January Skater of the Month: Jenocide

Jen, or Jenocide, is a blocker for the Dire Skates. She joined the team in June of 2013; her eagerness to skate quickly became dedication to the team--this dedication only continues to grow.

Jenocide works hard both on and off the track and it shows. Not only has she grown as a player, but she has worked hard to become fit and healthy through derby and through her own workouts. Fitness and health are a priority. Because of this, she pushes her teammates to do better and become stronger.

In addition to skating, Jen helps coordinate community events and helps in any way she can behind the scenes (you've even seen her here on the blog a couple of times). 

Jen rarely misses practices or team events, even attending practices when she is sick or injured and cheering us on from the side. Jen's dedication makes her a great teammate and friend and we are glad she is a part of the Dire Skates.





Our coach, the Golffather, had to this to say:

Jen or Jenocide as the derby world knows her is a up and coming skater. Jen started with a team that is no longer in existence. I know that she is the most dedicated skater that we have on the team. Her attendance record is impeccable to the point of being almost perfect since she joined the team. I think she has maybe missed less than a handful of them.
She works very hard both on and off skates. She continues to improve her skills on the track and listens and gets better each time. With everyone she has things that she needs to work on and get better at. This has been her first full season with us and she has learned a lot and will hopefully learn that much more this next season. Jen, thank you for balancing your job, kids, family and becoming a member of the Dire Skates.

Shinnanigans, Jen's friend and former coach, said this:  
 

Jenocide possesses the keys to success. She understands that knowledge and learning are not enough. It takes action.  Action on and off the track. She continuously works on improving her skills, getting stronger and healthier. Her dedication to her team and sport show every time she takes the track. It is a great feeling to see her succeed through the progress she has accomplished.

BadAZZ Mother Cutter, Jen's derby sister, said this:

Jen has come SO far since joining the team. She is very dedicated and always there when you need her. She takes direction well and plays hard. She's a great example of what a new player can strive toward.

Smack Widow, Jen's derby sister, said this:

Passion and dedication are words that can be used to describe Jenocide. Since the beginning of our skating career and even more to this day Jen inspires me. She is one of the hardest workers on the team, and always gives her 100%. During practices her dedication really shows. She is constantly pushing herself past her own limits, physically and mentally. She is like a force that cannot be moved. Her skating and game play have improved immensely since starting out, and her body has changed and developed into what she needs to thrive on the track. Her beautiful transformation into the player she is today gives me and everyone else on the team inspiration to keep pushing. The Dire Skates would absolutely not be the same without her.

Jenocide photo gallery:

Thanks for all you do, Jen!

Diary of a New Recruit: Passing Laps and Getting Bout-Ready

As we have previously written about, going from being a new recruit to a full member of the team is complicated. The place where all of us new recruits have been "stuck" for a while is laps. This is one of the WFTDA minimum requirements--it requires all skaters to be able to skate 27 laps in five minutes on order to be able to play. Recently Jenocide passed her laps and in this past week Smack Widow and I, Bilbo Stabbins, also passed our laps, which means we are technically bout-ready!

Bilbo Stabbins passes laps and immediately needs a nap and afternoon tea.

Look at Smack Widow go! (Photo courtesy of Tuscan aka Honey VooDoo)

Saying we were excited is an understatement.

There were lots of hugs and everyone was (and is) so proud of us! But now what? We had been so focused on passing laps (which required gaining strength, endurance, and even agility), but now what are we working toward? Oh yeah, playing derby!

Smack Widow and I will both be playing our very first bout, which is coming up quite soon!

If you don't know this already, you have some catching up to do!

We are technically bout-ready, but are we really bout-ready? I am already nervous! How can I cope with my anxiety if I am already feeling like this? My co-lap-passer, Widow, came to the rescue when she sent me this blog, which outlines everything a skater should do to prep for bout number one (and probably for future bouts too!).

 "First, take a deep breath."

Oh, this is good stuff! I hadn't thought of that! What else? *takes deep breath*

"Get your boutfit together – make sure you have the appropriate jersey and that your number is printed at least 4 inches tall – make sure you have the right bottoms, tights, socks – find these items early so you can have a couple dress rehearsal practices (it is very annoying to be pulling at your clothes during the bout)

Tell EVERYONE you know that you will be skating so they can clear their calendar"

These are just a few of the many things the blog tells us to do. Most of it is common sense to a skater and many of the things we have to do even just before a practice (hydrate, make sure you have all your gear, eat healthy, etc.). But I am certainly going to reference this blog often in the coming weeks.

So here I am getting my Map of Middle Earth pants ready, channeling my inner Suzy Hotrod, and telling of you, derby fans, to come support your Dire Skates, new and old. We can't wait to see you!

--Bilbo Stabbins

Pushing Through the Pain

(Editor's note: this is the first of what I hope will be many posts from my derby sisters. We all come from different backgrounds and have different strengths, goals, and interests, even within derby. I look forward to letting my sisters share their experiences with you all! --Bilbo)

If you have ever watched roller derby (either in person, or on tv), you have seen how physical the sport really is. Not only do you need to know how to skate well, but it also takes a lot of endurance. This endurance is put to the ultimate test when attempting to pass your 27 laps in 5 minutes. (Who knew that 5 minutes or 300 seconds could feel like an eternity?!)

When skating your laps, it is hard to keep track of your own, since mostly you are focusing more on not falling, while also remembering to keep breathing.  This is when it is nice to have a derby sister who is willing to count for you.  This way, you can simply focus on being as fast as possible.  

Each week at practice, you are given the opportunity to pass your laps. As you take your place on the line, you can feel the anxiety begin to settle in your mind and your gut. Wanting so badly to be able to bout, you push through the pain, even though it feels like your legs might fall off at any time.  Skate fast, turn left. Repeat.

Finally you hear the coach blow the whistle and you realize you have not passed. As he makes his way over to show you your time, you feel the disappointment set in.  As bad as you want it, you know today is not your day. Then comes the drive home, where you contemplate what you could have done differently and begin to plan your attack for next week’s practice.  Personally, I then come home and look up motivational quotes that might help me feel like less of a failure.  

This is one of my personal faves!

Week after week, you try again, watching your laps go up, then down, then up again. Every time they go up, you feel a sense of personal satisfaction, even though you still didn’t pass.

THEN ONE DAY: You skate the same laps that you have been working at for months now, and you finally pass. I cannot even begin to explain the thrill of being shown the clock and seeing a time that is less than 5 minutes. (4 minutes and 57 seconds to be exact)  Seeing those numbers, you let out a shriek of pure exhilaration and a high like no other consumes your mind and body! You have proved yourself worthy of being able to bout, and all is right with the roller derby world. (You might not be able to walk right the next day, but it is totally worth it.)  

Just remember to keep pushing and know that one day it WILL happen for you.

Much Derby love,

Jenocide

New Recruits

Just last month Dire Skates officially voted on six new members (AB Fab Eddie, Bilbo Stabbins, Smack Widow, GOREgon, Jenocide, and a yet to be named teammate (who clearly needs to read this) though we had all been skating with the team for months. We all came in at different times, with different levels of ability and are still quite varied on our skating ability and gameplay, but here we are. Let me say this:

Joining roller derby can be complicated.

This is not to dissuade you from trying out!

Sean Bean wants you to try out. Will I be using Sean Bean often? The answer is yes. Emphatically, yes!

Every team has a different process for joining the respective team and sometimes actually JOINING is confusing. I am speaking only about my experience with Dire Skates, though you'll find that experiences with other teams are quite similar in this regard.

When you first tryout, you are called a "new recruit" (newbie) or "fresh meat," depending on the team--there are probably other terms, but these are the terms used here.

Be warned: searching Google images for "fresh meat" is less than appetizing.

There are certainly some negative connotations associated with the latter term, but it is a phrase commonly used in derby culture. And, honestly, after a good practice I definitely feel like a giant slab of meat that has been hung up and punched repeatedly. In a good way.

Being a new recruit means there is a sort of probationary period where you are invited to be on the team, but are not technically on the team.

During this time, the new recruits train and practice with the team. Some teams have a short training period or workshops with trainers from that derby team and then hold tryouts after (Naptown and Circle City do this--this seems to be a difference primarily between larger cities/teams vs. smaller cities/teams). Either way, there is time when you are sort of on the team and sort of not, or when you sort of play derby, but not exactly. Try explaining that quickly to someone.

Or you just receive blank stares.

Once the player has reached a certain physical level or has shown certain dedication to the team, and typically once they have passed all minimum skills requirements, (that list is seven pages long in case you didn't look. SEVEN. MINIMUM! GAH!) they are voted onto the team. One of those minimum skills is that we can do 27 laps in 5 minutes, by the way (this used to be 25), which feels insane.

Actually it feels something like this. Is that why Terahrizin wears cheetah print?!

At this point, once you are voted on, you are on the team and no longer a new recruit, though you may have been practicing with your new teammates for months prior. In this way, it is nice because you are all friends, sisters, and, now, teammates.

Not only is the phrase "new recruit" somewhat confusing, but shifting from this sort of complicating category of almost-derbyness (that's a real word, right?!) to an actual member of the team requires a great deal of work: sweat, tears, vomit, bruises, aches, pains, blood, and more sweat. You can celebrate this awesome feat by taking a nap, singing loudly despite protests from your derby sisters, or making someone rub your feet or whatever celebratory action you so choose.

So be sure to welcome all of us "new recruits" as we are newly shifting into our roles as teammates and be sure to look for the "Spotlight" features where you will be introduced to all of newbies.

--Bilbo Stabbins

"Name thyself!": Choosing a Derby Name

Roller Derby names are fun. Consider names such as Suzy Hotrod and Bonnie Thunder from Gotham or Maiden America and Dora the Destroyer from one of our Hoosier teams Naptown. These names are fun, pun-filled, sexy, strong, violent, or sometimes obscene. They can be almost anything a skater wants them to be, but finding the right name can take some time.

A week in and I've used roller derby otter twice--get over it!

If you are thinking of joining roller derby, one of the first things you often do is start thinking of a name (which is fine, though I suggest you also start a workout regimen!), but know that there are some rules. Don't pick a name already taken by another skater. Here is the master list of names--be warned: it's a crazy long list! Here is a handy guide to take you through some of the other guidelines. 

But more importantly, you must choose a name you like. This can be many different things. You might like the sound of it, it might sound like your current name (Terahrizin or Jenocide), it might reflect your day job (DJ Smear-O djs, classdisnissed teaches, BadAZZ Mothercutter cuts hair and is a bada**) or it might reflect just how geeky you are (Dragon Ballzy and myself, Bilbo Stabbins). Others reflect interests or are just fun!

And sometimes they simply make no sense.

No matter what your derby name, don't rush the process and make sure YOU like the name you choose. You are basically naming (and creating) your alter ego so get creative and have fun!

Are you considering playing or reffing for derby? If so, what names are you considering?
Let us know!

--Bilbo Stabbins