Skater Spotlight — Ginger "reeking" Havoc
A veritable valkyrie on skates and your Season 12 Tent City Terrors Captain, Havoc has an amazingly versatile skill-set, covering all three of the roles in derby. She blocks like a beast, jams like a track star, and organizes plays as a pivot like no one's business. Learn more about this seasoned vet below!
Explain the inspiration/story behind your name.
I suppose the story of my derby name is anti-climatic. Nowadays, there are a ton of creative names already being used and I wanted to be different. I hadn't heard of anyone using the word havoc, so I played off of that. Reddish hair + havoc = Ginger "reeking" Havoc.Do you have a pre-bout ritual?
I am not that superstitious, but I do like to visualize before games. Either in the car on the way there or during warm ups, I go over plays in my head. I usually don't get overly amped up or hyper; in my I'm head nice and calm. ... MoreFeatured Skater – September 2014: Kitch #22
Get to know one of the Tent City Terrors' newest skaters, Kitch, below. She is wonderfully, hilariously awesome!
Explain the inspiration/story behind your name.
I have a really close family and really love my last name so I knew I wanted something that used my family name. I started my derby life as Kitch Slap and number D20 to represent my nerdy side. After being drafted to the Bad News Beaters I wanted to shorten my name but still have it mean something to me. Aside from loving the book Catch 22 I decided on Kitch 22 after reading the autobiography of Christopher Hitchens titled Hitch 22. BTW, if you have ever served in the military or worked a government job please read Catch 22, you will never stop laughing.Do you have a pre-bout ritual?
No, I am not one for superstitions or traditions; I just like to play around before a bout to keep everyone in good spirits. I love double entendres, twerking while I stretch, and making others laugh. For some reason I still get a touch of intestinal stage fright (if you catch my drift) before every bout.What do you think about when you’re lacing up your skates for a big bout?
I like to keep it light hearted and happy. Usually I am thinking about what I want to eat at the afterparty. Are my thighs going to rub together too much in these fishnets? What if we all needed to breathe helium instead of oxygen to live? That would be a silly planet. What author has the best chance of taking Ernest Hemmingway in a fight? If there is life on another planet and they come here how can I get them to invest their space dollars in roller derby and spurn all other sports. Also every derby girls favorite thought excise; I just won the lottery let’s create my dream derby arena in my head. ... MoreFeatured Skater – August 2014: The Prim Reaper #27
The beautiful and wickedly smart Prim Reaper of the Surly Gurlies is our August Skater of the Month. Bet you didn't know she had so much rad geek cred. Check her out below!
Explain the inspiration/story behind your name.
My derby name came to me in the place where I have a tendency to do some of my best thinking. In the shower. At the time, I wasn't even brainstorming potential derby names. The name simply came to me in a flicker of a thought, and I immediately fell in love. The Prim Reaper. I felt like it embodied everything I wanted to become on the track—a skater who may appear prim and proper on the surface, but as soon as that jam whistle blows I’ll be poised and ready to bring my opponents to their demise. I also love that the name pays a bit of tribute to my undying love of all things macabre. It really is a perfect fit.Do you have a pre-bout ritual?
During my first year of derby, my pre-bout ritual usually just involved me getting insanely nervous. Over time, I've managed to tailor a routine that helps me maintain a more zen state of mind, and gives me a healthy start to the day, both mentally and physically. The morning always starts with a protein-packed breakfast, a light workout to wake my muscles, and a lot of focus on positive visualizations. Then I take my time to get ready, usually with my favorite music blaring in the background. Music always plays a role in calming my nerves and getting me into the right mindset for a bout. Anything and everything metal is my go-to on bout day, because it has a way of speaking to my soul and getting me fired up. Probably the most private detail about my personal pre-bout routine is something I've done just minutes before the starting whistle at every game I've ever played. I always find a quiet place at the bench, usually somewhere that I can get in a few last minute stretches, and I will take a moment to say a prayer for myself, my teammates, and my opponents. It’s my final moment of peace and serenity before a flood of adrenaline takes over my mind and body for the rest of the game. ... MoreFeatured Skater – April 2014: Déjà Déjà Vu #11:11
This month’s featured skater is our very own Déjà Déjà Vu. Transfer skater from Arizona Derby Dames, Tent City Terror, and now Surly Gurly.
Explain the inspiration/story behind your name.
I have French heritage, a French last name, and a BA in French... I had to find a French phrase that any announcer anywhere could pronounce and I ended up thinking of Déjà Vu. I was talking with another Fresh Meat about it one day and she misunderstood me, thinking I said Déjà Déjà Vu. It stuck.Do you have a pre-bout ritual?
I used to have a very strict be-alone-talk-to-no-one for a few hours before a bout. Now I just have Terror Time (which is when we spend over 2 hours together before every bout just syncing and warming up and making sure we're all together before the game).What do you think about when you’re lacing up your skates for a big bout?
Geez, I hope these wheels work. (and they always do!) ... More