Brand-Aid!

It is my pleasure and to present my first Siren interview! I've been so excited about this! I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I do!

<3 Sunnie

Name: Brand-Aid  
Number: 26

League: Houston Roller Derby

Home Team: Psych Ward Sirens

Seasons Played: 2

How did you decide on your derby name?

My mom always called me Brand-Aid as a kid (my first name is actually Brandi) because I would always ask for a Band-Aid anytime I so much as bruised myself. I felt like it was still a good name since I am pretty accident prone.

What is your (roller derby) position of choice?

I pretty much play wherever I’m needed but I prefer playing as a blocker in the back of the pack or jamming.

What is your skate gear of choice?

I use Riedell 126 boots with Powerdyne Reactor plates. I love my Atom G-Rods 2.0 wheels!
 

How did you hear about roller derby?

I was going to school in Austin whenever Derby first made it’s comeback and saw a flier in a store window on the Drag.

Were you a fan of the game before you played?

Not really.  I had been to just one game a few years before I started training for derby.

What made you decide to become a roller girl?

I always skated growing up and even played street hockey in high school so I was interested the very first time I saw a flier but didn’t get up the nerve to actually go for it until I was skating at Dairy Ashford Roller Rink’s cheap skate night with some friends where an HRD girl suggested I try out.

What is it like being on TT?  You ladies are always on the go!
It’s the reason I love playing derby! To be able to play against some people who founded the sport of modern roller derby is just amazing.  In the past year and a half since I started with travel team, I have been to several places I might not have traveled to otherwise.

What are some of your best/favorite moments in roller derby? 
My favorite moment was at Regionals last year in Atlanta when we beat Dallas in the 3rd place game of the tournament and won our way into the National tournament in Philadelphia. We all screamed and cried and cheered and created a huge dog pile. Very soon after that was the amazing experience to be a rookie traveling with HaRD Knocks on HRD’s very first appearance at Nationals.

What is the funniest thing that has happened to/ around you in derby?

I know there are probably hundreds of funny things and so I think that’s why I can’t think of anything at the moment!

Who are your roller derby heroes?
All of the ladies who play at a national level and are making the sport more and more legitimate everyday.  I don’t have any specific heroes but I really respect anyone who plays with their heart and with respect for their opponents and for the game.  I value good sportsmanship above all other qualities when competing.

Do you have a motivational quote?
It’s not necessarily a derby motivational quote but I’ve always like this one by Helen Keller: “One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar.”

Do you have any game day rituals?
Not really but I do like to eat a veggie Mission Burrito! :)

What goes through your brain as you lace up your skates for a bout?
I’m mostly just thinking about the way my skates feel on my feet. If I lace them too tightly then my toes go numb!  

Do you have a theme song?
No, but I think I need one. You have any suggestions?

Do you have a signature move?
I like to hit people directly in the thigh with my behind. I am told thatit feels like being punched in the leg - like a dead leg!

What advice would you give to someone just starting out in roller derby?

Jump right into it once you figure out how to skate. Don’t be afraid of scrimmaging with the big girls. That’s the only way you’re going to learn to take a hit and get the game in your head. My first practice scrimmaging was against Travel Team before I was even drafted to a team. Talk about scary but it was worth it because I learned so much!

I know derby takes over your like when you become a roller girl. How do you keep things in balance?

Derby really does take up most of your free time.  I am lucky that my boyfriend is also involved with derby or it would be much harder to find time to spend with him, but everyone needs a break now and then.  You have to make yourself not feel too guilty about missing an event or a practice every once and a while or it is all too easy to get burnt out.  

What was your family's reaction to your desire to play?

When I first mentioned wanting to play derby, my mom was worried that I’d get my teeth knocked out. Now that my family has been to some games, they just think derby is awesome and why wouldn’t they?!
 

How does it feel to have fans?

I love our fans because without them we wouldn’t be able to play this awesome sport at the level we do. I personally don’t feel like I have a huge following because I’m not really a flashy player. I envy some of the girls like Beverly Kills and Sick Nick who really have fun with the game and get the crowd going! I’m kind of shy so I just stick to playing and try not to look around too much! :)

Anyone you'd like to take the opportunity to thank?

I’d love to thank the Sirens for having faith in me and knowing that I would have to get better at some point! My family and friends who have been so supportive and helped me personally with trips to Regionals and Nationals but also donated to HaRD Knocks so that we could all get new helmets!

What are some of your greatest roller derby accomplishments?
 Being able to jam for both HaRD Knocks and the Sirens has been a huge accomplishment for me. I hope that I can continue to improve my speed and endurance to really become a point scorer for both of my teams!

 

Spindletop Mashup Double Header 7-1-10

Even the outer bands of Hurricane Alex couldn’t keep the crowd away at Spindletop’s “Red, White, Black and Blue” bout. The first match up was the Scars and Stripes vs. The Bill of Fights, followed by The Patriot Axe vs. the Baberaham Lincolns .The double header with a four team mash up of Spindletop and Houston Roller Derby skaters may have been a scrimmage; however, you couldn’t tell by the fierce game play!

The final bout started with C-Rex (Patriot Axe) as lead jammer scoring nine points and Emma Propriate sneaking in three points before the jam was called off. In the third jam, Baby Face Assassin had the advantage starting on the line alone while her opponent remained in the box. The jam began and Face fought her way through the pack making lead jammer and scoring a grand slam. Her rival came flying out of the box and through the pack and Baby Face called off the jam. The score was now 18-3 in favor of the Axe. Jam six started with Prosecutor breaking out of the pack and scoring two grand slams and four points on her third scoring pass. Face made it out of the pack and was able to scoop up four points, by sneaking in behind Prosecutor, who then called off the jam the score was 27 -18 with Patriot Axe on top. The last jam of the half ended with Baby Face scoring ten points and Emma Propriate four. The score was 57-35 at the last whistle with the Axe leading.

C-Rex and Emma Propriate went toe to toe, on the line at the start of the second half. EP flew out of the pack and scored 10 points tightening the gap with a score of 57 -45. The ladies in grey put up an awesome fight. The Prosecuter made it through the pack in the next jam with four grand slams but was not able to call the jam off before C-Rex made it past two blockers. The score stood at 65-59 in favor of the Baberaham Lincolns. The 20th jam opened up with Mistilla taking lead jammer and scoring 20-points tying the game at 99-99. The crowd was roaring in anticipation As C-Rex and Emma Propriate took the line with less than a minute to go, C-Rex made her initial pass and then one pass for points just as EP made her way through the pack. After the jam was called off, a time out was called. It looked like the Axes had it in the bag as the score was 103-99 but there were still 33 seconds left on the clock. Mistilla and Xanadu Me were up on the line the whistle blew and a penalty was called leaving Mistilla with a power jam. The crowd went wild! Mistilla proceeded to score 16 points on the final jam, winning the bout for the Baberahams! The final score was 115-103. Top jammers were The Patriot Axe’s, Baby Face Assassin with 33 points, and The Babraham Lincoln’s Prosecutor with 44 points.

The first bout started out with Wildcat (Scars) and Pitbull Ponzo (Fights) on the jammer line. PB broke through the scoring two grand slams for her team making the 10-0. The very next jam Beverly Kills, would break through the pack and score a nine point jam. Wicked Sweet, hot on her tail, scored four points and the score was to 14-0 Fights. Black Sunshine followed up with a 10-point jam bringing the ladies in blue up to 24 points. The Fights maintained the lead in the first half, which ended with a score of 50-26.

The second half started out with BS scoring seven points and calling it off before the other team could score. Black Sunshine went on to score 20 points in the thirteenth jam bringing the score to 82-26 in favor of Fights. Though the score gap widened, the intensity didn’t let up and the ladies in white fought hard and kept the B of F’s from scoring any double digit jams the rest of the night. The bout ended with the score of 89-36 in favor of the Fights. Top jammers were Black Sunshine for the Bill of Fights with 47 points and Beverly Kills for the Scars and Stripes with 23 points.