I am honored to be able to participate in one of the most important and necessary sports of our time: Women’s Flat Track Roller Derby. For me, derby began in 2004 when Seattle looked over the Cascade Mountains and across the Rio Grande to the women of the Texas Rollergirls, who were already well on their way towards blazing a new path in the world of sports—one where women are serious dedicated athletes who can be tough as nails, ferociously competitive, and overwhelmingly successful.
As a Co-Captain (2005) and Captain (2006, 2007) of Rat City’s Grave Danger, I have had the opportunity to learn from an extraordinarily talented group of women what it means to be a team and how to play as a unit for a common goal. Never in my life have I been so unabashedly proud of one group's collective drive, determination, and accomplishments. After countless hours of relentless training, Grave Danger won the Rat City Rollergirls Season Three Championship Bout.
As a member of the Rat City Rollergirl All Star Travel Team (2006, 2007) I have also had the tremendous honor of playing with and against some of the best athletes I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. I have had the rare opportunity to play on the same team with many of my intraleague rivals (and idols): D-Bomb, Burnett Down, Darth Skater, Drew Blood, Ann R. Kissed, Miss Fortune et. al. Interleague play has also allowed me to bout against a host of amazing leagues from across the United States, including the Texas Rollergirls, the Tucson Roller Derby, the B.A.D. Girls and The Rose City Rollers (the list goes on and on). In February of 2007, the Rat City All Star Travel Team won all the marbles at the second Dust Devil tournament, coming home with the first place trophy for Seattle!
While any half skeleton on wheels knows that a derby career is short lived at best (especially when it was started as late as mine was), I can honestly say that being a part of the rebirth of this sport has been one of the most important pieces of my life. Thank you to all who have allowed me to play with you, to learn from you, and to hip check you into the crowd!
