This is the first in a series of blogs by Bath Roller Derby's S'Mac Down Angel; one of our team mates who's currently touring the UK in a campervan, training with derby teams all over the country and generally having a massive adventure! Jealous? Us?! Massively! – Hell Cat Advance warning: I'm assuming that the majority of people reading this will be Bath Roller Derby people, so there will inevitably be some ‘in jokes’ or reference to our players in this (apologies to anyone whose head this goes over!)
OK, so what am I doing? I'm going to live as a roller derby gypsy for a few weeks! Why am I doing a blog? Well, I didn’t plan to but almost everyone I told about this trip suggested I should ‘blog it’ – I have been totally overwhelmed by the amazing responses I've had, and people’s encouraging words and support. Why am I doing this? Why the hell not?! It wasn’t like I woke one day and thought "Gypsy world please" – it had been bubbling under the surface for a long time. I don’t want to completely expose myself on this, but let's just say it’s been a pretty hairy 12-18 months. Don’t get me wrong, I obviously have had plenty of happy and amazingly fun times too but over all it’s been quite challenging for so many different reasons – some personal, some professional, some private, some just generally, some health related (health one mainly being the ankle break/dislocation and recovery period). And things got particularly tough in this last 6 months. PLEASE don't think this is a sob story. I'm just providing explanation to part of the motivation to do this whole thing.
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Author: Hell Cat BATH'S FIRST EVER PUBLIC ROLLER DERBY EVENT!
Bath Roller Derby Girls are delighted to be bringing roller derby to a public audience in their home town for the very first time! This double header event offers two bouts; double the derby, twice the thrills and spills! Click "Read More" for full details... Author: Hell Cat When I cobbled this website together, almost as an afterthought, I added a contact form. I didn't think it'd get used much, guessing most people would opt for Facebook as the quickest way to get in touch, but last week we received a message via the site that straight up gave me chills... A lady from America had come across our page and spotted Kid Dynamite 13 on our Team Page. She wrote to tell us that her Grandmother played roller derby in the 1930s - 50s, and that her name and number was also Kid Dynamite 13!
"I don't really know much more about her career but every time I visit her I read 'Kid Dynamite' on her gravestone underneath a roller skate. When I saw your page it reminded me so much about her and what she loved to do growing up!" What an incredible reminder of all the passionate, awesome derby ladies who have gone before us! How much must skating have meant to this woman to have made it to her gravestone? That email gave me goosebumps all day, and really made me think about the fact that, for all we go on about how 'young' and 'new' our sport is, thousands of young women for decades before us have identified with roller derby in one form or another, and it clearly meant just as much to them as modern derby does to us today. Here's to the passion of those early trailblazers. Kid Dynamite, BRDG salute you! Author: Mystic Sun It's hard to write about your roller derby journey so far without it being an epic 'cool story bro' yawnfest, which no one cares about except you (and probably your mum). Whilst I was pondering how to make my story a bit more interesting a song got completely stuck in my head and wouldn't leave. Therefore, I present to you… my roller derby career via the medium of Michael Jackson song lyrics.
"She Said I Am The One… Who Will Dance… On The Floor… In The Round" I remember the first time I came to watch BRDG train on "Fresh Meat Open Day" after we'd been accepted onto the Fresh Meat course. It was a horrible autumn evening, raining outside and somehow I managed to arrive late and walk a trail of wet leaves across the sports hall floor. (Crap on the floor = massive derby no no). We all sat on benches at the side of the hall and watched as the people with the magic feet danced around the hall doing seemingly impossible things. One day, I hoped that would be me. Author: The Hendenberg There are fewer moments in musical cinema more iconic than the scene in Grease where Sandy turns up to the fair, clad in unfeasibly tight black trousers, cigarette in mouth, and her hair turned up to 11. It’s not generally that noteworthy when a woman with big hair smokes while wearing black clothes, but in this instance these are visual cues that tell the audience that Sandy has decided she values her relationship with Danny more than the saintly, squeaky-clean nature that she’s been true to for the rest of the film. Tell me about it, stud. Side-stepping the quicksand that is the debate of how healthy and/or feminist it is that she completely changed her appearance to please her boyfriend, I think Olivia Newton-John does an incredible and subtle (seriously, bear with me on this one) job of conveying Sandy’s transformation. Although she saucily pushes her tongue up to her front teeth and purrs “Tell me about it, stud” at a dumbfounded John Travolta, there’s a still a sense of awkwardness and discomfort in Sandy when she hesitates over what to do with her cigarette and looks back at her friends for help. To me anyway, this says that the “bad girl” ideal is something she’s trying on and adjusting to rather than “it’s totally fine she was always like this deep down anyway and just needed it to be brought out of her.”
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Lazy Susan Skate Number 15 Why Did You Start Roller Derby? I had been studying alongside my full-time job and knew that when my course finished I was gonna have ALL THE SPARE TIME and therefore needed a suitable hobby / boyfriend. The hobby was easier to find. I went along with a friend to Swindon roller derby, discovered I could not skate but love love loved it anyway and then got involved in setting up our league in Bath. Describe Your Roller Derby Career So Far? It’s been awesome and it wouldn’t be the same if I wasn’t part of such a loving and determined team, I heart BRDG! I have too many highlights, maybe taking part in a couple of public mixed openers (aah!) and a sur5al tournament against 9 co-ed teams with a bajillion times more experience than us. What’s Your Skate Set Up? Disappointing! I have my eye on some Riedell Blue Streaks but am currently on my R3s with my favourite Heartless Stalker wheels. Who’s Your Derby Idol? Annie Maul of Kansas City Roller Girls… her blocking is incredible and she’s a super-friendly, approachable coach. Also, closer to home Kid Block of Tiger Bay Brawlers is everything I want to be! Sum Up BRDG In Five Words? “Let’s make a googledoc!” “Cake?” Fun Fact About You? I don’t like cricket. Player Award 2013 Superlative Secretary Skills with a Smile Our newest skaters worked incredibly hard over the last 10 weeks as they completed the BRDG Fresh Meat course. They've tackled everything we've thrown at them head on, uncomplaining, enthusiastic and super dedicated in every single session. Now they're all grown up and ready to progress to Rookie level, we wanted to celebrate in style; DONKEY DERBY! Huge thanks to everyone who came along and made the night so much fun, and well done again to all our lovely graduating freshies!
Skate Name
Hell Cat Skate Number BA1 Why Did You Start Roller Derby? A few different friends had asked me if I'd heard of roller derby and were surprised when I said hadn't. They thought it'd be right up my alley, so I did some digging online and fell a little bit in love. When I found out Bath didn't have a league, I teamed up with some other forlorn derby wannabes and helped to found Bath Roller Derby! Describe Your Roller Derby Career So Far Slow and steady! Before upgrading my wheels, I struggled with speed on track and it took me a little while to get to grips with the tactical elements of the sport. Tearing my MCL back in December meant I was off skates for a frustrating two months, but I used this time to swot up, watch loads of online footage and even bench manage a few scrims. Tactical deficit conquered! Played plenty of closed doors, one mixed public bout and excited to have some public games with Bath lined up. Next step; face down my jamming demons... What's Your Skate Set Up? Good ol' Riedell R3s. Staggered set up of slim Atom Poisons and Low Boys; lush but mildly extreme mix of grippy and slippy. Rx toe stops. Scabs. Sisu. The prettiest Triple8 helmet ever. Who's Your Derby Idol? I have a huge amount of respect for Buccaneer Betty Fear (Severn Roller Torrent). Not only is she a brilliant skater, but she's a kick ass coach and has an awesome way with words. SRT are clearly destined for great things and it's blatantly because of skaters like Fear, who seem to put everything they have into their league. I'm all about that. Go Fear. Sum up Bath Roller Derby Girls in 5 words The sisters I never had. Fun Fact About You I am called Cat. My dog is called Mouse. I didn't make the connection / realise how silly that sounds until she'd learnt her name... Player Award 2013 The Mary Poppins Award For Shit Hot Organisation And Perpetual Cheeriness. Skate Name
Mad Math Skate Number 284 Why Did You Start Roller Derby? I watched Whip It and fell in love with the idea of a female sport where you can strap on skates and hit people. Speed and aggression - how could I not love it?! I also decided it was a perfect way for me to beat my fears of large groups of people, touching strangers and new places. Describe Your Roller Derby Career So Far A continuous roller coaster ride that I am finally used to. I went from being obsessed, to getting injured and resenting all things derby, then to getting back on wheels having learnt that derby is not the be-all-and-end-all, soul saving thing that I thought it was. What's Your Skate Set Up? Antik AR1s, Heartless wheels, Mag. Avenger plate and Moonwalker toestops. Who's Your Derby Idol? Judge Redd at Tiger Bay Brawlers. She dislocated her knee and still looked badass with a walking stick. Her resilience in the face of injury is impressive. Sum up Bath Roller Derby Girls in 5 words Welcoming, friendly, spreadsheet-loving organisational goddesses. Fun Fact About You I'm in my final year of a PhD on the fluid mechanics of aeroplane engines! Player Award 2013 The Eye Of The Tiger Award For Unwavering Get-Back-To-Derby Dedication Skate Name S’Mac Down Angel Skate Number wot4 Why Did You Start Roller Derby? I skated a lot as a kid as was always a relatively confident skater. Since quitting football three years ago (bad knees) I really missed the team involvement and being part of a competitive contact sport. I randomly got introduced to Derby and knew immediately it was going to suit me..... fast, aggressive, team based, athletic and more kind to the knees. Within 24 hours I had the full set of safety gear, coupled with my 20 year old boots. Ha. Describe Your Roller Derby Career So Far Within 3 weeks of being in the league team I'd played 6 bouts (with Bath, also subbing in to help make up numbers for the Devon Clotted Screamers!) I was loving it... until I played bull dogs one night at a roller disco and broke and dislocated my ankle. One 6 inch plate and 6 screws later, I had months ahead of me before wearing skates again. I was heart broken! But I'm smiling more now, as I'm just getting used to skates again and hope to be back to contact derby within a couple of weeks. What's Your Skate Set Up? Well, I fell out of love with my old skates (Riedell Vixens) since breaking my ankle, so sold them. I'm currently using fellow skater Steg's old skates, but I have a top notch pair on order which occasionally leaves me sleepless with excitement..... Antik AR1s, Arius plates, Boneless Ceramic bearings, Heartless wheels. Who's Your Derby Idol? Michelle Steilen (Estro Jen) I’ve watched her stunts a million times on you tube. She's amazing and totally fearless (and beautiful....bitch haha!) Sum up Bath Roller Derby Girls in 5 words Family, supportive, skilled, competitive, AWESOME! Fun Fact About You 1) I was born with no sense of smell. 2) I will never play bull dogs on skates again! Player Award 2013 Best Signature Move (The JCB) |
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