February - Moonshine

An Interview with…Little Miss 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.

What was that “one moment” when you knew playing derby was the right thing for you?

As someone with a growth mindset and who did not grow up playing sports, I had a realization during my Fresh Meat experience that the learning curve for me to become a great skater and great derby player was pretty high. I like taking on challenges and that is what has driven me to not give up and keep learning.

How did you pick your derby name?

My friend (& roommate at the time) gave it to me! Before it was a trendy meme, I was looking to have a name that was based on Little Miss Sunshine or the Mr. Men and Little Miss series and voila she gave me the best suggestion.

How did you pick your derby number?

I started derby when I was 29 and I was looking to enter my 30s with a new hobby that would hopefully keep me active. And 30 was available.

What’s something you’ve learned playing derby that has translated into another part of your life?

Most of the time, the best teammates are the ones supporting in the background. For example, I know a great Vendolls blocker who is always there supporting their wall, never abandons their wall, but they are seldomly recognized as Most Valuable Blocker. From my perspective, what matters to them is that the team is growing, succeeding, and learning. In my life, specifically at work as a team lead, I often work in the background to ensure that my teammates have the resources needed to progress their work or tell them what roles I think they could excel at or I give them suggestions to take as their own ideas to gain better exposure to management.

Do you have a favorite & a least favorite position? Can you elaborate?

Pivot! Almost 100% of the time, I forget I have the Pivot helmet cover on.

What do you do to get ready for a bout?

Hydrate the day before, stretch, get enough sleep, eat 3 hours before the bout begins, get to the venue early, practice mindfulness (focus on the present), relax, and stretch again.

What advice would you give to someone thinking about playing derby?

While derby may not be for everyone, if it looks interesting to you, I recommend that you check it out before confirming that it is not for you.

Finish this sentence: When I’m not playing derby, I am _____.

Reading at a brewery or visiting a museum or checking out an overhyped, overpriced LA coffee shop.

Do you have a derby mentor?

The coaches at Valley Community Rollers

​What keeps you motivated to keep playing when things get tough?

Remembering that progress takes time and consistency and there is no cramming in sports. Also, life happens so it's okay to step away for a bit to take care of yourself. Derby will be here when you're ready to get back to it.

What’s your favorite part of skating with VCDD?

The practices!

Any last bit of advice you'd like to give people??

For newbies, I recommend taking your time and don't forget to have fun. I was far from the best in my Fresh Meat class (to be honest I was the worst skater) and it took me a couple of years to learn to trust my body. While I believe paying attention to that hesitation in my body protected me from any serious injuries, it was also a mental block that prevented me from seeing my own progress. I improved my mental game and my skating skills on my own time and I'm a different skater today. The biggest lesson I learned from this was to enjoy the journey and not focus too much on the destination, even when you do feel like you're lacking. We all have a starting point and we all have different derby journeys and obstacles.