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.

1 Comment

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  By admin, April 10, 2009 @ 5:29 pm

  FRANKENDOLL!!!! you ROCK

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