Roller girl boot camp teaches the basics (wnywoman.com)

http://www.wnywoman.com/articles/bioya/Roller_girl_bootcamp_teaches_the_basics.html

By Nicole Gawel, Reporter
Joining the Queen City Roller Girls’ (QCRG), the only roller derby league in Western New York, Boot Camp wasn’t an eccentric idea for Jennifer Korzen, a resident of Depew.

She is a content artist who creates digital matter for stores, computer software and plug and play software for Fisher Price by day. But when word hits the cubicles, most of Korzen’s colleagues aren’t surprised since her hobbies and interests include tribal belly dancing and paintball.

For four consecutive and intense Sundays, Korzen was committed to learning everything she needed to pass the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association’s (WFTDA) assessment to join the league.

“QCRG’s Boot Camp is held to help newbie’s, who are called fresh legs, to get them ready for the assessment,” said Korzen, whose derby name is Cherry Aire. “You have to be able to skate a certain number of laps, jump an obstacle, stop in several ways, slide on your legs and so on.”
Returning QCRG’s assist the fresh legs as they hone in on their skills. When the women pass the assessment they have the opportunity to be drafted on QCRG’s four teams, including the Devil Dollies, Nickel City Knockouts, Suicidal Saucies and the newly formed Alley Kats.

For those women who are not drafted to the four teams, are given the opportunity to join the Queen’s Court, which is an auxiliary team. Groups of coaches help the girls throughout the year sharpen their skills more until next year’s draft.
For Korzen, boot camp was sort of a homecoming, as she is a native of North Tonawanda and used to skate at Rainbow Rink, where the QCRG are based.
Prior to camp she hadn’t strapped on skates since she was 12 years old.

“In the first week of camp, I was sucking wind and incredibly sore,” said Korzen. “Derby girls really are athletes. You come to a bout and see that it is fun and exciting, but it’s hard. It’s amazing to me how even more intense it is compared to how it seems and what I thought it was like. Their stamina is amazing.”

Safety is everything to the women. They are required to wear knee guards, elbow pads, wrist pads, a helmet and a mouth guard. But that doesn’t mean falling still isn’t painful.

After the first week at camp, Korzen was naming her bruises. The first one she called Frank.
“I’ve been a derby fan since it started,” said Korzen. “As soon as I heard there was a derby in Buffalo I came out to their first bout and still have my pink photocopied program.”

Unfortunately Korzen was not drafted, but will remain committed to the Queen’s Court.

”I’m still part of the league and that is an amazing opportunity,” said Korzen. “It’s amazing that women who aren’t drafted are still given this opportunity to be a part of such an extraordinary organization.”

For more information on the QCRG, visit www.qcrg.net.