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.