Up Close And Personal

By: Hot Mess Express

It was January 9, 2011, the first practice back from winter break for the Carolina Rollergirls. Our training director, Roxy Rockett, stood in front of the group of excited and revitalized skaters and laid out her plans and expectations for the coming year. At the conclusion of her speech, she asked us to close our eyes and repeat after her, “I am smart. I am strong. I am amazing.”

By Thomas Gerbasi

As one of the top female fighters in mixed martial arts, Shayna Baszler knows better than most about what it takes to succeed in one of the toughest sports in the world. But when it comes to another entry on that unofficial list – roller derby – she will defer to the ladies already tearing up the track in her native South Dakota and around the world.

At least for the moment.

Get up close and personal with Val Capone in this exclusive video. This scene didn't make the final cut for This Is How I Roll, which we reviewed here.

To learn more about the film, visit the website.

To support the film, visit the IndieGogo page.

Summer Shovin’ is on June 10, 2012 in North Hollywood, California. This intraleague game will also mark the debut of San Fernando Valley Roller Derby’s newest skaters! So, let’s drop in on Hammy and see how she’s feeling about skating in her first game.

By Hebrew-Ham Lincoln

Davy Jones describes how he got into roller derby in this exclusive video. This scene didn't make the final cut for This Is How I Roll, which we reviewed here.

To learn more about the film, visit the website.

To support the film, visit the IndieGogo page.

European Roller Derby Central is (and we are proud to say) THE central point of information about European Leagues, events and scores. Why? Because they make it work.

The core of ERDC is the list of leagues and a ranking system that allows you to find the best match when you are asking yourself which teams you should play against. If that league has a representative registered you can contact them directly by clicking on the league on the list.

Sounds awesome, doesn't it? But let us take you back:

How did it all start?

By Vicious VaGenda, River Valley Roller Girls, Ft. Smith, Arkansas

Didn’t sleep well last night, for the chanting of “endurance, focus, power” running through my head. I face the mirror tired, excited, and anxious. “You got this,” I tell myself over and over.

I drink my tea and start the day with a protein shake and toast, and draw strength from my inner chant. “Endurance, focus, power,” my brain repeats over and over again. The only thing that matters in this moment is “Endurance, focus, power.”

One of the most fabulous derby woman I know, Penny Slain, recently noted that you shouldn't be too hard on yourself about knowing all the ins and outs, dos and don'ts of derby until your second season. Nevertheless, at this last Saturday's bout, as I stood like a deer in the headlights after being called on yet another penalty of which I had no clue what I had done or how to proceed, I felt like a giant ass. You would think after a year of skating I would know which illegal procedure I was being called on or how I had a clockwise block or what the fuck just happened.

Reprinted with the permission of the Chicago Sun-Times and journalist Andy Frye.

by Andy Frye, Special Columnist

On March 31, 90-year-old Chicagoan Madelyn DeVincent was reacquainted with her old love.

By Violet Knockout

So you know how people like to account where they were and what they were doing during epic events in history? I believe being drafted onto a Gotham home team counts as one of these events.