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. 

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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.

August 2017 Skater of the Month

Tell us about your name
I'm a big Marvel fan. I have always closely related to Storm but when you think about a bad ass intimidating woman, BloodStorm would have to be it. Not to mention I always seem to have variations of a white mohawk. The number is a reference to Green Day's first release.

What position do you play? What are your derby goals? 
I play the position of falling on my ASS.  Actually, I guess blocker, but I aspire to play all positions. I want to be a jammer one day.  Really, I just want to play, that's my main goal. 

Who or what inspires you on the track?
Every single person that steps on that track.  I watch and ask questions of everyone. There is something in everyone I can learn from.  I'd love to skate backwards and block like Moose. Dovah uses her body like a skilled ballerina.  Hurley and Killo set the bar so high. I could go on and name every woman, but they all inspire me.

What is your favorite derby memory?
Playing in a freshie bout. Those practices when the girls cheered me on and I jammed against Tank, little me got lead Jammer for a few seconds. No one took it easy on me and I loved every second.

BloodStorm #1039

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

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. 

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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.

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.

April 2017 Skater of the Month

Tell us about your name.
As a kid, I thought Icebox from The Little Giants was really cool.

What position do you play?
I'm a blocker who jams here and there, but I try to be an all-around solid skater. As a blocker, I want the be that pain in the ass that you just can't push around. As a jammer, I want mad footwork skills where I'm slick and agile!

Who inspires you on the track?
My First Date trainer Buckingham Malice inspired me to get into "derby shape". My starter pack -- Meow, Slick, Ritz, Cleaver, Venus, Fudge, and Fury -- we started together and we keep each other going! And I love my Bandits, especially Captain PhDiabla.

What is your favorite derby memory?
In the last Bandits bout, I was the jamming for the last jam of the night. One of the Valkyrie blockers hit me out but got a forearm penalty, so I immediately jumped back on the track and pushed through the pack. Then there was some confusion -- I got called on a cut but the ref realized he made the wrong call and waved me back on the track, then my entire bench started yelling at me to re-enter legally! Talk about going out with a bang! #pewpew

ICEBOXX #2326

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