SKATER OF THE MONTH
June - Wednesday At ‘Em
What was that “one moment” when you knew playing derby was the right thing for you?
I knew roller derby was the thing for me the first time I face planted into the floor. I’ve always loved intense experiences— roller coasters, mosh pits, horror movies, etc. Roller derby is kind of like all those things in one…take that as you will. But I love that the core of the sport is literally falling and getting back up again! That’s just poetic! Life is something that throws all these horrible hurdles at you, and it’s kind of therapeutic to deal with them on a small, tangible scale.
May - Purple Haze
How did you pick your derby name?
I picked the name because it was a triple entendre- it’s a strain of weed, referenced Jimi Hendrix, and is a character from Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure. (It’s One of my favorite anime’s.) It’s first and foremost a Jojo reference, so it really worked out. And I love purple!
March - Poppy Panik
Any bit of advice you'd like to give people??
My last bit of advice would be to never underestimate the power of perseverance and community. Roller derby isn’t just about physical skills; it’s about pushing through challenges, learning from every experience, and growing alongside others.
February - Moonshine
What about derby caught your attention? When did you first start playing?
I'm a fan of puzzles and strategy so I was drawn to the playing-defense-and-offense-at-the-same-time aspect of game play. I also appreciate that there isn't an ideal body type for derby skaters and there are advantages for every body type for every position. I started playing in 2018.
December - Duality
What advice would you give to someone thinking about playing derby?
DO IT!! Just try! I think something I hear a lot of people say is “I don’t want to get hurt” which is fair, but countering that, you can get hurt doing any sport. Or anything in general! The beautiful thing about derby is you are covered in pads! You start slow and you build so much muscle- not only physically but mentally. You learn resilience. My biggest piece of advice is don’t get discouraged when you fall, because you are always going to get back up. And you are going to fall over and over and over again and you will rise to the occasion every time. And everytime you fall you will learn something! You will learn to be aware of your body and you will learn how to change your mindset! Roller Derby is just beautiful.
November - Sailor Doom
What was that “one moment” when you knew playing derby was the right thing for you?
My first bout 3 years ago and ,recently coming back to practice from my 9 month injury I was struggling with not being where I wanted athletically and my team/pals were my biggest supporters when returning and reminding me why I joined, and love this sport
October - Sheil Shock
What’s something you’ve learned playing derby that has translated into another part of your life?
Take smaller steps if you need to and being patient with myself. I've always been one to leap into things because I thought I had to. Derby is really teaching me to slow down to get it right and be confident in my ability to do something.
