November League Member of the Month

L.A. Derby Dolls are excited to announce that Varsity Brawler #908, Guard N. Skate, has been named League Member of the Month for November, 2014. Guard N. has been with the L.A. Derby Dolls for 5 years now, filling both blocker and jammer roles with Varsity Brawlers, and participating in many leadership roles for the various committees within the organization, including producing our fan newsletter in previous years. Guard N. will lend her experience and leadership skills to the L.A. Ri-ettes for the 2015 season as an Assistant Coach. She's excited about her future with the L.A. Derby Dolls, and what's to come next season. Learn more about Guard N. Skate in the interview below:

LADD: How did you find derby? Or did it find you?

GNS: I first learned of derby from that old Lifetime show, Rollergirls. A few years later, when I moved to LA, I goggled 'roller derby' on a whim. Guess what I found... THE LA DERBY DOLLS. I dragged my friends to a bout and I was hooked. I emailed the league the very next day for info on tryouts. For weeks leading up to tryouts, I would put on my shitty roller skates and skate up and down the bike path near my house until the sun went down. It did nothing to prepare me for what was to come, but I was just so excited I had to do something!

LADD: Derby or non derby related, who is your hero and why?

GNS: Uuuuuuuughh... Tina Belcher. She's a strong sensual woman! I envy her slow dancing skills and her erotic friend fiction writings. BUTTS.

LADD: What's was your personal favorite derby moment?

GNS: Back before our bouts were all-ages events, my family flew out from NJ for my first home game with VB against the Tough Cookies. I was already on skates warming up when I was informed we had a serious issue. My sister couldn't find her driver’s license or any proof of age. Just a few years shy of 30, she had the face of a 12 year old! Everyone was finding it hard to believe she was as old as she was. Bong Jovi, the head of events at the time, had to work with the head of security to get her in. They sat her down between my parents in the bleachers and told them not to move! She wasn't allowed to even be near alcohol all night, or there would be serious repercussions for her and potentially the league. Well, my family didn't move an inch all night! They didn't even take so much as a bathroom break. Despite the fact that they were chaperoned by security and glued to their seats, they had a great time and it was beyond amazing to have them there to see my first game. But the very best part of all of this... her ID was in her back pocket the whole time! I will never let her live that down!!!

LADD: What is your pre-bout ritual?

GNS: First and most importantly, I force myself to stay in bed for as long as possible. Then I have to plan either errands or projects for the day of the bout. I don't know how to relax, so I find ways to keep busy and to keep my mind off the bout. Otherwise I'll show up to the track hours early and can't stop, won't stop fidgeting. It's better for everyone if I find a good distraction for bout days.

LADD: A genie gives you 3 wishes, what do you wish for?

GNS: A trust fund, a teleportation device, and for my pet bunny rabbits to love me as much as I love them!

LADD: What is your goal for the 2014 season?

GNS: My goal and mantra for this year has been to "Bring Back the Fun!" Sometimes its easy to lose sight of the fact that roller derby is fun and that's why we all joined. It can be hard to not let it become work. Life is all about the after party!!!

Another interesting fact about Guard N. Skate is that she somehow finds the time to create rad "Girl Fighter" t-shirts, sew boutique inspired dresses, and find and share tutorials for creative projects on her website Gnomework.net.

Come watch Guard N Skate and the Varsity Brawlers take on the Tough Cookies on Saturday, Nov. 8 at the Doll Factory!