WHAT?! some of you may be saying. You just got cleared to skate derby again and now you're gonna QUIT when you're on the verge of gaining momentum?!
That's right. I am.
It's not so much the physical strain that's forcing this decision to come to light, it's the mental exhaustion from derby, mixed in with a strenuous day job(yes, sitting and having to think about camera staging, layout, character acting on a tight deadline is surprisingly stressful), along with the orthopedic surgeon's pronouncement that I'm officially TOO OLD for derby that finally did it.
I've had quite a few conversations about whether I'm really too mentally exhausted or too old for derby, and despite the last two weeks of FANTASTIC derby games that I got to watch (my fave league outside of LA, the Arizona Derby Dames vs. LA's home team, the Sirens. Seattle's Tilted Thunder Rail Birds vs. a mixed LADD crew. Then there was WFTDA Eastern Regionals this past weekend where London showed that they're as badass as I personally thought they were), I just can't stand the daily routine of trying to maintain attendance for the regular season schedule. I've always had more fun skating with/against skaters I don't ordinarily get to scrimmage...whether it was skating with the Aftershockers, Ri-Ettes, Rejects, the occasional Fight Crew travel game, doing the challenge scrimmages at Rollercon or Thankscrimmage, or even just visiting Angel City...those are my favorite games, whether they were flat or banked track. Interleague on an all-star B-team level(almost an oxymoron, when you think about it!) within my league doesn't exist, and so my heart has gone out of it. And I'm just burned out from day-to-day league stuff.
Does this mean I'm quitting derby? Hell no. This is worse than Brokeback Mountain...I cain't quit derby. I'm planning on staying on LADD's training team, as well as the Interleague Task Force. I really want to get out and start training more of the up-and-coming banked track leagues that are beginning to pop up. I want to help them get competitive as soon as possible so that they can skate against other leagues and get as stupidly obsessed as the rest of us about playing good derby. I want to go back to Europe with skates in hand and either practice or coach anyone who will have me there. I want to continue to announce and do derby artwork. I want to continue to keep stating my opinion on derby whether people want to hear it or not.
So I have these plans, and I have to get through the rest of this season. Funny thing is, now that I'm making my decision more public, it feels that there's a weight being lifted off my shoulders. I'm not back 100% scrimmage-wise, mainly because my endurance went to SHIT because I couldn't do any running, but the scrimmaging I am doing is fun and I feel effective. I still dread having to drive to downtown LA for practice because it's such a shit commute, but the knowledge that it's only three more months makes me deal with it better. I'm even wanting to buy another pair of skates: my last derby skates. I've not had much luck with being able to talk to a Knowledgeable Skate Person Who Knows My Skating Style on what that last pair of skates should be (right now it's between the Antiks AR-1 and Riedell 1065), but I need to get that done.
But the egotistical part of me is also squawking...the derby community sometimes marginalizes people if they're not active skaters. Will my status from active to retired-but-still-skating-for-fun skater have an effect on how others in derby see me? Will that depend on how involved I stay in the community? Have I already become that old lady telling all the new skaters to get offa her lawn, and Things Were Different In My Day, or is my experience seen as relevant to modern DIY derby?
So I feel in between worlds as a result of what my life is telling me what I need to do and what my ego is telling me it wants to do. I suppose I'll figure it out as I go along...thank goodness I now have the UFC Personal Trainer program for getting out any aggression build-ups I may get from not scrimmaging every week. And if a smart someone wants to sell me a pair of awesome skates at WFTDA Western Regionals this coming weekend, I'm all for it.
11 comments:
Hey, that's me in that picture!
As a "retired-but-still-skating-for-fun skater," I have to say it was a tough adjustment. Some of my "friends" disappeared. However, I'll be honest. I've had more fun as a coach and Rec-league skater than I did as part of a team. Just my personal observation. I think you're awesome, and I'm glad you will keep coaching! Hopefully, I'll see you this weekend in PDX. I'd love to chat about this. :) <3 ya! Red
ZOMG it's a photo of me and Megatron! NBD.
Red: I would LOVE to meet up with you and get more insight on your post-active skater derby career! I'm usually fairly easy to find, and it's convenient that I have my name on most of my clothes!
You may have some tough times here and there. The former-skater-still-involved ego can be a little fragile sometimes. But it's mostly in your own head. All the other stuff you do and do well to support the continued growth of the sport always has a valuable place. And, besides, Team Heckle will remain undefeated. Keep on yellin'.
Kasey: it seems there should be a bunch of us who should get shirts that say, "DO YOU KNOW WHO WE THINK WE ARE?!" and then yell loudly.
I totally want one of those shirts. Your feeling are right up with the feelings I had when I finally made "the decision". Although my involvement with derby is limited, it is still a part of me and I can never lose that.
Ha! Darlin', you already know me. We'll chat this weekend- providing I don't lose my voice (again) and I'm not too drunk (probably). I'll be somewhere around Team Heckle during the bouts, and probably drinking giant bottles of wine with B-Train after.
You can test-drive my 1065s if you want, though I think I'm a size or so up from you. They're getting a little worn out, but they're still great skates. From what I hear you can't really go wrong with Antiks either.
I wish we had Videoed the Brutalization you put on my trainers and I for 7 hours! Maybe we will come back for more!
Your one in a million TA!!
Enjoy this next chapter, you've clearly earned it!
P.S. Anytime you run outta peeps to train Phoenix will always welcome you!!
Rowdy
If we're lucky enough to get picked in the ECDX lottery two years in a row, well, Team Gingers probably won't be satisfied just wearing a shirt with your face on it again; we're going to need you to skate with us.
So does this mean you'll make it to the next D.A.M.E.S.??
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