Hudson Valley Horrors Roller Derby

Junior Skater of the Month Bomb Voyage

Pinky Swears — Sat, 04 May 2013 03:36:22 +0000

What made you decide to join roller derby?

A friend of mine was a part of the junior league and it always sounded really intriguing to me. I watched Whip It and I was hooked. I came to practice with her and I’ve been here ever since.

How did you feel at your first scrimmage?

I was really nervous. We had never been able to scrimmage among ourselves at practice because we did not have enough players. Once we got on the track, it was smooth sailing. It’s all about thinking on your feet.

What is your favorite position to play?

My favorite position to play is pivot.

How do people react when they hear you play roller derby?

Their facial reactions are usually the most interesting. They are generally taken aback, and I pride myself in that. Its a good feeling to have people excited to hear about what you do for fun.

Do you play any other sports?

No. I take dance classes and running is a hobby of mine.

What is your goal for this season?

This season I really want to work on mastering my turn around toe stops at high speeds.

How do you explain derby to someone who has never seen a bout?

I explain that there are five people from each team on the track. There is a captain of the track called a pivot and the person who scores points is called the jammer. Both wear panties on their head and panties are a helmet covering. The jammer has a star and the pivot has a stripe. Your team scores points when the jammer passes the hips of the players on the opposing team legally. And no, there is NO PUNCHING and generally no bleeding.

How did you feel when you were chosen to be captain of the first scrimmage?

It was an exhilarating feeling. I was honored to be trustworthy enough to represent teammates on and off of the track.

Eat Pancakes, Support Local Roller Derby Fundraiser

Pinky Swears — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 01:11:38 +0000

Bring the family, bring your friends to the First Presbyterian Church in Marlboro, NY for a delicious pancake breakfast served up on skates by your favorite local Roller Derby skaters.

Eat Pancakes, Support Roller Derby Fundraiser Details

Date: April 28th, 2013
Time: 11am – 2:30pm
Where: First Presbyterian Church, 98 West Street, Marlboro, NY 12542
Cost:$9 Adults $4.50 Kids Under 7

Roller Derby Skater of the Month Tera Joules

Pinky Swears — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 09:07:51 +0000

To fans it’s not always clear why we choose some of our names. What does your name, Tera Joules, mean and why did you choose it?

I knew right off the bat that I wanted a science name. I was really leaning towards the name “entropy” which means disorder and chaos in the universe, but it was taken. Then I thought killa Joules would’ve been funny and fantastic, but when I found out THAT was taken I wanted a name bigger and better (literally) so I went with Tera as a prefix, which means a TRILLION!!! and Joules, which is a unit of energy. I was 100% decided on that once I realized lightning was measured in Tera Joules

Your number, 7e12, isn’t just a random number. What does it mean?

Before we became a WFTDA league my number was 7×10^12, 7 being my favorite number and 10^12 being a trillion in scientific notation. Once I had to cut it to 4 characters I just changed it to how you would type it in a calculator. Nerd status!

As head of the Jr League you have a lot of girls who aspire to be just like you. How do the Frightmares inspire you?

They inspire me in so many ways! They are young and have so much potential ahead of them. I push to skate harder, play smart, and be tough because I expect no less from them. They inspire me to be the best player I can be and an excellent off track role model. I care about them in all that they do, I’ve even tutored one girl in chemistry! I know that there are some pretty crappy role models out there so I aspire to be the best for them. Every decision I make I think about them. I feel like a mother hen sometimes!

What made you want to play a full contact sport instead of a non-contact sport?

I was actually terrified to play a full contact sport that involved wheels being strapped to my feet. I knew I was aggressive and competitive so I worked my butt off to get my skill to that level. Non-contact sports don’t give you THAT feeling. Its empowering and makes me feel stronger than I ever had both mentally and physically.

Besides being such an awesome skater, do you have any hidden talents?

Well if I told you they wouldn’t be hidden, would they? I drive a standard (because I like control!) and most people don’t know that.

When you get really tired in a game, what helps you to keep pushing and stay motivated to play hard?

I just remember that people are depending on me. I can do anything for two minutes. If I can’t, there’s 13 other people on that bench I’m letting down. That’s unacceptable to me. I push through for my team, because they do the same for me.

What do you think is most important for a newer skater to learn?

Edges!!! I cannot emphasize it enough!! Edges are everything; they are balance, agility, control, and the key to staying on your feet. Ask any Frightmare or fresh meat- they would be millionaires if they got a $1 for every time I preached about edges when coaching.

What has been your greatest accomplishment in derby?

Winning the first WFTDA sanctioned game EVER vs Harrisburg at ECDX last year. At the end of the game we all cried and hugged in a circle for about 5 minutes. It was the epitome of everything we had worked for and to see all that hard work pay off was PRICELESS. I will never forget that moment