January 2018 Skater of the Month

KILLher LIZARD QUEEN #18

Photo by Chuck Gay

How did you decide on your derby name?
It's kind of a mash-up of my nickname and my favorite musicians. My nickname is "Killer", then my favorite artists are Jim Morrison from The Doors and Freddie Mercury from Queen. Jim Morrison was known as the "Lizard King" but to make it fair to Mr. Mercury, it became Lizard Queen.

What position do you play? What are your derby goals?
I enjoy jamming a lot. My goal is to get better with speed and to become a better blocker as well. 

Who inspires you on the track?
HardLee and Dovah on the track inspire me the most. I want to be able to do what they do on the track. They make it look so easy and pretty.

What is your favorite derby memory?
My first Freshie bout. I was confused and trying to understand what was going on, but I stuck to people and managed the best I could. And my team won! Yaaay!!

October 2017 Skater of the Month

Photo by Chuck Gay Photography

XENA WARRIOR SKATRESS
#24

Tell us about your name.
I really wanted a name that evoked a sense of strength and confidence. I happened to be scrolling through Hulu and saw Xena, and I knew instantly that it was meant to be. Xena is the strong, independent badass that I strive to be! But I still binged it for a week, just to be sure. 

What position do you play?
Primarily blocking. I love to jam, but I am not particularly great at it. Yet. 

What are your derby goals?
Getting back on the track healthy and learning some fancy footwork from my amazing teammates.

Who inspires you on the track?
My trainers have really been my greatest inspiration. Derp, Dovah, Slam, Moose, and HardLee have pushed and supported me and always make me feel like I can do this. Let’s be honest, roller derby is hard and scary as hell. Having people behind you who take the time to help you with skills and who get you out of your head is amazing. I couldn’t have gotten this far without them.

What is your favorite derby memory?
My first Freshie Bout -- The Super Smash Sisters versus The Street Fight-Hers. I surprised myself with some of the fancy moves I pulled, especially while jamming (I even scored points!). My family and friends showed up to support me and were the best cheering section I could ask for. And then my team won! I was on a high for days because I finally felt like roller derby was something I could do and maybe even be good at.

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

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

September 2016 Skater of the Month

HI-HO GIZMO
#1200

Tell us about your name.
I really wanted to choose something that was kind of silly and cute that also reflected my love of all things '80s. The "hi-ho" part refers to when the gremlins all go to see Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and tear up the place like the party animals that they are.

What's your favorite derby position?
Blocker! I love all the team work involved.

Who inspires you on the track?
The lovely ladies of SFV Roller Derby, of course! Everyone's loving, supportive and badass ways inspire me in all aspects of life. Dovah in particular is someone who inspires me with all of her hardwork and dedication. She holds a special place in my heart as my main squeeze!

What is your favorite derby memory?
I had such a blast at the last freshie bout -- Lion Maidens versus the Judas Beasts! Getting to know everyone better and having so much love from my friends and family at the game was amazing. 

What's your patronus?
It's either gotta be a doggie because they are my favorite animals ever or a doe because I have a deep desire to match my love, Severus Snape. 

June 2016 Skater of the Month

PHOTO BY TOUGH GIRLS ON EIGHT WHEELS

GUNNER GINZU
#1717

Tell us about your name.
Growing up, my uncle always called me Ginzu and my boyfriend helped me come up with Gunner and that's how I got my name GuNnEr GinZu!

What’s your favorite derby position?
I love to block! It’s an awesome feeling knowing I can hit people and not get in trouble for it. 

Who inspires you on the track?
Moose! I want to learn to do all the awesome stuff she does on the track, like backwards blocking and doing sweeps! #moosehunt

What is your favorite derby memory?
Last month, when I scrimmaged against another league for the first time. That was when I realized I wanted to continue doing derby for the long run. 

When you're not on the track, where can we find you? 
Skating around the Valley! Attending local (and non-local) events like CicLAvia (pronounced sic-lah-VEE-ya) in order to represent SFV Roller Derby!

April 2016 Skater of the Month

HERRICANE JAXXSON
#0713

Tell us about your name.
It's said hurricanes are a force of nature, an invincible flurry, and an awe-inspiring phenomenon -- all things I aspire to become but for now I'm just a disaster! And because every hurricane needs a name, I used my childhood nickname "Jaxxson". 

What position do you play? What are your derby goals?
I'm mainly a blocker and as a blocker my goal is to someday be a beast blocker like Dethblock!

Who/what inspires you on the track?
Outside of derby, the person who has been there for me from my first date to now has been my partner-in-crime, Luis aka HERRicane's Disaster. I was also lucky enough to cross paths with my amazing derby wife, Ms VenomZuela. Both motivate and push me to be my best especially when I feel like I don't have it in me they never let me give up.

What is your favorite derby memory?
You never forget your first bout, which for me was the AstroNaughties versus the NeanderDolls. But the most recent Freshie Bout, the Ghoul Scouts versus the Frankenbabes, was such a close game. I was named Most Valuable Blocker for my team, which was such an honor!

Photo by Chuck Gay Photography