By Phoenix (Cherri Boom recently changed her derby name) Nausea and Peanut Butter Ice Cream I hate throwing up. A lot. Last week, after two hours of struggling through my first contact practice, I was battling the urge to hurl, hard. My legs were jiggly, my stomach was churning, I was salty, crusty, and sweaty…. Read More
Confessions of a (Nearly) 50 Year-Old Derby Girl: What’s Your Inner Animal?
By Cherri Boom A few years back, I was taking a public speaking class. We were given an assignment to write a speech themed, “If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?” I had one week to write the speech and I spent six days crabbing about how lame the… Read More
Confessions of a (Nearly) 50 Year-Old Derby Girl: Derby Kisses (or Sometimes I Get Scared)
by Cherri Boom When we talk about roller derby, sometimes it can sound like it’s all rainbows and unicorns. Don’t get me wrong. I can gush about derby all day, and sincerely. I mean every word. There is something about it that just gets me so inspired. But today I’m going to step back from… Read More
Confessions of a (Nearly) 50 Year-Old Derby Girl: Hard Skating? Just Skate Hard
Learning to skate as an adult seems a lot harder than when I first put skates on about a hundred years ago. For one thing, my bones and muscles and joints don’t have that wonderful rubber band quality any more. Also, my skull has a lot farther to go when I transition rapidly from… Read More
Confessions of a (Nearly) 50 Year Old Derby Girl: Fitting In
I had a nice chat with Bull this week. We talked about some of the things that intimidate new skaters. One thing in particular that she touched on had been on my mind for a while so, after hearing Bull’s perspective, I wanted to air it out with you all. I haven’t spent much time… Read More
Confessions of a (Nearly) 50 Year Old Derby Girl: Derby Love
One of the amazing things about derby is the opportunity it gives to women to participate in a team sport as an adult, a woman with responsibilities and obligations. I have tried to think of another sport that has as much to offer women as roller derby does and I honestly cannot. I look at… Read More
Confession of a (Nearly) 50 Year Old Derby Girl: Living Out Of Control
One of the few things you can count on in life is that it will change, absolutely and without question. I like to say that I embrace the idea of change and I frequently seek change. But, I will also admit that I fight for control of change, and that is where my wheels usually… Read More
Confessions of a (Nearly) 50 Year Old Derby Girl: Falling
One of the great side effects of derby is increased confidence. Each time I get on skates I am nervous. I feel inadequate. I feel a little intimidated. Then I start to feel the wheels, and my legs warm up and my heart starts beating and I stop thinking about what I can’t do because… Read More
Confessions of a (Nearly) 50 Year Old Derby Girl: First Day
Have you ever wondered about roller derby? Like, seen a picture or an article and had a little flutter of curiosity and a flash of derby fantasy? If you’re like me, it was more than a flutter, and, like me, you probably daydreamed “Whip It: The Sequel” starring (insert your name here). And then,… Read More
Confessions of a (Nearly) 50 Year Old Derby Girl
Introducing Cherri Boom, who will be writing a regular column for us about her real time journey learning roller derby skills! Several years ago, at my brother’s dining room table in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, somehow the topic of Roller derby comes up. There is a local team, The Jackson Hole Juggernauts, affectionately nicknamed The Juggs…. Read More