GOLD STAR AWARD: Artemis

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Artemis Foulmouth, who many only know as a member of Rose City’s home team, Guns N Rollers, is the winner of the Gold Star Award for Excellence in Volunteering for the month of April. She was recognized for the work she does behind the scenes for Rose City’s Fresh Meat Training Program. Find out everything she does and why she does it.

Do you remember your first Rose City Rollers bout? Where and when?

Like it was yesterday. It was the Guns N Rollers fundraiser bout against the Skatesaphrenics  from Eugene in March 2010. I was hooked from the moment I stepped foot into the hangar, and I knew I wanted to play roller derby, and GnR was my team. It changed my life.

What made you want to volunteer for RCR?

The volunteer culture in the league is infectious. There were so many opportunities to get involved with the league while I was on Wreckers and Fresh Meat, it was hard NOT to get involved and I did a lot of odd jobs for the first year I was a league member.  Right around the time I was drafted to GnR, the Fresh Meat leadership structure was changing, and the existing admins needed support. I offered to help out, and have been working with the program ever since.

What was your first volunteer job? Where and when?

I signed up to yellow-shirt at the 2010 Season Championships at the Expo Center. My yellow-shirt partner caught people having sex in the bathroom, but sadly nothing that interesting has ever happened to me while volunteering. Yet…

What is the best part about your volunteer position with RCR?

The best part about my job is the feeling that I am helping newer skaters navigate through our league. They work through Fresh Meat, get drafted to teams, and many times go on to skate with AOA and WOJ.   That’s amazing!  Don’t get me wrong, the process is a team effort. The Fresh Meat leadership group is made up of amazing admins, coaches, and MSR evaluators, and I am only one spoke of that wheel. I am honored to be a part of such a great group of people who give so much to the FM program.

artemis

What has being an RCR volunteer meant to you?

The ability to work with so many different people and personalities in order to create a positive growth for the league is a priceless opportunity. I have met and worked with a lot of different people, I have grown new skills, and I have learned a lot about myself.

What is your day job?

I run a medical transcription company, and I have kids, which also is kind of a job.

How does volunteering for RCR differ from your paid work?

The volunteer work is much more collaborative and creative than my day-to-day work.  While my day job is a pretty solitary experience, very concrete, and cut-and-dry, working with the Fresh Meat program is fluid, always changing and evolving, and it is an engaging group effort.  Fresh Meat is pretty much the exact opposite of my job. Maybe that is why I enjoy it so much.

Do you have a favorite team or former team incarnation?

GnR 4 Life!!   \m/  \m/

Do you have a favorite skater or former skater?

Oh so many derby heros, I cannot name just one! My first derby hero from that first bout I attended in 2010 was Blood Clottia and I am a little embarrassed to admit that three years later I am still star-struck when she is around.  From there I have also grown to admire so many skaters.Um hey, I get to skate every week with Scald Eagle. No big deal!   I have also been deeply inspired by skaters like Micro Bruiser and Sugar N Vice, who was one of my first derby coaches.  Alas, there are so many amazing women in our league and only this small paragraph in which to type names. Basically, pair an amazing attitude with great skill and I fall in derby love.

If you could get paid to work for RCR what would be your dream job?

Well if someone wants to write me a big fat check to coordinate the Fresh Meat program I’m not going to say no.

Do you think you will ever stop being a part of RCR?

It’s hard to remember a time that RCR and derby was NOT a part of my life. I can’t imagine, even after I retire from skating, that I would be able to walk away completely. I will always be a fan, and I suspect that volunteering will always be important to me.

Any suggestions for new volunteers or those considering volunteering with RCR?

Do it. Get involved. There are so many different ways to volunteer with the league, there is truly something for everyone, and it’s fun!  Don’t you want 400 new best friends? And high-fives from skaters.  Lots and lots of high fives. The highest of fives.

Season 8 Championships Recap

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“THIS IS GOOD DERBY.”

In the second half of the first bout, my companion turned to me and shouted that over the cacophony.  I had to agree–in fact, I’d even add a few expletives-for-emphasis to that statement.  Does anyone remember me complaining about blowouts being boring?  Yeah, that wasn’t an issue this time.  This was intense, exciting derby.  Let’s get down to business.

DRUMROLL, PLEASE

The events at the Rose Garden opened with the Last Regiment of Syncopated Drummers, a personal favorite of mine.  A few minutes of black-and-red badassery was a great way to start the evening.

HEARTLESS HEATHERS VS. BREAK NECK BETTIES

The Championships began with the battle for third place: The Break Neck Betties took on the Heartless Heathers–who, according to unconfirmed reports, smell like derby gear.

Photo credit: FunFrank

Photo credit: FunFrank

This was a tense, tough bout.  Lots of big hits and great blocking, and even a full penalty box at one point.  The Betties scored the first points, but lost the lead after The Blast Unicorn’s (#17h) 35-point jam. Scratcher in the Eye’s (#243) 24-point jam immediately thereafter established the Heathers a solid lead going into halftime.

While relay-race tomfoolery happened on the track, the Betties must’ve had a good strategy meeting.  When they came out again, BNB played smarter, cleaner derby, and held the Heathers scoreless for long stretches of time.  The Betties worked steadily to close the point gap, and with 11 minutes left in the game, Mutch Mayhem (#77) took the lead back.  Scratcher in the Eye scored 20 for the Heathers late in the bout, but it wasn’t enough.  The Break Neck Betties took third place with a score of 172-159.  Congratulations, Betties!

LET’S ALL GO TO THE LOBBY TO GET OURSELVES A SNACK

Oooh, retro!

I didn’t win a t-shirt during Intermission.  Le sigh.

GUNS ‘N’ ROLLERS VS. HIGH ROLLERS

In this blogger’s opinion, first place was the Guns ‘N’ Rollers’ to lose–which is exactly what happened.  The bout opened with a flurry of penalties called on GNR, in particular Scald Eagle (#50), which allowed the High Rollers to pull ahead.  HR led by 57 points at halftime after big jams from Napoleon Blownapart (#1234), Hari Kari (#5150), and Avalanche (#K2).

Photo Credit: FunFrank

Photo Credit: FunFrank

During halftime, grown-ass adults on tiny tricycles raced each other, and it was more amusing than it should’ve been.  I’m really glad that lady won, and not the cheating cheater who cheated.

The second half was a nail-biter, and I’ve got one very expensive, ruined manicure to prove it.  GNR played more strategically, especially in terms of defense.  No more huge jams for the High Rollers.  However, HR had their smarty hot-pants on as well, and just ran down the clock.  Not even Scald Eagle’s (#50) 60+ points could pull it out for GNR.

The High Rollers are your Rose City Rollers Season 8 Champions, defeating the Guns ‘N’ Rollers by 10.  Final Score, 140-130.

WRITTEN BY JENNA ROUTENBERG

Jenna was at Champs with bells on.  Okay, she wasn’t actually wearing bells, but she was sporting her team colors and cheered like a lunatic.

BLOG: Meet the Gorge Roller Girls

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RCR’s Expansion Team Closes Out Their First Home Season

The Gorge Roller Girls’ first home season started with a sellout crowd on March 16. The two home teams, the River Reapers and the Cherry Bombers, packed the Hood River Valley High School gym to the rafters. With the roar of the crowd pounding the walls, the Reapers took the night, mowing down the Bombers 139-100. Newly drafted skaters Cinda Rolla and Scoldie Knox couldn’t have asked for a more exciting debut. Wreck-Less, jamming for the River Reapers, was MVP and high scorer at 77 points. Ginger-Binger-Danger-Hips-on-Your-Momma’s-Lips was top scorer for the Bombers with 68 points, while Helda Contempt was chosen MVP for her bomb-proof blocking.

BZ4_2381-M

Photo Credit: Regularman

On April 13, the community turned out in droves looking for another exciting bout, and they weren’t disappointed. The GRG All-Stars played fast and tough for every hard-won point they scored against the Southern Oregon Rollergirls from Medford, but at halftime they were still down 69-58. The second half brought the crowd to their feet, stomping and cheering while Gorge forced a thrilling rebound, and came back to win with a final score of Gorge 183, Southern Oregon 136. Gorge’s Maytag was recognized as best blocker, and Ophelia Fury was named the team’s most valuable player of the night.

On May 11, the Cherry Bombers and River Reapers met again for their last bout of the 2013 home season. The Reapers took the lead early on, but the Cherry Bombers grabbed it back and didn’t let go. As the two teams battled for dominance, Ginger-Binger-Danger-Hips-on-Your-Mama’s-Lips jammed for the Bombers, reaching a personal high score of 90 points for the night. Newly rostered skaters Melicious Smackwell for the Reapers and Off Kill-ter for the Bombers made their teams proud. At the final whistle it was the Bombers who claimed victory, with a final score of Cherry Bombers 114, River Reapers 101.

There’s plenty more roller derby excitement coming this summer for the Gorge Roller Girls and their fans: They’ll be traveling around Oregon, Washington, and Idaho to compete on a regional level. Check them out on June 21 at the Hangar at Oaks Park, where they will take on the Rose City Rollers’ Fresh Meat skaters. Check out their full schedule and buy tickets at www.gorgerollergirls.com.

Written by Rhiannon Griffith

As a kid Rhiannon used to rattle up and down sidewalks with a skate key around her neck. She grew up to be a feminist with a bad attitude and a fondness for fishnets. She’s a little too breakable these days for hip checks, but she loves her some derby!

BLOG: Road to Champs

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Ch Ch Ch Changes….the 2013 RCR home season

RCR fans have seen some awesome developments during the 2013 home season, and those changes started right from the season opener. That freezing night in January fans got to see how the new “no minors” and “1 whistle start” rules would affect game play, and were entertained by the newly formed Purple Reign pep squad. Fans were also treated to a huge win for the High Rollers over 2012 champs Break Neck Betties with a final score of HR 214, BB 156. In addition to the High Rollers’ win, Guns N Rollers also started a record season off with a win over the Heartless Heathers 186-148.

gnr hug

Photo credit: FunFrank

GNR’s season rolled on with 2 more wins over the Betties and the High Rollers. GNR players also took the top spots on RCR’s list of most jams and most points scored during the season (See the rest of the list HERE). GNR’s fan Lisa! Describes a favorite moment from the season on the RCR forum, “My favorite moment (sorry Betties, I love you too) was when GNR vs. Bettie’s bout. GNR was like 80 points down at the half and came back squeaking by with the win by 3? I had several heart attacks and no voice the next day. That’s some 1st class derby, and an inspiration to never lose faith.” And, of course there are the hard hits served up by Scald Eagle during the season that are all over YouTube. Those are the things that keep GNR fans rocking the devil horns and coming back for more. For the first time, GNR is the top-seeded home team, and fans can’t wait to see how the team does at Champs.

star push

Photo credit: FunFrank

Another major change this season involved the Break Neck Betties: RCR’s 3 time champions, the Betties, had a difficult season, but through it all, their fans were dying hard. The following quote came off the forum, from fan Bettiespoet, “As a general observation, I was really concerned at the start of the season with the amount of turnover the Betties experienced, particularly with the loss of Soulfearic Acid. I’ve been bolstered and encouraged by the spirit and sizzle my team has continued to bring to their bouts, due to many factors including the rise of Mayhem, the return of Licker and Chestnutz, the continued ‘in your face’ of Scrappy, the formidable Sixpack… I could go on and on and on… In a nutshell, the Betties still bring it!” The Betties fought hard all season and gave fans some great derby action with Scrappy Go Lucky and Ripley taking the #2 and #3 spots of most penalties for the season.

In addition to the game action, Purple Reign came out to make the fan experience even better. Purple Reign hands out specially written cheers for each team at bouts and leads fans in screaming cheers for their team. The ladies of the pep squad also get fans involved in impromptu dance parties. (Of course Napoleon Blownapart can always be counted on for this too!)

All in all, the 2013 season has been a wild ride that will conclude on June 8 at the Rose Garden. We will find out who gets the #1 spot (GNR or High Rollers) as the Heartless Heathers and Break Neck Betties battle for #3. Get tickets HERE

Written by Kelley Gravelle

Kelley is a Wrecker and derby super fan. When she isn’t showing her warface for the Break Neck Betties, she is raising two teenagers to follow the derby community’s “don’t be a douchebag” rule in life.

BLOG: GNR Goes into Championships Undefeated

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Seeking Their First Title in History

For the first time in Guns-n-Rollers history, they just might win the Rose City Rollers home team championship. And not only are they going, they are going in undefeated. Obviously it wasn’t impossible, but it certainly wasn’t the place even most of the skaters on the team expected.

Scarlene has been on GNR for a little over a year and through many changes even in that short time. “Our roster, attitude, work ethic and love for each other has evolved tremendously throughout the season. Its been something wonderful to be a part of. If you had told me in December that GNR would be going into champs undefeated I would have laughed at you. We went through changes this season. We Peter Bradyed. We all wanted it to be our season but I thought the cards were stacked against us. I was wrong. Never argue with determination.”

In her first season with GNR, Roarshock Tess has been on the jammer rotation this season for GNR. “I have also been practicing jamming to deepen the rotation on our bench. I love GNR so much I am willing jam all the jams!” Even in her short time with GNR she speaks about transformation, “This is my first season with the team, and even still, I have felt our growth and momentum building since the very beginning of the season. Our team’s history isn’t one of championships or undefeated seasons. It’s not a history that many people know.”

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As the skaters are looking back on their transformation from the underdog team, Bench Coach Beki Safar was sure all along. She coaches with Shreddy Mercury, a skater with the Portland Men’s Roller Derby League. She has been bringing her calm presence to the team as GNR bench coach since the 2010 season, “I knew from the beginning this is our year. There is a strong, positive, and empowering presence this season, as well as dedication to cross-training and taking care of self.”

Many derby teams talk about spending a good deal of their energy working on cross-training, teamwork, as well as individual training, and it’s hard to find a skater who doesn’t gush over the love they have for their team. But something undeniable has really happened with GNR this season that begs the question – What was it? How did you achieve such a dramatic upswing and consistency in your performance?

Group hug!

Group hug!

The words “synergy” and “family” and “dedication” came out independently from so many GNR team members. Looking back on the beginning of the season to where they stand now, Yoga Nabi Sari, also on the jammer rotation, shared this, “We were all coming back from summer break. I was very new to the team. We really had to work on the basics of skating together before we could move on to bigger things. There was a turning point where it started to come together and we knew success was in reach if every single team member worked hard, focused and believed.”

Co-Captain with Frank-n-hurter, Untamed Shrew also spoke of focusing on the basics of teamwork in the beginning of the season, “Since the fall, GNR has been working on functioning as a team on the track, and that continues to be our focus as we go into champs.”

Artemis Foulmouth continued the thought looking back on how far GNR has come this season with this, “I dared to hope. This is my third season with the team, and really the first time that I felt a sense of genuine teamwork. One of the most important lessons we have learned is that being a successful team is more than assembling a group of good players. I think something changed this year and we all started to believe that it was possible to play in the Champs bout at the end of the season and we became united in this goal.”

Roller Eclipse was drafted right before the 2011 season and echoed the theme of the sum being more than all of its parts, “As a team, we have focused a lot on our mental game. Keeping our cool and remembering that we’re here to have FUN has helped us win, especially when we were down by significant margins. We have also focused on working together and trusting each other. I think these things, more than individual skills, have taken us to where we are.”

Nabi continued the sentiment, “My team is my family. They make me want to be a better person and skater every day. We uplift each other. When I felt totally useless early on they never gave up on me, no skater left behind. We are also the most hilarious people ever.”

Artemis – “GNR is a family–I know it sounds cliche, but it has all the dynamics. We use the term “sister-wives” a lot. I guess that would mean we are all married to Roller Derby. The best thing about the family dynamic is that we have trust and respect for each other, and we want to see everyone succeed. Although we are fortunate to have great friendships on the team, I think the most important quality is that we have learned the value in treating each other with respect.  Its not all rainbows all of the time, but in the end, like in a family, we show respect for each other, even when we disagree.”

Shrew attributes even mid-bout comebacks to the care for each other and prioritizing fun, “I love this team. I love how we continue to challenge one another, how we hold each other to high expectations, and how we genuinely care about each other. Even with all of the competitiveness, we still find joy in playing derby. I love looking at the pics from bouts when we were behind by 80 or so points. We never lost intensity or joy, perhaps making those comebacks possible.”
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Scarlene agreed, “A team through and through. We lean on and trust each other. I truly believe we have an on track synergy to envy.”

In continuing this look behind the curtain of their success this season, it was interesting to hear such a juxtaposition of “calmness” emphasized in their mental game, as well as bringing “intensity.” When asked what she hoped to see at the Championship, Beki said, “Calmness with the amazing intensity we have had a majority of the season.”

Artemis, “The team has been really focused on intensity. It has been a buzzword and mantra for us this season. Our skill and strategy focus has changed and evolved, but the one thing that has been a common thread is that we have to bring that fire. Fire and intensity is not something that comes naturally to me, so I had to really work on that this season as an individual as well.”

The Rose City Rollers home teams are well-matched and some of the best skaters in the country make up each team, sending the best from each to comprise the WFTDA 12th ranked Wheels of Justice, standings as of April 30, 2013. Eclipse also expected a close and competitive season, “I did think it would be a competitive and well-matched season for the league as a whole, and I had high hopes for GNR to perform better than last year, but I didn’t expect it to be THIS good! Each and every bout has been hard-fought, even if the score doesn’t seem to reflect it.”

Shrew, “This season has seen some really close games with all of the teams;  that’s what we were expecting from the beginning.  I think it’s good for everyone to have such a competitive season with very evenly matched teams.”
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As the Championship quickly approaches each team going to the Rose Garden deserves their chance to fight for a win. With a season of challenging bouts behind them, from mental game to recovering from a deficit, GNR is looking forward to closing the season with fans, and a few of the skaters shared what they hoped for this Season 8 Grand Finale:

“I hope to see GNR perform as the team that we are. This team has worked so hard and come so far; skating our best is all I can ask. Regardless of the outcome, I am already so proud of every single person on this team.” – Shrew

“I hope to see a fantastic end to a very close, hard-fought season. Championships this year is going to be epic for so many different reasons.” – Tess

“It’s not going to be easy, and we can’t wait to fight.” – Scarlene

“Things have changed so much since the beginning of the season–skaters have retired, new skaters drafted, teams have been working hard–and I know that both bouts are going to be outright wars and I absolutely can not wait!  What I hope to see–and fully expect to see–is all four teams giving 150%. Win or lose, I hope that each team leaves the track with absolutely no regrets.” -Artemis


WRITTEN BY NICOLE STEELE

This is probably a totally biased blog by one of the newest GnR teammates, Nicole Steele. Currently mending a broken tibula and fibula, join her in holding signs and screaming for GnR this weekend at Championships.

London Calling…

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Memories of my first time
seeing London Brawling in action

Who’s got their invite to the WOJ vs. London bout on June 5 at 7PM?

Me, that’s who! And I am totally stoked to be going to this private bout on Wednesday, June 5, at the Hangar. For those who aren’t season-ticket holders or weren’t lucky enough to get an invite, you can watch the live stream on WFTDA.tv. Or go watch it with fans! Rose City will be hosting a viewing party at the Sellwood Public House (8132 SE 13th) at 6:30 pm.

I fell in love with the pink and black Brits when I first saw them tear up the track at the 2011 East Region Playoffs in Baltimore. No one saw London Brawling coming. In fact, there were grumblings they shouldn’t have even have been invited to regionals. But after they smoked Carolina—winning by almost 100 points—there wasn’t a grumble in the joint. You could certainly see London learning and improving before your eyes.

london_brawling_2012

Photo courtesy of London Roller Girls.
2012 London Brawling

The tenacity and grace of their top jammer lineup—Kamikaze Kitten, Stefanie Mainey, and Vagablonde—wowed the crowd. Quickly, everyone seemed to be behind this stylish and fun team. I don’t know this for a fact, but I think they also won the merch table!

For their second game of the tournament they were seeded against the Philadelphia Liberty Belles. This was definitely the most advanced team they’d ever played—and probably the first team to properly apply a scrum start against them. After a one-sided first half, London Brawling began to chip away at Philly’s seemingly insurmountable lead. The Brits learned from their opponent and applied remedy strategies immediately.

Although London lost to Philly, they used the momentum to thump Boston later that night. They capitalized on power jams and fought their way up the scoreboard. Then once they obtained a proper point spread, Stefanie Mainey demonstrated the art of time killing against Boston jammer Claire D. Way. It was beautiful and exciting.

On the final day, it was international team versus international team, as London took on Montreal for fifth place at East Region Playoffs. Maybe it was all the pink neon, but this was one of the most electrifying bouts I’ve ever seen. Of course, it came down to the final jam.

Montreal’s New Skids on the Block needed at least two scoring passes to win. Iron Wench of Montreal got lead jammer right away. The crowd went wild, but London wasn’t fazed—if it had to be two minutes of pure defense, so be it. They battled to keep Wench in the back, fighting to recycle her over and over so she couldn’t score more points. But then, just as it looked like Wench would break through the inside, Stefanie Mainey drove Wench out of bounds with a hit that saved the game for London. It was epic, and just the boost London needed to finally get their jammer out of the pack. London won 137-135.

London takes on Team USA.

Photo courtesy of London Roller Girls.
London takes on Team USA.

Since that weekend, London has never sneaked up on anyone again. They are tough competitors, who welcome a challenge. I’m really looking forward to seeing how they respond to the mighty Wheels of Justice.

As of April 30, 2013, the London Rollergirls are ranked #23 in the official WFTDA rankings. They’re sure to be a tough opponent for WOJ. You better not miss out on this, it should be a hard-fought battle between two dynamic teams.

Written by Samantha Moore

Slamrox—or Samantha as she’s still known by her blood family—desperately fell in love with roller derby at the 2011 WFTDA East Region Playoffs. It had everything—hard hits, a graveyard of broken chairs, kick-ass jammers (ahem… Bonnie Thunders), a constantly sliding track (until someone found some 4x4s and a set of power tools), never-ending afterparties, and even a controversial forfeit. How could you not fall in love?

Recap: May Bout Weekend

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5/17: Wheels of Justice vs. Victorian Roller Derby All-Stars

This awesome weekend of derby began with Wheels of Justice hosting the Victorian Roller Derby League’s All-Stars.  Right off the bat, can we give the Aussies their props?  Derby is tough on its own, but suddenly playing right-side up after training upside-down must be a true challenge.  Round of applause, Aussies.

meanwhile+in+Australia

Photo credit: The Interwebs

This trans-Pacific bout opened with WOJ’s Scald Eagle (#50) earning lead jammer — establishing the lead that Rose City would build on, double-digit jam after double-digit jam, all evening.  (I hate to say it, but it got a bit boring there near the end.) VRDL struggled with jammer penalties (10 to WOJ’s 4), which cost them scoring opportunities. WOJ played excellent defense all bout long, keeping the Aussies’ jammers Mad Mel Arena (#505) and Swish Cariboom (#138) to 55 and 30 points respectively. Wheels’ Mutch Mayhem (#77) and Scald Eagle both had triple-digit scores which, combined with Licker N Split’s (#523) 43 points, brought the bout home with a tally of 305-124. Congrats, Wheels of Justice, on the stellar victory.

Photo credit: FunFrank

Photo credit: FunFrank

5/18: High Rollers vs Guns N Rollers

The awesomeness continued Saturday night with the undefeated High Rollers facing off against the also-undefeated Guns N Rollers.

Photo credit: Jenna Routenberg ZombiElvis asserting that brains are number one.

Photo credit: Jenna Routenberg
ZombiElvis asserting that brains are number one.

“But surely it couldn’t have been as awesome as you say, Blogger Person.”  Oh, it was, Imaginary Skeptical Reader.  Proof: The national anthem was performed by Slash and Elvis, who is either A) Not really dead, B) A zombie, or C) Back from his home planet for a quick visit and decided to have some fun.  I vote zombie.

In an interesting twist, these two teams are set to battle it out for first place in this season’s Championships at the Rose Garden.  (Yeah, the big one.  Do you have your ticket?  Of course you do!  If — and I feel ridiculous even mentioning the possibility — you don’t, you can buy them here. It’s gonna be a badass day of derby.)  If this is a preview of Champs, though, the High Rollers have some work to do.  I expected two undefeated teams to make for a more evenly matched bout, but GNR dominated.

The bout was fairly even until the 14th jam, when Yoga Nabi Sari (#808) scored 14 points, followed by Scald Eagle’s (#50) 30-pointer.  It was downhill from there.  With the exception of Napoleon Blownapart’s (#1234) 22-point jam late in the second half, GNR’s defense kept HR’s jammers to single-digit jams for the remainder of the bout.  Final score: 224-100, GNR.

Photo credit: FunFrank. Napoleon Blownapart (#1234) totally got this.

Photo credit: FunFrank.
Napoleon Blownapart’s (#1234) totally got this.

Fun fact: I saw two refs get knocked down by skaters during this bout. As any fan of good physical comedy would tell you, it was pretty great.

Written by Jenna Routenberg

Jenna’s favorite things include bookshelf porn, cult TV shows, and the Aston-Martin DB9.  Least-favorite things include the use of “defiantly” when the speaker means “definitely,” bananas, and writing pithy About Me snippets.

Introducing the Newest RCR Ladies

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Skaters and fans filled the Buffalo Gap on May 3 to find out who was being drafted onto a home team.

Six lucky ladies were chosen to be the newest additions to the Rose City Rollers. They are: Keto Kabaam! and Nadya Beach to the Guns N Rollers, Fonda Brawls and Lemon Stinger to the Break Neck Betties, Mistress of the Knife to the Heartless Heathers, and Erika to the High Rollers.

It’s no doubt they worked their butts off to get on their teams, but what do they do now?

Joining at the end of a new season makes being rostered for the next bout questionable, but that doesn’t seem to be taking any of the excitement away from these women. “I started to text my girlfriend and family and close friends,” says Nadya Beach. “As soon as I sent the first one, I thought, ‘Wait, did that really just happen?’ I had to go back and re-read to make sure.” Lemon Stinger also took time for the exciting news to sink in, saying “If I hadn’t been so dazed, I probably would have called my derby sister, Weep.”

Photo by FunFrank.

Photo by FunFrank.
Fonda Brawls battling Lemon Stinger.

When asked about their journey from putting skates on to being drafted by a team, the new additions all gave a shout out to RCR’s skate programs, Rosebuds, Wreckers, and Fresh Meat.

Lemon Stinger, of the Break Neck Betties, came from the Rosebuds, skating for the past two years with Little Red Riveters. When asked about major improvements in her skating Lemon Stinger says, “Skating with people my own size has done wonders for my hitting, and having so much more practice time has really been nice.”

Other players have come from other leagues, but still felt the need to step up their game once they got on RCR’s track. ”I have never worked as hard as I have since I joined Fresh Meat at Rose City Rollers,” says Nadya Beach, “Practice is intense, the competition is hard, and everyone is always giving it their all.” Heartless Heathers skater, Mistress of the Knife, has used her experience from past derby leagues to improve her game with RCR.

Fonda Brawls has a similar outlook on her path from Fresh Meat to her new home with the Break Neck Betties, “Rose City is a whole other world…The level of coaching and game play at RCR is phenomenal…I would not be the skater I am today if it weren’t for the Fresh Meat program.”

Keto Kabaam! had barely skated for 10 years prior to joining Wreckers in September, 2012. After a month or so on Wreckers and then some time on Fresh Meat, she was drafted to GNR. Keto Kabaam! credits her skating improvements to attending team and endurance practices.

At last November’s Fresh Meat tryouts, Erika noted that she was wanted to become a part of Rose City because of her sister. Although she may be struggling to come up with an iconic name like Scald Eagle (“IT’S SO HARD TO PICK ONE”), she is at the top of her game as her new team prepares to take on her sister’s team at Championships.

Undoubtedly, just being a part of a team is a great accomplishment, but who are some of these draftees looking forward to learning from?

Lemon Stinger is looking forward to working with people from her past experiences in derby, “I’m excited to skate with Hurtz because she coached my old team for a little while and is fabulous.” Mistress of the Knife looks at her team as a whole when looking for people to learn from. She sees everyone as having something to teach her.

Keto Kabaam! had many teammates to mention when asked about who she was excited to train with:  “I am especially looking forward to training with and learning from Scald Eagle and Frank N Hurter, because I really appreciate their coaching styles and their immense knowledge of the game. I am excited to skate with Shrew, Chicken, and Thrasher, because I want to get better at some of the skills they excel at.”

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Photo by FunFrank.

With the season almost up, and just a few bouts left, all eyes are looking at the upcoming Season 8 Home Championships  at the Rose Quarter on Saturday, June 8th at 5:45pm. (P.S. Need tickets? Go ask your favorite derby girl and she can help or buy them here).  So Champs is coming up, and the bouts are going to be  A-mazing. The Heartless Heathers will be battling the BreakNeck Betties for third place, and the Guns ‘N’ Rollers will be battling the High Rollers for first place.

These draftees look forward to supporting their team all the way to victory.  “My teammates have been focusing on this all season and they deserve the chance to get rostered first for champs,” says Keto Kabaam!. Fonda Brawls has similar views on helping her team prep for Champs: “I plan on working my butt off to help the Betties be ready to face the Heathers…I don’t expect to be rostered, but I will be working to make myself and my teammates better.”

Mistress of the Knife is looking forward to not only training with her team, HH, but with the Wheels of Justice. GNR skater, Nadya Beach is going to have some very specific goals to be working on after Champs. While working on cross training at a skate park, Nadya Beach broke both her tibula and fibula. “It was incredibly disappointing and not what I had pictured my first months of being a GNR team mate,” she admits. But, she seems to have a great outlook on the next couple of months, “I have all sorts of plans to make the most of this time though; working on my core, my mental game and strategy, and obviously rehabilitating my leg.”

It’s no doubt that the rest of this season will consist of some great bouts, but getting to know the new draftees on a more personal level makes me excited for next season. Where will they be and how will they grow now that they are all a part of such great teams? Look out for a blog in a couple of months when I will interview these women again to see how they’ve grown, what they’ve learned, and recap the accomplishments they have made.

Written by Natasha Digges

Natasha is new to the derby world. She is hoping to start by volunteering with the organization, and be in fresh meat within the next year.

Top Ten Lists: Leading to Champs

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Who are the top jammers, most penalized skaters, and busiest players in the league? Kill Nye has crunched the numbers across the all the season 8 home team bouts this season to help us find out!

Most Jams Skated
Ever think there are some skaters who always seem to be on the track – like their coach keeps them in jam after jam, never letting them hang out on the bench? These women are the true workhorses in the league.

chicken_skippy steve

10. Megahurtz – 58 jams
9. Untamed Shrew – 60 jams
8. Scald Eagle – 61 jams
7. Scrappy Go Lucky – 62 jams
7. The Blast Unicorn – 62 jams
6. Napalm Beth – 63 jams
5. Scarlene – 64 jams
5. Heidi-Go-Seek – 64 jams
4. Mel Mangles – 65 jams
4. Flexine – 65 jams
3. Nacho Lucky Day – 67 jams
2. Frank N Hurter – 72 jams
1. Chicken Time Bomb – 74 jams

Check back to see how this list shifts after Championships. If the Heartless Heathers rely heavily on Tatty Munster or French Tickler, those two ladies could easily join this prestigious group.

Number of Penalties
This year brought a change in the rule set. Some people adjusted quickly, others did not. While this might be the most dubious of the top ten lists, it certainly features the toughest ladies in the league. These ladies aren’t afraid to lay someone out.

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10. Minstrel Psycho – 10 penalties
10. Penny Dreadful – 10 penalties
10. Licker N Split – 10 penalties
7. Tatty Munster – 11 penalties
7. Nacho Lucky Day – 11 penalties
7. French Tickler – 11 penalties
7. Mutch Mayhem – 11 penalties
5. ChestNutz – 12 penalties
5. Heidi-Go-Seek – 12 penalties
2. Megahurtz – 13 penalties
2. Ripley – 13 penalties
2. Scrappy Go Lucky – 13 penalties
1. Mel Mangles – 16 penalties

Will any of the trifecta of Betties take over the top spot from Mel Mangles? Find out when the Break Neck Betties take on the Heartless Heathers at the opening bout on June 8 at the Rose Garden.

Points Scored
Jammers have it tough. That star on your helmet puts a target on your back. But your job is to score points for your team. And this list of jammers most certainly did!

mutch_flex

10. Ivana Thrasher – 94 points
9.  Hari Kari – 101 points
8.  Slay Miserables – 113 points
7.  Untamed Shrew – 119 points
6.  Feliz Brutality – 131 points
4.  Napoleon Blownapart – 165 points
4.  Licker N Split – 165 points
3.  Scratcher in the Eye – 199 points
2.  Mutch Mayhem – 213 points
1.  Scald Eagle – 290 points

How many more points do you think these jammers can add to their season tally? Buy your tickets to the last bouts of the season and find out!

Statistics by Kill Nye

Kill is a Gold Star Award winner and great friend to the league.

Written by Samantha Moore

Known as Slamrox on the track, Samantha is long-time Wrecker and a fresh zebra-in-training.

Gold Star Award: Goddess

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A fun interview with Kirsten Braudt, aka Goddess, who was awarded the Gold Star Award for Excellence in Volunteering this past February. Kirsten was nominated by a fellow Event volunteer, and we’re thrilled to get to speak with her about her extensive time with the league!

goddessDo you remember your first Rose City Rollers bout? Where and when?
It was 2007 and it was, I believe the season opener, maybe the second season? I remember specifically that MaRollin’ Monroe had her skirt bustled and I thought it was stuck, so i felt really embarrassed for her, because I thought her panties were showing. I fell passionately in love with derby at that bout, and have a distinct memory of thinking Monroe had had a costume malfunction.

Did you ever want to be a skater?
I fell immediately in love with derby and wanted to play, but at the time I was being treated for a head injury, so I couldn’t — despite asking two different doctors! The second doctor came to the second bout that I volunteered at. Somehow with about 3,000 people in the building, our eyes meet across and he clearly did a hand movement side to side beneath his neck to say “hell no.” Ever since then I’ve been a volunteer.

Why have you stayed involved with RCR?
I love everything about it. I love the sport, the athleticism, I love the community, especially early in the years. I had the fortune to be involved in the individual team communities and I didn’t ever feel like I wasn’t a part of it, just because I didn’t skate. But then, the more strategic and athletic derby has become as a sport, the more thought-inducing it has become. It’s something I can’t not do!

What was your favorite volunteer experience?
I really can’t think of a specific individual experience….maybe I would say when somebody finally came up with a derby name for me. There was some discussion with the skaters trying to come up with a good name for me and no one could think of a specific name. Domesticated Violence came up with Mistress of the VIP/Rockstar section, but it wasn’t who I was, then said something about being a Goddess… that stuck. It felt good because someone had come up with something more than just my name that I couldn’t come up with myself.

What has being in RCR volunteer meant to you?
I’ve gone through phases. Volunteering with RCR was a key part of me figuring out who I was. It was one of the first environments I had been where people accepted who I was, just for being me, without wanting me to change. That helped my self esteem, which wasn’t good when I found derby. Since then I’ve had an amazing amount of friends and experiences that pushed me to better myself, like going to school. I have my Bachelor’s now and am in a Graduate program for Professional Counseling at George Fox. That’s in part because of being a part of the RCR. I love supporting a woman’s sport that is so empowering. Seeing derby grow in the six years I’ve been a part of it is astonishing and beautiful.

Do you have a favorite team?
I’ve gone through phases. Generally speaking, I try very very hard to be outwardly supportive of all teams. WOJ for sure is my number one, because I can root for them and not feel guilty about it. For the first year I was a Betties fan, then Heathers for a while… about two or three years… then I really strongly started rooting for everyone. But, I would like to see what happens with GNR this year. They’re the one team that hasn’t been number one and I’d like to see them in that place.

Do you have a favorite skater?
In regard to former skaters, Bunny Lepowski. She was a beautiful soul. Also, Monroe, Cadi, Sol Train, Skatrina… there are girls that are retired now. When we had our season opener there were an immense amount of previous skaters getting ready for a picture over near the VIP bar. I was starting to walk by and I realized that those skaters are one of the reasons I fell in love with derby. It made my heart swell with pride that these women helped me fall in love with derby. I love Scald, you can’t watch her skate and not fall in love with her. There are current skaters I love to watch skate, but it’s the retired skaters that helped me fall in love with derby, and they’re the people I admire for helping get it going in Portland.

How has RCR changed since you began volunteering?
Oh my, let’s see… everything! It used to be the costume changes — the Heartless Heathers costume changes at half time. I loved that! The almost theatrical aspects… not like wrestling or old school derby, but I sort of miss the “let’s just do this for the fun of doing it” attitude and part of that fun was the outfits. They were homemade. The refs, too … they used to be able to dress in costumes. I have this memory of male refs in dresses. The strictness of attire and stuff is one of the things that’s a big transition. Also, the weight of the floor when it breaks down and picks back up. I will take the new floor over the old floor any day.

In the beginning of RCR, as soon as the skaters finished skating they were talking to the fans. They made everyone feel included. It’s changed a bit since its more of an athletic thing than a fun thing. The exception is the travel team skaters. The home team skaters don’t seem to have the same interaction with non-skating people, but some still make that personal connection.

I miss, to an extent, the monthly Expo bouts. I love the Hangar, but there was something about the Expo bouts that seemed more special. I do remember becoming a volunteer about the time we got the Hangar. That was a big thing…. having a permanent place to practice. In derby time it’s been forever.

Is there anything RCR could do better for its volunteers?
Actually, to be honest with you, as an entity, RCR does an amazing job with the volunteers. They’re very aware of showing appreciation and giving opportunities for people to volunteer. One thing to change would be having the skaters understand what used to happen with skaters. They may not realize that non-skating volunteers are doing that skaters used to do, like taking tickets at the door, then having to skate right after. Wheels of Justice seems to be the exception to the rule. The only skaters that acknowledge me as a volunteer are the travel team skaters and the people who have been around long enough to know I’ve been around for a while.

How does it feel to be a Gold Star Award for Excellence in Volunteering winner?
I’m very honored. I appreciate the fact that I was nominated and someone picked me. It feels very special to me and I’m very thankful.

Who will be the most jealous that you won?
Doc, he’s been a ref longer than i’ve been a volunteer!

Do you think you will ever stop being a part of RCR?
I can’t imagine it. I have tried to imagine it…. there have been phases of time when I think I’m burnt out, but then I try to picture myself not being involved and i don’t know what I would do that would make me feel so good and be a part of something. At this point in time I would say no.

Any suggestions for new volunteers or those considering volunteering with RCR?
My biggest suggestion would be to not feel like there’s only one option for volunteering. If a person has certain strengths and doesn’t want to Yellow Shirt [assist at events], they should tell the league! It can be an hour here or there and it could be as important as being at every bout. There’s no reason to say there’s nothing to do. There are so many opportunities! You see the Yellow Shirts, but there’s a lot more you don’t see.

Final thoughts?
The only other thing to add is that in time I’ve volunteered, I’ve missed fewer than 10 bouts!

Interview by Hell Vetica