June 2018 Skater of the Month

Dana Skull E. #1337
 

As many of you know/despise, I retired my name as The Slamburglar last year. I am a huge X-Files fan and Dana Scully is a smart, bada** woman. 

In addition to retiring my derby name, I also retired from playing jammer (at least for now, the saga may continue). Between the Wreckers and Like OMGs, I play Pivot or Blocker. One of my derby goals is to drink the sweat beads that I've been collecting in a vial from Moose, so that I can increase my backwards blocking agility. Another goal is that one of our home teams takes that shiny home team trophy away from the Rats.

Moose, Terror and Dovah all inspire me which is why I've befriended them (to absorb their powers). Jammers aren't terrified of Moose for no reason and her backwards blocking is a force to be reckoned with. Terror and Dovah play all the positions - more than that, they play all the positions exceptionally well. All three of them really know how to play with a team (no matter what team you see them skating on) and are delightful skaters/teammates/unicorns to be with on the track.

My favorite derby memory was when I was off-skates volunteering at a bout and Spazzy (may he/she/them rest in peace) ran onto the track during a jam. As recently appointed Track Head, there was no existing protocol for "cat on track" so I blissfully watched the madness ensue. 

April 2018 Skater of the Month

TRAUMA MIA! #338

Chuck Gay Photography

Tell us about your name.

It took me so long to come up with a derby name! Something fierce enough with a catchy nick name. I landed on TraumaMia for a number or reasons. 

  1) Heck yeah, musicals & Abba 

  2) My family is Italian so seemed like a fun nod to that. 

  3) And this may be a stretch...but when I was a teen I was diagnosed with a blood disorder that prevented me from playing any sports or activities with wheels for fear of head or internal "trauma" ;) This was one of my biggest motivations for playing Roller Derby in the first place. When my symptoms began to subside in the past couple years I realized I really just wanted to do something reckless and bad ass for all the times I was told I couldn't! Guess it's all that leftover teen angst!

What position do you play? What are your derby goals?

I've primarily been a Jammer so far which has been super fun! I seriously never would have expected myself to be a jammer or to like jamming, but there's just something about it! The intensity of the feeling of victory when you get it right, and the crushing defeat when you get stuck (Lol). 

I really want to work on my agility/speed, footwork, and strategy! Jamming seems to be one of those things where you just have to try it until it works, so my goal is just to practice as much as possible until it feels right! Overall, I want to keep pushing myself to attend advanced practices, as I've really noticed the difference it makes when you practice above your level. I'm excited to eventually play in my first away game with an SFV travel team. 

Who/what inspires you on the track?

Jammers like Pan and SkullE because of their great attitude and how they make it all look SO EASY and graceful!

Blockers like Cookie, Dovah, Stockholm, Moose, and Havana (and there's so many more amazing ladies!) because they've always been super encouraging and thoughtful in how they train others...yet have probably kicked my ass more than once. :)

What is your favorite derby memory?

My favorite memory so far might have to be that first Fer Sure's game against Rebeltown last month. Not only was it my first travel team game, but it was my first ever win!! I was so nervous and didn't know what to expect from another league, but think I ended up doing much better than I expected.

February 2018 Skater of the Month

KAIJU #0813

Tell us about your name.
I'm Kaiju! I love giant monster movies like Pacific Rim and Godzilla. I even have a kaiju tattooed on my arm! I'm kind of a pushy jammer, hoping to destroy blocker walls and putting up a fight for my team. 

What are your derby goals?
1) Make it onto The Wipeouts
2) Keep calm while jamming
3) Not be confused for Skate Bishop at least once

Who inspires you on the track?
Can I say all of the Reseda Wreckers? Because, real talk, they're some of the hardest working/most supportive skaters I know. 

What is your favorite derby memory?
I was awarded MVP in a Wreckers v Bandit game in front of some of my friends. It was the first time I won anything derby-related. I think started crying. I definitely started excitedly swearing in disbelief. 

September 2017 Skater of the Month

MISFORTUNE COOKIE
#247

Tell us about your name.
My profession leaves me with zero ounce of creativity so I used one of my three lifelines and Called A Friend. All the credit belongs to her for my derby name. 

What position do you play? What are your derby goals? 
I'm a blocker. It is such a dynamic position. You have to know where everyone is and try to anticipate where the jammer is heading to cut her off at the pass and simultaneously know where your jammer is and determine if and when help is needed. It really is all about timing. And it's fun to hit your friends and laugh about it. I'm working towards being a pivot because it requires so much mental agility, switching from defense to offense at the drop of a dime. I really just want to be a jammer's worst nightmare. 

Who inspires you on the track? 
Earlier this year, I was getting discouraged with derby and with having suffered an injury early in the season. I came back to derby a couple of months ago and ever since making the Wipe Outs, Derp has helped to reinvigorate my love of derby. Her leadership and care has really brought me back to center. I couldn't have wished for a better team Captain.  

What is your favorite derby memory? 
So many memories that brings a smile to my RBF. The one that stand out the most has to be when I passed my laps during WFTDA assessments. The weeks leading up to it, I had fallen at least once during my laps like clockwork. This weighed on my mind as I was skating those dreaded 5 minutes. But in the end, I finished my laps and DIDN'T fall! It was amazing. Playing with the Ghoul Scouts in one of the Freshie bouts showed me the love the derby community has for each other. My teammates were amazing. The coaches (Stockholm and Maya) were nurturing yet knowing when to push each and every one of us. Oh and winning in the last jam by 3 points didn't hurt either! I can't wait to add more wonderful memories as I continue my derby journey.

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.

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

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!

May 2016 Skater of the Month

Photo by ConJobb Photos

SAMMI SMACKY-YAO
#480

Congrats on being SFV Roller Derby's May 2016 Skater of the Month!
Wow! What an honor! Everyone in SFV is so great. Shout out to all the super moms out there, my O.G. Banditas, my new Wrecking Crew, my GHOULS and the Sandlot! 

What’s your favorite derby position?
I love all things derby! I also love a challenge and so I'm going to go ahead and say that Jamming is my favorite. Although all positions hold various challenges, not everyone wants the star panty. It's like the unwanted step child.

What is your favorite derby memory?
The Ghoul Scouts vs Frankenbabes freshie bout. I was voted co-captain. It was such an exciting game, and pulling off the win by a few points felt like magic. From the coaches to my teammates and everything in between, it holds a spot in my heart and was awesome fun!

What's your super power? 
I am a SuperMom, so I have many super powers! My favorite is making wine disappear.