DARSTROSITY:  Derby wives? Got any?

ALLIE GATOR:  My only derby wife to date is Sassafrass.  She is one of the most amazing and modivating people I have met during my derby career.  She lives in Chicago and recently graduated from law school - Congrats wifey!!!  <3  

D:  Whats the best thing to do at a after party?

AG:  Hydrate 

D:  In one word…whats the best thing to do before going into roller derby?

AG:  Inspire - it means “to breath in” (besides other meanings)

D:  Any words of wisdom to the derby folk out there?

AG:  Hard work pays off, but no one is going to do the work for you.  

My skating style and body have evolved a lot since I started skating.  Between my life before derby and since derby I have lost 100 lbs.  But it hasn’t been an overnight process and it hasn’t been smooth sailing.  Whenever I get down on myself I take a step back and realize how far I’ve come, how strong I am and re-evaluate my goals and recommit to them.

I’ve seen so many of my leaguemates make HUGE improvements by putting in a lot of time on skates, a lot of hours watching derby…  It seems like a lot of new skaters forget that it takes time to make your body understand how to play AND wrap your head around the game of derby.  Granted, skaters coming in today tend to have a step up from where we were when I started.  But I feel like some skaters assume that after 6 months, or 1 year of skating that they’ll get it and be an amazing skater.  Bam, done.  

 But it depends how much time and energy and heart you are going to put into it.  You don’t get better overnight, it takes practice… lots and lots of practice.  Make goals - Big long term dream goals, and smaller benchmark achievable goals.  It’ll help you recognize how far you’ve come.

Oh, and go for an outdoor skate sometime.  You’ll love it.