Why I Skate: Bam Bam McCha-Cha

Why I Play – Bam Bam McCha Cha

Why did I join Dominion Derby Girls, you ask? Well, to be honest I was a little scared to be a derby girl at first. I was sort of apprehensive because getting beaten up and pummeled was not high on my priority list. I still had the old memories of watching Roller Derby on T.V. back in the 70’s when I was a little kid,; memories of girls (and guys) aggressively clothes-lining, stomping, shoving, and kicking one another. Not to mention seeing those derby folks careening through the air and spinning around the rails only to fall into the heckling crowd was frightening. Hmmm? On the other hand, I was also eerily fascinated and intrigued by the action and mayhem which lured me into becoming a Sunday morning Roller Derby junkie; just me watching alone, while my parents continued their Sunday morning routine… I digress, but as I was saying , I was a chicken when I was first approached to do Roller Derby . Being a spectator was easier, safer., but remembering the fast paced excitement and how awesome they all looked skating around like speed demons crashing and hitting one another to get the jammer through was alluring.

So in comes Jan Rosser with a great idea for all of us, “hey guys I think we all should check out this Roller Derby thing my friend Billy is trying to promote.” I look at her and said, “what… Roller Derby, here in Norfolk?” Her retort, “yeah, I think it’ll be fun, let’s all try it. They‘re going to be skating at Kempsville on Thursday, we‘ll just show up and see what it‘s about and if we don‘t like it we can leave.” All right, fair enough, we can at least see what’s going on, I am kind of curious. So that Thursday Tabatha, Missy, Jan , and I get into Jan’s Honda and trek our way to the rink to see what’s going on. All four of us were on the same wave length that night because we were wearing something 70’s roller disco without even consulting each other, I think it was because we’re cool like that. We enter the rink and sneakily spy on the girls “practicing”, by the way, this was done during Kempsville’s open skate, there was nothing official or regimented about this practice. Not a helmet nor protective pad in sight, well maybe a few girls did have wrist guards, but that was it. We skate around the rink trying to look as if we were just there by happenstance at this “open skate” to skate, not to join roller derby. And Billy comes up, “ so, are you girls here for Roller Derby?” “ Um, yeah, sure, we’re just checking it out.” Next thing I know we’re doing some sort of weaving drill and then did a few hip bumps. I was frightened, but I did it anyway. It wasn’t so bad. “Come next door with us after practice,” they offered.

Afterwards, we went to meet the girls formally at a Mexican restaurant, Jan, Tab Missy, and I were mulling over this Roller Derby thing with some margaritas. The first person that I met was Mother Jugs and it was her 22nd birthday . A majority of the girls there were in their early 20’s, whereas, the four of us (Jan, Tab, Missy, and I) were in our mid 30’s, I thought damn, I think I might be too old for this. When they asked me if I was joining, I tried to use the age thing as an excuse. We have people in their 40’s skating, you’re not too old, they cooed convincingly. Jan looks at us and said, “come on, we’ll just show up and have fun, you’ve got to admit, that was fun.” She was right, it was fun and I liked it. Anyways, I needed something to get me back into shape because I had had a baby the previous year and was feeling lumpy. Not to mention, I got the chance to hang tough with my bff’s with skates on my feet. All right I’ll do it. Before I knew it we were in it. The four of us concocted our derby names within a matter of weeks: I became Bam Bam McCha~Cha, Jan became Traylor Crash, Tabatha became Holly Go Bite Me, and Missy became Suicide Barbie. From then on we started attending practice. We were officially Roller Derby Girls. I was even successful with recruiting 3 more of my bff’s to join in on the Roller Derby fun (the beautiful Pachuca Loca, Asian Chow Down, and Becca the Wrecka).

Those first few months were quite humorous. The league was just starting out, the Roller Derby concept was so new to EVERYONE, we weren’t even sure how to play the game. We shared practices with a children’s speed skating team to get some semblance of direction, but we still needed guidance . Seriously, everything was super rag tag and I always heard stuff like, what do you mean get in a diamond formation, using your elbows is a penalty, I thought you were supposed to make a dogpile for showmanship, when do I get to wear a cute costume ??????????????????? My how things have changed. Thanks to the hard work and research by some very dedicated and driven league members (The Ruffian and Mother Jugs) we started to shape up our act. Jan became our league president when leadership got a little hairy. Also, a very instrumental and pivotal transplant from the Tucson Roller Derby graciously shared all of her Derby knowledge giving us a chance to get this Roller Derby thing done right (thank you Sweet and Lowdown, I am forever grateful). Wowee, now this was getting serious. Months went by it’s coming together.

We were training like real athletes and had our own rink time. Finally, Haygood took a chance and gave us an opportunity. We were figuring out strategy and planning our bouts. I got the rush and the fever. I learned how to a hit a girl hard, real hard. We were getting good . After more hard work by league members we were accepted into WFTDA, a national organization that regulates and sanctions our sport. Roller Derby was no longer a spectacle, but a real honest to goodness athletic sport. I was given the opportunity to travel with my team: Vegas, Philly, Baltimore, Long Island. How exciting. A concussion, abrasions, two messed up thumbs, a black eye, and a busted bursa, this is Roller Derby. This is real and I’m a part of it. Almost three years later and I’m still skating.

I would of never thought in a million years that I would say, I’m in Roller Derby or I do Derby. It has become such an important part of my identity. It speaks about who I am. I am tough and strong. I love the sisterhood and how all of my bff’s and I could participate in a full contact team sport. I love all of the new friends that I have made through Roller Derby (some of whom are now old friends).

Most of my friends had to move away from derby, be it life or injury that keeps them at bay, despite that, the experiences will be with us forever. I miss Jan, the one who started it all. Sadly, she lost her battle to cancer two years ago and never had the chance to play in a bout. I miss her spunk and spirit; but the fortunate thing is that I am able to take a bit of Jan’s spirit to every bout that I play in: the spirit to keep on going no matter what, the spirit to work together with my team, the spirit to have fun. Thanks Jan, it was you who gave me the cojones to do it. I <3 Roller Derby and I <3 Jan Rosser.

Why I Skate: Media Blitz

Why I Play – Media Blitz

I moved to Hampton Roads in October of 2004. I was immersed in work, and on the weekends, I sat around my apartment. Months went by, and I longed for a life outside my stressful job as a TV News Producer. And the pounds crept up on me. By October of 2006, I was at my highest weight ever. One of my co-workers skated derby, and I went with a group of friends to watch the Halloween bout. That’s when my life changed. I was hooked.

January, 2007. My first derby practice as “fresh meat.” It was hard, I was out of shape, and I didn’t know ANYONE. The coaches were tough. I toughed out the sore muscles, the bruises, and the stinky gear. I fell in love with the sport! The feeling you get after making it through a tough practice is like nothing you’ll ever feel again. With each practice, I felt stronger. And I made some great friends. And the weight came off!!!

A year later, and 60-pounds lighter. My calendar has filled up with so many “non-work” things. And the friends I made in the league, well they became my second family. We work to run the business we call the DDG. It’s a lot of work, but it’s rewarding. In the long run, I know we’ll flourish!

My league-mates and I have our ups and downs, but in the end, they’re still there. And even though there are times when I feel like I’m not moving forward, the coaches remind me how far I’ve come as an athlete. And my derby friends remind me that they’re still my second family.

Why I Skate: Van Hellion

Fri Oct 24, 2008

Why I Skate: T.Rex Ya Face

Why I Skate: Frankendoll

In February 2006 I was planning my return to Texas for that summer to be closer to my family. I had befriended a guy I met online who lived in Houston. Through our talks I learned that he was close friends with several girls who skated roller derby for The Houston Roller Girls. As soon as I heard that Houston had a team I knew I had to be part of it. I never played sports before so I’m not sure why I was so certain that I would love roller derby. But one thing I knew without a doubt that because I’ve always been an extremely aggressive person, I felt that roller derby was perfectly suited for me. The biggest appeal was the violence, I like the prospect of being hit but even more excited about dishing out brutal blows.

I immediately called my closest friends and told them that roller derby was indeed alive and I was going to join no matter what it took. Some laughed and said that “roller derby fit me” and some thought I was being ridiculous, “don’t you know that you’ll get hurt doing that!?” Of course I knew I would probably get hurt but I didn’t care. That weekend I got together with my best friend and we watched several of the Roller Girls reality series. I was sooo excited, watching this show cinched the deal. I was definitely going to skate or die trying. I started to rethink waiting to move that summer to hurry up and move that spring so that I could check into the HRD as soon as possible.

One evening while having dinner with a friend I casually mentioned my intentions of moving earlier than planned on account of my interest in Houston’s Roller Derby and that’s when he mentioned that Tidewater had a derby league. WHAT?!!! I’d never heard of a league in this area. I flew home and found the Dominion Derby Girls on myspace, just where he said he had seen them, AND they were recruiting! I immediately emailed Molly Shipwreck, the leagues founder and asked what I needed to do to join. That week I met up with the DDG at Plaza Roller Rink in Hampton and the rest is history.

It took me almost a month to save up to get the skates and gear. Some of the girls told me later that they never thought I was serious because it took me so long to get everything I needed. I don’t think I’ve ever been so serious about something ever in my life. Now I had everything I needed to start skating except one crucial element… I hadn’t skated in about 15 years. I thought it would be like riding a bike, right? Well, kind of.. but not really. I had never worn speed skates before and skating in bulky equipment seemed to make it even more difficult BUT because I fell.. a lot, like every 3 or 4 steps I was thankful to be wearing it. I laughed at myself more than they laughed at me and to play a sport like this you have to be able to laugh at yourself and have some thick skin, it’s just how it is. The girls taught me everything they knew to prepare me for my final test. Eventually, 3 months later I passed my minimum skills requirements and graduated from Fresh Meat to Rotten Meat, I was ready to hit and scrimmage! Woo Hoo!

The following Monday night, July 10th I was going to scrimmage. The day went by so slowly, it was like the night before Christmas. I said good bye to my doctor at the close of the day and told him I was off to scrimmage for the first time. He wished me good luck and told me not to break my arm. I’m an orthodontic assistant so you understand that my arms/hands are important tools I need to be able to do my job. My job wasn’t thrilled when they learned of my new hobby but they were supportive because they saw how happy derby made me. That night, sure enough, first scrimmage second jam I fell and broke my arm. I knew it instantly as I had already broken several bones in my lifetime… I told you I was an aggressive girl. I was so upset, I didn’t even get to hit anyone.

Four surgeries, one rod, nine screws later my arm was on the mend. My doctor came to visit me in the hospital to beg me to take on a new hobby like golf or tennis. I declined, those were way too boring for me. Apparently the office had made bets on whether I would return back to skating after such a horrible break. I told Dr. Shivar that my mom never raised a quitter and besides I never got a chance to hit anyone. I didn’t skate for months and months to fall once and quit. Three months later I was back on the track and skating.

Why do I love roller derby? I love derby because it balances out my aggressive tendencies, just as I thought it would. I enjoy pushing through the burn and the pain of the hits but even more I love seeing the other girl hit the ground. It’s a release from work and life’s frustrations. It’s proving that I’m not afraid of the pain. It’s the physical manifestation of the years of anger I had yet to let go. It’s my therapy. It’s my job as blocker 3 to be as aggressive as possible. It clears my mind and makes my body warm and tingly and my body hum. Roller derby is my crack and mistress. There is nothing about derby that I do not love… ok well maybe not because I hate P.T. but I do it anyway, cursing under my breathe the whole time. Grrr.

Right about now I’m imagining that you may think I’m crazy but I assure you I’m not. Most of the women I skate with have only heard tales of my past aggression and find it hard to believe. I’m not a monster. I work with children all day long and I love them. I’m extremely kind hearted and caring. I just have inner aggression that I need an outlet for and roller derby is the answer. I can’t imagine my life without it.

However, what I’ve come to love most about roller derby is the kindred friendships that I’ve made. I feel as if all the girls I skate with are my sisters. We skate together, dream together, cry together.. we are Dominion Derby Girls, a small but fierce group. We are a support unit for each other. We’ve been through weddings, births, divorces, even death together. I feel so blessed to be part of such an awesome group of women. Hopefully, when we’re old and gray our friendships will still remain and we can sit on our porches, likely in wheel chairs HAHA, and reminisce of our days in fishnets and skates and how we helped pave the road for future of roller derby to finally be seen by everyone as a real sport and not just as girl on girl action.