Skully Award

The Skully Award, April 2018

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 HI-HO GIZMO 

Photo Credit: Jon Cobb

1. How did you decide on your derby name? What does it mean to you?
I knew I wanted something cute and '80s inspired since those are my fave kinda things. I thought about a few other names, but back then we had to see if our desired names were too close to another name already registered, so then Hi-ho Gizmo was born! In Gremlins they all go watch Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, happily singing along  "Hi-ho! Hi-ho!" I love that scene and Gizmo is just the cutest. So my name is like if Gizmo went a little wild :)

2. How did you get started as a roller derby official? How long have you been involved?
I had some friends in the league encourage me to help at a few games early on and it just went from there. Times I have been injured or not as active skating it has been a great way to stay involved and see everyone. I think I have been NSOing for around 5 years.

3. What's your favorite roller derby memory?
Oh man, so many great memories! Hard to choose just one. Any time I am laughing with the awesome SFV gang is a great memory!

4. Who inspires you, both on and off the track? 
It's gotta be my derby wife, Dovahkill. She is just the best all around! She always works hard and is there to help everyone at any time. 

5. What's your spirit animal? Why?
My parents always say sloths are! Haha, sounds about right! They are definitely one of the animals I hold most dear to my heart. 

6. What's something you wish all skaters knew or realized?
To not take everything so seriously. We are all here to have fun!

7. When you're not on the track, where can we find you?
Doing something animal related, whether it be hanging with my dogs, watching nature documentaries, working with exotic animals or visiting animal facilities. 

The Skully Award, February 2018

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 FUDGINCAKEOFF

Photo by Tristan King Photography

How did you get started as a roller derby official? 
I started about 2 or 3 months after I joined the league. I wanted to learn more about derby and this is a great way to see the game from another angle.  I have been NSOing about 1 year and a half.  

Who inspires you, both on and off the track? 
My family inspires me to be better skater and NSO. I think derby helps me be a better wife/mom because I can let out my frustrations on the track. Novakaine inspires me, because she always gives it her all and is super encouraging and friendly to everyone. 

What's something you wish all skaters knew or realized?
Like wine, skaters get better with time. If you constantly show up and work for it, you'll get there eventually. Never give up.  Like ever!   

When you're not on the track, where can we find you?
When not derby-ing I'm usually hanging out with my family and our dog Slash.

The Skully Award, December 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 KILLher LIZARD QUEEN

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.

How did you get started as an official? 
After I started derby, the trainers mentioned that NSOing would help us understand the sport. Honestly, it has helped me out very much in understanding gameplay and rules.

Something you wished skaters knew or realized?
Roller derby is not easy. You must be patient as hell to understand both the skills and the rules! Be open minded!

When you're not on the track, where can we find you?
1) At my job, 2) Sleeping, or 3) Drinking with Ramona Plowers 

The Skully Award, August 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 Sammi Smacky-yao

I decided to start officiating to learn the sport as a whole. I didn't have much roller derby knowledge before joining the league and it seemed like the perfect way to learn. I started to dabble in the NSOing my first few months and dove into reffing immediately after that, thanks to the help and encouragement of the Ref Neck crew. 

Inspiration comes in waves to me. One day it's my family, the next it could be an OMG, a ref, or even a trainer/coach. I've probably found inspiration from just about every leaguemate. I see you, putting in work. 

I'm sure skaters realize reffin' ain't easy. However, I want to encourage more people to come on out to try it. It's fun and the best seat in the house. 

When I'm not on the track I'm working REALLY far away. So my time with my family and my derby sisters is really valuable to me.

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.

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.   

The Skully Award, December 2016

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 FRANK EINSTEIN

Photo by ConJobb

How did you get started as a roller derby referee?
I got started in Roller Derby because my girlfriend (PrisKilla Presley) started playing and convinced me to help out NSO for a bit, then I started reffing. It's been about 2.5 years since I started helping out with the league and I haven’t looked back since. 

How did you decide on your derby name? 
I have always enjoyed movie monsters and monsters in general. Something about being a misunderstood monster is incredibly appealing to me. My current spirit animal is Guillermo Del Toro. He is so unapologetic about his love for creatures, horror, and the art of story telling that I can't help but hope to be like that when I get older.

“Frank Einstein is progressing into a great ref. I’m privileged to have him as a Co-Head and friend.”
— Refael, SFV Roller Derby Head Ref

What's your favorite roller derby memory?
My favorite Roller Derby memory has to be Roller Con 2015. It was my first year going to Roller Con and honestly it was the most overwhelming experience. I had never seen such intense high level Roller Derby played before and it was amazing. Not to mention it was really awesome to be with a community of like-minded people watching derby, playing derby, and learning together.

What's your advice to Freshies?
You are going to fall, no matter what. So just get it over with and get back up. It's something I really struggled with when I started skating, the idea that falling is not necessarily a bad thing. It's no easy task getting knocked down and then getting back up again, but just do it. Stay motivated.

The Skully Award, October 2016

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 REFAEL

“Ref is an awesome person. He has stepped up as a leader in our little land of misfits and he is amazing and does so much for our league.”
— Killo Kitty, SFV Roller Derby Founder

How did you decide on your derby name? 
I'm kind of obsessed with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles if you haven't guessed (although Michaelangelo is my favorite).

How did you get started as a roller derby referee?
I started about six months after my girlfriend, Stockholm Syndi, started at SFV Roller Derby. I frequently came to practices and after seeing how much she really enjoyed it, I finally decided to get involved. Three years later and I'm in love with this game, my leagues, and the community!

What's your favorite roller derby memory?
My favorite derby memory happened at the Big O 2015. I was in the back row near turn 3 and noticed Victorian Roller Derby League gathered behind us. I attempted to sneak a selfie with them, but they noticed and immediately started posing. 

“Refael is one the most instrumental parts of my learning and skating in SFV. He has helped me beyond what is needed to achieve my goals as a skating official. I can’t thank him enough for the work he does for me and the league.”
— Frank Einstein, SFV Roller Derby Co-Head Referee

Who inspires you, both on and off the track?
I've met so many people in this community that I look up to that I have the opportunity to call friends -- great players and officials that have great qualities that I hope I can translate into my own experiences. Off the track, my best friends inspire me. As much as we all party and goof off together, we're all bettering ourselves and continuing our educations on our way to being healthcare professionals, engineers, musicians, and more. 

What's something you wish all skaters knew?
I wish skaters knew how far out-of-play they skate to chase jammers! And that being an official is hard. Skating refs may not see everything, but we try our best. 

When you're not on the track, where can we find you?
If I’m not at SFV, you can find me practicing with the Drive-By City Rollers, or else driving an ambulance, in class finishing my prerequisites for nursing, or spending the rest of my days with Stockholm Syndi. 

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