Slim Sheety- 8mile

Breakneck Betties, Axles of Annihilation

Joined RCR: 2008, BB '09-present, AoA '10-present
Drink of choice: Goldschlager, straight up
Derby wife: Tyger Bomb (Fresh Meat)
Derby nemesis: Minnie Van Mayhem
Derby hero: Scrappy Go Lucky
Theme song: "Shakin'" by Eddie Money
Day job: inside sales rep at a steel mill

So how did you get started with the Rose City Rollers?

Well I'd just graduated from college and I needed a hobby.  I just needed something to do, to be active.  So one day I was like 'I'm gonna see if there's roller derby in Portland.'  I googled it and found the Rose City Rollers.  I went to an Expo bout, and was in love.  I tried out for Fresh Meat three times before I made it in July '08, and I couldn't skate at all at first.  I worked hard and got drafted onto the Betties on September 23, 2009.  I knew it would be fun, but I had no idea it would be this great!

And what's the story on your name and number?

Sheety is my last name, and I always have to explain it to people.  For my derby name I was trying to think of some joke using that.  Believe me, I've heard them all growing up.  I was at Kay's one night with a group of girls, Heidi-Go-Seek and Minnie Van Mayhem, and I still didn't have a derby name.  So I said "you know, I'll just be Last Resort," you know, like the Papa Roach song.  And Heidi was like "you could be Slim Sheety!" Adn that was it.  So Heidi actually named me.

You're new to the Axles of Annihilation, right?

Yep, brand new!  I just joined in August.  They were looking for skaters and I started practicing with them.  I was so nervous at my first couple of practices, but after a while I was like "you know, I can do this!"  Then one day Viagrrra Falls was like "ok, we need to get you a uniform!"  I skated my first bout with AoA in August at the Derby Daze game against Bakersfield.  I love roller derby so much, but being on travel team really gets me super-excited about going to practice.

You're the head of charity/derby outreach for the league.  What does that entail?

It means a lot of emailing, planning, fundraising, trying to get people organized and involved.  It's a great way to meet people out in the community.  Every quarter we focus on a charity, donate money, talk about them at one of our bouts.  We just did the SHOC walk, which we do every year, which promotes Ovarian Cancer awareness.  I love doing these, but it's hard cuz I want to do all the animal foundations, but we have to switch them up!

 You said you couldn't really skate when you first joined the league.  Ever been on skates before?

Just a couple of birthday parties when I was a kid.  When I first joined RCR I couldn't skate at all, hence trying out for Fresh Meat three times.  I took lessons with Mary Mac and once I got on Fresh Meat I worked with Special Ed, who kind of took me under his wing.  But when I first started Fresh Meat... I don't know if you know about the 50-lap killer, but Speed Bump used to lead it back when he coached Fresh Meat.  It's 50 laps around the outside of the track, really fast, and I couldn't stay in the pace line for one lap, I had to step to the inside.  But I was willing to do whatever it took, and I just kept at it.  I started working out, skating on my own, doing everything I could off the track.  Soon not only was I keeping up, but I was doing the sprint lap twice!  I think I'm definitely a showcase to how anybody can do it.  

I love to ask this question: what's the WFTDA rule you break the most?

Rules?  What rules?  Is not cursing at skaters a rule?  Cuz I definitely called Goodie Two-Skates a f**king b**ch the other day, and she loved it!

I'm sure she did! Tell me about the worst injury you've had?

Before I even joined the league I chipped an ankle bone.  I was at SkateWorld, and I stood up and just went boom!  I hobbled out of there, so worried I'd never get a shot at roller derby.  The next day my foot was huge, and I had one doctor tell me it was broken, but it was just a chip.  Other than that, I've been pretty lucky.  I don't even bruise that easy, which is frustrating, cuz when you hurt yourself you wanna have something to show for it, you know?  Oh!  A while back I found a golf ball-sized bruise right inside my buttcrack!  I must have fallen and landed on my wheel or something.  I wish I'd had the balls to take a picture of it.

So what's your favorite position to play?

I like them all!  I guess I like playing 2, cuz I like working with the pivot.  I like the communication.  And I like working with someone who knows what they're doing, so they can help me know what I'm doing.

Do you have a pre-bout ritual?

I always work out on game day.  I go to the gym in the morning, and I feel warmed up all day.  My favorite class is Saturday mornings, which works out great cuz our bouts are on Saturdays.  It's cardio and weights, and it gets me going so I feel powerful all day long.

What do you love most about roller derby?

The camaraderie, all the friends I've made.  I love feeling like I'm a part of something.  And I don't mind the drinking.  I love that derby encompasses everyone, no matter who you are or where you came from.  When you come to your first bout as a fan you'll leave with new friends and you'll feel like you're a part of the derby community.  That's just how it is.

See Slim Sheety and the Axles of Annihilation take on the Slaughter County Roller Vixens Friday, October 15th at the Oaks Park hangar as part of Rose City's All-Star weekend.  Click here for more info.