Published on January 25th, 2012 | by DerbyLife

The Derby Crush

By Evada Perón

Let’s just put it out there…not once in my life have I ever questioned my sexuality. Just as I am sure many of you out there can attest to, at a young age, I knew what I liked.

However, nothing gets under your skin like a solid “derby crush.” If you haven’t experienced the derby crush…well then my friend – you have not lived.

In my short derby life I have had many a crush on many a derby skater. They have ranged from skaters I was absolutely terrified of to skaters I absolutely wanted to make-out with. How does this happen?

Well, come with me on a little journey I’d like to call…the making of a derby crush…

Imagine the most exciting sport on earth (ahem..derby) and then the most fabulously strong, confident, and amazing-looking human beings playing it…(wait, I’m not done)…

Combine this with the fact that not only are they just ten feet in front of your face, they actually look at you, smile at you and if you’re lucky…give a lil’ wink…

Continue with me on this fantasy and imagine that not only do you have the pleasure of cheering for them, making signs for them (with catchy slogans hand painted with poster paint and glitter…no big deal), and placing them in the same category as superheroes and rock stars….

But you also have the gratification of knowing they can actually hear you! They actually see you! And later on at the after party they raise their glass to you and thank YOU for being so awesome!

…sigh.

This is how derby crushes are made.

It’s the perfect storm, really. Derby is like a candy bar at an ice cream shop. You have every kind of sprinkle, chocolate nugget and sweet syrup to choose from…with a side of kick ass and wrist guard sweat.

Most importantly, you can’t help but fall absolutely in love with people who are so damn good at the sport you are absolutely in love with.

For me, my derby crushes have been more than just pitter-patterings of the heart. When I see them skate, they have inspired me to train hard, like really hard, and to read more, to watch more, to learn more, to challenge myself ten times more than I ever thought I could…

You know, not everyone gets crushed upon, and for those who do…it’s for good reason.

One night, after one of the most exciting bouts I’d ever watched, during one of the most exciting derby weekends of my life, I finally had the courage to ask one of my first derby crushes for an autograph (laugh now but I have a framed autograph from Re-AnimateHer and you don’t) …and as I stood there feeling like a complete dork and thanked her for her autograph, she turned and looked me dead in the eye and said, “One day I will be asking for yours.”

Now THAT is how a derby crush is made.

….sigh.

Who wants to go to the gym?

Check out this crush worthy skater at: http://www.facebook.com/reanimateher

To read more by Evada Perón, go to her blog.

About the Author

DerbyLife

RaizinBrain

Her eyes..the very minute I stepped onto the track to learn to NSO and saw her delegating shit like nothing to one of the zeebs…my straight heart folded into her universe…She illumiantes/excites my dreams.

I cross-over/toe-stop the best I can she is the supreme.