Junior Skater of the Month November 2015

GOLDIE ROX
#03

What is your skate name & number and how old are you?
Goldie Rox, #03, 8-years old.

How did you choose your derby name and number?
IDK I just kept trying to think of one and Goldie Rox just stuck.

How long have you been skating?
About 4 months.
 
How did you start playing roller derby?
My sister, me, and my dad were riding scooters and bikes over to watch the big girls skate and they told us about the Jrs. and we have been there since. 
 
Do you have any hobbies in addition to playing roller derby?
Skateboarding and dance class. 

What position do you play or enjoy the most?
I like to be the Jammer. 

What do you love best about roller derby? 
Skating with my friends. 
 
What do your school friends and family think of you playing roller derby?
They all think it’s pretty awesome.

What would you tell other girls/kids if they asked you about roller derby? 
I would tell them they need to come skate.

Have you travelled anywhere fun or far away to play with your team?
No, not yet, but I am looking forward to.

Junior Skater of the Month October 2015

HITALIAN GRRL
#873

How did you choose your derby name and number?
My derby name just came to me one night riding home from my Grandpa's house. He's Italian and just got back from a trip to Italy visiting relatives. My number is part of my Birthday. 

How long have you been skating?
I've been skating with the Jrs since June, but I skated on inline skates for a year before joining roller derby. 

How did you start playing roller derby?
My Mom joined and talks about it all the time. She had me go to a practice to check it out. 

Do you have any hobbies in addition to playing roller derby?
I like to sing and play with my cat. I also play volleyball for my school. 

What do you love best about roller derby? Most fun memory?
I like to slamming into people. I love derby cause I can slam into people without getting into trouble. So far my favorite memory is going to the track for the first time and helping everyone put down the rope and tape it to the track. That was the first time I saw roller derby live. 

What do your school friends and family think of you playing roller derby?
My friends think it's really cool. 

What would you tell other girls/kids if they asked you about roller derby? 
Roller Derby is the best sport EVER!

Have you travelled anywhere fun or far away to play with your team?
We went to San Diego. I skated on the half pipe and got to skate banked track for the first time. It was a lot of fun. 

Do you do anything fun with your teammates off skates?
We had a really fun birthday party and sleepover at Birdie's house.
My friends think it's really cool. 

September 2015 Junior Skater of the Month

ELLIEGATOR
#422

Photo by Tough Girls on Eight Wheels

What is your skate name, number, and age?
EllieGator, #422, Age 9.

How did you choose your derby name and number?
EllieGator sounds like “Alligator” and the number is my birthday.
 
How long have you been skating?
2½ years.
 
How did you start playing roller derby?
I saw derby girls at the North Hollywood farmers market and they looked cool.
 
Do you have any hobbies in addition to playing roller derby?
Yes, acting, singing, dancing, sleeping and eating.
 
What position do you play or enjoy the most?
Jammer and jamming!
 
What do you love best about roller derby? Most fun memory?
Most fun memory are the noodle fights. I love that we get to travel!
 
What do your school friends and family think of you playing roller derby?
They think I’m strong and it is cool!
 
What would you tell other girls/kids if they asked you about roller derby? 
You get to have fun and you fall down a lot and you get to make friends.
 
Do you ever worry about getting hurt while playing roller derby?
Yes!!!!
 
Have you travelled anywhere fun or far away to play with your team?
Yes!! Vegas!!!
 
Do you do anything fun with your teammates off skates?
Yes! Sleepovers and get chocolate blueberries from Cha Cha Glide!!!

August 2015 Junior Skater of the Month

CHUBBZILLA
#1313

How long have you been skating?
1.5 years
 
How did you start playing roller derby?
I knew about roller derby because my aunt plays and so do some of my mom’s friends. I also saw the movie Whip It and thought I would like to try it someday. I didn't know there was a Juniors team until my parents told me. I didn't want to play any other sports because I was afraid of being hit with balls.
 
What position do you play or enjoy the most?
I like all positions, but I really like when I get a chance to jam, I really like the challenge of scoring points for my team.
 
What do you love best about roller derby? Most fun memory?
I love being on a team that is supportive of each other. My most fun memory is skating in my real bout. I was nervous the whole ride there, but it was worth it.
 
What do your school friends and family think of you playing roller derby?
My friends think it's real cool that I skate. Even a few of my friends said they would like to skate one day.
 
What would you tell other girls/kids if they asked you about roller derby?
I would tell them that it is a lot of work but is fun and awesome.

June 2015 Junior Skater of the Month

TEENY TERROR
#A2Z

Photo by ConJobb Photos

How long have you been skating?
I started skating in November 2014 just after my 8th birthday.

How did you start playing roller derby?
My friend Ellie (Ellie Gator) talked about derby all the time at school. So me and my family went to one of her junior bouts. After the bout she told me that I had to join. It looked like fun so I decided to join.

What position do you play or enjoy the most?
We get to play all the positions in a bout but I really enjoy being the Jammer the most because I like trying to get through the pack and score lots of points.

What do you love best about roller derby?
I just love being able to skate around with my friends. I really love two on two racing in practice. I like to win!

What do your school friends and family think of you playing roller derby?
My school friends think it's really really cool and would like to join. My family encourages me to have fun and do my best.

What would you tell other girls/kids if they asked you about roller derby?
I'd tell them that it's really fun and hard work, but it's all worth it. I'd tell them to join our team The Gnarlies.

April 2015 Junior Skater of the Month

RAINBOW SMASH
#117

How long have you been skating?
I started skating in July 2013 when I joined SFV. I had never skated before.
 
How did you start playing roller derby?
I saw a bout demo during a comic book convention. The teams were Marvel vs. DC. It was amazing and I wanted to learn more. I was like, “Wow!” We found out that there was a junior team in the valley. I couldn’t wait to get started.
 
What position do you play or enjoy the most?
I’m a blocker and I love it. Something about hitting others off the track is so much fun. I’m not the fastest girl, but I’m very strong.
 
What do you love best about roller derby? Most fun memory?
I love roller derby because it is fun and you can be yourself. I will always remember my first bout, but my favorite memory is when our team played another team with twice as many players and they were all teenagers. It was only 8 of us (SFV) and we played so hard and we won!
 
What do your school friends and family think of you playing roller derby?
Since roller derby is a unique sport, not many know about it. I love explaining the rules and getting everyone interested. My friends and family all support me and come to watch me play. I love telling people I play roller derby. The response is usually surprised and they always say, “You play roller derby?!” I try to get all my friends to come and check out my team.
 
What would you tell other girls/kids if they asked you about roller derby? 
It’s a great sport to play. Roller Derby makes you awesome! I have learned a lot about myself and I’m happy to be a part of a sport that makes me physically and mentally strong. I love that I get to skate and have fun with my team.

March 2015 Junior Skater of the Month

How long have you been skating? 
A little under 2 years.
 
How did you start playing roller derby? 
My dad worked on a show that featured roller derby.
 
What position do you play or enjoy the most? 
Blocker
 
What do you love best about roller derby? 
The thing that I love most about roller derby is that it isn’t your average sport and most people are amazed at what you can do on roller skates.
 
What is your most fun memory?
My most fun memory is a game against a team called The Sharkbites and when I got a Most Valuable Blocker award on a game that was 8 people against 22 (SFV had 8)!
 
What do your school friends and family think of you playing roller derby?
Everybody that knows I play roller derby is shocked because it’s a sport that they haven’t heard of in a long time.
 
What would you tell other girls/kids if they asked you about roller derby? 
I would tell them that roller derby has absolutely changed my life for the better. I met my best friend, Cha-Cha Glide, and I am now a part of a growing community that people all over the United States are falling in love with.

GEEKSTER
#98.6