Scratcher in the Eye
Interview conducted for post “WTF: ‘Travel-Team Only’ Option?“
Was it your decision to go TT-only or were you approached?
It was my decision.
How many seasons have you been doing both home and travel teams?
Total of 4 years on both a home team and a travel team.
How much more ‘free time’ will you actually have?
I won’t have any more free time. I will have more time to dedicate to WoJ. On a home team there is so much more to do than practice and skate. From the outside it seems like it’s just one more practice a week, but there are quarterly fundraisers and quarterly bonding trips. Plus meetings for sponsorship and our league work. Switching to TT-only means I don’t have to go to 2 fundraisers, 2 retreats, and do sponsorship for 2 teams. Plus 2-3 bouts per month. My actual weekly schedule will stay pretty much the same:
Monday- yoga in the morning, speed skating in the evening
Tuesday- Get Fit w/ TT-only skaters, plus weights
Wednesday- bench coach the Heathers, skate in WoJ scrimmage, TT practice, and speed skating
Thursday- weights in the morning, TT practice in the evening
Friday- speed skating
Saturday- off
Sunday- speed skating in the morning, endurance in the afternoon, TT practice in the evening
What are some things you’re looking forward to now that you’re TT-only?
I’m hoping it will create more solidarity for WoJ players. Throughout the home season when we are playing against each other there are little rivalries and frustrations that develop between teams. This has caused divides between WoJ skaters based on home team affiliation. WoJ only begins to feel like a team starting in July after the home team championships. I’m excited to have full dedication from all my WoJ members. Our #1 goal won’t be to win the home team championship but to win the WFTDA Championship!
Some things you’ll miss about being on a home team?
I will always be a Heather. I will miss skating with some of my favorite people but hopefully I can skate with them again on WoJ. I will miss wearing my furry merkin to bouts. I will miss hearing the crowd chant “Heaaaaathers, Heaaaathers, Heaaaathers!”
How will this affect you personally?
I can fully dedicate myself to training myself to be the best athlete and roller derby player I can be.
I'm a hard-core derby SuperFan and general sports enthusiast. I wish I could do what these bad-ass rollergirls do, but I can't, so I write about it instead.