CQS’s Derby Workshop was a Hit

Early morning on Saturday, March 19, women across the Southeast came to Columbia QuadSquad’s stomping grounds at Jamil Temple to participate in a day-long derby workshop with some of our top skaters.

The day began with warm-ups by Fearless Fritz who made sure everyone’s bodies were ready for some serious derby action.

Allstar jammers Crystal Cutt and Grafik then took over with jamming strategies and tips for using effective footwork when starting the jam and while navigating through the pack.

Next, the ladies were treated to hard-hitters Holly Hunter, Chucktown Bruiser and Truck Stop teaching hitting skills and drills.

After a short lunch break, Mel Anoma, CQS’s “Queen of Endurance” showed her subjects how she earned her title using speed drills and ended with the dreaded suicide drill.

Holly Hunter, Mel Anoma, and Brassknuckle Brandy then worked with everyone on giving and receiving effective whips.

In order to make sure the participating skaters would wake up Sunday morning and reach for their painkillers, Bootcamp Betty, Fearless Fritz, Chucktown Bruiser and ref Yoshihitsu lead them through plyometrics to strengthen their body core and joints. Plyometrics are off-skates training that many WFTDA leagues as well as other sports leagues use to improve performance.

The workshop ended with CQS’s Dani Dynamite, Eva Las Vegas and non-skating but much loved Lisa Goff speaking with the girls about bylaws/contracts, marketing, and bout production, respectively. Skaters were able to both share what their leagues were doing as well as pick up some ideas to take home.

For a derby-perfect finish to the day, all attendees received admission to the bout that evening, Luck of the Brawl, where the CQS Allstars and Miss B-Havers hosted the Greenville Derby Dames and their Bad News Babes.

-Coma-Kaze