Body Image, Roller Derby, and the F Word

Editor's note: Please welcome The GOREgon in her first guest blog. This is part one of a two part exploration of body image and the power of roller derby.

You may have noticed that most roller derby teams are populated by women (and as an aside, there are plenty of men's roller derby teams) and that these women train hard and slam into each other a lot.

What you may not notice at first is the incredible confidence and drive that roller derby has helped these women to achieve. Keep watching, though, because you will eventually see it. It only gets stronger in each player as the season goes on, no matter how many points they win or lose by.

Roller derby is also a very welcoming sport and offers a place for women and men (and junior players!) to become part of a team. No matter your age, race, body type, athleticism, sexuality, gender identity, religion, or class--roller derby is for you. In fact, if you never felt like you fit into team sports in school or always felt like you couldn't do it, you should try roller derby! As Bonnie Thunders, super-star derby player for the Gotham Girls Roller Derby, stated in an interview with the Huffington Post :

Bonnie Thunders of Gotham and Team USA

"[Roller derby is] kind of secondary to the more popular sports, which allows it to attract the people who didn't fit in in the primary sports.”

As a fat woman, roller derby has been the only thing in my life that has inspired me to become more physically fit and to increase my skill set to improve my team. For the first time, I feel like I am a part of something and not an outsider looking in. I have gotten teased and harassed for being big in weight and physique as well as for not being as fast or fit as others. Fear kept me from the gym and from team sports until the ripe old age of 31.

This is nothing new for derby 'girls' as any one of them can tell you. Contrary to popular belief, a lot of us wear clothing that is quite normal for a team sport! We need to move around so we wear tight shorts and leggings or tights and tank tops because boy, it gets hot when you work as hard as we do. We sweat, get disgusting, stink to high heaven...and love it. We build sisterhood with our team-mates (and often, the opposing team, too!) while we work on team strategy and toward building up each others’ strengths and weaknesses.

A lot of us, no matter our shape, size, height, race, etc., hate our bodies. We struggle to either accept ourselves or to fit into an idea of what we should look like. It doesn't help that everywhere we turn, we are bombarded with images and messages telling us how inadequate we really are. I have always had a hard time, still have a hard time, loving my self and my body. I thought roller derby would be a sport for fit, athletic women and that I would have a hard time keeping up. I thought that big girls wouldn't be welcome in any sport save power lifting and shot put.

Demanda Riot of B.A.D.

I was so wrong. Roller derby takes ALL kinds. Look at the stars of our sport like Demanda Riot, Jackie Daniels, Bonnie Thunders, Scald Eagle, Bork Bork Bork, Beyonslay, and on and on and on. My point is, women of every age range, weight, height, build, fitness level, ethnicity, religion, and race play roller derby. Will roller derby help you love yourself more? It did for me. Will roller derby help you lose weight? Maybe. I haven't lost a pound yet but I replaced a lot of fat with muscle. Some do and some don't. You can't join just to lose weight, though. Roller derby requires you to WANT it.

Bork Bork Bork of Windy City

 I see it as my job to lift up all of my derby sisters with me, letting them know when I notice them for any reason and trying to be as tactful as possible with criticism. When we have bad days, it helps to have a team full of inspiring women to look up to. No one has told me my ankles are too fat, as my childhood ballet instructor once told me, and no one has told me that I need to remain a certain size or shape to keep playing derby. I get positive reinforcement and constructive criticism, both things I have learned to crave from my coaches and teammates alike. The only thing roller derby requires of you is the dedication and fitness you are willing to put into it to get better.

May Skater of the Month: Dragon Ballzy

Dragon Ballzy, or as she is also known, Katey, is a blocker and, as of late, a jammer for the Dire Skates. Though she just joined in 2013, she has clearly has a natural talent for derby as she has shown great improvement in the short time she has been on the track with the team.

Ballzy is always smiling and willing to geek out with her fellow sisters at practice, making her a wonderful, positive energy on the team, but she is also a force on the track. She hits hard, falls hard, and plays hard for her team. To illustrate, Ballzy scored more points for us in the last away bout than any other jammer. She works hard to improve her skating and it shows!

Off the track is an artist who just so happens to also make pizza to support her derby habit.


Here is what our coach, The Golffather, had to say about Ballzy:

 "Dragon Ballzy is up and comer for the Dire Skates. She is coming into her own and coming out of her shell. She has been known to make the big hit and recently she has been starting to jam. Most of the time you see a jammer that is small and agile, well "Ballzy" isn't the smallest skater or the most agile but she can make her own hole. It will be fun to see where she can go from here as long as she puts the time and effort into it."


RollHer Zombie had this to say: 

"I dig Katey's skate or die attitude. She has improved tremendously and I love to watch her skate. She is easygoing, always a total sweetheart, and always a total badass. I <3 her so hard"


BadAZZ MotherCutter added this:

"Ballzy is an amazing person and a great player. She's a sweet person, but don't let her smile fool you. Her skills have improved tremendously since she started with the team. I very much enjoy having her both on the track and as a friend"

Thanks for all you do, Ballzy!

Derby love

Vet Profile: Emily KickNsuM

Name: Emily KickNsuM 

Number: 31 

Position: Jammer/ Blocker 

Signature move: Backwards blocking/ penalty box sitting 

Tell us about your non-derby self: I’m a surgical nurse, wife, mom to a weimaraner named Jack, Zumba fanatic, fisherwoman, bargain hunter, cancer survivor, and a bad cook. 

Why did you join roller derby?: I will do anything as long as I can wear my roller skates.


What is your favorite part of roller derby?: Feeling that I belong 

What are your roller derby goals?: To have fun while doing good things for my community. I would really like to see us become a recognized not-for-profit organization in this community. 

What do you hope Dire Skates can do for Richmond?: I would like for the Dire Skates to be a fun, entertaining group that people can be fans of, knowing that we do more than just skate, and knowing we work to help others and organizations in the community. Most importantly, I want the Dire Skates to make a difference in Richmond. 

What are you skating on right now?: Vertigos with custom-mounted pink crazy plate thanks to Malice B Stopless.

 If you could skate anywhere, anytime, where and when would it be and why?: Wouldn’t matter as long as I had good friends, good music, and skates, I’d be a happy girl. 

If you could have any famous person alive or dead join Dire Skates, who would it be and why?: I don’t know….. Shaq, he could take up a lot of room on the track and I just see him knocking some girls down and them not getting back up. 

Tell us one thing you want us to know about yourself: Growing up I really wanted to be a mailman. 

Tell us one thing about another skater: Korah the Destroy actually thought about having her derby name be Korah KickNsuM, which I think is really cool.

So you wanna derby...

Have you thought about joining derby?

(If you've ever been to a bout, then answer is very likely a resounding "YES!").

Well, we are holding tryouts on June 22nd and 29th and we would love to have you join us!

Here are a few things you should know about our tryouts and joining derby in general. 

1. It's okay if you can barely skate (or cannot skate at all). We will train you. Even if you cannot roll around the track without falling a billion times, you can join if you want it bad enough. You will have a tougher time in the beginning, but derby is all about working hard to get what you want.

2. You should be exercising. Now. I should be exercising instead of writing this blog. We make a lot of what we do on the track look pretty easy, but unless you are getting some cardio in or going to Zumba or lifting weights (or all of the above!), you are probably not going to be fully prepared for the level of physical activity required for derby. It's nice out. Go for a walk, do some squats (they are your friend), and strengthen that core! You need a strong butt to hit people with so get to work! Additionally, The Skate has summer hours so if you'd like to get time in on wheels, do it!

3. You will have fun. We are hilarious and stinky and hilarious. We will make sure you feel comfortable during tryouts and afterward, but please come with a good attitude, come ready to learn, and come ready to make friends!

4. Wear comfy clothes. It is hot in The Skate (the word "Mordor" is spoken at least thirty times during each summer practice), but you also need to be able to move around and fall in your clothes.

5. We will provide skates and gear for your tryouts ONLY. Bring your own mouth guard (I will gladly share my stinky knee pads with you for tryouts, but I barely know you so sharing a mouth guard is really pushing it. $2 at Walmart will do for now. Skaters and The Skate staff can help you order gear and skates that will work well for you and within your budget.

6. You will smell awful because you will be sweaty and because you will be borrowing a stinky vet's gear. Derby stank is real.

7. You will fall. And you will get up. And you will fall again. We will teach you to fall correctly before we teach you to do much else. Safety first. 

8. You should be watching roller derby. Come to our bout on May 10th if you can! But there are so many bouts streamed online through DNN, there is a wealth of derby (women's and men's!) within about an hour of here. One blog provides .gifs of cool plays, interesting footwork, or to illustrate specific rules. It helps! And it's fun!

8. Did I mention that it will be fun?! I am serious. Everyone is so nice and we genuinely want you to join us on the track and in this whole crazy thing we call derby. 

There are other things you can do like start thinking of your derby name or stock up on cool socks and tights, but ultimately, come prepared and make sure you feel comfortable.

If you want more info, message us on Facebook, email us at thedireskates@gmail.com, or talk to your favorite roller girl.
We can't wait to see you!

--Bilbo Stabbins

Vet Profile: Broad of War

Editor's note: As you may have seen on our Facebook page, Broad has returned to the Dire Skates and we couldn't be more excited to have her back on the track!

Name: Broad of War or you can call me Broad 

Number: 510 

Position: Blocker 

Signature move: Wrecking Ball! 

Tell us about your non-derby self: I have a non-derby self? Pfft, I eat dream and… well let’s just say I’m all about the derby life. 

Why did you join roller derby?: I want to develop a stronger sense of self, make friends, and earn a few well-deserved bruises. 

What is your favorite part of roller derby?: I get to rough up people and not get in trouble. 

What are your roller derby goals?: Building endurance is really important and strengthening my hits so they are destructive! 

What do you hope Dire Skates can do for Richmond?: I hope it can give woman (and men) a place to step out of the norm and be comfortable in their skin knowing they are strong beautiful and a force to be reckoned with. 

What are you skating on right now?: Well my feet--they usually do pretty well, but I like to stick those pups in my Crazy Skates. 

If you could skate anywhere, anytime, where and when would it be and why?: Whenever I’m out rolling around I imagine myself in Cali next to the beach. Maybe during the sunset. Sounds nice don’t ya think? 

If you could have any famous person alive or dead join Dire Skates, who would it be and why? Uhh, I’m not sure it would make a difference as long as they can take a hit. 

Tell us one thing you want us to know about yourself: I’m scared I’m going to get injured and not be able to be a part of derby any more. 

Tell us one thing about another skater: I couldn’t pick just one skater because everyone has a skill that I envy--that’s what makes us a great team. We all come together to create a whole that is stronger together than apart. You have the skaters who their strength is speed; we need them to get our points. We have women whose strength is well, strength- they knock down all the bullies from the other teams and protect us. We all need each other to reach a common goal.

You used skate with the team before; what made you want to come back?: I have always enjoyed competitive sports, but there is something extremely personal about derby that really has pulled me in. It is coming to practice and being tired from the day and still pulling on your gear, lacing up your skates and giving a 110% for your team and yourself. It's watching the improvement you make after dedicating yourself to the hard work it takes to prevail in derby. It's challenging and frustrating at times, but it's totally worth it. That moment you connect with an opposing skater and you knock her down! It's the feeling of personal strength; overcoming your physical fatigue and the pain of the hits and the falls to reach a win--even if the score board doesn't agree, everyone walks away a winner if they have given it everything they have.

April Skater of the Month: DJ Smear-O

DJ Smear-O, or Jessica Leigh as she is also known, is a jammer and blocker for the Dire Skates who has been with the team for three years. Since her first bout in October 2011, Smear-O has been a strong player, but she also has a strong, outgoing personality. Her tiny frame packs a punch and if she hits you, you'll feel (and see) the results for quite some time afterward. Smear-O communicates with us constantly while on the track, helping us become better players and boosting morale with her antics. She also helps with marketing and makes super-rad radio spots for the team while also helping get us bout-ready in many other ways. In addition to her skill as a player, Smear-O's sense of humor and personality are a big part of what makes her a unique and valuable member of our team. At any given practice (in addition to bruises) we get poop jokes, Star Wars references, and I am pretty sure she never stops talking about food.

Smear-O also has an adorable family. Look at that face--and she isn't even the cutest one of the bunch! But really beyond derby, Smear-O is dedicated to her family. This dedication spills over into her derby family as seen in her passion for the game and for her derby sisters.


Here is what our coach, The Golffather, had to say about Smear-O:

"Jess, or Smear-O as we all know her, has become a versatile player on the team. She  was mostly a jammer when I started but has become a double threat with her blocking abilities. She is a fun player to coach and is always wanting to learn; sometimes she might not like what I have to say, but she takes it in stride and grows with it. She is amazing with what she does behind the scenes as well that no one sees except us with the team. Being a radio DJ she is a great communicator and every team needs a few of those. She is a great family person and I for one am glad the she is part of this derby family."

GOREgon also had this to say:

The first time I met DJ Smear-O was when I, as a fresh meat skater, went to the team photoshoot. She had on these crazy awesome custom made Chuck Taylors that had her derby name embroidered on them and were in the team colors. She was also really, really funny and warm. Since then, I have really loved being around her and learning things from her as well as building camaraderie with her."

Dave Snow, aka Dire Skates team announcer Hurtz McGroin, added this:

Jessica A.K.A. DJ Smear-O is a lot of fight in a small package. There is an old saying that applies very well to her. It says: "Never measure your opponent by their size, their strength, or their speed. Only measure your opponent by the opposition it takes to discourage them." She will never back down or give up. Actually, she somehow takes a big challenge, and turns it into motivation. Her best weapon is that smile. If you fall for that, you're already dead (you just don't know it yet.)

Thank you for all you do, Smear-O!

Derby love!

Vet Profile: Stubborn Itch

Name: Stubborn Itch

Number: 1019 

Position: Jammer and Blocker, but mostly a Jammer.

Signature Move: I guess power pushing my opponents forward or skating really fast.

Tell us about your non derby self: I work at Whirlpool in the paint department and paint the blenders or mixers that might sit on your counter. I have one child who is my world and I live in Piqua, Ohio with my very supporting boyfriend and two German Shepherds. If I'm not doing roller derby I'm working and coming home to spend the rest of my day with our two girls (dogs) and Bryan. When it's nice out I like to cook on the grill.

Why did you join roller derby?: I was playing softball with a girl who was once on the team and she convinced me to come and try out. When I was younger I used to go to the skate all the time and always got in the races, but just casually skating and derby skating are way two different things. But yeah, when I use to skate at my younger ages I was a pretty good skater then.

What is your favorite part of roller derby?: The exercise, muscle, and endurance that I have gained from this sport. I also have gained a lot of friends during the 4 years I have been doing this and that's really important. Most of all my dad passed away in December of 2012 and he was so proud of the fact he had a daughter in roller derby. So now when I skate I always have him on my mind and tell myself I have so skate for him as if he is watching from above, rooting me on. I skate the way I do because I was always taught by him to always do my best and never give up. That's why I push myself to be a better skater each time I skate. 

What is your roller derby goal: I have several goals. I don't pick out all the good I have done after each match. I try to pick out all the things I did wrong so I can set those as my goals and try to conquer those goals just to make more to conquer. I have tried to make my name and number known to the crowd and to other teams that we may play. Anyhow, I feel I'm constantly setting goals to better myself as a team player and an individual skater. 

What do you hope The Dire Skates can do for Richmond?: I hope we can show people what all Richmond really does have to offer and that there are still good things that do happen for those whom are not so fortunate. I hope we can also as a team give back to the community and help in any way that we can.

What are you skating on right now?: The flooring that we skate on is two totally different floors. One has me using the hardest wheels I have in my derby bag which I think are 93's which means it's a very nice sticky floor. The other floor has me skating with my Poison 88's, which means it's a very slick floor and I need stickier wheels to get some grip. My skates that I have are Vanilla's.

If you could skate anywhere, where would it be and why?: On a regular basis outside of practices and matches I would like to skate outside and around town. I have a dog that learns trick and is easily to train that my goal is to eventually to train her to pull or walk with me while I skate around town. Skating outside gives you great practice as far as being able to stay on your skates and balance. Those rocks can be very tricky sometimes! As far as some famous place I really don't have a particular place because I love to skate and I don't care where it is.

If you could have a famous person skate for Dire who would it be and why?: I would want it to be PINK the singer! she just looks as if she would be one tough skater and she seems as if she isn't afraid to go out of her comfort zone. I think she would be a fun person to hang with and skate with. Plus she could sing to us while we skate! lol! 

Tell us one thing you want us to know about you: I am a hard shell on the outside, but I have a heart of gold on the inside. I will always go out of my way to do anything for animals and children. I use to work with Autistic, Downs, and Multiple Disability children for 3 years. And I spoil my dogs like they are my children. Oh, and I'm really dedicated to my team because I drive and hour to go to practices and an hour back so that is a two hour round trip. I do what I need to do for my team! 

Tell us one thing about another skater: Lish D Lish is the true meaning of a strong woman and not to mention I'm glad to call her my derby wife!