot Camp was one of those events that the whole of Helsinki Roller Derby was looking forward to. Myself, for one was very excited to be invited to join the boot camp, and learn from one of the best skaters known in the roller derby world. A week or so before the camp, I then realised that we also had Olivia Coupe coming to Helsinki. That was two awesome, amazing skaters from the London Roller Girls coming to Helsinki especially to share their knowledge and skills with our league. Does that sound like it was a special experience? Well it was!

35 Helsinki skaters plus referees were coached over 2 days to help bring our league up to date with how the best in Europe play derby. Stefanie and Liv covered so much in the short time that we had with them. And we all soaked it up like sponges. Stef and Liv’s coaching style was informative and flexible. We joked around, jumped around on the track and had an all round good time. In a nutshell we covered: stratergy, watched video footage of gameplay, worked on our form in our blocking technique (this included hitting a wall-literally. Hitting the wall over and over really enabled us to focus on how we use our bodies when we are going in for a hit) and most importantly how to work together as a team in the most efficient way.

One of the key things I took away from the weekend with Stef and Liv was that the best teams in the world are the ones that use the best team work. Having joined HRD just over a month ago, I think this group of skaters can take the knowledge that Stef and Liv bought to Finland and really apply it to be even more awesome and amazing.

Thank you Stef and Liv for sharing your knowledge and having a laugh with us all! It is so nice for us all to to have had guest coaches that make us all feel so positive. Come back soon!

Lady lah lah

The new Fresh Meat is starting their FTP the 1st of April. We are looking forward to skating with this awesome new crowd!

A warm welcome to our fantastic new Fresh Meat!

pic: Miika Karttunen. www.lightpictures.fi

Vera, who plays for HRD’s home team Saturday Fight Fever and travel team Queen B’s, is a mother of two, a manic origami artist and a comic- and bookophile who hoards documentary films and has a love-hate relationship with planks.

Vera experienced her roller derby wake up call in late autumn 2009. She ended up watching Helsinki Roller Derby’s practice with a friend and was impressed by the speed, physicality and woman power of the sport. After years of joyless and lonely workout, spinning, yoga and running the sisterly do-it-yourself mentality of the new team sport appealed to the old feminist. She had to join in.

Her derby career was almost cut short when her third practice ended with an ambulance ride. Falling due to inadequate stopping skills broke Vera’s hip and nailed her to her sofa for a few months. Soon after her recovery she also experienced the more traditional 9-month injury, which kept Vera out of the game for nearly a year.

The derby fever never went away regardless of the break, and now Vera has returned to the track and enjoys skating fully. Now that the physical basics of the game – yes, that includes stopping – are no longer an issue Vera finds her biggest challenges in strategy. Hidden under the speed and hits are a keen eye for gameplay and game plans that require brains and patience.

As her skater role model Vera mentions Estrogeena Davis, the pioneer of Finnish roller derby who recently returned back to USA after letting Vera and other HRD players hatch out from under her skirt. Another personal inspiration is her teammate and referee KC Knucklebone who impressed Vera by recovering from two serious injuries well enough to skate in the world cup. Out of foreign skaters the most inspiring for Vera is Bonnie D. Stroir’s light, wisdom and strength.

Vera’s skating song: ”Leila K’s Electric sets the frequencies right.”

Vera is zen. Cool as a cucumber. Nothing can break Vera’s concentration and calmness on the track. There’s a woman who enjoys roller derby with her every cell. You just have to admire that. – KC Knucklebone

(translation: Kristina Bruises)

HRD All-Star Ninja Turtles vs. RWRG and LRG’s C Power 28.1.2012

Saturday 28th January 2012 – it’s going to be big! Royal Windsor Rollergirls are hosting a mini-tournament between with Royal Windsor Rollergirls,  London Rollergirls’ C-team, ‘Batter C Power’, and Helsinki Roller Derby’s All-Star Ninja Turtles.

London Rollergirls are the biggest and oldest roller derby league in the UK. Their new C-team, ‘Batter C Power’ – named after London’s iconic landmark, featuring a selection of skaters who have previously skated for LRG’s A-team, ‘London Brawling, their B-team, ‘Brawl Saints’, as well as new girls and seasoned regulars from their four intraleague house teams. We’re delighted to tempt them out of the big smoke to bout against us.

Windsor is thrilled to have the girls from Helsinki Roller Derby coming over – the third Scandinavian league to bout against RWRG. Eleven skaters from HRD recently took part at the Blood & Thunder Roller Derby World Cup in Toronto, joining up with their fellow Finns to form ‘Team Finland Roller Derby‘ – and coming in at a respectable fifth place at the World Cup.

HRD Queen B’s vs. Tenerife Roller Derby 4.2.2012

Mister and Miss, ladies and gentleman, aliens and humanoids!Yes, you all are in luck!

From the very first team in the Spanish Roller Derby league Tenerife Roller Derby arrives to your track:

THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS!

Tenerife Roller Derby vs. Helsinki Roller Derby Queen B´s
If you want some Derby holidays in the sun come to TENERIFE! Bring your parents, friends, and family!

WHEN?
The bout will take place in February 4th 2012, in the Pancho Camurria sports pavilion, in Santa Cruz of Tenerife, Street México – Barrio Buenos Aires.
Doors will be opened at 6pm.Bout will start at 7pm.
Roller skates, pretty rude girls, speed and strength! FUN IS GUARANTEED Y’ALL!

http://vimeo.com/34775907

The event took place in Baltiska Hallen. The holy combination including the local supermarket (actually it’s a HYPER market, now that we’re in Sweden) and the Ibis hotel where all the league’s stayed at, pretty much equalled what many of us learned about the crime city of Malmö.

Estrogeena Davis lifting people up

The whole weekend included 6 bouts, and Helsinki Roller Derby was included in 3 of them. The second game of the whole tournament brought together HRD and Stockholm Roller Derby. This was one of the most wanted re-matches the audience was expecting for this tournament. HRD and STRD had encountered in October 2010 and HRD had won the bout with only 6 points (92-86), and STRD’s team had inadequate crew – HRD’s Tigre Force and Lizz Troublegum actually played againts their own team, to patch up our opponents line-ups. This time both teams were fully manned (well, wo-manned) and carefully trained, and after a feisty fight, Helsinki triumphed with 141 points against Stockholms 77 points. And we can’t wait for another re-match!

There's a chance that certain someone got a low block major right after this photo was shot...

The weekend had just begun… On Sunday, Helsinki was in for two other bouts, and the morning was kicked off with the long waited bout between two Helsinki leagues, your very own HRD and Kallio Rolling Rainbow. Kallio got the lead jammer in the first jam, so when the first score was declared, Kallio had lead in points. Our Green Team soon catched up, and turtles controlled the bout to the very end. The battle for our beloved home town was full of temper and drama, and the bout schedule had to be delayed for one full hour due to the time it took for these two teams to finally get closure. The final score was 217-57 for Helsinki!

KRR's MVP Udre commiting succesful sideways blocking to Bambi Crushbone

The final bout was between Helsinki and Malmö, and it’s fair to say, it was the most waited bout, at least when it comes to the turtles. HRD All-Stars were anxious to find out how the bout against Malmö would turn out, after all, the founders of SwedeVix Skate Shop both played for this team. Soon after the first whistle Helsinki realised that they had to change all the strategies they had been focusing on the previous games, Malmö soon grabbed the lead and didn’t let slip for one second. Mad Maloonys beautiful smile soon pervaded to the faces of all the Crime City Rollers, when they smashed the winning high scores of the whole tournament, leaving Helsinki Roller Derby to the second place with 211 against 76 points.

Mad Maloony sure had many reasons to smile

All in all, after winning two bouts and meeting their true match in the last bout, the whole weekend was triumphant. Every single player was pushed to their own limit. The best closure we could ever had, was when Suvi Hokkari was declared Most Valuable Player, receiving her title with a shiner. Good times.

Suvi Hokkari, HRD's MVP and Flippin' Lori Meyers are going for the sandwich with KRR's PolygAmy Winehouse

Helsinki Roller Derby’s final scores of that awesome weekend:
Stockholm-Helsinki 77-141
Helsinki-Kallio 217-57
Crime City-Helsinki 211-71

Photos: Helsinki Roller Derby in the Battle of the Nordic Light, Malmö

Photos:Marko Niemelä/Shutterpunk

Hurtta Lottas captain Suvi Hokkari bidding farewell to Saturday Fight Fever jammer Estrogeena Davis

HRD’s home teams are both extremely equal teams, which of course quarantees exciting bout night for the audience too. Mad Fist Myra and Kati Kyyrö were returned to their original SFF team, as well as Trixie GrandBang was borrowed to the Hurttas. League founder and Hurtta Lotta bench manager for Fool Fighters, Estrogeena Davis, was also playing this time for SFF and everybody was very excited for having this lovely woman on our track once again. On the bout day, we learned that SFF was suffering from some injuries, but with all of these strong, beautiful women around us, SFF decided not to care, not to be scared, and head for battle, chin up!

This time the ref team got enforcements from Kallio Rolling Rainbow, Lahti Roller Derby and Stockholm Roller Derby. In the picture you can see STRD's Fluke Skywalker counting Kata Strofi's points.

First period went smoothly, and SFF treated their guest team Hurtta Lottas with all the cold revenge they had coming their way. And managed to get a point difference around 20 pts. With teams as equal as this, it was superior task. When Hurttas returned from the intermissions, they had such fury pulsing through their fur, all SFF’s work went to ruins. When the final score was declared, it showed that Hurttas had won with 92 against 86.

Former SFF skater Chrissee Rascal was the bench manager for Hurtta Lottas for "30 seconds to jam"

In other words, the Fighters were once again enpowered and unable to steal that first price, the Golden Skate, from it’s rightful owners for the Season #1. Hurtta Lottas remained undefeated, just like they promised. Helsinki Roller Derby is anxiously waiting the our Season #2, when it’s once again time for re-match.

More Photos on HRD’s Facebook Page

Photos:Marko Niemelä/ Shutterpunk

The Battle of the Nordic Light was an amazing experience for the HRD All-Stars and also a triumph for Scandinavian roller derby! Helsinki Roller Derby’s All-Star team won 2 bouts and lost 1 at the tournament. But even the loss to such respected team as Malmö’s Crime City Rollers (CCR) was not one to be ashamed of. CCR played an excellent game and the HRD All-Stars salutes them and their perfect tournament score of 3 wins and 0 losses! HRD was not only represented at this tournament as skaters, but as non-skating officials (NSOs), as well as referees. HRD played Stockholm Roller Derby (STRD) on Saturday and then played both Kallio Rolling Rainbow (KRR) and Crime City Rollers on Sunday. HRD sustained some injuries and lost 2 players for the last game against CCR, but with such a strong team of blockers and jammers, they finished the tournament off in style with a good attitude and smiles all-round.

We hope to get you a full recap of the tournament after HRD All-Stars’ game against the Leeds Roller Dolls in Huddersfield, England on Sept. 10. Til then, you can view the games online at justin.tv/helsinkirollerderby as highlighted games.

Helsinki Roller Derby’s final scores of that awesome weekend:
Stockholm-Helsinki 77-141
Helsinki-Kallio 217-57
Crime City-Helsinki 211-71

What a special weekend for nordic roller derby! Thank you all!

Photos: Helsinki Roller Derby in the Battle of the Nordic Light, Malmö

We will bring you a full recap of this game by our very own Dynamina, but until then, check out the photos of the bout online at our HRD’s Facebook page. We have been busy bouting and training our freshmeat, but we promise a great bout recap for the history books!

As an Apprentice affiliate of the WFTDA, Helsinki Roller Derby joins the ranks of more than 100 all-female, skater-owned-and-operated leagues worldwide that have united to lead the growing sport of women’s flat track roller derby.

WFTDA apprentice leagues are matched with veteran member leagues who guide them in the processes and requirements necessary to become a full member of the Association.  Additionally, the mentor offers advice and information related to the management and development of the apprentice league.  WFTDA Apprentice leagues are considered “pre-members” of the WFTDA and have access to many of the resources and benefits of full WFTDA membership.

Read more about the WFTDA Apprentice Membership Program and its new additions! Congratulations to one and all from Helsinki Roller Derby!
The WFTDA accepted 15 new leagues in July 2011, bringing the total to 72 women’s flat track roller derby leagues now enrolled in WFTDA Apprenticeship.