Remember as a child spending weekends at Skateworld, Whitmore and Windsor Parks with the coolest skates, no protective gear and no fear. Well little did we know this was the beginning of many derby journeys. This month our feature skater from the glorious 80s is Damage Patch Kid. She is an inspiring coach to our next generation of skaters and she is gaining many fans, young and old, that are absorbed when watching her on the track. We love everything 80s at Bay City Rollers (BCR) and that includes your vintage skates which are gathering dust in the corner. So dust them off, and come talk to us about how you can still be that big kid at heart just like Damage.
What is your derby name?
My name is Damage Patch Kid. Everyone who knows me knows what a big kid I am so it’s quite fitting. Also, being a child from the 80’s meant that Cabbage Patch Kid dolls were a big part of my childhood.
What is your number? Why did you choose it?
I’m number 22. It's been a favourite of mine for many years now. It follows me around and I see it where ever I go.
Quote & Why?
“All I want for Christmas is your two front teeth”. It ties in with the kid theme of my derby name.
My name is Damage Patch Kid. Everyone who knows me knows what a big kid I am so it’s quite fitting. Also, being a child from the 80’s meant that Cabbage Patch Kid dolls were a big part of my childhood.
What is your number? Why did you choose it?
I’m number 22. It's been a favourite of mine for many years now. It follows me around and I see it where ever I go.
Quote & Why?
“All I want for Christmas is your two front teeth”. It ties in with the kid theme of my derby name.
Describe what Roller Derby means to you?
It means fun, fitness, laughter and friendship. Starting Roller Derby has been really empowering for me. It's been 'Me' time and was the first thing I did for myself after I had my 2 kids.
How long have you been involved with Roller Derby?
In August it’ll be three years since I started the Roadies course. That time has absolutely flown by! You know what they say…. Time flies when you’re having fun.
Describe your first Bout?
The first time I played was in an inter-league scrimmage BCR held with players from other leagues. All the teams got mixed up and I played in a team against Princess Slayer, one of New Zealand’s best. I took a lot of big hits, attempted a few and had an absolute ball. I tried my hardest and it gave me confidence moving forward that if I could play against Princess Slayer and not get completely smashed then I might actually be ok. The first time playing with The BCR was very exciting and it was a proud moment putting on the uniform for the first time.
It means fun, fitness, laughter and friendship. Starting Roller Derby has been really empowering for me. It's been 'Me' time and was the first thing I did for myself after I had my 2 kids.
How long have you been involved with Roller Derby?
In August it’ll be three years since I started the Roadies course. That time has absolutely flown by! You know what they say…. Time flies when you’re having fun.
Describe your first Bout?
The first time I played was in an inter-league scrimmage BCR held with players from other leagues. All the teams got mixed up and I played in a team against Princess Slayer, one of New Zealand’s best. I took a lot of big hits, attempted a few and had an absolute ball. I tried my hardest and it gave me confidence moving forward that if I could play against Princess Slayer and not get completely smashed then I might actually be ok. The first time playing with The BCR was very exciting and it was a proud moment putting on the uniform for the first time.
Which team do you play for Twisted Sister/Iron Maidens?
I am an Iron Sister which means I’m an A/B player, getting to play in both teams. I’m really lucky to have the extra game time. I get to play with the Iron Maidens, learn from them and then play with the Twisties where I can use what I’ve learnt and take on more of a leadership role. I get to jam more with the Twisties too, which I love. It’s a good balance.
What is your skate gear of choice?
My skates are Riedell Wickeds. They lace to the toes which is great because I’ve got really wide feet. My wheels are Atom Jukes (93s & 95s) and my pads are Killer 187’s. I’d love to upgrade my skates some time when money allows. Other than my wheels, I’m still using all the same gear I bought when I was doing fresh meat.
I am an Iron Sister which means I’m an A/B player, getting to play in both teams. I’m really lucky to have the extra game time. I get to play with the Iron Maidens, learn from them and then play with the Twisties where I can use what I’ve learnt and take on more of a leadership role. I get to jam more with the Twisties too, which I love. It’s a good balance.
What is your skate gear of choice?
My skates are Riedell Wickeds. They lace to the toes which is great because I’ve got really wide feet. My wheels are Atom Jukes (93s & 95s) and my pads are Killer 187’s. I’d love to upgrade my skates some time when money allows. Other than my wheels, I’m still using all the same gear I bought when I was doing fresh meat.
Do you have a pre-bout ritual?
I tend to get ready for a game the night before, that way when I wake up I know I'm good to go and can try to have a chilled out morning.
I check everything's alright with my skates and get my uniform, snacks and drinks ready. I do have a major sweet tooth so the thing that has become a bit of a ritual/habit on game day is eating lollies. In fact, we all love The Natural Confectionary Company Snakes so they are in our kit most games (Cough cough.... Sponsor ????). We do have our team ritual of boosting each other up by punching each other in the arms right before we skate out and of course we do our, "Gimme a B C R" chant before and after the game.
What has been your best derby moment?
There have been lots of great derby moments. I’ve been given MVP 3 times and was voted Miss Reckon (Miss Up and Comer) by the league going in to the 2015 season which meant a lot to me. Being involved with the Guns n Roses Junior Derby has been really rewarding. Watching the kids skate out as our half time entertainment a few months back was a very proud moment for me, as a coach and as a Mother (my 8 year old daughter, Red Rascal is in GnRs).
I tend to get ready for a game the night before, that way when I wake up I know I'm good to go and can try to have a chilled out morning.
I check everything's alright with my skates and get my uniform, snacks and drinks ready. I do have a major sweet tooth so the thing that has become a bit of a ritual/habit on game day is eating lollies. In fact, we all love The Natural Confectionary Company Snakes so they are in our kit most games (Cough cough.... Sponsor ????). We do have our team ritual of boosting each other up by punching each other in the arms right before we skate out and of course we do our, "Gimme a B C R" chant before and after the game.
What has been your best derby moment?
There have been lots of great derby moments. I’ve been given MVP 3 times and was voted Miss Reckon (Miss Up and Comer) by the league going in to the 2015 season which meant a lot to me. Being involved with the Guns n Roses Junior Derby has been really rewarding. Watching the kids skate out as our half time entertainment a few months back was a very proud moment for me, as a coach and as a Mother (my 8 year old daughter, Red Rascal is in GnRs).
How did you get involved with roller derby?
My first introduction to roller derby (other than watching the movie ‘Whip it’) was through the casual skate nights that BCR used to host when we were lucky to have the warehouse. I skated a lot as a child and my love of skating was re-ignited the first time I went along. I met Evenger and Manek that first night and saw how amazing they were on their skates and was lucky to get some handy tips from them. I had so much fun I signed up for the fresh meat course the next day! A few weeks after I signed up, I went along to watch The Bay City Rollers play a 50's themed game at Pettigrew Green Arena and sat there thinking, what have I got myself into? But at the same time was really excited about what was to come.
Can you talk a bit about your Freshmeat (first year) year and how you learned to play roller derby?
I loved doing the fresh meat course! We had a great group of skaters and I couldn’t wait to get to training each week. We trained up at the stinking hot warehouse, went along to scrimmages at Rockers trainings and NSO’d at games whenever we could. It was very exciting moving up to Rockers after the Roadies course and to be learning all the different parts of roller derby…. the strategies, skills and team work as well as getting to know all the skaters I’d spent a while admiring. It was a year full of learning that’s for sure. I was well and truly bitten by the derby bug.
My first introduction to roller derby (other than watching the movie ‘Whip it’) was through the casual skate nights that BCR used to host when we were lucky to have the warehouse. I skated a lot as a child and my love of skating was re-ignited the first time I went along. I met Evenger and Manek that first night and saw how amazing they were on their skates and was lucky to get some handy tips from them. I had so much fun I signed up for the fresh meat course the next day! A few weeks after I signed up, I went along to watch The Bay City Rollers play a 50's themed game at Pettigrew Green Arena and sat there thinking, what have I got myself into? But at the same time was really excited about what was to come.
Can you talk a bit about your Freshmeat (first year) year and how you learned to play roller derby?
I loved doing the fresh meat course! We had a great group of skaters and I couldn’t wait to get to training each week. We trained up at the stinking hot warehouse, went along to scrimmages at Rockers trainings and NSO’d at games whenever we could. It was very exciting moving up to Rockers after the Roadies course and to be learning all the different parts of roller derby…. the strategies, skills and team work as well as getting to know all the skaters I’d spent a while admiring. It was a year full of learning that’s for sure. I was well and truly bitten by the derby bug.
What advice do you have for girls who want to join roller derby?
We all have different reasons for joining derby, what ever that reason, JUST DO IT! Whether you want to skate, ref, nso or be involved in another way, there really is a place for everyone at BCR.
Who are your derby heroes?
It's going to sound really cheesy but my biggest heroes are those close to home who I skate with every week. Everyone has their own skating style and their own way of doing things so I am constantly learning and doing different things depending on who I'm skating with. Eve in particular has been a big hero of mine ever since that first night at casual skating as she is such a wealth of knowledge when it comes to all things derby. Her skating skills are really impressive. She's definitely one of those players that you want to skate with rather than against because you really don't want to be on the receiving end of one of her hits! Billy and Bambi are right up there too with their amazingness, along with Dee, Skate, Angel and Kitty. I could keep going… would it be weird if I listed everyone in my team?
We all have different reasons for joining derby, what ever that reason, JUST DO IT! Whether you want to skate, ref, nso or be involved in another way, there really is a place for everyone at BCR.
Who are your derby heroes?
It's going to sound really cheesy but my biggest heroes are those close to home who I skate with every week. Everyone has their own skating style and their own way of doing things so I am constantly learning and doing different things depending on who I'm skating with. Eve in particular has been a big hero of mine ever since that first night at casual skating as she is such a wealth of knowledge when it comes to all things derby. Her skating skills are really impressive. She's definitely one of those players that you want to skate with rather than against because you really don't want to be on the receiving end of one of her hits! Billy and Bambi are right up there too with their amazingness, along with Dee, Skate, Angel and Kitty. I could keep going… would it be weird if I listed everyone in my team?
What is your pre-derby sports/skating background?
When I was little my parents played rugby at Whitmore Park and my Uncle lived across the road so I spent many hours a week skating at the rink there and I was always off skating around the block with my friends and cousins. I have a story book from my childhood that's full of pictures and stories about me roller skating. I love it. I must’ve been hard back then though because I don’t ever remember any of us wearing helmets or pads. I was pretty sporty as a child but I haven’t played a team sport since high school.
Do you have any upcoming bouts that you’re really excited for and why?
I love playing away games with BCR. Travelling is always really fun and I have never laughed so much as on our road trips. We’ve got a game in the South Island coming up that I’m really looking forward to as well as all the Top 10 games.
When I was little my parents played rugby at Whitmore Park and my Uncle lived across the road so I spent many hours a week skating at the rink there and I was always off skating around the block with my friends and cousins. I have a story book from my childhood that's full of pictures and stories about me roller skating. I love it. I must’ve been hard back then though because I don’t ever remember any of us wearing helmets or pads. I was pretty sporty as a child but I haven’t played a team sport since high school.
Do you have any upcoming bouts that you’re really excited for and why?
I love playing away games with BCR. Travelling is always really fun and I have never laughed so much as on our road trips. We’ve got a game in the South Island coming up that I’m really looking forward to as well as all the Top 10 games.
How has your involvement in roller derby affected the way you live the rest of your life?
Roller Derby been a really positive thing for my girls and I. It's introduced and encouraged skating, sports and exercise to my children as through their involvement. They want to skate with me as much as possible so it’s helping us all to get out and be physical and healthy. I do coaching for the juniors in Guns and Roses which my 8 year old daughter does and Miss 5 is counting down the days till she's old enough to join. Derby has taken over my family.
How do you find a balance between your derby life and your “real” life?
Hmmm. That’s a tricky one. Balance between derby and real life comes and goes depending on what’s happening. I think all you can do is go with the flow and do your best. There are times when you can put your heart and soul into everything derby but then there are times when you can’t even make it to training because your real life is taking over. It ebbs and flows, you’ve just got to roll with it.
Roller Derby been a really positive thing for my girls and I. It's introduced and encouraged skating, sports and exercise to my children as through their involvement. They want to skate with me as much as possible so it’s helping us all to get out and be physical and healthy. I do coaching for the juniors in Guns and Roses which my 8 year old daughter does and Miss 5 is counting down the days till she's old enough to join. Derby has taken over my family.
How do you find a balance between your derby life and your “real” life?
Hmmm. That’s a tricky one. Balance between derby and real life comes and goes depending on what’s happening. I think all you can do is go with the flow and do your best. There are times when you can put your heart and soul into everything derby but then there are times when you can’t even make it to training because your real life is taking over. It ebbs and flows, you’ve just got to roll with it.
Is there anyone that you would like to send a special thank you to?
Thank you to my amazing coaches, team mates, refs and Gun’s n Roses crew. They teach me, put up with me when I get confused, explain things to me and deal with my back blocks, shoulder/bum hits and never ending penalties. BCR is a big, hilarious, beautiful, loving family that I love being a part of. I have to say a big thank you to Daniel who comes to my games, encourages me and looks after my kids so I can go to training. Plus he is a great support when I get down on myself and in a bad derby funk. An extra special thank you to my two little rascals Freya and Amina who have spent many hours entertaining themselves at my trainings and share me when I go away for our weekend games, plus all the love, cheers and encouragement when I'm playing.
Thank you to my amazing coaches, team mates, refs and Gun’s n Roses crew. They teach me, put up with me when I get confused, explain things to me and deal with my back blocks, shoulder/bum hits and never ending penalties. BCR is a big, hilarious, beautiful, loving family that I love being a part of. I have to say a big thank you to Daniel who comes to my games, encourages me and looks after my kids so I can go to training. Plus he is a great support when I get down on myself and in a bad derby funk. An extra special thank you to my two little rascals Freya and Amina who have spent many hours entertaining themselves at my trainings and share me when I go away for our weekend games, plus all the love, cheers and encouragement when I'm playing.
