July 2017 Skater of the Month

MELEE CURIE
#245

Tell us about your name
My name is a tribute to the physicist/chemist Marie Curie. I'm a high school special-ed teacher and all areas of science intrigue me. The Melee part is a nod to how I feel derby is played — a melee attack in very close quarters is a confused and quick fight. That about sums up my time on the track, usually. 

What are your derby goals?
To meet some badass witches and then knock them down. 

What inspires you on the track?
All the amazing strong women around me are inspiring. But mostly I just want to be a better me. 

What is your favorite derby memory?
I will always remember my first freshie bout. I had no idea what I was doing and I was completely terrified, but it was probably the best thing I've ever done. 

June 2017 Skater of the Month

Tell us about your name.
I bake all sorts of cakes and 350 is the temperature you bake them.

What position do you play? 
I’m currently a proud blocker! I’m working toward being a great pivot, just so I can get in a little bit of jamming, too.  

Who inspires you on the track?
Kat Von Reap turned me onto derby. She worked with my husband and I came to see her play. It was so cool. But I thought I was too old and too big to play, so it took me two years before I went to my First Date. I have not looked back since. 

What is your favorite derby memory?
The night I passed my WFTDA skills and got drafted to the Van Nuys Valkyries! It took three tries to get home team cleared and I passed with the greatest group of gals — Night Fury, Meowzig, Iceboxx, Lucid Venus, Slick Trick, and Sigourney Cleaver. I’m so proud to be a part of this amazing league and hope to have many more memories!

FUDGINCAKEDOFF
#350

The Skully Award, May 2017

SFV Roller Derby would be nothing without our hardworking officials, both our onskates Referees and our dedicated Non-Skating Officials. Throughout the year, the Training Team would like to honor an official in recognition of their contribution to the league. 


Honoring STOCKHOLM SYNDI

Photo by ConJobb Photos

How did you decide on your derby name? What does it mean to you?
I chose Stockholm Syndi, derived from Stockholm Syndrome, because my favorite Disney movie is Beauty and the Beast. Over time, the name became more fitting. In essence, I joined a sport that's rough on my mind, body, and soul, but here I am, still rollin' and still in love almost four and half years later.  

Plus, the first occurrence of Stockholm Syndrome happened in 1973 during a 6-day bank heist from August 23 to August 28. August 23 just so happens to be my birthday!

How did you get started as a roller derby official? 
I started officiating derby around two years ago, first starting as an NSO and then moving into on skates reffing at scrimmages. Officiating helped me to become a smarter skater, to learn the rules better, and it helps my league out. We all know how short-handed we are on officials — especially being one of many leagues in Southern California!

Who inspires you, both on and off the track?
My boyfriend-slash-bigger half, Refael. He inspires me to be a stronger skater, smarter referee, and an all-around decent person. I always ask him all kinds of rules questions whether we're at practice, driving around, or at dinner. He's always there for his fellow officials, whether it's for help at another game or giving them tips on how to become better at what they do. Plus, he doesn’t give me a break when I’m playing. He calls me on most, if not all, of my penalties!

What's something you wish all skaters realized?
In the end, officials are human beings who deserve respect, even if you don't agree with them. And we need them to keep playing this sport. 

When you're not on the track, where can we find you?
Sleeping.

May 2017 Skater of the Month


HAVANA CLUBYA
#98

Tell us about your name
I'm first generation Cuban and wanted to pay homage to my heritage. Havana Club is the national rum of Cuba and La Giraldilla is plastered on every bottle, bus, and newspaper in Cuba. It's even permanently inked on my arm! 

What position do you play? What are your derby goals?
Blocker. The only goal I have is to hit people. 

What inspires you on the track?
Bruises are the only inspiration I need. 

What is your favorite derby memory?
I have a permanent memory burn from when Krissy Krash gave me a peg-assist off the jam line in a scrimmage. The pack watches in awe as I glided to new heights. I believed I could have touched the sky.  I think about it every night and day. Oh, to spread my wings and fly away again.

April 2017 Skater of the Month

Tell us about your name.
As a kid, I thought Icebox from The Little Giants was really cool.

What position do you play?
I'm a blocker who jams here and there, but I try to be an all-around solid skater. As a blocker, I want the be that pain in the ass that you just can't push around. As a jammer, I want mad footwork skills where I'm slick and agile!

Who inspires you on the track?
My First Date trainer Buckingham Malice inspired me to get into "derby shape". My starter pack -- Meow, Slick, Ritz, Cleaver, Venus, Fudge, and Fury -- we started together and we keep each other going! And I love my Bandits, especially Captain PhDiabla.

What is your favorite derby memory?
In the last Bandits bout, I was the jamming for the last jam of the night. One of the Valkyrie blockers hit me out but got a forearm penalty, so I immediately jumped back on the track and pushed through the pack. Then there was some confusion -- I got called on a cut but the ref realized he made the wrong call and waved me back on the track, then my entire bench started yelling at me to re-enter legally! Talk about going out with a bang! #pewpew

ICEBOXX #2326

March 2017 Skater of the Month

Photo by Tough Girls on Eight Wheels

KAT VON REAP #607

Tell us about your name.
My nickname has always been Kat and I wanted to incorpoate part of my real name within my derby persona. I'm inspired by the tattoo artist Kat Von D and Reap comes from the Grimm Reaper.

What are your derby goals?
I'm primarily a jammer and I want to become more agile and powerful. I know I have a long way to go, but I'm willing to work! I see these awesome jammers with their fancy footwork, and I'm like "Okay! That's what I want to look like on the track on day!".

What inspires you on the track?
Every time I go to practice or watch a game, someone always does something that inspires me. It can be anywhere from someone getting their 27/5 for the first time to a seasoned skater nailing a crazy apex jump. Each time I see something like that, I'm thankful I got to witness it.


What is your favorite derby memory?
Last November, the Reseda Wreckers were playing against the Balboa Bandits. It was the last jam of the night, I was on the line, and the Wreckers were down by a couple of points. But my team held back the Bandits' jammer and I snuck through the pack -- we ended up winning by three points!! That was such an adrenaline rush since it was the Wreckers' first win as a new team

The Skully Award, February 2017

SFV Roller Derby would be nothing without our hardworking officials, both our onskates Referees and our dedicated Non-Skating Officials. Throughout the year, the Training Team would like to honor an official in recognition of their contribution to the league. 


Honoring TRIPLE D-STRUCTOR

How did you decide on your derby name? 
It’s no secret that my “personalities” [gestures to my chest] are large. For a while, I was embarrassed by my twins, Olga and Holga. But as I got older I felt empowered to embrace all of me, even if they create a few back issues.

How did you get started as a roller derby official?
I knew I wanted to join the derby community, but I didn’t really know about officiating. A light bulb went off as I began to learn the rules. There’s a lot to learn and analyze, but I am very much up to the challenge. 

Who is your derby inspiration?
I’m going to have to say my lovely cousin, HardLee Ann Angel. She has taken on a lot of responsibilities recently, within the league and in her personal life, and she basically just grabs life by the horns and takes it for a ride.

What's your spirit animal? Why?
It’s obviously a zebra! 

What's something you wish all skaters knew?
Reffing is difficult. As officials, we need to see everybody’s movements and then determine the legality of it all, which comes from understanding the rule set. Now, I’m not saying that I want everyone to ref, but it would definitely be nice if all skaters took some time to read the rules. 

What’s the best part of being an official?
I make it a point to be at scrimmages with freshly-cleared skaters. You get to see the gears turn as they start putting together what they learned in training and begin to apply it to gameplay. Yes, there are a lot of penalties, but a few weeks down the road you see an almost unrecognizable skater. They give all of themselves on the track. That makes me want be a better official.

When you're not on the track, where can we find you?
You can find me singing as a part of the West Coast Singers, hanging out with family, or just snuggling up at home with my boxer, Ginger.   

February 2017 Skater of the Month

Tell us about your name.
The dragon is my spirit animal, a reminder that I am stronger than I think I am. I love anything that has to do with flight and I can definitely spit fire if I want! Naming myself after a Night Fury, a very unique and powerful dragon, also speaks to my love for movies and children (I’m a teacher and a mom). 

What position do you play? 
Blocker. I am strong in a wall and I love how we have to depend on each other to kill the dreams of the jammer! I still feel I have a lot to learn about the amazing sport, but each practice helps me feel a little stronger. I’m challenged to be a better skater and a better teammate because of the people in this league. 

What are your derby goals?
A huge goal of mine is to be seen as a force to be reckoned with. I want to be good enough that others are nervous when I'm in the pack.

Who inspires you on the track?
Killo may have high expectations, but she pushes you and makes you feel like you can do anything if you work hard enough. And Moose has given me the path toward extreme blocking skills and helps get me out of my head to just enjoy the game of derby. 

What is your favorite derby memory?
The home team tournament a couple of months ago! It was my first home team game with the amazing Topanga Maulrats. At one point, I found myself in front of Kat Von Reap and actually containing her. It was great because I could feel myself improving with each passing game. It was terrifying and exhilarating to play with the OMGs and everyone else in the league — and the best part was the Maulrats won!

I AM stronger than I thought I was. I CAN be a member of a team. I CAN lift others up too and make a difference. I am still growing, but I will never regret trying out this crazy sport. I will never quit.

NIGHT FURY #76