Immodesty Graze

I first strapped skates on in the early 90s when the world was a heady mix of fluourescent pink skorts and cropped tops. I skated well into my teens, tearing up my friend's village on a Saturday, giggling at boys (also on skates!) and causing a nuisance on Tesco car park on Sundays, I think I was even "politely" asked to leave the shop once because I posed a safety risk to the other shoppers - I think you'll find I was VERY stable Mr Security Man. My boast at the time was being able to launch myself over a full sized road cone without coming to harm - without wearing any protective equipment I might add, a thought which now thoroughly sets my teeth on edge.

At the age of 17 I swapped 8 wheels for 4 and learned to drive - my skates were then banished to the closet for a good 10 years. I dug them out again in August 2010 to attend a roller dance class, thinking that I might like to build skating into my burlesque repertoire... on meeting several derby girls at the class, the thought of skating in front of an audience whilst wearing sparkly knickers and lipstick lasted all of 10 minutes. Derby sounded so exciting, and a complete challenge, something I always looked for in "hobbies". A couple of weeks later, I attended Little Red Riding Thud, LRD vs. RCRG. The buzz of the event, the cameraderie, the sight of the girls on track complete with war paint about to commence battle made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I had a real lump in my throat and an odd feeling of having found a missing piece of a jigsaw puzzle. I joined LRD approximately 4 weeks later and will never look back...

Since that day I have done so many positive things that will (I hope) go on to shape my future, continuing on from the experience of ennui to epiphany to "White 69, elbows!". I've learned that derby isn't just a hobby, it's a lifestyle to which I owe so much. In terms of becoming a kick-ass player, I've got the hunger and the determination to become a good all rounder. I enjoy the focus of jamming just as much as the teamwork and tactics required to be a good blocker in the pack. And you never know, one day I might skate out in front of an audience wearing sparkly knickers and lipstick, although I'll be out to prove myself and my ability first - earn those sequins baby! It won't be a case of telling opposing blockers and jammers to "watch their backs", but a nod for them to watch mine and those of my thoroughly awesome team mates.