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!

September Skater of the Month: Terahrizen

Sasquatch

Terah, or as she is known on the track, Terahrizen, is both a blocker and a jammer for the Dire Skates. Terah is small, but mighty in both physical and mental stamina. She works hard to get what she wants, even attending extra training and hitting the gym with teammates whenever possible.

Terah is in charge of marketing, which involves making and disseminating flyers and working on social media, among other things. She coordinates and delegates to her marketing minions who gladly do her bidding.

Terah is also mom to junior skater Korah the Destroyer.

In addition to being a great player and doing great work for the team, Terah serves as a mentor to her current teammates and, more specifically, to the newbies as they get acclimated to roller derby and their new team. Terah does so much for the team, though, as noted below, her strengths lie in what she makes those around her feel they are capable of accomplishing.



BadAZZ Mothercutter had this to say:

Terah has come so far since she joined the team. She always has a positive attitude and wants to motivate others to better themselves. She is a great example for the newbs to look up to, a perfect example of what hard work and dedication can do.

Our coach The Golffather said this:

Terah maybe small but she can pack a punch. She has been one of the most dedicated players on the team. She puts in more time on and off the track that I know. Getting better is something she strives to do and she by far is doing it. Not only is she so dedicated on the track she does so much behind the scenes that no one sees plus juggles her job, 2 kids, and her photography business. If you need something done she will bend over backwards to get it done. I am proud of her for what she has done and is doing. I am looking forward to seeing what's next for her. I am proud to be her coach.

And Terah's big sister, Emily KickNsum said this:

When Terah joined the team I was named her big sister. She has made me proud ever since. Terah seeks out opportunities to improve her derby knowledge and skill constantly. She is a great teacher and is always reaching out to show others what helped her when she was learning specific moves. Even though she is small, she has a huge heart and I am proud to have her on my team.

Thanks for all you do, Terah!

March Skater of the Month: BadAZZ Mother Cutter

Kellye, aka BadAZZ Mother Cutter, has been blocking with the team for over three years. Kellye also has a skating background and a history of jamming and speedskating. In addition to skating, her team job is "Goodwill and Communication," which means she does a lot! She texts us all and keeps us up to date on things, she works to mediate problems between skaters, talks with skaters who are having troubles in life (derby-related or otherwise), and has been very welcoming of all the new skaters to the team. BadAZZ also makes goody bags for the other teams and makes the MVP trophies. A lot of Kellye's work is behind the scenes or one-on-one with other skaters. Because of this, her hard work often goes unnoticed.

Kellye is only 1/4 of the BadAZZ derby team, though: Mr. BadAZZ is assistant coach and she has Baby BadAZZ and BadAZZ Brat on The Skate Aways.

In addition to derby, BadAZZ does hair and....well, she mostly does derby stuff.


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

"Kellye or Bad Azz has become a great asset to the team. She has worked hard on her skates and getting better day by day. She has become a quiet leader on the track. She has taken on roles off skates that makes the team operation run smoother than they otherwise would. I am glad she is a part of the Dire Skates."

I, Bilbo, would like to add my two cents:

I specifically remember meeting Kellye and thinking she seemed quite intimidating. She has a stern demeanor and remains straight-faced much of the time. But I quickly discovered that she is actually the nicest person and you also know she will never lie to you, which is appreciated. She dishes out tough love and is always honest and she cares about her derby sisters more than anything. Once she yelled at me for not wearing my Dire Skates shirt when we were out at an event. I'd only tried out a few weeks prior and didn't quite feel like part of the team yet. She said that in fact I was and I should never go out without Dire gear again. Duly noted. I felt welcomed. And a little bit assaulted. It was perfect. Also, she waxes my mustache and I can't help but assume she likes doing her job because she likes torturing people and I appreciate that.

enTRUdir added this:

When it comes to picking a derby wife, you look for someone who personifies everything that you yourself want to be in derby. So, it was a 'no brainer' to ask Kellye to be mine. Kellye is the most level-headed person on the team, on and off track. She plays hard and everyone respects her 'cool head' and decision-making. As our goodwill/communication person, she heads off a lot of drama and really keeps the team together. On the track, I truly love blocking with Kellye. Just a look will tell you what she's going to do, and how she's going to do it. Now, with the advent of our juniors and Tony as our new Asst. Coach, it's really become a "family affair" for the Tenneys and I couldn't be more thrilled than to see them all there on the floor. We are truly blessed to have Kellye and her family with us - and I hope she stays my derby wife for a long time!

Mr. BadAZZ had this to say about his BadAZZ wife:

It's so much fun to be able to coach and skate with my wife. I am waiting for her to lay me out with a big hit at practice one of these days. I am very proud of all that she does with derby on and off the track; she is one of the best blockers on the team and is someone for all the derby team to come to if they need anything. I know she loves derby and always will.

Thank you for all you do, BadAZZ.

Derby love.

It's 'Bout Time

Editor's note: welcome back Jenocide and be sure to congratulate her! We are all quite proud of her. Also, be sure to read her previous post about passing her lap requirements.

Now that the crazy holidays are over, I finally have time to sit down and reflect on what is one of the coolest nights of my life. On December 8^th, I actually got to skate in my first bout, which was a mixed scrimmage with the Gem City Roller Girls. For those of you who were there, a HUGE thank you for supporting the Dire Skates. For those who weren’t there, SHAME ON YOU!  Just kidding.  The weather was pretty crap-tastic that day, so you are forgiven.

So many words come to mind when I think about the day: excited, pumped, and stoked are just a few. I had looked forward to this day for a long time.

One other word also comes to mind: N-E-R-V-O-U-S. Being a new skater out on the track with ladies who make me look like a baby deer on ice was more than a little intimidating.

I can totally see the likeness.

Upon arriving at the event location, I could feel the nerves settling in. Sweaty palms? Check. Tight gut? Double check. Doing my best to shake the nerves, I went and began to gear up. Looking around at my teammates, I realized that I was the only person on my team who didn’t have my skater number on my jersey. Cue panic in 5..4..3..2..1!  Thanks to the always wonderful BadAZZ Mothercutter, who quickly found a Sharpie and hooked a sister up. And with that, I was ready to hit the track.

Boom!

The bout was such an amazing experience. It was great to have my husband, kids, and parents in the crowd cheering me on. I actually got to play quite a bit and surprised myself with being able to keep up with veteran skaters. Also, I was on the winning team, which made it that much more awesome.  I am looking forward to our February bout already.  Be there or be square!

Jenocide

"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

Vet Profile: Terahrizin

Name: Terahrizin 

Number: 0507 

Position: blocker/jammer 

Signature move: (I don't have one... Get in the way maybe?) 

Tell us about your non-derby self: I am mother of 2 and the Executive Director of the Peer Helper Program at Richmond High School. 

Why did you join roller derby?: it seemed like a good idea at the time. Ha! Just kidding. I tried out on a whim not thinking I would make it, but really wanting to try something different and out of my comfort zone. 

What is your favorite part of roller derby?: the sisterhood and the personal gains I am making.

What are your roller derby goals?: to get stronger and faster and be a regular jammer. But also be versatile and effective in every role.

What do you hope Dire Skates can do for Richmond?: I hope we can empower as many people as possible to step outside the box. Also to provide family fun to the community and get everyone involved and sharing passion for charity/volunteer work. 

What are you skating on right now?: Crazy Skates with Atom wheels.

If you could skate anywhere, anytime, where and when would it be and why? I would love to skate through the halls of the high school lol, but a far off dream would be to skate with some of the big names in derby: Hot Wheels, Quadrilles Atomatrix, Bonnie Thunder, etc. 

If you could have any famous person alive or dead join Dire Skates, who would it be and why?: I don’t know.

Tell us one thing you want us to know about yourself: on the weekends I moonlight as personal security and entertainment for BadAzz Mothercutter.

Tell us one thing about another skater: Ruby Kaboom is a ninja.