Tales from the Fresh Meat Locker – RipTide Ride~Her

Still rolling on at 40….yeah, it is the new 30!

Trust me, my 40 year old body is feeling every second of being fresh meat! It’s a P90X on 8 wheels! I should be in great shape soon…thanks to our coaches! Trust me, roller derby is not for the weak and you will find that out on the first day of boot camp! Through all the blisters, sweat, bruises, and sometimes tears…I keep going back for more!

This is actually my second time around with the DDG. I had to leave the league a few years ago due to loosing my health insurance….I was a proud St. Brawlie Girl for a short time!

Rotten Meat RipTide Ride~Her

So here it is…my story. I grew up in Newport News, VA. My passion for skating started when my kindergarten class went on a field trip to Plaza Roller Rink. It was my first time on skates and I really sucked! I ate the floor many times but simply fell in love with skating! It was all I talked about, all I wanted to do! My mom enrolled me in lessons and before I knew it, I quickly became a “rink rat” at Denbigh Plaza.

The rink became my home away from home. I started working in the snack bar making pizzas and cotton candy. I guess they felt like they had to give me a job since I hung around 6 days a week! I made some fantastic friends growing up at the rink…friends that I still keep in touch with to this day. One thing is for sure, the rink kept us out of trouble!

Of course I watched the classic roller derby on TV. Yes, my hero was Joan Weston AKA “Blonde Bomber” I loved the Bay City Bombers and I dreamed of knocking a chick out while on skates! I had no idea that I would ever skate roller derby and had no idea that it would also be so hard mentally and especially physically! You have to devote time and energy to roller derby and it does not happen over night!

Why I do this…because I freaking love it, it’s a major stress reliever from a hard day! I am able to do this because I have such an awesome supportive family….my handsome son T.J and my life partner Kathy who just so happen to be my biggest fans…well, only fans! They give me support, love and most important time to dedicate to derby. Without them, derby would not be possible for me. I would like to thank them very much and tell them I love them!

I work in the medical field as a manager and by the end of the day…I can take it out on the track and not my family and staff!! This by far is the largest accomplishment that I can say I did for myself. I am proud to be part of such an awesome league and proud to skate with the best chicks in the world!!!

RipTide Ride~Her
(formerly FM Kristie)

1 Comment

• 

  By FM Christy, May 27, 2010 @ 2:44 pm

  TJ and Kathy are not your ONLY fans, Rip…that is certain! You are a great skater and a dear sister-friend. So thankful you are there with words of encouragement when I need them, and inappropriate words to make me laugh right out loud when I need those too!
  -FMChristy

Other Links to this Post

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI

Leave a comment