An Interview with Hether Skelter of the Wisconsin River Valley Rollergirls

When the Wisconsin River Valley Rollergirls All-Star team visited the Des Moines Derby Dames on April 10, D3 came away with a resounding 223-88 win. Under normal circumstances, this would be a demoralizing defeat. But further examination reveals that the circumstances leading up to the April 10th bout were anything but normal. Just before the D3 bout, the team suffered a major blow with a mass defection of skaters. Despite this, Wisconsin River Valley's founder Hether Skelter and the rest of her team persevered and played in Des Moines under circumstances that could have led to the disintegration of a lesser unit.

This weekend, the Des Moines Derby Dames will make the long trip to Warsau to play Wisconsin River Valley in a rematch of the April 10th bout. IRDD talked with Hether Skelter about what her squad has been up to over the last couple of months.

Q: It will be a little under two months since the bout against D3 in Des Moines when you take the Oval with them on Saturday. What has been going on with the team since then?

When WI RVRG played D3 on April 10th, there were a lot of new skaters thrown into the game due to some unfortunate league drama; resulting in several of our more experienced skaters choosing to violate our Charter and Operational Agreement, by among other things, bailing on us a week before the bout. Though none that left had ever actually bouted, I HAD introduced them to derby and spent months training, conditioning and preparing them. Having received my own introduction to roller derby and first three seasons of experience skating with The Arizona Derby Dames ( a long established and very successful non-WFTDA League, founded, in part, by veteran former members of pre-WFTDA. I found it necessary to take a 'crash course' in familiarization with the WFTDA standardized rule set in order to accept and rise to the challenge of two
such bouts in our debut season; as up to that point, since August '09, we had been very busy training and gearing up for our April 2nd interleague debut played by our own "house" or renegade rules. Come April 10th, the newer skaters had to wing it, learning the rules as they went.

Since then, the Wis. RVRG has played a WFTDA rule set mixer where the ladies met and played alongside many great, seasoned skaters and learned a lot! Our girls barely received any penalties and rocked the mixer, gaining a whole new level of respect for our league.


Q: Any more WFTDA BOUTS? 

WI RVRG played the Statelne Derby Divas mixer 'Military Madness' on May 22nd in Beloit, WI and we have a WFTDA rule set bout vs. The Eastern Iowa Outlaw Roller Derby League scheduled October 9th, \in Dubuque. We are working on booking a full schedule of both Renegade style and WFTDA rule set bouts throughout our 2011 season.

Q: New members? 

WI RVRG has gained about 5-6 new members since April, who are all very skilled skaters with positive attitides and strong, genuine individual characters.

Q: Team Chemistry?

Afore mentioned drama having successfully eliminated alot of negativity, our team and league chemistry is better now than ever! Everyone is working together extremely well, and we've been planning and putting into motion a lot of civic involvement activities in our effort to give back to our communities. The vast majority of our skaters are now fully trained, and legitimized RVRG's, having actively participated in and successfully completed our minimum 24 practice 'Fresh Meat' Training and evaluation period.

Q: In your opinion has the team gotten better?

Of course the league, and it's respective individual teams have improved immensely. Growing in skill and ability, as well as in the fundamental understanding of rules, regulations and strategems relevant to the (WFTDA ) game. We have all been training really hard, as well as building our Friendships off the track, which wasn't quite as practical when sudden, rapid growth brought previous membership to just under 50 skaters, and ultimately precipitated difficulties in both communication and coordination.

Q: Team injuries? 

There have been no major injuries, just your typical derby bumps and bruises. One injury in our League history, a spiral fractured pinky finger, incurred in our debut bout on April 2nd. She's all healed up now and really excited to play again!

Q: I’ve noticed some talk on line about the Renegade vs. WFTDA style and it seems like there are some misconceptions about the differences. How are they different? 

Simply stated, to us, Renegade Derby is that which isn't bound by the WFTDA prototype.We pride ourselves on our willingness and ability to play anyone, anytime, on any surface and by any rules- or none at all! Myself having participated with The AZDD in an '08 bout in which we defeated the highly renowned and much feared Arizona Renegade Rollergirls and playing by their ( the challengers ) one and only regulatory tenet of 'Do unto others' we literally fought for every point! I've also bouted on the Banked track with AZDD's Wrecking Crew vs. Oklahoma's Red Dirt Rebellion Rollergirls. It was in my freedom to explore the various elements of modern Roller Derby that I truly fell in love with the sport and it's Culture. Unlike the highly regulated and 'set in stone' nature of the WFTDA standardized rule set, our ultimate aim is to allow change and progressive evolution to continue the sport's development through selection and use of what we believe to be the best and most entertaining elements from all the various manifestations of the sport.

As for specific regulatory differences between our own (WI) RVRG Bout specific rules and those of the WFTDA standardized; some include fighting. We train our Ladies to safely initiate and /or defend in a fight situation, and understand that emotions can sometimes run high. Furthermore, we see sanctioned aggressiveness to have been much of that which made old school Derby a household name in previous decades. Some Leagues and styles sell sex, we sell violence and a more punk rock DIY ethic... Some pick apart opponents over minor penalty infractions, we strive to out-skate, out-maneuver and out-heart our competition.

Of course, in our Rules there are still regulations regarding fighting and all other aspects of play, and you still get penalties. In our game 3 minor penalties make a major. Our Major ( Non Fight participation ) penalties last the entire two minute duration of the subsequent jam. We do jumps, take downs and fancy whips, and REAL fights happen, sometimes even in the penalty box! We have Track Security refs to break up the fights and to ensure the safety of both Skaters and spectators.

Our penalties are imposed at the beginning of each subsequent jam, with none entering or exiting the track once the jam is started .There is no point of no return, no skating around the outside of the track to get to the box etc. If the Lead Jammer is going to call off the jam in our game, they have to be on their feet and in bounds! Our major penalties for fight participation require 5 minutes in the box. ( The equivalent of two full jams, with the two 30 second formation allowance times. )

Q: How are they the same? 

The game is still Roller Derby. We skate fast and turn left! All the rules are similar with regard to positions, engagement, formation, timing and scoring. We require the same safety equipment,(mouth guards optional). We utilize quad roller skates, of course, and our official track dimensions are the same. We have 30 seconds between jams, whistles and on skates Official's directional and communicative gestures match and only Team Captain or designated official representative can communicate directly / dispute with the refs.

Q: What do you believe are the keys to victory for your team on Saturday?

The keys to victory are definitely knowing the rules, avoiding the commission and /or receipt of the myriad minor penalties that resulted in at least two of our blockers occupying the box throughout most of our previous Bout vs. D3 and hitting hard to stop them from scoring!


Q: Who do you expect to have a big night?

Every member of our league wants some! We have all been training really hard for this bout! Des Moines will also enjoy Rock Star treatment, before and after the bout, as we believe in honoring the duties incumbent upon any Host!

Q: What are the areas your team is strong in? 

We are a very well rounded team, with super fast, agile Jammers and very effective hard hitting blockers.

Q: Where do you think the team needs improvement? 

More bouts will give them more experience and make them even more badass skaters! This is our first season and already our skaters do more on the oval than some very seasoned roller girls that I've encountered.

Roller Derby on Chelsea Lately

Chelsea vs. Roller Derby on a banked track. Banked track wins.

Final Score: Sioux City Roller Dames 175, La Crosse Skating Sirens 109

SIOUX CITY-- The Sioux City Roller Dames bring their impressive end of the year streak of excellence to an end tonight with a 175- 109 victory over the La Crosse Skating Sirens at the Long Lines Rec Center Saturday night.

This season ending win comes on the heels of the teams upset win against the Omaha Rollergirls AAA earlier this month and a near upset of the Mid Iowa Rollers last week in Des Moines. 

Pulse Magazine's Spotlight on Roller Derby

Amie Steffen has written a wonderful piece for Pulse Magazine about the rise of Roller Derby in Iowa. In particular she focuses on the Quad City Rollers and the new 319 RDC team, which has since been named The Cedar Valley Push-Up Brawlers.

Read more about it here.

P.S. Amie also mention this blog in her article. My profound thanks for that.

Photos of Des Moines Derby Dames Vs. Old Capital City Roller Girls Rematch

Excellent shots courtesy of Christopher Maharry. It just so happens that Christopher Maharry owns Maharry Photography in Des Moines. Maharry does such a amazing job on derby photos that I believe he can do the same thing for you, whether family pictures or high school senior photos or commercial related projects.

Some would say I am foolish for giving business shout outs without asking for ad money, but those that feel that way can get their own roller derby blog. Maharry was gracious enough to send me some of his shots.

And when you are good to IRDD, IRDD is good to you.

 D3 Jammer Ella Diablo basks in the pre-jam spotlight.

D3 Jammer Cosmo Disco attempts to negotiate through the pack

Left to right: Cosmo Disco (D3), Toxic Sugar (Old Capital City), Minnie Mayhem (D3), Furyis Jorge (Old Capital City) and Animal Mother (Old Capital City)

 

D3's Stella Italiana

Weekend Preview 5/29

It's memorial day weekend so nearly all of the Iowa Derby teams are out of action this weekend. However up in Siouxland, the Sioux City Roller Dames, who put together a couple of great outings (upsetting Omaha on their turf and almost upsetting the Mid Iowa Rollers in Des Moines) look to complete their season against the La Crosse Skating Sirens.

The First IRDD Covergirl: Neuro Sis of D3

This is Neuro Sis. She is a blocker for the Des Moines Derby Dames. For the Saturday Night Bout against Old Capital City, she decided to do some free advertising for the blog.

So thus, I am proud to announce that Neuro Sis is the first IRDD Cover Girl.

Congratulations you Neuro Sis, if you consider this an honor.

Sioux City's Anita Spur and Funsize on KMEG-TV Morning Show

Video Slideshow of MIR Vs. Sioux City

June 5: Old Capital City Roller Girls vs. Stateline Derby Divas

Coralville Marriott is here

Saturday Night Derby: Sioux City Roller Dames Vs. LaCrosse Skating Sirens

 

Long Lines Family Rec Center

Scene Report: MIR Vs. Sioux City- The Garden of Derby Delights Part Two

Noel and I were contemplating strategy at halftime- something we have never really done before since there hasn't really been any need given that the previous two bouts we visited were out of reach at halftime. We talk about players. Who is impressive, who isn't. But this was different. We gave our prognosis for the second half. Both of us agreed that Funsize was going to have to figure out another way to deal with the formidable MIR offense given that they seemed to have figured her out. Secondly, Sioux City's defense, was going to have to solve cTAL faTAL and Lolli. Any team can solve one problem at a time. Its different when there are two problems and it is further compounded when those two problems are different in style.

70-42. Was it over?

The two things that needed to happen for Sioux City to remain in the game, happened. Sioux City sent Funsize out to the line and she proceeded to elude the MIR defense just as she had in the first half picking up points. cTAL faTAL was held scoreless in the next jam by the Sioux City blockers.

It was not over.

The Sioux City blockers, with the exception of the closing sequences of the first half, was a formidable outfit. Often times during the game the blockers in the pack confronted, smashed and swirled around each other with the intensity of a hurricane. Sum Mo Payne, PBR, The Annihilatrix and other key Sioux City blockers were in an all out war with Eastside, the Pleasant Hill PunisHER, Vyolent GriMm and DISTURB YA of MIR. The result was a flurry of collisions, bumps, aggressiveness, passion and fouls.

The game settled into a pattern for the first 15-plus minutes of the second. Sioux City would creep a little closer in one jam. MIR would stretch the lead in another jam. And so on....

But with 12:37 to go in the bout Sioux City caught a huge break. The end of the jam was a bit chaotic and so it was sort of difficult to make out what happened. Here is what I recall, and if I am wrong I encourage anyone to correct me. cTAL went off the track after a collision and signaled for the jam to be called, as is her right as lead jammer. One of the referees signaled that she committed a major prior to calling off the jam and thus she would be required to serve a one minute penalty. cTAL gave an impassioned defense to the ref, but, alas, no dice.

Sioux City's Krystallica was the only jammer on the floor at that point and she proceeded to inflict maximum damage on MIR. When it was over, 94-91, MIR.

A certain electrical charge began rippling through the air at Hy-Vee Hall. The yelling got a little louder. The hits a little more physical. And while I was sitting away from Sioux City Bench, I could see one of the MIR coaches, Big Truck, begin to pace nervously and intensely on the sidelines. "TWINS!!! TWINS!!!" He shouted with the intensity of someone who was not only feeding strategy to his team but who was trying to will it to happen. I did not see him chew his fingernails. This is a good thing because the aura of intensity and nervousness he gave off told me that if he did, he would be missing arms by the time the bout ended.

Yes. It was that tight. Tensions were tightening with every jam. Sioux City's Krystallica racked up a five point jam to pull the Roller Dames within two, 103-101, MIR. Lolli responded with a five point jam of her own in the very next sequence, 108-101.

MIR widened the lead to 116-104 with 5:24 remaining when Sioux City's Krystallica delivered a four point jam, followed by another four point jam by PBR. While that was going on, the Roller Dames held MIR to zero points. 116-112. 3:04 to go.

Whenever cTAL faTAL stepped to the jammer line I heard a girl, probably around elementary school age cheer and plead "Come on cTAL!" It was very touching to me. The love that little kids have in their heroes and heroines is a pure faith that every sports fan envies and wish they could have back. We believed our athletes could do anything and always did it with nobility and righteousness. This was before we found out about things like free agency and million dollar contracts (for better or for worse) and steroids and tabloid scandals (always for the worst), which complicate fanhood. Yet this girl seemed to put her faith in far a better place. You are far more likely to see cTAL, or Bat R. Up (Old Capital City) or Rockabelle (Cedar Rapids) walking down the street than you are in a scandal sheet. And the derby girl does not do it because she will make millions or get into the upper echelon of society. She plays derby because she likes to play derby. With these things in mind, it will be much harder for the little girl who loves cTAL to become disillusioned with her as many of us other sports fans did with professional athletes.

cTAL was facing Funsize in the most pivotal jam of the night. When the whistle blew that started the jammers out both made a mad dash for the corner. cTAL was awarded, a loud roar and multiple camera flashes accompanying her entry into the back straightaway. Funsize was close behind. Entering the next turn on the oval, Funsize was suddenly taken out by MIR's Anna Killakova. This was not the first time these two had met on Saturday. MIR's Fanny Firestarter suffered an injury earlier in the match and Anna Killakova filled in on her jammer duties.  It was the 4'10" Funsize who had gotten the better of the over six foot tall Killakova for most of the night, knocking her to the ground on a number of occasions. This should not be viewed as a commentary on Anna Killakova's athleticism. It is simply a truth of athletics that once a person of Killakova's height decides to make a move on another athlete, it is far more difficult to change her path than someone of Funsize's height. Thus it is easier for Funsize to confound someone like Killakova.

But this time, no.

As I recall, Killakova threw her body into Funsize on the second turn of the oval and neutralized her for the jam. With that, cTAL faTAL took over and racked up a seven point jam. 123-112, MIR. 1:50 to go. Killakova's takeout of Funsize was perhaps the most pivotal play of the game in that it secured MIR's win and thus maintaining its undefeated season. By taking out Funsize,  Killakova eased the pressure on the remaining MIR jammers. They in turn, paved the way for cTAL to throw up a large number. If Funsize had stayed on her feet, it is no stretch to think she would have drawn the score closer, setting up teammate Krystallica, who was scoring at will in the second half to potentially take it over the top.

When they brag about the undefeated streak their team has thus far in the season, they would do well to remember and thank Anna Killakova.

As it was, Krystallica racked up four points on the next jam making the score 124-116. That is where it stood, as time ran out before the next jamming sequence could begin. A bit sad, really. After white knuckling it the last ten minutes, I would have personally preferred one final all out jam. But alas, one does not get always get what he wants, or however Mick Jagger put it.

Still I could not help but be satisfied. Satisfied by the many acts of athleticism and heroism that I saw, yes. But more than that, I was satisfied that an exciting derby bout could provide me with the same thrill and rush that any other exciting, close sport could. How I love that feeling. That wonderment seeing a jammer inexplicably do something sensational to breakaway from the pack. How a blocker can turn the pace and flow of a jam with merely one hit or one bump. The simple thrill of it all.

As I stepped out into the nightlife of a night in my hometown, I could not help but feel like the future looked bright for this incarnation of derby. The women have it right. This is not merely sports entertainment. This is sport itself.

MIR remains undefeated. Sioux City remains a team heading toward peak form.

Scene Report: MIR Vs. Sioux City- The Garden of Derby Delights Part One

DES MOINES -- The first two matches my friend Noel and I attended were slaughters, for lack of a better word. Yet I never consider a derby experience a waste. In fact our first two bouts have given us keener eyes to what is going on on the track since we could pay attention to pack dynamics, pivots and jammer moves rather than get swept up in the drama of a close game.

You might even say that the first two bouts prepared us for what happened on Saturday, when MIR successfully remained undefeated against the Sioux City Roller Dames....but not by much. With the previous two bouts giving us insight, we could now take in a close match and gain a fuller appreciation of what was going on.

Taking a fuller appreciation of things was easy to do on a day like Saturday. Nice sunshine. Low humidity. My good friend Noel. Derby. Traveling to my hometown. 

As many of you know, the Mid Iowa Rollers are the matriarchs of the Iowa Roller Derby Scene. They began their journey in 2006, and have left a very impressive wake behind them, with a scene that is approaching 10 teams.

But this might be their best year so far. They are undefeated on the season and, like other Derby teams in recent weeks, have begun to get more local media attention, not just in the features pages, but in the sports section of the nightly news, as witnessed in their coverage by WHO-TV last week when the station gave the result of their bout against Mahaska.

Sioux City is a team to be watched very closely. It was my understanding going into this bout that they had just picked up their first win of the year the week before (but I might be mistaken). This wouldn't be such a big deal if the team was anyone other than regional powerhouse #12 Omaha Rollergirls AAA. Combine that with this Saturday night performance and you are looking at team that is congealing very well, earlier setbacks be damned.

Saturday night was the fullest revelation of everything that Derby can be that I have seen in person so far. Like other sports, Roller Derby now has the capability to produce heroines in pressure situations. In particular, I am thinking of jammers cTAL faTAL and Mizz Lolli Pop Ya of the Mid Iowa Rollers and Krystallica and Funsize of Sioux City Roller Dames.

These jammers engaged in a titanic battle throughout the evening both with the opposition members of the pack and with each other. While there were many other athletes from both teams who served as Jammers, but these four stick out in my mind. It seemed like whatever their teams asked them to do, they did, or almost died trying.

Funsize, from the early stages of the match, was a revelation. Was she the fastest jammer I have ever seen? No. She wasn't even the fastest person in the oval on Saturday night. Yet that does not matter. Oh, don't get me wrong, she was quick, but the secret of her success in derby is her sheer courage and determination combined with agile reflexes. Although I do not know her exact height, Funsize used her appearance to her advantage. The mere sight of a short girl with no apparent muscle mass wearing the jammer star on her helmet closing in on the pack can whet the appetite of a blocker, visions of a crowd pleasing hit dancing in their heads. This vision occurred to more than one MIR blocker as the almost telegraphed said fantasy hit. Seemingly at the last minute Funsize would dart out of the way, leaving more than one MIR blocker on the floor. Not only was she a threat on the jamming side, Funsize's blocking abilities are choice, featuring an excellent sense of timing and an astounding whoomp to her hits. Perhaps the most dangerous women in flat track roller derby are the ones who are not of advanced height and look like they possess little to no athletic ability. I think Stella Italiana of the Des Moines Derby Dames, Gladi8her of Old Capital City and, yes, Funsize.

For MIR there was cTAL faTAL. She was the picture of absolute confidence during her jams. It wasn't arrogance, mind you. She just gave the impression that if her team called her to do something she could do it. It was a scene played out over an over throughout the night. cTAL on the jammer line. Ref blows whistle. She takes off like a rocket from the crypt. She reaches the pack. Bobbing. Weaving. Searching. Resisting hits. Fighting. Moving. She breaks through.Then she starts to skate like she's in a trance once she breaks free. Don't get me wrong, she still flying. But her aura becomes that of a machine. Stride. Stride. Stride. Corner. Freeze. Right arm extended slightly upward. The skates don't seem to move as she rounds the corner. Stride. Stride. Stride. She reaches the back of the pack. Back to full throttle. No concern for personal safety. Bob. Weave. Duck. Get hit. Hit back. Go. Go. Go. Through. Four points. She calls off the jam. Then it seems she lets her hair out in an excitable burst of emotion when the jam is done. Anger when it doesn't go right. Joy when it does.

And nothing too much.

Mizz Lolli Pop Ya was just as efficient. It seemed her style of skating was more rough hewn than cTAL faTAL, but there is obviously nothing wrong with this. Comparing jammer styles is pretty useless unless you are talking about who is getting through the pack and racking up the points and who isn't. It looked like Mizz Lolli Pop Ya was the fullback to cTAL faTAL's halfback if we dare use a football analogy. Lolli seems to prefer to head into the heart of the pack to grab her points. If this approach works, and it certainly was more successful than not most of the bout, it serves a dual purpose of scoring points and grinding the opposition blocks and wearing them down over the course of a match. To use another sports analogy, this one more appropriate given Lolli's background in basketball, her style of jamming is similar to that of a baller heading in to the paint for a layup.

The game was neck and neck for most of the first half with a few lead changes. But two major events happened toward the end of the period. Funsize, who was relatively unchecked by MIR defense for most of the half, began to get shut down. Heading this effort were MIR's Eastside and Pleasant Hill PunishHer in particular, who all but shut the door on Funsize by concentrating on closing off all possible routes she could take and making short, concentrated, yet walloping bumps and blocks rather than selling out for the big hit.

With this problem seemingly sewn up, the Rollers offense tonight under the leadership of cTAL faTAL and Lolli , built up the first sizable lead of the night, MIR 70, Sioux City 42, at halftime.

To be continued.....

Scene Report: Des Moines Derby Dames vs. Old Capital City Roller Girls by Squirrel Ex Machina

Note: Squirrel Ex Machina is the bench coach of the Des Moines Derby Dames. She is the author of this piece. 

 

Bout day. I wish that people could see all that goes on behind the scenes to make these things work. It really is amazing. With a bout at 7pm, volunteers, emcees and team members converge on our venue at 10 am to begin preparation. The track is measures out, taped, lights laid and secured. Hundreds of chairs are put out, organized and positioned. Sound checks, safety check, time checks. It’s like a beehive preparing for battle. Everyone has a job and everyone is heads down working to get things done.

 

I can feel it tonight. The energy is unmistakable. We’ve played Old Capitol once before (our first game) and we’ve been working our asses off for two months to step up our game. I don’t know if they realize that we’re gonna give them a run for their money.

 

Seven O’clock hits.

The crowd is pumped.

The teams are ready.

The smell of stale sweat and beer fill the air.

Game on bitches!

 

Between whistle blows and shouting teams, I’m running the bench better that ever. I know my team, I know their skills and I know when to put them out. Jam after jam the pressure builds but I’ve got this down. People don’t realize the stress of running a bench. Players don’t just magically appear on the track for each jam. No! Between each jam, I’ve got 30 seconds to assess the situation. 30 seconds to see who is in the penalty box, who needs a break, who the other team is putting out. 30 seconds to plan how we’re going to win every jam. Sometimes it’s focusing on defense and tossing out my biggest hardest hitters, sometimes is all about points and getting out my faster jammers with good control blockers. Those 30 seconds come and go and tonight I’ve got it down.

 

The game is tight we lead then they lead. At half time, they are ahead but we can catch up if we dig dig dig in the last half. “Everyone take a deep breath,” I tell my players in the locker room. “Imagine you’re on a beach.” Ok, it’s kinda hippie bullshit but we need to keep clear headed and goal focused. “Ok, let’s talk about the game.” The room explodes into conversation. Everything from track communication and wall building to strategy moving forward. We can win this one.

 

Almost.

 

We lost but man it felt like a win. My team was ON and we fought till the very end. Hard hits, some injuries but a whole lotta heart got us through this bout feeling like fucking rock stars.

 

We can only get better. We can only improve. Bring it Wisconsin, because you know we’re gonna when we see you on June 5^th.

 

Hug’s and Bruises,

 

Squirrel Ex Machina.

Scene Report: Cedar Rapids Rollergirls: Helldorados Vs. Bleeding Heartland: Code Blue Assassins

Note: Rockabelle is a player for the Cedar Rapids Rollergirls. She is the author of this piece.

Gearing up to make the trip to Bloomington, Indiana to take on our founder’s original team was a little nerve-wracking. We’d been hearing about the Bleeding Heartland teams for so long and this was our big opportunity to take them on. We had done a lot of preparation as a team and felt like we had been working as a strong, cohesive team so we certainly felt prepared; but didn’t want to go in too confident.

Meeting the BHRG girls was great! We hit it off with the Code Blue Assassins and their WFTDA team – the Flatliners – right away. The were very hospitable and just an all around good group of people to be around. The spirit of roller derby between the two teams prior to the bout was evident. There was energy in the air and no animosity – we were all just ready to play a amazing game of roller derby. In the second pre-bout warm-up, both teams had time on the track at the same time. After each team completed their coordinated group warm-up, we all had a chance to hit the track freestyle. CBA girls were whipping Helldorado girls and vice versa – the camaraderie was infectious!

Once the action started, game faces were put on and it was time to get down to work. The Helldorados took the first few jams and didn’t allow the CBAs any points. It was clear in the beginning that the Cedar Rapids team went to Indiana looking for a win and weren’t going to let their nerves of playing their founder’s original team infect their game play. The CBA team had many hard hitters and several great jammers. They were certainly a force to be reckoned with. However, we played our game, kept our heads cool and pushed forward for the win.

Personally, I feel that I played very well in this bout. I was able to help out defensively in the pack as well as put some points on the board as a jammer. However, I realized after our bout that I have still have so much to learn. After our win, we got the opportunity to watch BHRG’s Flatliners play against the Gem City Rollers. As a jammer, I had been waiting for the opportunity to see the Flatliner jammers in action. While the entire team was amazing to watch and worked so well together, the jammers left me in awe. Seeing how quick they were on their feet, how much they ran on their skates, how they moved their girls around in the pack with a purpose, left me heading back to Iowa knowing what I really need to work on. I do some of these things, but clearly don’t do them all with the purpose and the drive in which the Flatliner jammers did.

So tonight, I head to practice with much knowledge learned from my derby trip to Indiana this past weekend. I cannot wait to implement many of the new things I picked up and to get my new appreciation for this game on the track. I am now more driven than ever to be a better player and cannot wait to lace up the skates.

MIR Vs. Sioux City Segment on KCCI

A minute segment from KCCI-TV in Des Moines featuring interviews with Fanny Firestarter and Anna Killakova.

Des Moines Derby Dames Vs. Old Capital City Roller Girls Highlight Reel

The Fabulous Nick Strickland delivers again

MIR Vs. Sioux City Video

No bout action, but pretty interesting sights. And Melanie's "Brand New Key" for a soundtrack choice is very cool indeed.

Scene Reporters Needed

I need scene reporters for the Mid Iowa Rollers, Muddy River Nightmares, Mahaska Mayhem, Cedar Rapids (Both teams) and Old Capital City. If you are a Derby Girl, Derby Fan and Derby Coach who likes to write and wants the Derby World what know how you feel about bout, file a scene report for IRDD. E-mail: derbydiaries@yahoo.com

MIR Vs. Sioux City: The Sights

Thanks to Skinnerella for sending these photos of last nights bout. 

The post-bout photos. MIR in blue, Sioux City in Red

Funsize (Red) vs. Anna Killakova- Perhaps the most intriguing match of the night.

MIR's Wonton Hammer attempts to negotiate through the Sioux City defense

Sioux City's PBR abound to land on MIR's cTAL faTAL

Sioux City's Funsize and MIR's Disturbya

Final Score Mid Iowa Rollers 124, Sioux City Roller Dames 116

DES MOINES -- MIR expands to 4-0 with nailbiter against Sioux City.

Final Score: Old Capital City 151, Des Moines Derby Dames 122

CLIVE -- The Old Capital City Roller Girls sweep the Battle of I-80 series by the score of 151-122.

Scene Report: Mid Iowa Rollers Vs. Sioux City Roller Dames By Skinnerella

NOTE: Skinnerella is a member of the Sioux City Roller Dames. She is the author this piece.
 

DES MOINES --Do you still have fingernails? If so, then you must not have made it to the bout last night! The Rollers came away with the win, but the score never got out of reach, keeping us all hollering and clenching our butt cheeks until the final whistle.

The Dames and Rollers swapped the lead throughout the first half. With great defense and some big, beefy hits, the Dames stifled the super speedy Rollers' jammer, C-Tal Fa-Tal. During the last few minutes of the half, the Rollers pulled away, bringing the score to 70-42 going in to halftime.

The Dames regrouped and brought it strong in the second half. Dames outscored the Rollers 17-4 in the first three jams. Dames defense continued to work its block magic through the half. In one eyeball-searingly awesome hit, the Dames little cocktail sausage (Funsize) knocked the Rollers' foot-long (Anna Killakova) clean off her skates and out of the pack.

A slew of penalties left the Rollers' with their jammer, pivot and one blocker in the box, and allowed the Dames to score 5 unanswered points, bringing the score to 94-91, Rollers. With two minutes left in the bout, the bathrooms emptied, the teenagers quit making out and everyone stood on up their chairs. Dames mercenary jammer, SyphiLiz led the final jam for a gain of three points, but, alas, it wasn't quite enough and the final whistle blew with the score 124-116, Rollers.

Win or lose, a close game is a fun game and everyone hit the door smiling. Thanks and spanks to the Mid Iowa Rollers for hosting us and showing us a great time!

HALFTIME Mid Iowa Rollers 70, Sioux City 42,

DES MOINES -- cTAL faTAL and Mizz Lolli Pop Ya lead late first half charge for MIR as they put distance between them and Sioux City.

Final Score: CRRG: Helldorados 126, Bleeding Heartland: Code Blue Assassins 79

BLOOMINGTON,IN: CRRG Helldorados pick up road win against Code Blue Assassins

HALFTIME: CRRG: Helldorados 62, Bleeding Heartland: Code Blue Assassins 25

BLOOMINGTON, IN: Cedar Rapids hold halftime lead

The Return of the Show Stopper Part one

DES MOINES –Watching Malay Bouaphakeo, aka Show Stopper, the founder/player and coach of the Des Moines Derby Dames, conduct practice can be an exhausting experience in and of itself.

Bouaphakeo was a force of nature during D3’s Wednesday night practice at Skate North Incrediroll in Des Moines. Whether explaining the proper implementation of defensive maneuvers like the snowplow or when to do a two-wall or a three-wall, or serving as jammer or blocker during scrimmages, she maintained the same level of intensity mixed with iron will and determination.

“BUILD A WALL!” she yelled out at one point from the sidelines awaiting her turn in a scrimmage.

“GET UP HERE!” she called from the front of the pack to a teammate inside it.

“HERE SHE COMES!” she exclaimed to her scrimmage teammates  as an opposing jammer creeps up.

This kind of drive and focus is par for the course for the 27-year-old Storm Lake native.

“She’s always been intense,” said D3 Blocker Monica Thompson, aka MOAB (Mother Of All Bombs). “She’s always been in our faces and pushing us hard because that’s how she works and that’s why we love her.”

Bouaphakeo will bring that intensity back to the oval on Saturday night as the D3 will take on the Old Capital City Roller Girls in a rematch of their teams first bout at the 7 Flags Event Center in Clive. Old Capital City won that bout by the score of 192-81 on April 3 in Iowa City

It was also the bout where Bouaphakeo suffered a partially torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and a partially torn PCL(posterior cruciate ligament), an injury that has kept her out of the previous two bouts.

Details are sketchy among her D3 teammates as to what happened exactly, which can be expected given the fast pace of a derby bout. The injury occurred in the closing stages of the first bout with Old Capital City. Jennifer Dixon, aka Squirrel Ex Machina, D3’s bench coach, said the combination of Bouaphakeo taking a good hit from an Old Capital City player that she didn’t see coming, combined with her left knee pad being slightly out of alignment contributed to her injury.

Bouaphakeo said she herself does not even remember what happened except that she fell.

“I was in the pack and I was just blocking and I fell,” Bouaphakeo said. “I don’t know how I fell, really. I hurt it instantly and I couldn’t really move it. And I’m a pretty strong person and to actually start bawling in the middle of a game or with an injury- it’s a pretty tough thing. I’ve played sports my entire life. I’ve played Division I softball. I’ve never been injured in my life. It was a big deal for me. I mean I usually just get up.”

Evidence of her strong will was on display later that night. Dixon said after being taken to the hospital, refusing painkillers and being fitted with a knee brace, she returned for the after party. Still seeing their founder and captain on the ground was very dramatic for D3, although according to Jammer Lacy J. Brunnette, aka Cosmo Disco; it has been easier since Bouaphakeo has switched her to a coach while she has been off the oval.

As for Thompson feels partially responsible for the injury to Bouaphakeo.

“I feel like if anybody on our team gets injured, whether it’s my job to be there and protect them or not, I feel like I’m partially responsible,” Thompson said. “I’m a blocker. I am ‘The Mother Of All Bombs’ and I protect people. That’s what I do. That’s why I’m here. This is my family and it’s my job to protect them. If I’m not keeping them safe and happy so we can dance and sing afterwards then I have not done my job.”

The Return of the Show Stopper Part Two

Despite the injury, Bouaphakeo claims that this is the best year of her life thus far with the Dames coming into their own, her personal life and her career as a headhunter for Paragon IT. At the very least the last couple of years have been a whirlwind for her. After suffering a second degree sprain in her Medial Collateral Ligament in her right leg in June 2009 and stopped competing with the Mid Iowa Rollers. It was from there that the idea from the Des Moines Derby Dames began to take shape.

Initially the idea for a second derby team in Des Moines involved Bouaphakeo and two other people. The other two later bailed and she was the one woman left standing. Far from being disheartened, she intensified her focus on bringing her vision to life. Bouaphakeo described the preparation as similar to that of launching a small business including things like public relations, getting a plan together, going after sponsors and recruiting.  “We stuck out neck out to far to say that we are going to start another derby team and just quit,” she said. “And I am not a quitter. I’m not going to not follow through.”

Perhaps Bouaphakeo’s first major coup on the recruiting front was Brunnette, which occurred through an online conversation. Brunnette said she was one of the first people who signed up for the Des Moines Derby Dames Twitter account. Soon she got a private message from Bouaphakeo asking her if she ever thought about trying roller derby. Brunnette said she began watching Derby videos on YouTube while at the same time talking with Bouaphakeo.

The D3 mastermind drove a good bargain, apparently. Within three hours of initial contact, Brunnette had a pair of roller skates ordered and went to a skate shop to pick up pads and other assorted equipment needed to play derby. She attended practices religiously during those days that she described the Dames as merely a “wing and a hope,” with lots of open skate nights and only five girls, none of whom were guaranteed to show up at a practice.

Yet she stayed with Bouaphakeo, who refers to Brunnette as her Renee Zellweger to her Tom Cruise, ala Jerry Maguire. The vision and love for derby obviously transmitted from the founder to the devoted recruit.

“It’s everything a girl wants. You have the femininity. You have the athleticism. You have the fans. You have the lights the music,” Brunnette said. “It’s the perfect sport and it’s a fringe sport so the people who do it are so fun because you’re all doing something special together. She didn’t really need to convince me much but she’s an interesting character.”

Yet those days of open skate nights and uncertainty were very short lived for the Dames. She began training the team in November 2009 on an ambitious schedule that defied the expectations of everyone, who claimed that it would be at least a year before the Dames first bout, including members of the Dames sister team, the Omaha Rollergirls. The Dames made their first bout on April 3 in Iowa City. The next week, on April 10 the team made its home debut at the Val Air Ballroom in Des Moines. Bouaphakeo described the opening bout, which was a sell-out, as being ironic with her not being able to skate. Yet at the same time she focused her energy on bout preparation during the day and coaching during the actual bout, which resulted in a 223-88 win over the Wisconsin River Valley Roller Girls.

 “It was very difficult because I started the whole team,” she said. “This is my dream. This is my mission and that was exactly what I was hoping for our first bout and not being able to skate in what I created was very, very difficult but, you know, I do it for the girls. I do it for what we are trying to accomplish and it’s not the end of the world that I don’t skate. That means I take on another role. I coach and I lead the girls from the bench. So was it difficult not to play? Yeah, Absolutely. Was I happy just to be there? You bet, you know, because with all the hard work, I didn’t know what it was going to be, you know? I got to take it in a lot more.”

Bouaphakeo takes a great deal of pride in the rapid development of her team, taking a mere five months from the start of training to the first bout. She claimed that the Dames are in a spot where no first year derby team should ever be. But then she changed her mind. “They should be actually,” Bouaphakeo said. “”They should be that way because if you put enough time and enough effort to it and you train people properly, you can absolutely do it.”

Not only does she credit her teammates, the fans, the referees, the emcees, the volunteers and the sponsors for the success of the team, she also credits the Des Moines community at large.  Bouaphakeo insists that Des Moines was made for roller derby, citing the fact that the largest city in Iowa is a young community that has a desire to see and try new things. Bouaphakeo claimed evidence of this can be found in D3 being able to secure sponsors even before the team hit the oval, which, she added, was also a testament to the soundness of the business plan.

Perhaps a bit of serendipity can be credited with the initial success of her vision. Bouaphakeo pointed out that she has always worn the number 10 throughout the course of her athletic career, from her days at Storm Lake High School to Drake University to the Dames. D3 had its first bout this year, 2010, and had its first bout on April 10. She claims she did not plan any of this on purpose.

Dixon said Bouaphakeo is looking forward to donning skates on Saturday. “She’s pretty damn excited,” Dixon said. “I think she’s a little nervous, but she wouldn’t admit that. I know the girls are excited because she’s a force when she gets out there on the track. She’s an awesome communicator. She knows the strategies. She’s a fabulous leader and so having her on the track is just a huge asset for everyone.”

But more than that, Dixon said, because after three bouts to experience Derby, she believes D3 has a far better grasp of the sport and has been able to piece it together so now they will not look like “a deer in headlights” as they did in the first game.

Brunnette said that while the intensity is definitely up for the rematch against Old Capital City, it is a good natured since many of the players on D3 are friends with them. She added that Bouaphakeo can be expected to skate with her usual intensity and fire on Saturday.

“She’s an Aries sign which means she has a lot of fire,” Brunnette said. “Obviously she wouldn’t come back if she didn’t think she could handle it and she is a very physically and mentally strong person. You know there’s always a risk with Derby but she’s well aware of those risks and she’s prepared.”

As for Thompson, who is fiercely devoted to Bouaphakeo, she too is anticipating the return of the Show Stopper to the oval.

 “When she says ‘Come on! Get up here’ I can follow her and I would follow that woman into a burning building with a gasoline jacket because if she says I can do it, I can do it,” Thompson said.  “There is no doubt in my mind that if she says ‘Come on, MOAB, let’s do this,’ we can get it done.”

Advice From Neuro Sis of the Des Moines Derby Dames

Do what Neuro Sis of the Des Moines Derby Dames says. Or penalties will be created and enforced.

Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Mid Iowa Rollers-Mahaska Mayhem Sights

Saturday Night Derby: Des Moines Derby Dames Vs. Old Capital City Roller Girls

Stella Italiana, MOAB and the Des Moines Derby Dames take on Bat R. Up and Left 4 Deadwards and the Old Capital City Roller Girls in this much anticipated Battle of I-80 Rematch.

This bout also marks the much anticipated return of D3 player/coach/founder Show Stopper to the oval after being sidelined first D3- Old Capital City match on April 3 due to injury.

Bout time is 7 p.m. Saturday Night at the 7 Flags Events Center, 2100 NW 100th Street in Clive.


7 Flags Event Center is here...

Saturday Night Derby: Mid Iowa Rollers Vs. Sioux City Roller Dames

Hy-Vee is located here

Saturday Night Derby: Cedar Rapids Rollergirls--Helldorados Vs. Bleeding Heartland Code Blue Assassins

The Cedar Rapids Rollergirls-- Helldorados travel to Bloomington, Indiana to play the Bleeding Heartland Rollergirls: Code Blue Assassins

Derby Culture: Suggestions For A Bout Soundtrack- Black Sabbath "The Mob Rules"

Just a suggestion, for this one week only, I would like one song in tribute to the late heavy metal legend Ronnie James Dio, who died on Sunday.

Here is my suggestion from his days in Black Sabbath....

Cedar Valley Derby Team Announces Team Name, First Practice

NPR's Frank Deford on the New Roller Derby

Frank Deford, a sports writer who wrote perhaps the most well known book on roller derby, Five Strides On The Banked Track, gave his resounding approval of the new Roller Derby this morning on NPR's Morning Edition

Skate With the Mahaska Mayhem This Sunday In Oskaloosa

The Mahaska Mayhem will host as skate session and a bake sale with proceeds going toward the teams American Red Cross Relay for Life Team. Proceeds from the event will go toward Relay For Life.

The skate session will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. this Sunday at Spinnin' Wheels Skate Center, 1717 3rd Ave. East in Oskaloosa.

Spinnin' Wheels Skate Center is here...

The Complete WHO-TV Mid Iowa Rollers Segment

I have been impressed with the recent amount of coverage WHO-TV has devoted to derby. Here is the complete Mid Iowa Rollers segment from last night's news.

 

Mid Iowa Rollers To be Featured on WHO-TV News Tonight

Derby Fans in Central Iowa should make plans to watch the WHO-TV News tonight at 10 p.m. to watch a feature on the Mid Iowa Rollers.  

Here is a generous teaser of the piece.

 

Des Moines Derby Dames Ticket Sales Party Thursday At High Life Lounge In DSM

The Des Moines Derby Dames, in anticipation of their Saturday night rematch with the Old Capital City Roller Girls at the 7 Flags Center in Clive, will host a ticket sales party from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. this Thursday at the High Life Lounge, 200 SW 2nd St. in Des Moines.

Tickets for the bout are $10 and will be on sale at during the sale at the High Life Lounge.

The High Life Lounge is here...

Mid Iowa Rollers To Play Case Girls in "Deal Or No Deal" At Champ's Restaurant in WDSM

The Mid Iowa Rollers will serve as "Case Girls" for a night of Deal Or No Deal from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. this Thursday night at Champps Restaurant at Jordan Creek Mall, 101 Jordan Creek Parkway in West Des Moines.

Lucky patrons may win tickets for MIR's Saturday bout against the Sioux City Roller Dames. Tickets for the bout will also be on sale at Champps during Deal Or No Deal. 

Champps Restaurant is located here.

An Evening With The Eastern Iowa Outlaws-- Part One

MONTECELLO – During a derby scrimmage among members of the six month old Eastern Iowa Outlaws, something went wrong in one of the turns. Upon making contact with someone in the pack, Rockin’ Romeo, the alter ego of 24-year-old Robi Jo Griffin, lost her footing, went skyward and landed on her back causing her head to ricochet violently off sport court tiled at the Monticello Berends Center Thursday.

Griffin, of Cedar Rapids, lay there for about a minute, being tended to by coaches. Eastern Iowa Outlaw founder and coach Michelle Miller, a.k.a Dead Lee Danni, instructs the other players gathered in the center of the makeshift derby track down on one knee.

“In case some of you didn’t know, when someone from your team or the other team is down, you always take a knee,” said Tiffany Vomacka, aka V Train a player/coach for the Outlaws. “It shows respect.”

Griffin, who is a service clerk and photo specialist at Walgreens, gets up and quickly rejoins the team. Her journey to membership in the Outlaws was a long one. She kept trying out and never making a team. Finally, one of her fellow skaters who made the Outlaws told her about tryout at Super Skate in Cedar Rapids. Upon observing Griffin skate, Miller, and Vomacka offered her a position on the team.

“This is something so much bigger than I could ever imagine by myself,” Griffin said. “Like I got a group of girls here that’s become family now. I mean no drama or nothing. We’re here to skate. We’re here to play. We’re here to have fun.”

A few minutes after she rejoined the team after the accident, Griffin had to sit down a few minutes later.

“I feel drunk,” Griffin said. “I feel like I’m gonna puke.”

By the end of practice Rockin’ Romeo appeared to regain her original form and relatively injury free. Fortunately she was wearing a helmet, as required in the modern derby game. Like any other athletic endeavor, the modern roller derby game carries a risk of injuries, as Outlaw player/coach Michelle Miller can testify.

While Miller was skating with the Cedar Rapids Rollergirls she suffered a tear in her Medial Collateral Ligament, located behind the knee during a practice in March 2009. “I was bad, “ she laughed. “I only stayed completely off it for one week, then resumed half- practices for the next three weeks and bouted at the end of that March. I should have stayed off of it for at least a month.”

She added her main motivation behind taking a big risk was to make a Rollergirls bout.

The Eastern Iowa Outlaws began in the mind of Miller, 45, who is an insurance analyst for Aegon in Cedar Rapids, toward the end of 2009. Since that time, Miller has hit the pavement to recruit players around the Cedar Rapids hanging posters, making phone calls, getting the team licensed, getting a tax ID and securing a venue. Not only that there was the issue of finding players for her team, which involved phone calls, passing out flyers and taking out ad space in newspapers.

“Within about two months we had 20 girls,” she said, adding that while those initial efforts to recruit players began in the Cedar Rapids area, the Outlaws are planning a major recruitment push for players in the Dubuque area in the near future.

Just a brief conversation with Miller reveals her deep love for the game, citing the friendships it brings, the sportsmanship among the players and physicality of the game as reasons why.

“It’s always nice to hit girls and not get in trouble for it,” she added with a laugh.

The Miller’s hard work and perseverance began to pay major dividends recently. Not only did the team secure a practice facility, adding more players to the Outlaw roster and, perhaps in the biggest move of all, secured a location for their home bouts, the Five Flags Center in Dubuque, which are slated to begin in October.

Many of the ladies at the practice hail from the Cedar Rapids area, but a fair number of them hail from other towns like Marion, Monticello, Anamosa, and even McGregor in Clayton County. Michelle’s Husband Robby Miller, aka Rush-N-Rob, said the Outlaws would like to bring the tri-state area into the Iowa derby universe and the home bouts at the Five Flags Center will provide an excellent venue for them to do so.

While many of the Outlaws have little to no bout experience, a slew of events are beginning to line up for them to have the opportunity. On Wednesday, many of the Outlaws will have a scrimmage with the “fresh meat” of the Old Capital City Roller Girls. This Saturday some members of the Outlaws will travel to Beloit, Wisconsin to participate in the Military Madness Roller Derby Mixer. Plans are also in the works for the Outlaws to have a bout at the Jones County Fair, although all of the details have not been finalized.

Robby Miller described himself as a “Derby Widow” for the first year-and-a-half of Miller’s career. While she did derby, he raced stock cars on dirt tracks. When she announced her intention to form a team of her own, her husband hopped aboard.

It’s hard to believe that Rush-N-Rob, by day the general manager of Marv’s Glass in Iowa City, was ever a widow of the sport watching him in practice at Monticello. One minute he is offering kind, yet firm coaching to the Outlaw girls. The next minute he’s breaking out tools to work on the skates of girls having problems with their skates. Still another minute he is holding a rope with another person to assist his wife in a drill involving hitting to solidify timing and blocking form.

“It’s more involved than I thought,” Miller said. “There’s a whole lot more than I thought. There’s a lot of stuff behind the scenes. Contacts. E-mail.”

An Evening With The Eastern Iowa Outlaws-- Part Two

One of the latecomers to practice was one of the Cedar Rapids Rollergirls who made the jump to the Outlaws with Miller. Kathie Saunders, aka Mis-B-Havin. Saunders, who works at Cargill, jetted over to Monticello after getting off of a plane from Minneapolis where she attended various meetings. Not only that, Saunders, 43, also teaches fitness classes, including kickboxing, water aerobics and cycling, something she has done for the past 14 years.

Yet it was an feat of athleticism that she could not do that led her to begin a derby career in March 2009.

“I didn’t know how to skate and someone said ‘You should try out’ and so I decided I should,” Saunders said with a giggle“It probably took me a good six months to learn how to stay on my skates really well. I skated probably three time my entire life.”

Yet it was the fact that she hadn’t skated that motivated her because she saw it as a challenge. The challenge has come with some consequences, however. Saunders said that only recently has she started collecting bruises as the beginning struggles with skating have given way to a crazier approach that comes with confidence.

At home, Saunders has two children, one who is a college student at the University of Iowa and the other who is a sophomore. They are thrilled with their mothers derby adventure, but not surprised.

“I have this personality where people are not surprised when I go out and do things,” she said. “You know ‘Oh my God what are you doing now?’”

Her only previous bout experience was in a scrimmage, but she will be one of the Outlaws to attend the mixer bout in Beloit this Saturday.

The three hour practice in Monticello was a challenging, sweat soaked affair featuring drills testing skill and endurance.

During one drill, as the Outlaws skated around the makeshift derby oval, Miller blows a whistle

“BASEBALL!”

Immediately the girls on the track, who were going at a decent speed on their skates, hit the ground and do five sit ups. They get up off the ground and start to skate again.

A few seconds later, Miller yells, “ROCKSTAR!”

The team hits the deck and does five push-ups before getting up again for more skating. Among those engaged in this exercise was the skater known as Holly Hotwheels.



By day, Holly Hotwheels is known as Amber Jordan, a stay at home mom. Jordan’s adventure with roller derby began when she, accompanying a friend to a Cedar Rapids Rollergirl tryout at Super Skate in Cedar Rapids in February 2009, decided to put on a pair of quads after over 15 years.

“And I got to thinking ‘Hey! I don’t think I’m that bad!’” she said. “Then I got to thinking, you know, ‘I live in Scotch Grove. That would be an hour drive for me.’ And then I was like ‘You know what? You’re only young once you better do it now.’ So I did it and got on (with the Rollergirls).”

From there, Jordan, 37, immersed herself in the world of roller derby, to the point where her husband believed she became obsessed. After derby practice she would arrive home and hit the internet, looking at derby videos on YouTube.com, reading up on derby tips and drill, and even getting addicted to tights. Initially she would be more of a blocker, but after finding that she could attain a great amount of speed on the track, she decided to add jammer to her derby repertoire.

Her first bout was with the Cedar Rapids Rollergirls in November 2009, an experience she described as being full of adrenaline. More bout experience is in the future for Jordan and some of the members of the Outlaws when they travel to Beloit, Wisconsin to participate in the Military Madness Roller Derby Mixer on Saturday.

Jordan described her experience with the Outlaws as being a very happy one, with team members providing an environment where no one talks negatively about others and where a lot of bonding occurs between her and her teammates.
“We push each other in good ways,” Jordan said. “I can push somebody-not intentionally pushing them- to be faster or to try harder. And if someone is having a bad day, which we’ve all had our bad days and we think ‘why are we doing this?, we can see that in your eyes and you go pep that person up and bring them up.”

The practice moved into a drill where the Outlaws divided themselves into three groups. The two girls on the out lines were blockers with the center line being a jammer. One series saw Mis-B-Havin as a jammer and a player known as Da Thrilla Ice, or Ice for short, and another Outlaw serving as blockers. Despite the speed of Mis-B-Havin, Ice virtually stopped her cold by extending her backside in a textbook blocking maneuver. This was greeted with a positive reaction her fellow Outlaws, the coaches and Mis-B-Havin herself.

“Big ass, no pass,” Ice said as she skated back toward the line.

Outside the derby world, Ice is known as Christina Updegraff, 25, a mother and bartender at Buffalo Wild Wings in Cedar Rapids. Before seeing a Cedar Rapids Rollergirls bout that piqued her interest, Updegraff did not know that Roller Derby was as big of a deal as it turned out to be. Ice found out from fellow Outlaw Big Show that tryouts for the Outlaws were taking place, so she jumped at the chance- despite not donning a pair of roller skates in six years.

Updegraff said her first practice with the team was difficult with her struggling with balance and basic derby moves like the crossover. She credits Outlaw coaches for working with her one-on-one and understanding her skill level and her drive to succeed at a sport that she fell in love with at first sight. This drive is best exhibited by the fact that Updegraff has diabetes.

“I can’t do a lot of sports because getting hot and stuff gets me really dizzy and sick and stuff like that. For some reason there is a lot more strength in me than…I don’t know why. I don’t know why I do this,” she said with a laugh adding that she makes sure her blood sugar is up before practice.

At the end of practice, as the Outlaws gathered around center court to cool down, Vomacka led the team in an exercise where a team member is singled out and the rest of the team gives positive feedback as to the players performance. Vomacka finished this exercise by addressing the Outlaws as a team, crediting their perseverance.

“Hardly anyone just gives up and takes off their skates and that makes me smile,” she said. “Something must be here for you all to keep coming back.”