Skater Spotlight: Shank Solo

LADD: What is your team name and who are the captains and coaches?

SS: In keeping with the Sith vs. Jedi theme, we are the "Death Starlets.” Jägerbomb and Kitcat Go Boom are our coaches. The Slayer and Patty Juke AKA The RawKing Dead are our amazing and dedicated captains. 

LADD: What is the story behind your derby name and number?

SS: So this really plays me out to be a huge nerd but I largely credit my Star Wars geek of a husband for my derby name. Shank Solo is essentially Han Solo’s grittier and more Sith-esque doppelgänger. My derby number, 1300, is an abridged version of YT-1300, the model number of the Millennium Falcon. (Waiving my nerd flag) 

LADD: How long have you been with the league and did you have any skating experience prior to coming to LADD?

SS: I’ve been in Fresh Meat since February of 2015, but I started in the Derby Por Vida program in November 2014. I honestly had not worn a pair of skates in over 15 years before taking my first DPV class and was initially very impressed by my body’s muscle memory. While I was able to skate on a flat surface with ease, there were plenty of skills that I lacked when first joining DPV. The DPV trainers are amazing at developing the basic skills of novice skaters before moving into Fresh Meat. 

LADD: What made you decide to join Fresh Meat?  How did you hear about us?

SS: A friend (Madam Blood’ll Fly) asked me to join in on the DPV classes she was taking. I had a very limited understanding of roller derby at the time and it took me a while to figure out what the heck was really happening during jams. Because of my initial ignorance, I committed myself to learning the game and attended the program from November through early February, when Fresh Meat tryouts were scheduled. While I was hesitant to tryout due to my lifelong fear of failure, I figured I’d give it a shot and made it. 

LADD: Are you a part of any committees within the league?

SS: I am part of the Door Committee, which functions under Events. We’re a small committee of three and handle all sales and check-ins at the door during every bout. While it tends to be a little hectic at the start of each bout, it’s a great way to meet and welcome all of our derby supporters.

LADD: Who are the seasoned meat on your team?

SS: We are very lucky to have some bad-ass Sub-poolers and seasoned meat on our team. Our amazing ladies from Sub-pool are: Breaker Thighs, Carmen Monoxide, Draft Punk, and Brooklyn Deck-her. Their advice has been invaluable during our training. My appreciation for their experience is beyond words. I am also incredibly grateful to our seasoned meat who have at least one other BDB under their belts: MJ Thrasher, Patty Juke AKA The RawKing Dead, Black Acid Vaseline, The Slayer and Mary Pop-ems. 

LADD: What is it like working with Jägerbomb and Kitcat?

SS: Jäger and Kitcat are amazing and balance each other out so well. Jäger is a firecracker and does anything and everything to light a fire under our butts. Plus, she’s all about positive reinforcement and grants us stickers for our good work. Kitcat is very calm and methodical in her approach to coaching. She breaks down skills and drills to ensure that we are able to execute them during game play. Both coaches are kick-ass and receptive to our questions and needs. 

LADD: How big of a Star Wars fan are you?  What did you think of The Force Awakens?  (No spoilers)

SS: My husband is a huge Star Wars nerd and got me into the whole franchise. We secretly own more Star Wars paraphernalia than any normal person should ever possess. Regarding The Force Awakens, it was entertaining and honored the original films (pre-JarJar disaster). I am also excited to see a strong female lead, but wished the movie was not so influenced by Disney’s “wholesome" undertone. (I hope I didn’t make some enemies with that last comment)

LADD: Share with us a secret that few people know about you.

SS: Here’s a weird one for y’all. During my brief run as an only child, I had 10 imaginary siblings. I creeped out one of my cousins when I disclosed this information to her. 

LADD: What would you tell someone reading this now who is thinking about trying out for Fresh Meat?

SS: If your heart is in it, DO IT! 

LADD: What particular skating skills have been the most challenging to perfect?

SS: I’m pushing myself towards improving as a jammer. There is so much going on during a jam and it’s very easy to have tunnel vision. It’s an intimidating position for me, but I intend to be a ruthless yet graceful jammer one day.

LADD: What is your favorite part about being a part of this league?

SS: Joining this league has been one of the most transformative things that I have ever done for myself. Before LADD, I never participated in team sports or considered myself to be an athlete, or even athletic for that matter. This league has afforded me a space to transform the relationship that I have with myself and others. Without the Derby Dolls, I would have never identified myself as an athlete or as physically strong. I am infinitely thankful to all of the LADD community that has worked tirelessly to make the league what it is today so that it can continue to instill growth and positivity in women. 

LADD: Do you have a derby mentor?  What did they help you with?

SS: Jäger has been incredibly supportive since I returned to Fresh Meat from an injury. She very patiently worked with me to transition back into skating and gave me honest and invaluable advice. The woman is a saint because I was terrified when I put my gear on for the first time. I’m super thankful to have her as a coach for the Baby Doll Brawl.  

LADD: You mentioned owning a lot of Star Wars paraphernalia... what particular piece are you most proud of owning?

SS: We own some pretty cool Star Wars artwork that we’re pretty proud of. 

LADD: For someone who has never seen a Star Wars movie and plans to see The Force Awakens, what order would you recommend they see the movies in (prequels are optional)?

SS: Definitely start with A New Hope and work your way through Return of the Jedi. It’ll give you all the context you need for The Force Awakens. There’s no need to subject yourself through countless hours of superfluous CGI with the prequels. That’s why we have Wikipedia plot synopses. 

Skater Spotlight: May Q Holla

LADD: What is the story behind your derby name and number?

MQH: After a long, hard search for a derby name -- so many of my first ideas were already taken, like Rory Killmore or Canna Whoopass-- I came up with my name when the song "Wild Thing" was inexplicably stuck in my head while I was in the shower.  I heard it in my head as-- "I need fifty dollars to May Q. Holla."  And there it was. Actually, at first my number was 140dB, the threshold of pain, but Armed Kandy said, "You're so brave to put your weight on your back," and then I was like NUMBER CHANGE IMMEDIATE.

LADD: How long have you been with the league and did you have any skating experience prior to coming to LADD?

MQH: I started May of 2008. Before that, my roller skating experience was back when I was of a single digit age, training at such prestigious institutions as occasional roller rink birthday parties and my back patio while listening to Michael Jackson's Thriller. 

LADD: Can you do the full “Thriller” dance?

MQH: I can no longer do the full “Thriller” dance, but I recognize it in less than two moves. 

LADD: How many Baby Doll Brawls have you been a part of?

MQH: This will be my seventh. Good lord. I've been through the Fresh Meat program so many times, I'm a pro-freshional. I've also been drafted to Sub-pool, out on injury, retired, wrote a piece for Oprah (http://www.oprah.com/oprahsbookclub/How-Roller-Derby-Can-Save-Your-Life-Pamela-Ribon_1) and then went ahead and wrote a whole novel about it (http://pamie.com/books/going-in-circles/). I've got a whole lot of words for you, roller derby.

LADD: Tell us more about the book for Oprah.  How did that happen and how was it received?

MQH: I wrote an essay for Oprah.com, not a book. The novel came first and I wrote this essay during the book's promotion. The novel was selected for Wal-Mart's book club, though. (Oprah was out of the book club game at that time.) The reception was huge. I still get emails from both the essay and the book. There's at least one new derby girl born every day, after all. 

LADD: What characteristics makes the Jedi Knight Terrors unique compared to other Baby Doll Brawl teams you have been a part of?

MQH: This is the nicest team I've ever been a part of. I say this not as a slight to my past teams, where I have made life-long friends (Super shout-out to my Meteorfights!). But you know, usually there's someone on your team that tests everybody else's something or other. Or they just aren't putting in all the effort, whatever. Teams are complicated and when everybody's just starting to work together, tensions can rise. From the bottom of my heart, this is a wonderful collection of oddballs and weirdos. I love them all so much. This is our secret weapon -- we're all a little crazy in the very best way. I can't tell if we're the underdogs. I hope so, because in my experience, the underdogs are the ones who take it all the way in these bouts. They're also the ones having the most fun. A whole lot of this attitude comes from our captain and co-captain Slam Cooke and Sheezus. They make us better skaters and better people. 

LADD: What is it like working with Lil Red Fight ‘Em Good and Star D’Ruckus as your coaches?

MQH: I want them to take us on a road trip or like, a weekend at Joshua Tree. They're that kind of fun. They have clearly spent an extraordinary amount of time crafting their practices, thinking of us individually and as a team. They're supportive, engaged and spirited. I am very much looking forward to seeing their game day faces.

LADD: How big of a Star Wars fan are you?  What did you think of The Force Awakens?  (No spoilers)

MQH: I have seen less than 13% of all Star Wars films. 

 

LADD: Is Jar Jar Binks good or bad for the Star Wars universe?

MQH: That's the one who sounds like Dobby the House Elf?

LADD: Share with us a secret that few people know about you.

MQH: I usually don't tell people that thing about Star Wars. 

LADD: What would you tell someone reading this now who is thinking about trying out for Fresh Meat?

MQH: Stop thinking start skating.

LADD: If present-day Holla could travel back in time to give advice to yourself six years ago, what would it be?

MQH: "I know this is hard to believe, but it's all going to turn out so much better than you ever could have expected."