Former Freshmeat of 2009-10 by Lauren Comly

When when when?!!! November – on the following Thursday & Sunday Evenings:

11/4/2010 Thu 6:00-7:30 PM
11/7/2010 Su 7:00-9:00 PM
11/11/2010 Thu 6:00-7:30 PM
11/14/2010 Su 7:00-9:00 PM
11/18/2010 Thu 6:00-7:30 PM
11/21/2010 Su 7:00-9:00 PM
11/25/2010 NO PRACTICE!!! Gobble Gobble!
11/28/2010 Su 7:00-9:00 PM

What time, I can’t wait! Thursday practices will be held from 6:00–7:30, and Sunday practices will be 7:00–9:00, with skaters gearing up 15 minutes before practice starts.

Nice! Where do I go? Beverly J. Martin Elementary School, 302 W. Buffalo Street. Use the Albany Street entrance stairs that lead directly to the gym facility.

Does it cost? The first practice is free of charge, but subsequent participation is $5 per session.

Should I dress up? Nah. Comfy clothes, but know you have to put knee and elbow pads on, so if you’re going for long pants or sleeves, make them tighter fitting such as leggings.

Ok, What about gear? Bring it, if you’ve got it. Natch. Knee pads, elbow pads, wrist guards, quad roller skates, a helmet (skateboarding or bicycle will work), and a mouthguard. We have these available for lending (free your first night, $3/rental after) on a first come, first served basis. You can purchase a mouthguard from us on day 1 for $1, but its better to come prepared with one for better fit. To give us a better idea of how much gear we may need available for new recruits, please fill out our SURVEY.

Do I have to know how to roll? Any level of skating is OK! We welcome you if you’ve never skated before or if you’ve been a rink rat your whole life, whether you’re a born athlete or a born couch potato. Come with a positive attitude and we’ll teach you everything else you need to know.

What should you expect? The sooner you join us, the better you’ll be. We’ll teach you skills to join the league, but you’ll only learn by coming fast and often. So come out to BJM the first night available to you, and come as frequently as you can.

Then what? What else? Where’s this going? We’ll test your skills in December, and clear you for try-outs sometime in January. So, if you’re itching to start a little early, we recommend that you visit a roller rink and start doing some skating. In Auburn, Reva Rollerdrome is available for skating, in Vestal, Skate Estate, and in Elmira, Joy Crest Skating Rink. If you can’t make the drive and you want a head start, feel free to do some other conditioning. Yoga, running, biking, hiking are all great ways to start getting ready! And we can never underestimate the value of squats and sit-ups. No pressure, but if you’re looking for an edge, these are great places to start.

But, but I have more questions? Okay. Email membership@ithacarollerderby.com and they’ll set you straight.

We look forward to seeing you out on the track November 4th!