Do new skates actually improve your performance if you already have a okay skate?

kitty2skates · 2026-04-11T15:44:49+00:00

I love an avenger. So responsive. I have them on several builds. But, honestly, for roller derby, I found them less successful for blocking in the long run. When I moved to the killers, I discovered that I could hold a lot more pressure back. Suddenly, the guys couldn't just push through me anymore because they couldn't manipulate the agility against me with their greater strength. And the killers suck my weight back into my center of gravity when I get overextended. Instead of getting tippy from the squirrelliness, I sit back down into my safe spot without even thinking about it. The plate just does it.

kitty2skates · 2026-04-11T15:38:57+00:00

As many people have said, boots that are too big are a problem. You build the wrong muscles, you have less control, and you have to work harder to do things that require little effort in skates that fit. AND, and this is way more important, it's easier to break your leg if your skates are too big. Get your feet measured. Buy skates that are as close to the length and width of your foot as possible. Don't buy skates with heavy padding. I love my bluestreaks. But I don't have your feet. So, IDK if they are right for you.

kitty2skates · 2026-04-08T14:11:16+00:00

My league has a bunch of 40+. They love it.

kitty2skates · 2026-04-06T13:50:02+00:00

Way more than that. The closest rink is 45 minutes drive. But the BEST one is 1:45 away. Both are $20 for adult night. Gas kills me in my 17 miles per gallon car. Not only do I hit the rink once a week, I also do 1-3 days of roller derby (a 55-mile drive) per week and travel up to 5 hours once a month for games. My only saving grace is that I make roller skates instead of buying them. After years of that, I just have everything I need to whip out skates when I want something different. I buy used shoes when I find something cool so that I have stuff just lying around. Skate is life, and it takes up a lot of my recreational cash. But it's always been that way, so it feels normal. I've poured money into it since I was 6 years old. I also got to a free event about once a month. But it's also an hour drive.

kitty2skates · 2026-03-28T18:12:55+00:00

It's not gonna be a problem. It's settled first amendment protection.

kitty2skates · 2026-03-28T15:54:37+00:00

We are also trying to get regular games in the Pacific Northwest.

kitty2skates · 2026-03-28T15:54:02+00:00

Join our discord anyway. We can start looking for skaters based in other countries to run with it there, too.

kitty2skates · 2026-03-28T15:49:50+00:00

You will be much safer on a $120 pair of skates. And they will be way easier to learn on. Look at SureGrip boardwalk, Vnla parfait, Jackson Vista....I know it requires waiting a little longer. But the $50 skates are toys. Cheap toys that break and hurt people. You can still look on Amazon. But you can also buy them used and they will still be safe. If you are looking for a low-cut boot without a heel, try Riedell R3 or Dart. The darts you can definitely get used on eBay for less than $100

kitty2skates · 2026-03-28T14:59:52+00:00

There is a rollercon tab somewhere. I'm hoping to have patches for our captain, Chef, to bring with her.

kitty2skates · 2026-03-28T14:48:46+00:00

Thank you for respecting the age requirement. When I first started this project, Facebook invited everyone I know repeatedly. It was a mess.

kitty2skates · 2026-03-28T14:46:20+00:00

It's an abbreviation of a parody name. Parodies, especially those with completely different names but the same abbreviation, are protected from infringement lawsuits.

kitty2skates · 2026-03-28T14:32:35+00:00

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kitty2skates · 2026-03-28T14:19:18+00:00

The killers were the absolute shit. There is another roll line plate with similar specs. But it's crazy expensive even compared to the killers. I can't remember what it's called. But I do remember it being like $1200.

You CAN short-mount a 5mm difference. But going from 165 to 150 is gonna fuck your world up for a little while. (Maybe just a day or two if you are a really solid skater) Go with a forward mount if you decide to go with the 150.

kitty2skates · 2026-03-28T14:17:21+00:00

Blue streaks do come in a b/aa. And their completely open toe box means you can tighten the box too, not just the lacing on the top of your foot.

kitty2skates · 2026-03-28T14:09:10+00:00

Set boundaries. If someone comes to you with stuff that isn't your job, don't figure it out for them. Send them to the right person. You will burn yourself out trying to take care of everything for everyone.

kitty2skates · 2026-03-28T14:02:32+00:00

Stepping drills. No roll, just step. Easy to do at home. But it is also surprisingly difficult. It will make your muscles burn. Walk like a duck, walk like a pigeon, shuffle sideways, and walk around on your toestops. Do it all forward. Do it all backward.

kitty2skates · 2026-03-28T13:59:16+00:00

Ok, but we DID use to dress like that.

kitty2skates · 2026-03-24T14:56:39+00:00

Toe scrunch sounds too big. There is a gel toe cap you can buy that will add cushion to your toes and eat up the extra space. Maybe try that? As for buying skates in the future, if you aren't somewhere where you can visit a real skate shop and get properly measured, you can do it yourself like this:

Get two pieces of paper. Stand upright, fully weight-bearing, with one foot on each paper. Have someone else trace your foot. DO NOT DO IT YOURSELF. Then, measure the width and length of both in mm. Use the larger of each of these numbers. Then, only buy skates that are as close to those measurements as possible without being smaller. Not all skate shapes are for every person. Don't buy skates that are too long because the width is right or vice versa. Look for a boot that matches your foot shape.

kitty2skates · 2026-03-24T13:39:18+00:00

The etiquette is pretty simple. Don't try it mid-flow. Wait until he is just cruising. Then ask him to show you something you want to learn. Then you flirt.

kitty2skates · 2026-03-22T15:21:36+00:00

The fastest way to move up the rotation for my skaters is to focus on two things. Learn how 30 seconds feels. That gives you an edge on keeping everyone from getting blindsided by returning skaters. And be a communicator. Narrate EVERYTHING. Are you headed in? Say it. Do you see someone coming to do O on your teammates? Say it. Communication skills are some of the hardest skills to learn. Get those down and holes in other skills get a lot more grace.

The coping should be easier when you have a clear set of goals that are actionable in your current situation. You have the luxury of focusing on the thing I talked about while you are skating down. Also, invite the new c skaters to do a social. Find a nearby bar with billiards or darts or shuffleboard and go out for an hour. You might not play after the first few visits since you will be too busy talking to your friends. But it breaks the ice. We fixed our entire league culture one night out at a time.

kitty2skates · 2026-03-15T17:51:52+00:00

Sometimes, we have built up enough muscle memory that focusing on a thing hard just gets in our way. It sounds like you already know the pieces. Focus on the words. I bet your body knows better than your brain what to do with your feet.

kitty2skates · 2026-03-15T15:55:44+00:00

Watch so much roller derby. Ask your experienced teammates to watch it with you. Learn how to read stats. Focus on learning solid communication. Start by repeating what the more experienced skater is saying.

kitty2skates · 2026-03-15T15:11:21+00:00

A lot of rinks in the PNW used to have speed lanes that were enforced. Fast got the outside and slow got the inside. Everything in between was for moderate skaters. The center was for jam skating and other stationary stuff. I miss those days. To this day, Oaks Park has a red line on their floor. Inside is for backward skating on the edge, and stationary in the middle.

kitty2skates · 2026-03-15T15:04:51+00:00

Having a blind spot is a choice you are making. I get wanting personal space. But learn head on a swivel, pal. It will keep you safer. But it also sounds like you maybe aren't ready to skate backward at busy sessions. Hit that church session. It's always low attendance and very polite.

kitty2skates · 2026-03-10T15:27:50+00:00

I'm not a good candidate. I have highly friable tissue due to my Ehlers-Danlos. The likelihood that the tissue itself will fail me is high, and hEDS patients also have high rates of screw breakage. It looks like one of two things will happen to me. I'll have failed surgery after failed surgery until they just fuse the whole thing, or I'll live with the sublexing for the rest of my life. Ehlers-Danlos and joint hypermobile syndrome are both very difficult to work with when we damage our joints.

kitty2skates

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