Funtimes

Earlier this month, I noticed a Roller Derby Secret Gift Exchange group pop up on Facebook. The text read “Those who join will receive the name and address of a randomly selected male/female skater/ref/NSO FROM ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD! Your mission is to purchase (or make) a gift valued at approximately $25 and send it to arrive by Dec. 20th. Meanwhile, another Secret Derby friend will be shopping/crafting for something fabulous, just for you! Ideas also include regional favorites from your neck of the woods, or even league merch!”

It sounded like fun, so I asked one of the creators, Irish, from the Gulf Coast Rollergirls in Southwest, Louisiana, to tell me more about it.

“The holidays can really be a bad time for some, and a little package of happiness from afar can do wonders for the soul. So after a particularly rowdy episode of AHS and 2 bottles of Boone’s Farm Strawberry Hill, the first ever roller derby gift exchange was created. I went to bed thinking that ‘Oh it will just be the usuals’ (Louisiana derby is very tight knit).” She and a friend created the Facebook group to connect derby people from all over with a holiday gift exchange.

“What I woke up to was INSANE! 125 people overnight, from EVERYWHERE! We quickly outgrew our first two signup methods…Once it went international, I brought aboard Effie Bomb of Shreveport, Louisiana’s Twin City Knockers, and Rest’n Pieces of Big Easy Rollergirls to help out.

“At last count, we are rapidly approaching 400 people signed up! It is open to male & female skaters, NSOs, Zebras, Announcers & even a Coach or 6 have signed up. It has gone over so well, we are extending the sign up date till Friday, Nov. 20th.”

Participants must sign up by filling out this quick questionnaire and commit to sending a gift to someone else who will be chosen at random. Participants can choose whether or not they are willing to ship gifts internationally.