It’s that time of year again…all hearts and roses and lovey-dovey whatnot. And what do we all love? Roller skating, that’s what! This week, in honour of St. Valentine, we’re going to focus on getting all up close and personal with your fellow skaters. In fact, it’s going to be downright snuggly-wuggly. Think partner drills, pace-lines, and cozy pack scenarios.
For those of you who are scared to get up close and personal, don’t worry. We’ll take it nice and slow, and show you strategies to keep your balance and stay strong even if you take a swift kick to the heart…er…skate. As always, beginners are welcome. Don’t worry, we’ll take good care of you. It only hurts the first (few) time(s).
And, for those among you that like a little rough and tumble with your candy and flowers, we’ve got you covered. Meatinatrix and Snow Crash spent last weekend at the Blood & Thunder bootcamp, and we’ve got some brutal…er…really fun drills to share. Oh, yeah. It’s gonna hurt so good!
So, bust out your most romantic booty shorts, through some Bengay into your skate bag, and come out ready to fall in love with your skates all over again.
What is Raw Meat Vancouver Roller Skating?
Raw Meat Vancouver is a roller skating/non-contact roller derby drills group for women who want to learn to roller skate, learn roller derby skills, and have fun. We learn stops, falls, proximity skating, hip/arm whips, roller derby strategy, pace lines, agility, fitness, and more. Raw Meat Vancouver is an independent group, and is not affiliated with any roller derby league.
When and Where:
Raw Meat runs from 5-7pm every Saturday, with a 3-hour session (5-8) on the last Saturday of every month. Two-hour sessions are $5, three-hour sessions are $7. This pricing is attendance-dependent. We practice at Thunderbird Community Centre, 2311 Cassiar St., near Rupert Skytrain Station.
Who can come?
Women of any skill level are welcome. Beginner skaters, we will help you learn to stop safely, and build your roller skating skills at your own pace. For advanced skaters, we will keep it interesting with skills challenges, roller derby strategy drills, fitness, and fun & games.
What should you bring?
To participate, you will need roller skates (not roller blades); a helmet; wrist, knee and elbow pads, and a mouth guard. All safety gear is mandatory for active participation of the lessons.
The venue also requires that you have white/light toe stops, and put white, non-marking tape over black knee pads. Covering the knee pads with vertical strips of tape works best. Canadian Tire sells multi-packs of white tape for a reasonable price.
The Rules
Raw Meat has two simple rules: 1. Be safe. 2. Don’t be an ass-hat. There is zero tolerance for breaking either rule, and you will be asked to leave if you do.
Raw Meat sessions are strictly non-contact. We do not allow leaning, hitting, or overly aggressive skating. We do practice hip/arm whips and skating in close proximity. If you aren’t comfortable grabbing a girl by the hips, derby is not going to be your sport. Perhaps shuffleboard?