Breckin on Being Broken

This entry in The Rollergirl Project is a small glimpse into the life of a derby girl. This entry is by Breckin U. Down who skates with the Cornfed Derby Dames of Muncie, IN. More pictures of her can be found at Cory's website

The Cornfed Derby Dames were founded in the Spring of 2010. The leagues first charity event was on June 5th. We volunteered at a concert to raise money for a little guy named Jack’s family to help with his medical bills. We were new and had not figured out safety gear should always be required. Well, leave it to me to change all that. I fell at the end of the night and tried to catch myself. Sadly, I hate to admit I was sober. The end result was a plate & 6 screws in my right wrist. The team had just gotten access to practice space and was to start the very next week.
I spent the next 8 weeks watching everyone learn to stop and fall while I happily, and sometimes against my chauffeur/husbands wishes, came to as many practices as possible. I held a stop watch, whistle or just their papers with planned drills and generally helped the practice committee in any way I could. We even brought in silly exercise videos like Sweating to the Oldies for the girls that didn’t have full gear yet to do off skates training in a different area. I did what I could in silly Richard Simmons style. When I am finally able to skate, I am way behind on all the basics and immediately intimidated by the cement floor. With lots of hard work and tons of help from the other Dames, I managed to eek my way on every roster for our first season. I was even voted most improved blocker by my team.
In season 2, we get a coach. It is just what we needed. Somehow our hardest practice the first year is a breeze compared to what he had in store for us. We bust our asses for 3 months in preparation for our first home bout. I am so happy to have made the roster and get to skate against Naptown's Third Alarm again. The bout was Sunday April 15th and I broke my right fibula at practice on Monday the 9th.
As I was looking at another 6-8 weeks off skates and at probably 10 before I would be able to do any contact, I was horrified. All that hard work down the drain! I had nightmares about my leg not healing correctly or it hurting to even skate. Ridiculous ones where my leg was so skinny my knee pad wouldn’t stay up and Coach was yelling because I wasn’t on the floor for practice in time. Obviously, this time, my head was going to play tricks on me and not make this easy. I had to remind myself to stay active with the league and not just my board duties but actually come to practice more than I was required as an injured skater. While there I tried to focus on encouraging the new girls that had only been with us a few months.
This injury was way harder for me to be positive through. Watching all the girls get so much better and the new girls thrive, I started to worry about even being able to make a roster when I was healed. At 14 weeks post break I played in my first bout back. It was a handful of vets and all of our first year skaters against a newer team. It was 3 of the girls first bout and a couple had only played a few jams in one other. We were down by 30 and came back within one point with 3 mins left on the clock. In the end we lost by 9 points but had an experience to remember with our rookies. Unfortunately one of our own was taken to the ER for a broken tibia/fibula. Obviously the loss is nothing compared to JenAroll getting injured.

• All of this made me think of tips for my broken Dame and any fellow derbs out there having a rough go at it.
  Having an amazingly supportive family/derby wife/team helps tremendously.
• Netflix is a life saver when you are couch bound for long period of time. I strongly suggest Mad Men. Mr Draper and Mr Sterling are easy on the eyes and you can focus on what’s going to happen next rather than on your current situation.
• Stay as active as you are physically possible (and allowed per doctors orders). If you are able to walk, do a lap around the yard. Sitting still just helps breed the depression of not being able to do what you love.
• Go to practice once you are that mobile. See your ladies. They miss you too. They are just busy with practice and life. (we all know how much spare time derby girls have) If you haven’t heard from many don’t assume you aren’t missed.
• Ask to help. Jam time/penalty time on scrimmage nights. Blow the whistle for drills. Whatever they need.
• If you have fresh meat- set up a chair near them and give tips. You don’t have to be the best skater to be encouraging or maybe explain something that they aren’t quite getting. Even if its little things like giving them one thing to focus on during scrimmage so they feel a bit less lost. I remember the chaos and having no idea what I should be doing. Remember that one person who blew your mind with a simple tip that made it all make a bit more sense. Now is your time to be that person. Remind them that all of us were there once.
• Listen to the coaches. All that strategy they are going over and working on, you can learn and memorize so you aren’t behind in that aspect when you are able to return.
• Try not to be jaded or rude to any of your teammates. I know you want to skate and can’t but it’s not their fault. And if they are talking to you about their issues they don’t mean to rub in that they can. They are just chatting with their friend and derby sister about what they are dealing with.

To my lovely Dames: I know I bit off heads and made snarky comments at times. I suck and I am sorry.

• Go to the bouts, make signs and be their biggest fan/cheerleader, NSO, sit with fans and help explain the game. Show your team you love to support them as much as you love skating with them.
• And overall follow your doctor’s orders, do your physical therapy, and be patient with yourself. Injuries take time. You can recover and be back out there. Rushing it may lead to reinjury and longer time as a cheerleader.

Body By Derby: Cornfed Derby Dames

Body By Derby is a figure study of active derby athletes to show the different body types of active skaters and the physical effects derby has on the players.  This entry features skaters from Cornfed Derby Dames. More pictures can be found at Cory's website.

from Left:  Alotta Pushie, Elizabeth Tailher, DG Ozsome, Breckin U. Down

	Name	Alotta Pushie
	Age	27
	Children	None
	Height	5’ 3”
	Weight	150
	Weight before derby	138
	Started	November 2010
	Key Position	Jammer
	Practice time per week	6 Hours
	Other Workout	Weights, Cardio, & Swimming
	Diet	Dairy Free
	Laps in 5 minutes	32 Laps
	Greatest Athletic Accomplishment	Power lifting my own weight

	Name	Elizabeth Tailher
	Age	26
	Children	None
	Height	5’ 7”
	Weight	170
	Weight before derby	170
	Started	May 2010
	Key Position	Blocker
	Practice time per week	6 Hours
	Other Workout	Cardio
	Diet	None
	Laps in 5 minutes	28 Laps
	Greatest Athletic Accomplishment	Roller Derby

	Name	DG Ozsome
	Age	25
	Children	1
	Height	5’ 5”
	Weight	115
	Weight before derby	105
	Started	June 2010
	Key Position	Blocker/Jammer
	Practice time per week	6 hours
	Other Workout	Yoga
	Diet	Eat healthy (This Includes Chocolate!)
	Laps in 5 minutes	32 Laps
	Greatest Athletic Accomplishment	Derby!

	Name	Breckin U. Down
	Age	30
	Children	None
	Height	5’ 8”
	Weight	158
	Weight before derby	140
	Started	April 2010
	Key Position	Blocker
	Practice time per week	6 hours
	Other Workout	None
	Diet	None
	Laps in 5 minutes	28 Laps
	Greatest Athletic Accomplishment	Roller Derby

Oh, The Inhumanity!!!!

Every entry in The Rollergirl Project is a small glimpse into the life of a derby girl. This entry is by Ingrid Inhumane who recently went on a medical hiatus from the Rollergirls of Southern Indiana. More pictures of her can be found at Cory's website.

On a brisk Saturday night I went to Hammerheads Bar to attend a “rollergirl” friend’s charity event. Full contact musical chairs defiantly was as exciting and violent as it sounds. My boyfriend turns to me and says, “so, you going to play roller derby?” I remember saying, “HELL NO, I am not going to subject myself to that kind of pain…..on skates”. Little did I know that one year later I would be eating those words when I broke my toe and was bruised head to toe after my first time playing full contact musical chairs. I had literally got off the couch on the last Wednesday in April 2008 and said, “I’m going to play roller derby” and that’s what I did.

Thinking back to life before derby I never felt very tough or confident. Derby allowed me to put myself out there to women that liked the same things I did and didn’t stereotype me. Instead I earned respect of some tough broads that probably wouldn’t have given me the time of day otherwise. I became strong enough to stand up to those that walked all over me and courage to push myself way beyond any line I was afraid to cross. I never stopped to think “I can’t do that” but stopped and thought “I can’t believe I just did that”. As I was climbing stairs to the top of St. Peter’s Basillica in Rome, Italy I thought “I’m going to die by fall or earthquake”……..but I stopped and thought, “If I can jam I can do anything!!” I made it to the top and was so proud that I overcame my fear of heights thanks to getting my ass kicked a few times while jamming.

The love for derby can make you do crazy things. During one particular practice I had gotten tangled in a 5 girl fall which broke my toe stop. As I sit on the roller rink bench crying from anger and fixing my top stop I thought why am I crying. When you put overly competitive women, lactating women and social outcasts on skates together you get emotions, drama and a hell of a lot fun. During my first week of roller derby I went to a slumber party given by fellow ROSI, Tyranni. Even though I wouldn’t tell what happened behind closed doors but at the end of the night I ended up sleeping in a twin bed with two other girls, oh and salsa, wax and streaking was involved. If not for derby I wouldn’t have been on television, did a radio broadcast, been in a calendar, helped fight breast cancer, encourage runners in a marathon or wore ruffle panties on the outside of my leggings.

On my 10th practice I got to choose my name and my first choice was Norma Bates and my number was going to be 1 Bad Mother, but I was so disappointed to find out the name was taken. Next idea was Andromedia Sprain, taken. Ok, reverse; what isn’t taken. I looked in the Thesaurus under sinister names and picked Inhumane. Then I looked for a name I wouldn’t mind being called and that night Ingrid Inhumane was born. From my first bout to my last I have stood behind that persona. I always referred to Natalie as my “slave name” because as Natalie I have to say sorry for bumping in someone or excuse me when I burp. Ingrid doesn’t say sorry and she gets a trophy that says “Best Gasser”. You will probably never see a trophy for best jammer or best blocker, but having a little girl come up to me and tell me I am their favorite is trophy enough for me. I wear my eyes blacked out my lipstick smeared and stitches on my face. Why? Because I can and I don’t have to give a reason, I am Ingrid.

 

Creating Ingrid Inhumane

With a Little Help From My Friends

Every entry in The Rollergirl Project is a small glimpse into the life of a derby girl. This entry is about The Virgin Cherry who is skating with Rollergirls of Southern Indiana.  Rather then writing it herself, her friends and team mates have their say about Cherry.  More pictures of her can be found at Cory's website.

	I remember when Cherry developed the passion and fire that we've all come to recognize in her today. She was the first of my ROSI teammates that became OBSESSED with roller derby. She was no longer just a faithful ROSI, not just a skater with a good attendance record that was eager to take part in drills. Cherry became the one that went to as many bouts as she could...not because they were fun to watch, but so she could take notes about areas in which she wanted herself and her team to improve. She started training outside of derby, and she sky rocketed from the skater that blended into the background to this athlete that took MVP at at more games than any other ROSI. She gave us all something to aspire to. - Lily the Kid Tampa Bay Derby Darlins
	The Virgin Cherry has been a personal inspiration of mine since I joined the Rollergirls of Southern Indiana in July of 2008. As a founding member of our league she is an integral part of ROSI. Between the time Cherry devotes on the track during practice and bouts to off track derby fundraisers and meetings, her loyalty to this sport and our team is unfailing. Cherry has sweat, bled and cried for ROSI. I am proud and honored to call her my friend and teammate. - Killyn Time Rollergirls of Southern Indiana
	Cherry is one of the best people I know on and off the track.  I first met her in 2006 when ROCK skated against ROSI at Champs in Lexington, it was love at first sight.  She is so charismatic and charming, and a killer derby skater. Over the years I've skated with and against her several times, she is a fantastic teammate and opponent!  She sets the bar higher for everyone in that way.  I'm truly lucky to know her and be able to call her my wife (even though I have to share her with Suffragette Kitty) Cherry is fantastic.  Period. - Ellie Slay #17 Rollergirls of Central Kentucky
	The Virgin Cherry has been part of my derby experience since the beginning--ROSI was our (ROCK's) first opponent. My philosophy of learning how to be a better skater/player/human being is to find a role model, study them, say to yourself "I can do that, too," then practice until it's true. Cherry is absolutely one of my core derby role models. She dominates as a utility player, serving well as jammer or blocker. I think much of it boils down to her gung-ho attitude for the game. That's something I definitely lacked in the beginning; I was very hesitant. I've seen her transform and improve over the years with hard work, and it inspires me to learn more, skate more, play more. I want to block her on the track and dance with her at the afterparty. (She's a great dancer, too.) - Jessie Maims Rollergirls of Central Kentucky

All the World’s a Derby Track

Every entry in The Rollergirl Project is a small glimpse into the life of a derby girl. This entry is by Painbow Brite who is currently on hiatus from Rollergirls of Southern Indiana to attend school. More pictures of her can be found at Cory's website.

All the world’s a stage,
And the men and women on it merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages.
-William Shakespeare

Through my high school years and on I loved and pursued theatre. I was in plays, musicals, and speech team in high school and went on to college to acquire a BFA in Acting. I was drawn to the drama and spectacle and the thrill of entertaining others. When I moved back to Evansville after graduation I was initially a little sad that I wasn’t able to pursue my love of performance. At least, that was, until I discovered Roller Derby. In derby I found the drama and spectacle that I had been missing. Did I also mention that I love sports too? At the same time that I studied and performed theatre I was also indulging my love of a physical challenge. Cross country, dance, gymnastics, rock climbing, and even the circus arts were among the sports I enjoyed. When derby came into my life I was overjoyed. I had found a sport that also fed my love of the theatrical! Derby, as I see it, is theatre on wheels. Every derby girl, as soon as she hits the floor, is playing the character that she created for herself. Some characters are more vibrant than others, but they are all equally entertaining. Each character includes their own costumes and performance. Everything from the iconic face paint of Hard Knox Roller Girl Goblynn, to the trademark tutu of Bleeding Heartland's Tijuana Mama , and even the simple signature salute from my team mate Sailor Scary are all a part of the characters they play on the track.

Even myself, Painbow Brite, prepare for my role by slapping on some rainbow stripe socks and a star on my cheek. That is just the external, however. For me, the character of “Painbow” is a combination of my inner child and the two warring parts of my personality; the lovable and the aggressive. Rainbow Brite was one of my favorite childhood icons. She was bubble and sweet like I felt that I was, but when a threat was imminent she knew how to throw down and get shit done. When it came time to choose a derby persona for myself, I knew that I wanted something that was representative of myself and my interests. I know that every derby girl does, but as the roster grows longer by the day, it's difficult to find a name that represents you and isn't already taken. I finally came up with “Painbow Brite” and have loved it ever since. Painbow starts out sweet and friendly during her intro and in all her interaction with fans and other skaters.  However, once that first whistle blows she is ready for a fight.  I suppose the main difference between Painbow and myself is that Painbow is willing to beat the crap out of people if need be, and tries to never hold a grudge. Both myself and Painbow have never been one for dirty trick or foul play and always try to be fair and even and I would prefer to resolve conflicts without violence. And, in case you're wondering what exactly a “Painbow” could possibly be, I figured it out for you. You know those bruises that you get that are so intense that they seem to be every color at once? That's a Painbow! :D I know I've both given and received a few in my day.



From friendly to fierce, wholesome to harlot, every girl brings her own special brand of spectacle to the track. Every character makes the show that much greater.

I am honored to be among these characters; these athletes. I hope that we can all continue to thrill audience for years to come. Remember ladies, the show must go on!