The London Roller Derby season kicked of last Saturday in South West London. The Ultraviolent Femmes and the Harbour Grudges delivered an exciting bout with suspense until the last minutes.

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Tv show update

Due to BBC regulations, no further details are able to be divulged regarding the production of the programme in which asha is currently involved. The show involves a live studio audience and vote so this process cannot be commented upon until after broadcast (date of which is unknown).

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The speakers announce that Dizzee Rascal only cares about sex and violence and Rihanna would fancy getting it on with a rude boy. Some people already sway awkwardly back and forth, their balance a cause for concern. Others are still happily boogying around in circles in the bright light venue. The party is rolling along, it’s four o’clock …. in the afternoon that is. Welcome to the fun that is a roller disco! Read the rest of this entry »

The skating year of 2011 has been a busy one for me.  After being disappointed that the Santa Skate had been snowed off, I was pleased to get out on the streets again for the first Sunday Stroll of the year to Camden.  With a crisp blue sky, the promise of sunshine and one of my favourite routes it was the perfect opening skate.

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Having discovered at the weekend that most of the Skatefresh Le Mans crew are now hanging out at the Bay66 skate park in Portobello (and even buying new aggressive skates), I decided I had to check it out, especially as I’m spending 2 weeks in London due to other mid week skate projects. Taking people out of context is interesting as I didn’t even recognise Hazel, Min Zaw or Matt B on the small half pipe as I walked in. Warming up on the middle sized ramp felt oddly familiar although I’ve not touched a concave surface for over 6 years and even then for a total of 3 sessions I think. With my 90mm speed wheels on I was picking up speed alarmingly fast and needed to hear instructor Matt’s obvious guidance of ‘stop pumping Ash’ in order to slow down and stop! Getting into the 180 transitions was more scary almost until later on in the night Matt again managed to give me the essential ‘your knees aren’t bent enough Ash’. Go figure!

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This year on wheels has been an interesting one, from perfecting my speed skating for Le Mans, to improving my transitions and slides so I could learn to play a bit of hockey (badly), I certainly feel I’ve improved massively all round this year.

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I wanted to share with all….

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This summer skate date with all my friends in Brighton is now the highlight of my skate year. I remember when I lived in London and a trip to Brighton to see my best friend Eve seemed like allot of effort. So when so many people make that effort and come to Brighton for a day of skating, I feel honoured and blessed and deeply happy. It wasn’t boiling like previous years but personally I skated more because the temperature was more conducive.

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Right, I’m home, back at work and re-installed into my skate/work/sleep routine and Le Mans seems like an age ago.  It’s really – UNFAIR!!! I feel like I planned, taught, coached, invited, softly motivated, suggested, bought, sold, serviced, budgeted, chatted, ate, slept and drank Le Mans from the beginning of April till now.

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After an eight year absence, Skatefresh returned to the famous Le Mans Ducatti race circuit, fronted by Matty and myself to compete in the 24 hours skate race that is now a highlight of the skating calendar. Our team of instructors (Matty, Jason, Asha), dedicated students (Matt B, Caitlin, Min Zaw, Alison, Hazel, Dinesh) and veteran friends (Steph and Miles) alongside our pit crew of Matty’s Tracey, was a  disperate group of individuals many of whom didn’t know each other before arriving at Le Mans, and who ended up forming a tight group based on this shared experience. Le Mans can only be described as intense (in every sense of the word) and from leaving London there is constant movement, decision making and cooperation needed for all aspects to ‘work’. Suddenly were are all part of a team and all reliant on each other and pulling in the same direction. This feeling is something I loved to observe, be part of and to help manifest.

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