Photo by Joshua DeSario
The Red Wire
The Bradentucky Bombers Official News Magazine -April 2014 Issue-
Photo by Ken LeBleu
Open Recruit Get Social With Us!
In This Issue
Keeping Up with the Bombers: Events Skater of the Month: Deathdemona #3 Roller Derby Supporters Next Home Bout: April 13, 2014 We Want You! Open Recruit
Keeping up with the Bombers Sunday 4/13 - Bombers v. Palm Coast 6 p.m. Tailgating with free beer providing by Little Giant Brewery | 6:30 Doors Open | 7 p.m. Game Starts Astro Skate of Bradenton 3611 3rd St. W. Bradenton. Florida 34205 After party location: Motorworks Brewery 1014 9th Street West, Bradenton, Florida 34205 -Overflow parking is across the streetSaturday 4/26 - Desoto Parade 6:30 p.m. Parade starts Downtown Bradenton Friday, 5/2 - First Fridays @ Slicks Garage 923 5th Street West Palmetto, Florida 34221 All proceeds will be donated to the Bradentucky Bombers Relay for Life Team
Mark Your s! Calendar
Friday 5/16 - Prebout Party 9 p.m. Motorworks Brewing 1014 9th Street West, Bradenton, Florida Sunday, 5/18 - Bombers v. Alachua County Rollers 6 p.m. Tailgating with free beer providing by Little Giant Brewery | 6:30 Doors Open | 7 p.m. Game Starts Astro Skate of Bradenton. After party location: Motorworks Brewery 1014 9th Street West, Bradenton, Florida 34205 -Overflow parking is across the streetAfter party location: Motorworks Brewery 1014 9th Street West, Bradenton, Florida 34205
Skater Profile:
Photo by Joshua DeSario
Deathdemona #3 Red Wire: Let’s start out by having you tell us a little bit about your life before roller derby. What was your life like then? What was your professional/educational background? And were you already engaged in playing other sports?
RW: Upon entering the derby world, were there any preconceived notions or misconceptions that you had that were shattered? What was the transition like for you?
Deathdemona: I attend Ringling College of Art & Design in Sarasota. I was in my sophomore year when joined roller derby. I was very committed to my art and never really considered searching for an activity outside of school until a former skater, AK 47, approached me. I had played sports in the past, but nothing had really stuck. I played volleyball and soccer growing up, but I stopped playing sport entirely in high school to focus on my art.
I remember when I first started, people just kept giving me Whip It DVDs. I think I have three of them now. But, I had never really heard about roller derby before starting to skate. It was all a new experience and I loved soaking up all of the knowledge I could get about it. I’d like to think that I picked up skating pretty fast. The very first day my face was on the floor three-quarters of the time. Each practice I seemed to get more solid. My first season was pretty rough, but I still feel like I am improving. I’ve got quite a bit to learn still.
RW: And how’d the idea of playing roller derby come about for you? What was the sport’s appeal to you? And dare we ask where that name came from? D: A friend of mine at school, AK 47, played for the Bradentucky Bombers and convinced me to come out a take a look at the sport. She was sure I would love it, and, boy, was she right! I loved everything about it immediately. After strapping on some skates I really started to understand how complex the sport was. The longer I’m with the team the more I fall in love with roller derby. All of the people involved with the sport are the kindest, most considerate people I have ever meet. The camaraderie on the team really pushes you to skate your best. My skate name is a play off the character Desdemona from the Shakespearean play Othello.
RW: In the early days, what were some of your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them? In the early days, everything seemed so chaotic. After I graduated from the Bomber Bettie program and started skating on the track with everyone it was very hard to keep up. It felt like everything was coming at me at 300 mph. It seemed impossible to focus on
everything that was going on. Especially during scrimmaging, I was confused by what I was doing compared to what I was supposed to be doing. But, the longer I skated, the easier it became to pick out specific things and remember team strategies and the like.
Photo by Ken LeBleu
RW: So, now as you’ve reached your second season, what keeps you motivated and focused for more? Does it take more to get excited about playing now than those early days? This is my second season playing, and the women I skate with keep me constantly motivated. I’m more excited about roller derby than ever before. It has become such an important part of my life. I now have two passions, derby and art.
RW: As a skater, what’s been your most memorable moment on the floor?
RW: Where do you feel that you contribute the most to the team? Why? And what goals have you set for yourself for this year to improve even Jamming more has been a huge experience for me. Just recently I was more? jamming at a scrimmage. I had never I definitely contribute the most to the successfully juked around someone team in the way of promotional art. I before and controlled their movements with my own. It was so exhilacreate all of the posters for the team. rating to make a hole for myself and On the track, I’ve tried to start jamexplode through the pack. As a ming more. Anytime the panties blocker, I’m always focused on closing come out, I reach for the star. I used gaps between my fellow skaters and I, to abhor jamming, but the more I do not opening them up. It’s a whole new it, the less I hate it. I think it will improve my skating a lot if I can get a strategy and way of skating. It’s pretty amazing. handle on being a jammer. RW: And when you’re not rolling on the track, living in the derby bubble, what is Deathdemona to be found doing? What keeps you going on those rare occasions when there’s nothing “derby” happening? I’m a student, so schoolwork dominates my life whenever I am not on the track. RW: One thing we love to ask is if you have any advice or encouragement to give to those who are reading this now, thinking about joining up and trying derby on for size. Any words for those folks? You should always give it a try! If you are even remotely thinking about it, come out to a practice and see what it’s all about. You don’t even need to know anything about skating. I barely
knew how to stand up in quad skates before trying roller derby. I’ve grown so much as a skater in a year and a half. Roller derby is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. RW: And last but not least, anything you’d like to say to the fans? All of the fans make skating worth it! Watching fans getting pumped makes us skate that much harder. All of the support and love for the sport really makes me happy. Photo by Joshua DeSario
Thank You to Our Wonderful Sponsors
The Bradentucky Bombers Want You! Photo by Joshua DeSario
Open Recruit for 1 Skaters 1 Referees 1 Non-Skating Officials 1 Volunteers
Dates Sat. 6/7 9:15 a.m. Mon. 6/9 7:30 p.m. 3611 3rd St. W. Bradenton, FL 34205
Interested? E-mail recruits@bradentuckybombers.org