This month we talked to the lovely Rainbow Juicepig! Check out what she has to say about playing derby, the incredible community, and her awesome name!

What’s your derby name and number?

My name is Rainbow Juicepig and my number is 757.

How, when, and why did you get started with roller derby?

I was exposed to derby in Victoria BC when I met up with an old friend I hadn’t seen in a long time. She was an NSO (non-skating official) with the local league and there was a bout happening so she invited me to come and watch. I didn’t know a thing about derby but as soon as the game started I was hooked. I couldn’t wait to try and play. They weren’t having an intake for a few more months but I went and watched every game until that time. I loved it right away.

Do you have a story behind your derby name?

My name is unique and I have to thank my friend Kat. Long before I even knew what derby was, I was expecting my first child and my friend Kat would contribute potential baby names. Rainbow Juicepig was on one of those lists and while it didn’t suit my daughter, when I joined derby, I knew it was the perfect name.

What teams do you play on? Do you have a favourite position?

I play on all the teams. I enjoy derby for the game of playing derby and being with my friends. I am not super competitive so I try and play where I am needed. I prefer to play blocker but have been pushing my own personal boundaries and trying my hat at jamming more often.

How long have you skated with OCRD and why did you choose this league?

I have played with Oil City since February of 2012 when I was just a freshie at the Grindhouse. When I moved to Edmonton and was fully recovered from breaking my leg I emailed both of the leagues at the time and Oil City was the first one to email me back. After the first practice, I knew it would be a good fit.

What’s your favorite derby memory?

Trying to pin down a favorite derby memory would be hard. After a while, all of the games kind of blend together, but the best part of every game and the moment that stands out is when you are headed to the bench after a jam and you look at the people that were on your line and you talk about how awesome that jam was. Sometimes that only happens once a game, sometimes it happens every jam, but those are the moments that stay with me.

Any plan or goals for your future derby career?

I would like to keep playing derby until my body gives out. Try my best, give it my all and have fun doing it.

Anything else you would like to say to the derby community, fans or potential new recruits?

To all the fans, family and potential derby players I would say; Make the best of it. Enjoy every moment. Cheer and love and skate.

The derby community is full of fun and love and sweaty people that will love you back no matter your skill level. They love the fans and they really appreciate all of the support that they get that allows them to keep playing this great sport.

And we’re back with another Skater Spotlight. For the month of April, we are spotlighting London Brawling. The hard hitting, brick wall blocker from the G.I. Janes, London once thought that derby wasn’t a real thing.This is no April Fool’s joke.

London and I sat down and talked about her derby experience and what she thought about derby when she first heard of it,

Listen here to hear all her secrets.

The punk rock loving London Brawling began her derby career as a very green skater, but didn’t stay that way for long. She instantly became a skater to watch as she made her way through our fundamentals program. London was quickly drafted to the G.I. Janes upon completing the program  and immediately went to work establishing herself as a pivotal member of that team. This hard work resulted in London receiving the Rookie of The Year award for 2016. Twenty-seventeen looks to be another big year for London in the derby world.

London plays hard both on and off the track. An avid traveller, London has toured some of the most culturally rich places in Europe, and is currently on her second visit to London. London goes to London!!!  And when she’s not travelling and playing derby, London is jamming on her electric guitar.

London Brawling is an absolute badass to have on the track, on your team of course, ( When she’s on the other team, well, she’s not so much of an asset. ) and a stellar league mate. We’re looking forward to seeing more from her in 2017.

The Dirty Deets

Derby Name: London Brawling

Derby #: 1979

Hometown: Edmonton

Height/weight: 5’8″, 245 lbs

Position played: Blocker, occasionally pivot

Team (s) played for: GI Janes, Space Oddities

You can come watch London Brawling, and all your other favourite derby players, during our annual Lotus Invitational on Saturday, April 22, 2017. Doors open at 4pm. Tickets are 10$ at the door.

Its a new year! And with a new year, we have a new skater spotlight. 
And to start 2017 off right, we have the indomitable Al Diablo.

Al and I have had many discussions over the years about derby. This time, I recorded it! You can listen to it here.

Al reminisces about derby and offers some words of wisdom

Al Diablo has been a long time member of OCRD, and an even longer time member of the derby community, having begun his derby experience as a derby girl catcher at a game over 7 years ago. He then moved on to reffing for  E-ville at the urging of a friend, and until his retirement ( may or may not be permanent ) from playing derby in December of 2016, Al was the longest active player of Edmonton’s men’s team, River City Riot, having taken on the role of captain and co-captain respectively.Over the years, Al has been an incredibly dedicated member of the derby community, travelling all over Alberta to both ref and play. There have been summers where nearly every weekend has been filled with derby related events for Al. As a member of OCRD, Al spent time serving on the board as both Athletics Director and Communications Director. This was on top of being captain of the River City Riot, a member of the training crew, head referee, and a player. He has alsotaken on the role of coach for the River City Riot when injuries have prevented him from playing.

As mentioned in the interview, as a player, Al is always wily and sneaky, which leads him to be incredibly effective in both the blocker and jammer roles. Couple that with on track awareness, and a drive to win, Al is a force on the track. Although, frustration can sometimes get the better of Al on the track ( I understand the irony of that coming from me ), his quick wit and ready smile are the norm for him while on the track and off. As a player, Al has had the opportunity to share the track with some of the best skaters in the world, including Puget Sound Outcast Derby ( currently ranked #6 ), Magic Johnson ( Edmonton’s first Men’s national team member ), Team NinjaJapan ( Japan’s men’s national team ), and various members of the Glenmore Resevoir Dogs out of Calgary.

Through all the ups and downs derby has to offer, Al has continued to be a strong leader within the community. Seven years of dedication to a sport is nothing to be taken lightly, and although he has retired ( for now ) as a player, the sport is well served having Al Diablo stick around to put me in the penatly box.

Thank you for your dedication, Al. This league and this sport would not be the same without you.

The Dirty Deets

Name: Al Diablo, Horny Bits
Number: 1m1 ( 11 )
Age: 44
Height/Weight: 5’10 / 217 lbs
Position/Role: PBJ, Head ref, JR, IPR, OPR, NSO *
Team(s) played for/role in league: River City Riot ( men’s ), Alberta Dreadnaughts ( Gentlemen’s ), Space Oddities ( coed ), Drillbits ( coed ), Assault n’ Peppered & Fistful Officials ( officiating crew ), Woodpeckers ( coed )
Quote: ” Yes, that’s a penalty. That’s why I whistled and pointed at you, ”
” Fine, just give me the star if nobody else will, “

* For those who don’t know:
JR = Jam Ref
IPR = Inside Pack Ref
OPR = Outsdie Pack Ref
NSO = Non-skating official ( we always need more of these people… hint hint *

Want to score some points with your loved one this Valentine’s weekend? Unattached and want something fun to do on the weekend of love? 
Enjoy music, silly games, and nostalgic things? 

JOIN US ON FEBRUARY 11 FOR 

No sweetheart required

The November skater spotlight is here and this month we are featuring one of ourrookie skaters, End’hers.

End’hers and I sat down prior to practice one evening and had a chat about her derby experience and balancing her home life with her derby life. You can listen in on our chat below.

End’hers tells us about life/derby balance

End’hers is a tenacious skater, and you can clearly see her tenacity and determination when she plays. Don’t let her small stature deceive you, she’s a tough opponent andd a fierce competitor. Although she has faced some struggles with some of the skills and game play of derby, she has never given up. Her progress has been incredible and we are nothing but excited to see where End’hers will take her derby

play in the very near future. This spring, she was drafted to the OCRD house team Dirty Harriets, and I am very thankful to have her as a teammate. I definitely do not want to go up against her.

Off the track, End’hers is quiet and light spoken, but she’s not afraid to speak her mind. Always one to offer a hand or an opinion, she is a very valuable member of our league.

The Dirty Deets

Derby name: End’hers
Derby #: 19
Height: 5’2
Weight: 150 lbs
Hometown: Halifax, N.S.
Position Played: Blocker
Team: Dirty Harriets

Don’t forget.

November 26 is our annual Sk8mare Invitational. Come on out and watch three exciting derby bouts. Information available here on the Events page.

This month’s skater spotlight is veteran skater Diva De Mortis.

Diva and I sat down and chatted about her over 5 years with Oil City Roller Derby, the experiences that come with being an older skater, and what she’s looking forward to as she continues to play this sport.

You can listen to that conversation here.

Diva De Mortis Tells It Like It Is

Diva has been a consistent force with Oil City for over 5 years now. In that time, she has proven herself invaluable, not only on the track but off. She has lead the league through a transition and rebuilding period as league president over the last three years, and her service in that role has been greatly appreciated. Thank you, Diva!

Diva is also a force to be reckoned with on the track. Her game face can be truly terrifying, and playing against her often hurts. She is solid and determined, whether she is hunting down the opposing jammer, or creating offensive holes for her own jammer, you don’t want to be in her way. Diva is also the coach of our men’s team, River City Riot, and the MRDA men’s team Alberta Dreadnaughts.

As Diva is always working on improving herself, both on the track and off, her future in the league and the sport will be exciting to watch.

The Dirty Deets

Derby Name: Diva De Mortis

Derby #: 1918

Age: 43

Height/weight: 5’7″/170lbs

Hometown: Edmonton

Position played: PBJ (less J these days)*

Team (s) played for:  Previous: Tank’er Girls, Drill Bits, OCDG All Stars

                                Current: OCDG ( OCRD Travel Team ), GI Janes, Space                                                            Oddities, River City Riot, Alberta Dreadnaughts.

    * For those not up with the derby lingo, PBJ refers to a player who plays all positions: Pivot, Blocker, and Jammer. It also refers to a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, my personal favourite, but that isn’t relavant. *

What do you have planned for November 26, 2016? 
Nothing? Well, why don’t you join us for our annual Ska8mare event. Three action packed derby games featuring skaters from all over Alberta and elsewhere, including co-ed, rookie, and womens games. 

This month’s skater spotlight is none other than Stupid Sexy Flanders!!

I had the opportunity to sit down and have a little chat with Stupid Sexy Flanders about his time with OCRD, his thoughts on roller derby, and what he’s looking forward to in the future of this sport.  Take a listen.

Stupid Sexy Flanders bares ” nothing at all…”

Flanders is an incredibly hard working and thoroughly enjoyable skater to have on the track, not to mention that running into him is a kin to running into a freight train. He has propelled himself from an awkward, unsteady skater when he started to the absolute powerhouse he is today. And he continues to work his stupid sexy butt off to get better. We look forward to seeing the heights that this man can attain.

Here are the Dirty Deets about Stupid Sexy Flanders

Derby Name: Stupid Sexy Flanders

Derby Number: 662

Age: 27

Weight: 230 lbs

Hometown: Toronto

Position played: Blocker

Team Played for: River City Riot ( Men’s ), Space Oddities ( Co-ed )

Quote: ” Diddly “

Stay turned for next month’s skater profile. Who will it be? You’ll have to watch this space to find out!

Interested in playing derby, or being involved? Join us September 6 and 8 for our recruitment week.  Contact membership@ocrd.ca for more info.