Looking for a fun Christmas Party for your team? Our November Public Skate Nights are a perfect way to kick start the holiday season!

Happy Friday Rollas!

Get ready to roll into the weekend!

1 – Did you miss last night’s Virtual Rolla class? We’ve got you covered. Last night, Coach Lulu got us rolling with some hill skills and some weaving work. Also, we got our living room dance party going with the moonwalk and the downtown! Grab your skates and join your Rolla pals by pressing the play button below!

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2 – Another Friday, another episode of Coach Barbie’s kick-ass Outdoor Skate Series! Barbie’s helping us to get through these wild times by improving our outdoor skate abilities. Rolla Home Club members get exclusive access to Barbie’s videos before they go live to the public! Check out the video below for Episode 6 of Barbie’s Outdoor Skate Series. Head over to Barbie’s YouTube channel to give her some skater love; like her video, subscribe to her awesome channel, and follow her mantra… when in doubt – skate it out!

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3 – Couldn’t catch last night’s Social Roll? No sweat ! You can watch it here on your own time. This week’s host was AndiStruction; a retired derby player turned roller dance aficionado. Andi took us on a whirlwind tour of roller dance around the world, and all the fun that entails. Curious about roller dance? Watch the re-cap below!

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4 – All that rollerskating tiring you out? Good rest is important for all of us! If you’re looking to get snoozy over the weekend, we’ve got you covered with the perfect soundtrack. Count sheep with Bruisey’s nap playlist here!

As always, stay safe out there. We’ll see you later, skaters!

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HAPPY TUESDAY ROLLAS!

1 – Rolla Weekly Challenge! Each week we’ll post a skills challenge for us all to work on together. Something you can do in a small space. Today, we’re working on the MOONWALK! A real crowd-pleaser, and a ton of fun!

Level 1 – One foot toe balance behind you
Level 2 – Roll backwards using toe stops
Level 3 – The moonwalk with no toe stops!

Check out Coach Booty’s tutorial below, and you’ll be moonwalking in no time!

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2 – Did you miss last night’s Ready to Rolla class? Have no fear, the re-cap is here! Get into some comfy clothing, grab a yoga mat and press that play button below to get sweaty with Coach Booty and your Rolla pals!

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3 – If you’re looking for some compelling Netflix content this week, make sure to check out Hillary, a new series on Hillary Clinton. It’s a four-part series which looks into the life, career, and evolution of a polarizing political figure. If nothing else, it reminds you how much has changed around opportunities for women and how much work there still is to do.

As always, stay safe out there. We’ll see you later, skaters!

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Happy Friday Rollas!

1 – It’s Friday, which means… another episode of Coach Barbie’s kick-ass Outdoor Skate Series! Barbie’s helping us to get through these wild times by improving our outdoor skate abilities. Rolla Home Club members get exclusive access to Barbie’s videos before they go live to the public! Check out the video below for Episode 5 of Barbie’s Outdoor Skate Series. Head over to Barbie’s YouTube channel to give her some skater love; like her video, subscribe to her awesome channel, and follow her mantra… when in doubt – skate it out!

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2 – Have you ever wondered what the right way to lace up your skates is? Well, just like most aspects of rollerskating, there are tons of variations! Below, you’ll find 3 different lace up styles. As long as your skates are keeping you safe and sturdy, the choice is yours!

This is Nicole Fiore, artistic skater/coach, lacing up skates her personal way:

Watch below to see Pigeon and the Moxi crew showing us how to tie Moxi skates:

Check out Estro-Jen’s skate lacing tutorial at RollerCon:

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3 – Last Night’s Social Roll was themed “Life Hacks” with Booty! Below you’ll find a list of Booty’s life hacks she can’t live without…

1. Peel your hardboiled eggs with a spoon – super fast! Click HERE for tutorial (but first I crack my eggshell lightly all over with the back of the spoon)
2. If you use Facebook on a desktop for work/tasks and don’t like to get distracted, install the Newsfeed Eradicator for Facebook extension – Click HERE for the Chrome version!
3. Small space living tips:
a. Store things in unorthodox places. We store our pizza stone in our ottoman under the blankets and with the board games 🙂
b. Create extra kitchen elbow room by getting a sturdy wood cutting board and setting it over half your stove. Use it for extra counter space, setting down your groceries, or actual chopping! Ours is a $19 IKEA special.
c. Sort your laundry into 2 baskets – stuff that goes in the dryer, and stuff that doesn’t. Makes it super easy to throw all the socks/underwear/PJs in on cold. Only sort your nicer clothes / athletic fabrics when it’s time to wash.
4. Another kitchen tip! Click HERE for the best way to cook chicken breasts!
5. Booze tip from Tiny D: To serve white wine, put it in the fridge 60-90 minutes before serving. To serve red, put it in the fridge early, then take it OUT 60-90 minutes before serving! FANCY.
6. Another one from Tiny D: the best price on flights will be 6 weeks before your trip, on a Tuesday, at 3pm!

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4 – Looking for something to make you laugh your ASS off this weekend? If you haven’t already, drop everything and listen to “My Dad Wrote a Porno,” a podcast that is self-explanatory. Click HERE for some laughs!
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As always, stay safe out there. We’ll see you later, skaters!

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We’re back with our Tuesday instalment of the Rolla Home Club!

We hope you’re back from your long weekend feeling refreshed and ready for some awesome content.

1 – Rolla Weekly Challenge – Each week we post a skills challenge for us all to work on in our small spaces… this week we’re taking it to our Toe Stops for some Toe Stop Agility!

Level 1 – Stepping side to side
Level 2 – Hopping or jumping
Level 3 – Add some obstacles

Follow along with Coach Lulu in the video below and get comfortable with those Toe Stops!

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2 – Did you miss last night’s Ready to Rolla class? We’ve got you covered. Grab a yoga mat, put on comfy clothes and press the play button below to get sweaty with Coach Booty and your Rolla pals!

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3 – *Thursday Social Roll* 7:30 PM PST* Don’t forget! Every Thursday we host a Virtual Hangout with the Rolla Crew! It’s a chance for us to connect off-skates, kick back and have some laughs.

This week’s theme is… Life Hacks with Coach Booty Quake! Coach Booty will share a few of her favourite “life hacks” that she’s figured out over the years. Bring one of your own to share!

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4 – Does changing your mindset really affect your situation? Dr. Alia Crum says yes – with the research to support it. Check out Dr. Crum’s fascinating TED Talk below to gain some insight about how our beliefs may have a stronger impact on our performance than we might think.

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Happy Friday!

Another Friday, another awesome instalment of the Rolla Home Club to keep you rolling all weekend long!

1 – If you haven’t been able to make our Thursday night Virtual Rolla classes with Coach Lulu, never fear! They’re right here on the dispatch to keep you rolling on your own schedule. Pop your skates on, clear some space and press play below to build your small-space skills with Lulu and the gang!

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2 – If you haven’t already heard by now, our dear Coach Barbie releases a new episode of her kick-ass Outdoor Skate Series each week! Barbie’s helping us to get through these wild times by improving our outdoor skate abilities. Barbie publishes her skate series to her personal YouTube channel, however, Rolla Home Club members will have EXCLUSIVE access to her videos before they go live to the public! Check out the video below for Episode 4 of Barbie’s Outdoor Skate Series, and find it on her page after its public release on Saturday. Head over to Barbie’s YouTube channel to give her some skater love; like her video, subscribe to her awesome channel, and follow her mantra… when in doubt – skate it out!

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3 – Speaking of outdoor skating… Coach Barbie hosted last night’s Social Roll! Barbie went LIVE with all her must-know info about skating safely outdoors. Weren’t able to tune in last night? No sweat. Click HERE to re-watch!

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4 – Despite all the negative news and scary headlines – there are, in fact, many good things happening around the world. Actor John Krasinski brings us the Some Good News network; some heart-warming stories and interviews bringing people together, and featuring lots of famous faces – including a brief cameo from one of our Vancouver locals! Click below for a good laugh and a warm heart!

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5 – Roll into the weekend with Coach Booty’s Girl Punk Workout playlist. These tunes will have you feeling like a bad-ass in no time. Click HERE and crank up those speakers!

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Welcome to your Tuesday instalment of the Rolla Home Club!

Keep scrolling for lots of rollerskating fun to be had – even on rainy days like these!

1 – Rolla Weekly Challenge – Each week we post a skills challenge for us all to work on in our small spaces… this week it’s another crowd pleasing move – and one that looks really awesome when you have a group of people doing it all at once – Zeroes; the Booty Quake Edition!

Level 1 – Work on your moonwalk
Level 2 – Add the heel lead and lateral push
Level 3 – Put it all together and add some flair!

Perfect your zeroes Booty Quake-style with the video below. All you have to do is press play!

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2 – Did you miss last night’s Ready to Rolla class? No sweat – you can always access past Rolla Home Club classes right here on the dispatch! Grab a yoga mat and some comfy clothes to join your Rolla pals for Coach Booty Quake’s Ready to Rolla class!

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3 – *Thursday Social Roll* 7:30 PM PST* Don’t forget! Every Thursday we host a Virtual Hangout with the Rolla Crew! It’s a chance for us to connect off-skates, kick back and have some laughs.

This week’s theme is… Outdoor Skating with Coach Barbie! Join Coach Barbie for an interactive session on how to get outside and take your skates to the streets. We’ll be talking about daily, weekly and monthly maintenance tips and how to keep rolling safely while keeping your precious rollerskates functioning at their peak! If you’ve been following Barbie’s Outdoor Skate Series, you know by now that she’s got plenty of knowledge to share. Join us for a chat – and bring your burning questions as there will be time for Q & A!

Some other things to note – the session will be 7.30pm to 8pm with our usual hanging out after from 8 to 8.30pm. See you there!
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4 – Looking for some feel-good content from the comfort of your couch? Good news – you can binge Netflix AND get your daily dose of motivation from around the world. Check out the Shine On with Reese series by Reese Witherspoon on Netflix. In this series, Witherspoon speaks to women from different fields about their groundbreaking achievements and inspiring journeys. It showcases powerful, ambitious women doing some incredible things. Witherspoon herself is considered not only an actress, but also a businesswoman, an activist, the founder of a production company… the list goes on. She is currently the owner of media company Hello Sunshine, a brand whose aim is telling women’s stories. It wasn’t just her role as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde that deeply cared about justice – Reese Witherspoon has shown that it’s a personal passion of hers, too.

*Recommendation* Episode 6 – Author Glennon Doyle (Love Warrior) and her wife Abby Wambach (two-time Olympic Gold Medallist). Check it out!

As always, stay safe out there. We’ll see you later, skaters!
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Happy Friday Rollas!

With high temperatures ahead, they’ll be plenty of sunshine to go around. Lace up your skates and soak up some of that vitamin D! Scroll for some fun stuff to keep you rollin’ this weekend!

1 – Did you miss last night’s Virtual Rolla class? We’ve got you covered. Grab your skates and join your Rolla pals by pressing the play button below!

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2 – Each week, our dear Coach Barbie releases a new episode of her kick-ass Outdoor Skate Series! She has made it her mission to help us all through this unprecedented time by improving on our outdoor skating abilities. Barbie is giving us her best tips, tricks, products and ways to stay safe and healthy during this time. Barbie publishes her skate series to her personal YouTube channel, however, Rolla Home Club members will have EXCLUSIVE access to her videos before they go live to the public! Check out the video below for Episode 3 of Barbie’s Outdoor Skate Series, and find it on her page after its public release on Saturday. Head over to Barbie’s YouTube channel to give her some skater love; like her video, subscribe to her awesome channel, and follow her mantra… when in doubt – skate it out!

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3 – Last night’s social roll was themed… Stretching for Skaters! Coach LuluDemon shared some great ways to keep our rollerskating muscles stretched and ready for more awesome action. Get stretching with the re-cap below! All you need is a yoga mat (or wear knee pads if not) as well as a non-stretchy scarf or belt.

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4 – Have you found an effective way to kick lockdown boredom? These strong women have! Warning: Boss Bitches ahead!

As always, stay safe out there. We’ll see you later, skaters!
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Hey Rollas!

Welcome to the Tuesday instalment of the Rolla Home Club! Keep reading for some content sure to brighten your week… along with that sunshine, of course!

1 – Rolla Weekly Challenge! Each week we’ll post a skills challenge for us all to work on together. Something you can do in a small space. This week we’re working on our spinning skills with Coach Booty Quake. Spinning is a favourite trick for many on rollerskates; you’ll be sure to wow the crowd at our next rollerskating party!

Level 1 – Stepping around
Level 2 – Spin 360
Level 3 – More rotations and spin faster

Check out the video below – Coach Booty will give you all you need to be spinning in no time!

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2 – Did you miss last night’s Ready to Rolla class? Have no fear, the re-cap is here! Get into comfy clothing, grab a yoga mat and press that play button below to get sweaty with Coach Booty and your Rolla pals!

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3 – We’ve all been put to the test in these unprecedented times. Are you still trying to figure out how to thrive in self-isolation? Let’s ask the pros… Chris Hadfield, retired astronaut and the first Canadian to walk in space, has spent a lot of time on his own. The only difference is, he was 500 kilometres above earth! Hadfield knows what it’s like to learn to pass the time, and has some priceless insight. Check out an interview with him HERE!

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Happy Tuesday Rollas!

1 – This week’s Weekly Challenge sure is a challenge. Coach Lulu’s floor move had us all sweaty and our cores flexed. The ladies in the video below make it look too easy! Check out their funky choreography as well as their variations of Lulu’s floor move for inspiration. Haven’t had a chance to take a crack at the floor move? Scroll down to #4 on this post for the re-cap of last night’s Living Room Rolla class with Coach Lulu for a walk-through of this groovy move!

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2 – In case you missed it, last week, our dear Coach Barbie introduced her awesome new project, Coach Barbie’s Outdoor Skate Series! She has made it her mission to help us all through this unprecedented time by improving on our outdoor skating abilities. Barbie is giving us her best tips, tricks, products and ways to stay safe and healthy during this time. Barbie publishes her skate series to her personal YouTube channel, however, Rolla Home Club members will have EXCLUSIVE access to her videos before they go live to the public! Check out the video below for Episode 2 of Barbie’s Outdoor Skate Series, and find it on her channel after its public release on Saturday. When in doubt – skate it out!

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3 – Looking for some tunes for your weekend? Click HERE to for access to Coach Booty Quake’s Female Friendly Hip-Hop playlist. For when you want to listen to some sweet rhymes and beats with women, children, or really any human being!

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4 – Last night we launched our very first LIVE Living Room Rolla class with Coach LuluDemon! Living Room Rolla is an on-skates class that you can participate in right from the comfort of your living room. It focuses on small space moves that you can do at home – with options for every level of skater! We loved seeing all of our Rolla pals rolling with us. In case you missed last night’s virtual class, lace up your skates, push your rug to the side, press the play button below and get rolling!

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5 – At this week’s Social Roll, Coach Booty Quake shared some exercises that will help strengthen our most important assets – our feet and ankles! Tune into the video below, and grab a resistance band or a pair of stretchy tights and learn some ways to keep your feet and ankles strong and sturdy!

As always, stay safe out there. We’ll see you later, skaters!

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Happy Tuesday Y’all!

Welcome to today’s instalment of the Rolla Home Club. Keep reading for some content sure to spice up your Tuesday…

1 – Rolla Weekly Challenge! Each week we’ll post a skills challenge for us all to work on together. Something you can do in a small space. This week we’re working on this super fun FLOOR MOVE with Coach Luludemon. It’s one of her favourites but it sure is a challenge!

Level 1 – Get comfy in that squat position
Level 2 – Switch legs
Level 3 – Add some flare!

Get ready to flex your core and give it a go! Coach LuluDemon has some hot tips to ace this floor move in the video below!

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2 – Get Ready to Rolla with Coach Booty Quake! Ready to Rolla is an off-skates class that focuses on the core muscles that we use as rollerskaters.

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3 – PODCAST LOVE!  You’ve probably heard by now that if you don’t leave this quarantine period speaking four languages or with a 6-pack, you’re doing it all wrong.  We say NO WAY to that… “You Don’t Have to be Productive in a Pandemic” is a great episode from Wait, There’s More and it can be found HERE! Embrace the chill. Happy Listening!

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4 – Looking for some exercises specific to your feet and ankles? We’ve got you covered. The following feet and ankle exercises can help you get even stronger and sturdier on your rollerskates. Not only that, but they help to minimize ankle injuries and keep you in kick-ass shape for when we all meet again on the track. The best part about these simple exercises is that they can be done while you brush your teeth, watch tv, or wait for your meal to be ready! Click HERE for a video tutorial and walk-through of the routine!

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6 – Inspiration: Why separate your roller dance and park skating? Rolla Dance skate coach Chris Neima doesn’t!

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Skate park dance. Chuck Bailey, Hector Rivera ‘At The Party.’ @pipachoo on camera

A post shared by Chris Neima (@chrisneima) on

As always, stay safe out there. We’ll see you later, skaters!
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Hey Rollas!

It’s Friday, and you know what that means… our Rolla Home Club instalment, of course! Keep reading to stock up on some ideas for your weekend plans!

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2 – As we all know, social isolation can take a real toll on our physical and mental well-being. Many of us structure our days around time spent with friends, family, and getting out and about. With the current situation, it’s making those important daily plans harder to do. Our very own Coach Barbie has made it her mission to help us all through this unprecedented time by taking our outdoor skating abilities to the next level! Introducing… Coach Barbie’s Outdoor Skate Series! In partnership with Rolla Skate Club, Coach Barbie is taking us on an outdoor journey by giving us her best roller skate tips, tricks, favourite products, and ways to stay safe during this time! Her goal is to inspire, excite and educate all levels of skaters, and help us get through this period together. New episodes will be coming to us each week (weather permitting) to keep us happy, healthy, and always improving. When in doubt, skate it out!

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3 – Do you like the idea of yoga but you’re not too interested in all the hippie zen stuff? Or you’ve been to yoga classes in the past and been put off by all the perfect bodies swaddled in Lululemon doing headstands? Then Sailors Mouth Yoga is for you! Created by a roller derby chick from Flint, MI called A-bomb, we first experienced this awesomeness at RollerCon and loved every minute. The short version is that it’s yoga that involves a lot of swearing while you downward dog (Caution – definitely NOT child friendly.) But really you have to do it to truly understand how fun it is! So put on your stretchy pants, maybe grab a beer or glass of wine and enjoy this socially distanced yoga session with a sprinkling of expletives. All levels welcome! Your regular class will never feel the same….

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4 – In case you missed it, this week’s Social Roll was themed Brews & Bearings and hosted by our very own Coach LuluDemon. Couldn’t make it to the zoom chat, but interested in getting to know the parts of your skates a little better? Not to worry, we’ve got you covered. Check out the video below where you can access that awesome content!

As always, stay safe out there. We’ll see you later, skaters!
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Welcome Back Rollas!

Don’t let this week’s rainy forecast bring you down! Keep scrolling for some funky content to keep you busy courtesy of the Rolla Home Club!

1 – Rolla Weekly Challenge! Each week we’ll post a skills challenge for us all to work on together. Something you can do in a small space. Last week we got working on one of our favourite Rolla Skills – TRANSITIONS – using the Open & Close method. This week we’re focusing on the Pivot method.

Level 1 – Forwards to backwards – pivot on the toes
Level 2 – Rolling backwards – pivot on the heels to go forwards
Level 3 – Lift-off! Try a little hop to turn!

As we mentioned last week, transitions are super useful, and it’s never a bad idea to keep practicing. In the video below, Coach Booty Quake gives us some tips on how to nail our transitions using the pivot method.

Make sure you check out our Weekly Challenge post on the Girl Gang Facebook group where you can show us your “working on it” videos or post questions and comments about this week’s challenge and get feedback from the Rolla Coaches!

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2 – Charity of the Month – As we’ve all heard, domestic violence has increased during the current crisis – not everyone is safer at home, unfortunately. This month we’re supporting BWSS:

“Battered Women’s Support Services provides education, advocacy, and support services to assist all women in its aim to work towards the elimination of violence and to work from a feminist perspective that promotes equality for all women.”

CRISIS + INTAKE LINE: 604.687.1867
Donate: https://www.bwss.org/take-action/donate/

My Sister’s Closet is currently closed, but if these homebound times have you cleaning out your closets, save your donate-able clothing for their thrift store when they re-open!
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3 – Fake it ’til you make it; a piece of advice we’ve heard time and time again. But how true is it? In her popular TED Talk, social scientist Amy Cuddy talks about how our body language governs how we think and feel about ourselves, and thus impacts our minds. According to her research, even if we aren’t feeling great, adapting powerful body language or power poses can have a hugely positive impact on how we feel! At a time when social and physical connection are absent from our daily lives, finding the strength to feel confident and powerful can be a struggle. Perhaps working a power pose or two into your daily routine can give you a little bit of inspiration! Check out the TED Talk below, and see how creative you can get with your power poses (on or off rollerskates!)

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4 – *Thursday Social Roll* Updated time 7:05 PM PST!* Don’t forget! Every Thursday we host a Virtual Hangout with the Rolla Crew! It’s a chance for us to connect off-skates, kick back and have some laughs. This week, we’re starting our hangout at 7:05 PM, so you have a few minutes to clap your hands and give a cheer for our fabulous front-line workers before getting online to chat with your Rolla pals!

This week’s theme is… Brews and Bearings with Coach LuluDemon! Even if you’re socially isolated, you’ve still got a beautiful pair of skates to keep you company. Why not use this time to get to know them a little better? This Thursday, bring your skates, tools, and a beverage of your choice and join Lulu in learning about all the bits and bobs that make up your lovely rollerskates!

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Happy Friday Rollas!

Get ready to roll into the weekend with some sweet content from today’s instalment of the Rolla Home Club!

1 – And now, for a bit of history…

“It sounds like a human freight train: wheels clattering around the turns, bodies thumping against each other, toe stops shrieking against the track. A rainbow of hair and wheels goes by in a blur, shouts and grunts punctuating the din. It’s part endurance race, part wrestling match, combining strategy, athleticism and camp. And it’s all done on roller skates.”

Does this sport sound familiar? Last year, New York Times writer Jennifer Harlan wrote an in-depth piece about the history of roller derby. Her article touches on the birth of derby, it’s rise to popularity, and some of the awesome humans who kept the fire burning. Check out Harlan’s piece HERE! Also included: must-see retro images of derby in the 1970’s!

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2 – Need your fill of wheels clattering, bodies thumping, and toe stops shrieking? Get cozy this weekend and live your life vicariously through Ellen Page by watching Whip It! Fun fact: Whip It was Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut, and it was written by Shauna Cross – AKA Maggie Mayhem – former roller derby athlete! What a powerful duo! Check out the trailer below:

 

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3 – With a sunny weekend ahead, and without the need for too much room, it’s a perfect opportunity to practice your toe stop agility! Two local derby legends Kim Janna and Vaders show you how to become comfortable, confident and agile on your toe stops. Don’t be discouraged if derby isn’t your thing; toe stops can be useful in all sorts of skating situations! Check out their video below:

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4 – You’re just about sorted for a busy weekend ahead… all you need are some tunes! Click HERE for access to Coach Smokie’s I Miss You Thursdays playlist. We miss rollin’ with you, Rollas! If you close your eyes, it’ll feel just like a Thursday Night Skills Club…

As always, stay safe out there. We’ll see you later, skaters!
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Welcome to your Tuesday instalment of the Rolla Home Club!

We hope everyone had an awesome, sunny long weekend. In today’s instalment of the Rolla Home Club, we’ve got some physical content to get those feet movin’, and some mental content to work those brain muscles.

1 – Rolla Weekly Challenge! In case you missed it the last few weeks, each week we’ll post a skills challenge for us all to work on together. Something you can do in a small space. It’s time to get working on one of our favourite Rolla Skills – TRANSITIONS! This week we’re focusing on the Open & Close method.

Level 1 – Start skating backwards (give yourself a push off a wall/chair if needed) then transition to forwards.
Level 2 – Start skating forwards then transition x 2
Level 3 – Full 360 degree transitions! Make sure to go both directions

Transitions are something that everybody could use a little work on! It’s a super useful skill and often one of the most challenging to master.  So this is a great opportunity to spend some time so you can really nail it! In the video below, Coach LuluDemon gives us some tips on how to do just that.

Check out our Weekly Challenge post on the Girl Gang Facebook group where you can show us your “working on it” videos or post questions and comments about this week’s challenge!
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2 – If you haven’t heard of Brené Brown, well, today is the first day of the rest of your life. Brené Brown is a researcher, a storyteller, and an advocate for daring greatly. What does it mean, exactly, to dare greatly? To quote Brown herself:

“The phrase Daring Greatly is from Theodore Roosevelt’s speech “Citizenship in a Republic.” The speech, sometimes referred to as “The Man in the Arena,” was delivered at the Sorbonne in Paris, France, on April 23, 1910. This is the passage that made the speech famous:

It’s not the critic who counts; not the [person] who points out how the strong [person] stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the [person] who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly… who at best knows the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if [they] fail, at least fails while daring greatly.

The first time I read this quote, I thought, This is vulnerability. Everything I’ve learned from over a decade of research on vulnerability has taught me this exact lesson. Vulnerability is not knowing victory or defeat, it’s understanding the necessity of both; it’s engaging. It’s being all in. I think the first thing we have to do is figure out what’s keeping us out of the arena. What’s the fear? Where and why do we want to be braver? Then we have to figure out how we’re currently protecting ourselves from vulnerability. What is our armor? Perfectionism? Intellectualizing? Cynicism? Numbing? Control? That’s where I started. It’s not an easy walk into that arena, but it’s where we come alive.”

Brené Brown is also an author of several best-selling books. Our very own Coach Lulu has been reading one of them, titled Dare to Lead. Check out her book review below, and click HERE for one of Brené Brown’s moving TED Talks on the topic of vulnerability.

Coach Lulu’s Book Review: I’m currently reading “Dare to Lead” by Brené Brown. It’s a book that builds upon her work on shame and vulnerability that was showcased in her viral TED talk. It uses that research to inform how we can be better leaders within our companies, families and communities. As entrepreneurs, when things are busy we focus so much on the business, we often forget to focus on ourselves and our own learning. Now is a great time to ask the question “How can I be better at my role within my company? What new skills can I learn from home?” This book offers some really great practical tips on how to be a better leader within any type of organisation. And how we can learn to lead with our heads and our hearts. Thanks Michelle Sipl for the recommendation!

Do you have any educational books you love? Share them on the Rolla Girl Gang Group!

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3 – *Rolla of the Month* Shout out to April’s Skater of the Month-  Sarah Fenton Tippie!! We’ve always loved Sarah’s sense of fun and all-in level of commitment. It fills us with even more big feels to see her keeping it weird and rollerskating on the regular during these wild pandemic times! Thanks for being a Rolla champion, Sarah!

 

As always, stay safe out there. We’ll see you later, skaters!

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Happy Long Weekend Rollas!

We’ve got you covered this long weekend with some fun stuff to keep you busy! Warning: some EXTREMELY hot dance moves ahead… you’ve been warned!

1 – Napoleon Dynamite’s epic dance performance (one of the greatest scenes in all of cinema) is now on rollerskates! Check out Booty Quake’s routine, learn it, and try it out yourself! Share your videos with us and tag us if you do!

Below you’ll find Booty’s step-by-step tutorial on how to master these moves. Sunglasses are optional but highly recommended.

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2 – Speaking of sweet dance moves, are you missing Coach Barbie’s classes? Bust a move to her playlist HERE. Don’t be fooled by the playlist title – it’s all fun and funky and perfect for this sunny weekend!

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3 – And finally, rad skater Lana Luvhurts helps us get to know our toe stops in the video below. Lana’s awesome “Get To Know Your Skates” series gives you all the basics in order to keep your skates rollin’ to perfection.

As always, stay safe out there. We’ll see you later, skaters! __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

We hope you’re back from your weekend feeling refreshed and ready for some awesome content.

1 – Rolla Weekly Challenge! In case you missed it last week, each week we’ll post a skills challenge for us all to work on together. Something you can do in a small space. As always we’ll have levels so everyone can challenge themselves.This week, it’s balancing on your front and/or back trucks! Try taking out those toe stops – but as always, be careful and wear your protective gear!

Level 1 – Pick up both toes and/or heels together
Level 2 – Heel-toe! Lift up right toe and left heel
Level 3 – Balance on both toes. Can you switch front and back foot while up there? Try heels too!
Superchallenge – Dance moves!

In the video below, Coach Booty Quake shows us her tips and tricks for seamless truck balancing. Check it out!

Check out our Weekly Challenge post on the Girl Gang Facebook group where you can show us your “working on it” videos or post questions and comments about this week’s challenge!

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2 – Are you brand new to rollerskating, or want to brush up on some of your basic skills? Follow along with Booty Quake in the video below as she walks you through our basic steps for first-timers, to get you up and rolling safely and confidently! We’ll talk safety gear, posture, foot positioning, how to start rolling, and of course, how to STOP!

If you’re already a pro – share this with your friends! Copy this link to share or send them to our YouTube Channel @rollaskateclub. Let’s get more people rolling!
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3 – Are you looking for some tunes to practice all your cool new moves to? Skate-dancing on your own at home but missing the perfect playlist? Look no further… Click HERE to access Sole’s Rolla Like A Boss playlist. It’ll make you feel like you’re right back at Skate Church!
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4 – We know that with all the confusion and uncertainty in the world, it can be tough to stay positive and motivated. In his TED Talk, Dan Pink, a motivation expert, gives us insight into how to think outside the box by finding our inner autonomy and a larger sense of purpose in the things we do. Check out his talk below!

 

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Happy Friday Rollas!

Hello and welcome to our Friday instalment of the Rolla Home Club. We’ve got some awesome content ahead to brighten up your weekend – so get ready for it!

1 – What do we always tell you? Bend your knees! Get lower! Well, it’s a little different in shoes than it is in skates. Booty wants you all to be able to squat with excellent form while we’re doing our Roller Derby Athletics workouts together, so watch and practice along with her!

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2 – In case you missed it on the Girl Gang Facebook group, Coach Busty is the proud companion of her very own Skate Dog. Check out Peapod’s awesome tricks below!

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3 – Rad California skater Morgan Weske gives us something to dance about! Below you’ll find Morgan’s groovy tutorial for her Quarantined Dance Skate – which can be danced and skated to any song of your choosing. If you’re a bit intimidated by some of the choreography, have no fear! There are a ton of individual tutorials to practice the moves individually before you link them all together into your choreographic masterpiece!

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We had a blast connecting with ya’ll on our first Thursday Virtual Social Roll with host Luludemon!  We can’t wait to do it again next week!  Don’t forget – Thursday at 6pm we’ll be hanging out with Host Booty Quake and chatting about all things Architecture.  There might also be a dress up theme…… watch this space!

As always, stay safe out there. We’ll see you later, skaters!

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Greetings Rolla friends!

We’re comin’ at you with an exciting Tuesday newsletter. So let’s get to it!

1 – *NEW* Rolla Weekly Challenges! Each week we’ll post a skills challenge for us all to work on together. Something you can do in a small space. As always we’ll have levels so everyone can challenge themselves.This week, it’s One Foot Balance! Rollerskating on two feet brings us so much joy. But what about rollerskating on one foot? In the video below, resident coach Luludemon shows us how to ease into a One Foot Balance, and ways to challenge our bodies to build that skill.

Level 1 – Stationary One Foot Balance
Level 2 – Rolling One Foot Balance
Level 3 – One Foot Weave

Check out our Weekly Challenge post on the Girl Gang Facebook group where you can show us your “working on it” videos or post questions and comments about this week’s challenge!

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2 – It can be challenging to find our groove in these tough times. However, one of our favourite YouTube skate sensations Dirty Deborah Harry has some awesome tips and tricks to learn and perfect the cross over/rock step move. Check out her video below, and give the move a go! Once you’ve got it down, turn up that music and dance like no one’s watching! Tag us in your social media posts @rollaskateclub to show us your progress!

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Stay safe out there, Rollas. We’ll see you later, skaters!

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Hey Rollas! Happy Friday!

Firstly – pat yourself on the back for making it through a FULL WEEK of physical distancing.  Rolla Skate Club is about so much more than rollerskating – it’s about this beautiful, diverse and amazing community that we’re building. So being unable to roll together .. well frankly it sucks.

But never fear! We are here to help you stay healthy, motivated and connected to the community we all love and cherish. As much as we can during these crazy times.

So without further ado…. fun stuff for YOU!

1 – Do you struggle with nailing those strong plow stops? Learning a new skill is partly about knowing the correct technique but a big part is about building up the right muscles for that specific skill. If you’ve ever left a Rolla class sore in places you’ve never felt sore before… you’ll know what we mean when we say “Rollerskating uses muscles that we don’t use in regular life!”  Luckily the fabulous Booty Quake is here to show you how to target the SPECIFIC muscles we need to use for Plow Stops in this awesome Off-Skate Workout.  Work it!

 

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2 – Get your Moonwalk on!  Now that your thighs are super strong from that off-skates workout, Booty Quake shows you how to get your groove on with one of our fave small-space dance moves.  Get practicing for those Hot Summer Rolla Parties!

 

 

Need some extra gear for your roll?  Don’t miss out on the Annual Rollergirl.ca One Day Sale happening online this Sunday March 29th. In case the name doesn’t give it away… it only happens ONCE a year…. And if there’s any time of year to reach out a hand to our amazing small businesses – NOW is the time.  Did you know that Rollergirl.ca has been around for 17 years?!? This world-renowned business is owned and operated by the incredibly knowledgeable and kick-ass skater Rollergirl aka Lisa Suggitt – she’s a national treasure! So set your clocks for Sunday because this is one time you truly can shop and know you are doing good all at once. #saveYVRsmallbusiness

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3 – Last, but never least, we have a treat for your earholes. Check out Rolla fan favourite Coach Smokie’s Spotify playlist here: Smokie Strawberry and take yourself back to those Thursday Nights at Rolla Skate Church.  Are you missing the dulcet tones of Coach Smokie? She’s posted a very special message to all the Rollas in the Girl Gang Facebook Group. (Warning: Not child appropriate)

Alright Rollas!  We hope you’ve enjoyed the latest instalment of the Rolla Home Club.  Get working on those moves and as always we’ll see you LATER SKATERS.

 

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Hey Rollas!

Today we’re going to show you some ways to keep your gear and skates in tip-top shape! Once everything is neat and tidy, hop on those skates and get ready to bust a move to one of our favourite dance tunes!

1 – A well-worn pair of skates can gather lots of dust and dirt on its bearings. Here’s BruiseBerry Pie’s comprehensive video on how to keep those bearings nice and shiny:

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2 – While you’re in cleaning mode, get that safety gear smelling fresh, too. Nerd Roller Skates has got us covered with how to keep busy and productive while we’re at home!

 

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3 – Now that your gear is looking and feeling fly, follow along with LuluDemon and her stepping moves in the videos below! Once you’ve got those moves down, head on over to the Girl Gang Facebook Group and upload a video of your skills. We can’t wait to see what you’ve got!

Level 1 (With a little help from Oscar):

Level 2:

Work those new moves!
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Today’s theme: Outdoor skating!

1 – Here’s Booty Quake’s top tips for outdoor skating for beginners:

 


2 – Got that under your belt? Try some more advanced outdoor obstacles with Lulu!

 


3 – HOLD UP, you’re gonna need some tunes. If you’ve ever done a Rolla Workout with Booty Quake, you’ll recognize this Spotify playlist called Booty’s Workout Beats! Get pumped!  Open Playlist Here!

 


4 – OK, you’ve got all the ingredients. Lulu shows you what you need to know to get your rollerskates ready to roll outside.

 

Remember to keep your distance when you skate outside. Stay safe, friends!