Minimum skills, as the road to recovery.

I didn't really write about this last time, but I did mention in passing that I had attended a few practices with another team in the area.  Fun times were had by all.

The second practice that I attended with the team was a "newbie night" for them, where they had interested freshmeat come and check things out, and see if they liked it well enough to make it a huge part of their life.

The practice was geared towards the minimum skills requirements set forth by WFTDA that you have to pass in order to successfully participate as an active skater in any scrimmage or bout.  The team captain, who is a very dear friend of mine, did a great job of running down the skills for the freshmeat (and myself).

Sidebar:  I am not a veteran skater, by any means.  I am a veteran MEMBER.  I am not exactly a "freshmeat" skater.  I like to think that I fall somewhere in the category between "freshmeat" and "intermediate".  Let's just call that category "PoundCake."

Falls:

Single knee fall with 3 second recovery (you have to be able to do this on both knees)
Double knee fall with 3 second recovery
Four-point "Superman" fall with 3 second recovery
Single knee fall 180-degree turn with 3 second recovery (you have to be able to do this on both knees)

Stops:

T-Stop (you only have to do this on one foot)
Plow stop

Stepping:

Stepping side to side, front to back on your skates, and not rolling in between steps

Derby stance&strides.

^ Were a list of everything we covered at practice.  I read over the WFTDA Minimum Skills requirements again just now and I've still a bit to go, but I think it's safe to say that I'm over halfway there.  I can do MOST of the stuff in there.  I need work on a few areas, but overall... Something to be proud of.  I've come a damn long way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jY3AbzRNBQ&feature=fvwrel

^ That was basically me.