Derby Life

by Nicole Sanborn MacDonald, aka Smash Atoms

Roller derby attracts strong women – athletically and emotionally. Many of us don’t naturally or easily respect authority figures. Some of us, me included, even border on insubordination from time to time.

by Merchant of Vengeance

When I was a child, one of my biggest physical struggles was learning to ride a bike. My dad and I fought epic battles wherein he pleaded, cajoled, yelled, sighed, pushed, and pulled me to just hop on and go, damn it. But I was AFRAID. I could FALL. I could HURT MYSELF.

Excerpted from a larger post reflecting on 2011 and derby widowhood.

"Aqua Derby" Photos by: Drew Barillas (ACDG league photographer) Art Direction by: Jane Dope (ACDG) Skaters: Chica Go Lightning, B.A.D. and Black Star Heroine

...announced on our DerbyLife facebook page.

The Winner: Photo Of The Year First Place: #2 by Randy Pace (115 votes) Second Place: # 4 by Dave Wood (60 votes) Third Place: #8 by Wicked Shamrock Photography (52 votes)

From Issue 3 of Five On Five, here is a gem from Lorna Boom and Ida Slapter of Rat City Rollergirls, just in time for your league's giant annual supermeeting! Issue 14 of Five On Five is on sale now - don't miss it!

Check out this amazing gallery of photos "exploring motherhood and identity" by Kate Wilhelm. Her project features a host of skaters who are mothers.

Em Dash discovered this photo gallery recently, and then we were honored to receive permission from the photographer to share it with you here on DerbyLife. These are just a few of our favorites, the full gallery is here.

"I spent hours and hours pouring [sic] through my photos from 2011 to create the ultimate derby world. I hope you enjoy this world as I would like to see it in the near future.

Note: nominations are now closed. Due to the high volume of submissions, we are working hard at prepping the first poll, but it could not be launched first thing this morning. Watch this space later - poll coming soon!

With the advent of DerbyLife, a few things about some regular DNN and fiveonfive annual festivities have changed. Usually Photo Of The Year is a category in the DNN Readers Poll. This year, DerbyLife is hosting the Photo Of The Year competition, as well as the 2011 Photo Annual (a DNN/fiveonfive co-production), online.