It’s a Hard Knock Life: Touretta Lynn and NRG Tryouts

Drew Barrymore and Ellen Page are doing it. So should you!

Your chance to join the ranks of Indy’s own roller derby superstars, the Tornado Sirens and Warning Belles, comes on Nov. 15, when the ladies of NRG invite any and all aspiring derby girls to lace up their skates and put their skills to the test in Naptown’s next round of tryouts.

Never even played the sport, you say? Don’t you worry.

To get you good and ready for the challenge, we’re throwing in a complimentary session of Touretta Lynn’s School of Hard Knocks. In two adrenalin-packed hours before tryouts, you’ll get individual instruction from one of Naptown’s leading ladies. You’ll find out how to execute a powerful crossover, how to run out of the turns, how to roll with the pack, and how it feels to get hit by 115 pounds of fishnet and fury.

“Before I enrolled in Touretta Lynn’s School of Hard Knocks, I couldn’t even stand up on skates. Now I’m rolling like a pro!”

– Mr. Naughty, ref

“Touretta Lynn taught me everything I know! Well … not everything.”

– Cherry Uncordial, Fresh Meat

“Touretta Lynn’s School of Hard Knocks made me feel like somebody punched me in the stomach and stole my lunch money. And I loved every second of it!”

– Valerie Hurtinelli, Naptown Roller Girl

Ready to show us what you got?

First, you will need to purchase your own gear. This includes quad skates, kneepads, elbow pads, wrist guards, a mouth guard, and most importantly, a helmet. It is a good idea to get these items early and practice skating in them. They can be purchased at most local sports stores or skate shops in the area. You can also purchase items from online retailers such as, our sponsor, www.SinCitySkates.com. They have Rookie deals or packages that are all-inclusive and may save you some money. Sin City also has a great blog with lots of information about skate types, wheel types, and gear specifics. So don’t forget to read up before you buy!

What else can you do to get ready?

1. START SKATING NOW! There are lots of rinks in the area such as Wheels of Wonder, USA Roller Skating Center, Southland Skate Center, Roller Cave, and Franklin Skate Club. Check online for times and locations of open-skates near yo

2. GET IN SHAPE. Being a roller girl is a serious athletic commitment. You should start eating healthy, drinking lots of water, and exercising regularly. Start taking care of your body and don’t be afraid to talk to a fitness or health professional about what is right for you.

3. LEARN THE RULES and SKILL REQUIREMENTS. NRG is currently a member of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA). The current set of WFTDA rules along with information on the minimum set of skill requirements needed can be found on the WFTDA website at http://wftda.com/rules.html.

4. KEEP INFORMED. Stay tuned to this website and come to our events (and introduce yourself!). Please have all of your gear (skates, pads, mouth guards) before you come to skate! No Gear—No Skate!!

You will need to bring your own skates and safety equipment for tryouts. You should wear comfortable workout-style clothes and bring lots of water. You will also need to bring tennis shoes always for off-skate activities.

Please do not hesitate to contact freshmeat AT naptownrollergirls.com with any questions. They will add your name to our list of gals interested in tryouts and will inform you once we set the next date.

Contact us at freshmeat@ naptownrollergirls.com for more info!