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. 

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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.

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. 

January 2018 Skater of the Month

KILLher LIZARD QUEEN #18

Photo by Chuck Gay

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.

What position do you play? What are your derby goals?
I enjoy jamming a lot. My goal is to get better with speed and to become a better blocker as well. 

Who inspires you on the track?
HardLee and Dovah on the track inspire me the most. I want to be able to do what they do on the track. They make it look so easy and pretty.

What is your favorite derby memory?
My first Freshie bout. I was confused and trying to understand what was going on, but I stuck to people and managed the best I could. And my team won! Yaaay!!

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. 

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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 

December 2017 Skater of the Month

Photo By Vegas Shooter

REBELLIOUS MOOSE #64

Moose has been my nickname since middle school. I wanted to keep this name for roller derby since I was already accustomed to responding to it. "Rebellious" is just me being punk-rock.

I am a blocker and occasional pivot. Lately, I have been trying to learn new moves and get out of my comfort zone in order to reach my next derby goal: to make it on Team México for the Roller Derby World Cup next year. It's all I've been thinking about and I want to represent my parents' home country.

I'm inspired seeing everyone's progress on the track. I get so jolly when I see people trying new things then mastering them, whether they're Freshies or OMGs!

My favorite derby memory is the first time I heard the jammer say the words, "Someone, sit on Moose!" It was the first time I ever felt like I was actually playing roller derby effectively.

November 2017 Skater of the Month

Tell us about your name
I used to go by Tankgrrrl. I changed it because I didn't feel like the name fit me anymore. I like to think that I've grown as a person and a skater, so the change just felt right. I was driving back from practice one night, listening to Lana Del Rey's album Born to Die, and the name just popped into my head.

What are your derby goals?
My goals are to be on a WFTDA charter team and play derby in another country.

Who/what inspires you on the track?
My skate mentors, TerribleTues and Michael, both put so much time and effort into teaching me, so I really just want to make them proud. When I started this whole derby thing, it took me weeks before I could even stand on my skates for more than a few seconds. As tiring as I know it was to watch, they never gave up on me. 

What is your favorite derby memory?
After tryouts earlier this year, I felt like a failure. My goal was to make it to the Wipeouts, but I honestly thought I was going to be booted from the subpool completely. Then I got the notice a few days later that I made my goal! I made Wipeout!! I was super jazzed about it, then, a week later, I broke my arm and couldn't skate. So it was a rocky start to the year, to say the least.

Since then, I have played in more games than I think I ever have before, made awesome and amazing friends, reached countless goals I had set for myself, and even played in a tournament on the other side of the country. I've played for several teams and leagues since I started skating and never have I felt more part of a team, or more at home, than with the Wipeouts.

LANA DEL DEATHRAY
#95

Photo by Down'n'Out Photography

October 2017 Skater of the Month

Photo by Chuck Gay Photography

XENA WARRIOR SKATRESS
#24

Tell us about your name.
I really wanted a name that evoked a sense of strength and confidence. I happened to be scrolling through Hulu and saw Xena, and I knew instantly that it was meant to be. Xena is the strong, independent badass that I strive to be! But I still binged it for a week, just to be sure. 

What position do you play?
Primarily blocking. I love to jam, but I am not particularly great at it. Yet. 

What are your derby goals?
Getting back on the track healthy and learning some fancy footwork from my amazing teammates.

Who inspires you on the track?
My trainers have really been my greatest inspiration. Derp, Dovah, Slam, Moose, and HardLee have pushed and supported me and always make me feel like I can do this. Let’s be honest, roller derby is hard and scary as hell. Having people behind you who take the time to help you with skills and who get you out of your head is amazing. I couldn’t have gotten this far without them.

What is your favorite derby memory?
My first Freshie Bout -- The Super Smash Sisters versus The Street Fight-Hers. I surprised myself with some of the fancy moves I pulled, especially while jamming (I even scored points!). My family and friends showed up to support me and were the best cheering section I could ask for. And then my team won! I was on a high for days because I finally felt like roller derby was something I could do and maybe even be good at.

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.