People

Randi Maehym fields a great deal of questions about wheels as a sales rep for Skate Court. Here, she asks that we all participate in a survey to help all skaters choose the right wheel for many surfaces. Theoretically, the more skaters contribute, the better the results will be. From Randi:

Here, we share with you a Letter to the Editors about a skater made documentary project that could use your help.

"I am a filmmaker working on a documentary,"Flat Track Around the World", about the globally transformational power of women's roller derby. I am co-producing it with Juvie Hall of the Rose City Rollers in Portland, Oregon.

Malice Springs Roller Derby League is the most remote roller derby league in the world - we are 784 miles (1,270km) from our nearest potential competitor. Imagine if you were the London Rollergirls and the closest place you could go to play a game was just southwest of Stockholm Sweden or if you were the Windy City Rollers in Chicago and your closest team was Assassination City in Dallas - with not much in between. We're in the middle of Australian desert in a town of 25,000.

By Rambo Sambo of Nashville Rollergirls, guest blogging for Kate In Skates.

I LOVE new skaters! New skaters are so much fun to teach and mold; they’re the lifeblood of this sport and will keep us thriving long after we’re gone. Training a new skater is something like raising a kid, however with a child you get to instill a certain type of demeanor and attitude. Adults come with all kind of baggage and it may or may not flow with what you’re doing.

Andrea Eklund (aka Professor Pain) is a professor at Central Washington University and a member of the Rodeo City Rollergirls in Ellensburg, WA, USA.

"My colleague, Barbara Masberg and I are conducting research on Roller Derby as a leisure activity and how body image is affected by participation in Roller Derby. We are asking your help distributing the survey by copy and pasting the text below on your Facebook page and encouraging league members’ participation.

This post is taking us down to Greenville, South Carolina; home of the Greenville Derby Dames!! A high-five of respect to my Southern sisters, because I kind of am one now. (Even though I'm technically a Northerner, I've been adopted into the club because I can say "y'all" without thinking about it.) I have so much respect for Hex Kitten who was a derby pioneer in her town! So much love you to girls who have worked so hard at building the leagues up to where they are today.

Meow Mix Yo’ Face Up is a lifetime competitive Jam Skater, Jammer for the Jacksonville Rollergirls travel team, owner of Vanilla Derby, as well as coach of the men’s derby team the Magic City Misfits and Jacksonville’s JR derby team.

I am from Port Washington, Wisconsin. Its a small town just outside of Milwaukee.

Just to re-cap... I've sent out some random derby and non-derby interview questions to various skaters in leagues around the globe. Our sport is comprised of some of the most diverse and fascinating individuals and my goal is to show them some lovin', pry into their lives a bit, and bring this growing derby world a little closer together. Continuing on...