May 2018 Skater of the Month

Nicety Nice N Nasty #152

What is the story behind your derby name and number? 
My sister once told me "you're the nicest person I know AND the meanest!"  She's right!  So back in '89 when the singer Michel'le released a song called Nicety..."some people think I'm nice, some people think I'm nasty, and if you really want to know just ask me...and I'll say I'm nicety"  the nickname stuck.  I never imagined it would become my derby name.  For the most part, I'm 90% nice and 10% nasty.  On the derby track, it's the opposite, at least in my mind. 

My 152 Derby number comes from the 152nd day of the calendar year, which is June 1st, my mom's birthday.  I skate in memory of my mom who passed away two months prior to me joining SFV Roller Derby in early 2014.  

What made you join roller derby anyways?
One morning, I was watching KTLA news and Gayle Anderson was doing a segment on SFV Roller Derby.  The segment showcased the sport and the skaters at the Lot. I thought...hmm, maybe this is what I need?  I called every friend asking them if they would go with me to the First Date practice and everyone said "Derby?...no thanks".  At age 44, I showed up alone and I feel it was one of the best decisions of my life.  

What position do you play? Any other skating stuff you particularly enjoy?
My favorite position was blocking and I absolutely loved skating backwards like no other!  

Who inspires you?
Who inspires me? Good question. Honestly, everyone does because we all struggle at every level of derby and it's inspiring to see those that don't give up...but, I have to say the ones that inspire me the MOST are the derby over 40 group of skaters or those close to 40.  They are hard-core!  They inspired me to work harder, never quit, hustle faster and never use the excuse that I'm too old to do something because I see that they can do it!  Practice, determination and perseverance will prevail.  Age means nothing. 

Favorite roller derby memory? 
My favorite memories are the times I've volunteered.  I truly enjoy helping the league that has helped ME so much emotionally, just by allowing me to skate.  The love, encouragement and support I receive surpasses any therapy I could get elsewhere!   My best advice to anyone new...go to practice even when your sore.  You’ll get better and better every time!  

What's next?
It’s time for me to leave the league and it hurts my heart a little. I am so honored and very appreciative that I was recognized at this time again. 

Thank you Killo Kitty and SFV Roller Derby for EVERYTHING!  I love you all. 

Nicety Nice n Nasty #152 forever! 

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. 

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.

March 2018 Skater of the Month

ROCKIN WRECKHER #838

Photo Credit: Chuck Gay Photography

Tell us about your name:
I originally wanted a ninja turtle related name but that didn't get approved, so I believe on the last day to turn in your name I was at work scrambling for ideas and was even using an online derby name generator  >.< (terrible idea) . My coworkers were also shooting out ideas like Jelly Donut, Gizealous, Bad and Bruisy though none of them stuck to me. But while I was working I was listening to The Adicts and Rockin Wrecker played and it just stuck, I tweaked it to be WreckHer and tadah name!

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

I'm not on a home team yet so I don't have a set position, but for the last freshie bout I was a jammer! My goals as a player is to have more stability, I feel like I'm pretty easy to drop or be thrown off balance. Though to help me with that, I'm working on off skate workouts outside of practice and really want to keep that going as well.  Also I need to be more confident in my skating, there are times when I think I can't do some drills but sometimes I can, which is a nice surprise :).

Who/what inspires you on the track? Name one person and why?:

What inspires me is honestly all the awesome kick ass players in this league, I wouldn't have come back if it wasn't for the encouragement and advice of all the coaches (special shout out to Hardlee) and fellow practice buddies. Seeing everyone better their skills and also help other skaters step their game up is amazing and makes it all worth it!! I want to say thank you to everyone who has lead/coached/attended practices you're all awesome, talented, kickass, and any other adjective you'll like to add :D!

What is your favorite derby memory?: 

Uhhhhhh... every thing??? 
Heh well, this one moment sticks to me because it's honestly just random lol. I can't remember the day or who was coaching but I had been working on how to plow outside of practices because I couldn't even make a little screeching noise with my wheels :(. But they announced that we were plowing on the whistle and all I thought was f@$#, but when they blew the whistle I was able to do a decent plow, not 100% but I got the movement. I guess that's when I really started to see small changes and how you do get stronger as you go! 

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.

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. 

---

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