It’s 8am on a Saturday morning. Team Bootcamp and ARRG coaches arrive at Meadowbank looking like human versions of Buckaroo carrying skatebags, water, soundsystems, lunches, shirts, inner tubes.. everything you might need for a full day of skatey hardwork and fun! A busy hour later and the tracks are ready, everyone is registered and Head Teacher Die signals to the excited pupils that we are ready for School of ARRG Knocks 3 to begin!

Begin boldly we did – a Fame inspired assembly complete with 80’s aerobics moves, high kicks, high hands and high cut leotards set to Michael Sembello’s Maniac and Irene Cara’s Fame certainly got everyone’s hearts pumping ready for the day ahead!

The day ran fast with each group having 3 on skates and a classroom session covering blocking, jamming, jumping, technical skills, tactical skills and loads of goal setting and off skates. You could see the concentration on faces as pupils really challenged themselves to learn new skills and push themselves further than they thought they could with proud coaches looking on.

Head Teacher Die told us that, “It was amazing to see how much people progressed throughout the sessions and great to see their skills in action when it got to our end of day scrimmage. I love bootcamp day, everyone works so hard!”

We asked Lady Scrapnell, who passed her mins (for the second time(!), after having a baby boy) in January 2013, what she thought of the day’s proceedings:

Scraps, what did you think of the day?
The day was great fun, informative, well-organised and gloriously arrg work!

What sticks out / what were your best bits?
A certain fame-inspired outfit certainly sticks out… I also really enjoyed having some classroom time to talk about goal setting – something that I’ve never had the discipline to sit down and do for myself; it was fantastic to be given building blocks and techniques for the non-skating aspect of roller derby. It was great to end the day with a scrimmage, despite feeling like there was no energy left – we all found some!

What did you learn?
New technical skills – like quicker ways to leap back onto the track after being knocked out and skating on my tripods, the importance of off-skates, mental work: setting goals, celebrating achievements and welcoming positivity into your game! This was only the second time I’d scrimmaged with skaters outside my league and I loved the challenge and excitement of skating with players I’d just met that day.

What would you say to people thinking of attending a bootcamp?
Go for it! You’ll make loads of new skater pals, be taught by encouraging, friendly, top-class coaches and remain stiff and sore for the rest of the week with the lyrics, “I wanna skate forever” echoing around your head!

It was a really well-run day and I’m so glad I came!

There was great feedback from pupils saying their thanks on Facebook and Twitter. From what everyone is saying it was a cracking, fun day and like the title suggests – ARRGer than ever!

Thanks to everyone who came, helped, coached and organised. See you at the next School of ARRG Knocks – From everyone at ARRG SOAK Bootcamps.

ARRG coaches are available for bootcamps and coaching across the world – visit out coaches pg for more information.

Our featured skater for August is the incredible Admiral Attackbar.

Attack is an incredible skater. Not only is she one of the best jammers in Europe (maybe even the world!) but she is also a feared blocker and pivot too. She won the ‘Well ARRG’ award at our 2014 awards ball for her insane strength which she attributes mainly to crossfit. She’s more than a triple threat – she’s a serious force on track. Don’t just take our word for it – WFTDA have recognised her skills and awesomeness and she’s been a featured skater for them too. She’s also one of our coaches, and will be coaching at our bootcamp on the 30th August. We are well proud of her.

Home Team Affiliation:
I’m not actually affiliated with any home team at the moment. I chose to opt out of home season this year in order to focus on training for Twisted Thistles games and going to the States.

Joined ARRG in:
I started Fresh Meat in May 2011

Favourite position to play:
Jammer

Best ARRG memory:
There are so many that I couldn’t possibly pick one that stands out as the best but going to The Big O this year in Eugene, Oregon was an amazing experience. We played five really hard bouts over 5 days, which was a truly exhausting and exhilarating experience, after which I got to play against Team USA, which was also pretty cool!

Worst Derby injury:
I’ve actually never really been injured (touch wood!) but because I’m like 5ft tall I get my own fair share of hits to the face but thankfully nothing serious.

Best Derby advice:
Cross train, cross train, cross train and never compare your beginning to somebody else’s middle.

Any funny/embarrassing derby stories?
When we played London Brawling at Track Queens in Berlin I got a blocking with the head penalty for falling over and accidentally putting my face in someone’s butt.

Derby Hero:
I have quite a few but at the moment basically the entire Texecutioners team from Texas Roller Girls are my current faves. What I love most about them is that they’re not a big team. Most of their skaters are really small but they are all just phenomenally good at playing together and using amazing footwork.

What do you do outside of derby:
I’m a graphic designer and I spend a lot of time at CrossFit. My other hobby is eating.

Fun facts about you:
I have a rock collection

Anyone can learn to skate… Anyone can have speed, strength, endurance, dance around, be A GIANT. But, when the pressure is on, and The World is watching, those who skate together, focus, and work as a unit will reap the rewards of all their efforts. And the giants.. well, the giants they will fall.

This year ARRG took on The West Coast of America. Teams full of top class skaters – individuals and giants who work hard to climb those WFTDA rankings. Teams like: Rose City’s Axels of Annihilation, Arizona, Sac City, Tuscon and Emerald City. We surpassed all the predictions and our coaches learnt A LOT!!

We learnt about footwork, we learnt how to adapt our styles quickly, we learnt about blocking with whatever you’ve got, we learnt about communication, we learnt how to work as a team, play as a team, help each other, support each other and take on the goliaths without fear.

Now in School of ARRG Knocks 3 we are going to show YOU how!

Oh, and it wouldn’t be School of ARRG Knocks without a theme.. SOAK 3’s theme is FAME because.. you know.. we wanna skate forever! 🙂

Get your ticket now!

And a big ARRGy thanks to David (HaJuken) Lewis, for his work in making this video.