For last week's RGS FREE SH*T contest, we asked you to tell us why you love roller derby, and we received some amazing answers! After reading all of your submissions, we got a little verklempt. We managed to narrow it down to four entries, but we need your help deciding who the final winner is! Here are the top four entries that we received. Read them, then go to our Facebook page to vote on your favorite. Voting ends at 5pm Central Time today, Monday, Oct. 24.
CLICK HERE TO VOTE!
SUBMISSION A:
“My whole life I've made up for my short comings with humor. I grew up being the short fat funny girl who made everyone laugh. I joined the volley ball team in high school but never really managed to do much but get hit by the ball instead of hit the ball. I joined softball for our city parks and rec team but always seemed to trip when rounding the bases or strike out at slow pitch...thats right, slow pitch softball. Then, while sitting on my couch watching the movie Whip It I was introduced to a sport I never new exsisted. I was speachless. "Too bad Juneau, AK doesn't have roller derby" I thought to myself. Fast forward 6 months and I'm watching the Juneau girls skate past me in our fourth of July parade. I said to myself silently, "I have to do this." So, some months later there I was, standing awkwardly on my Reidell skates with my pads, mouth guard and helmet to cover my giant dome head. All I could think was how I was crazy. I could hardly skate! But one thing that never changed was I knew for the first time ever I had found my sport. I watched the Juneau Roller Girls fly past me calling out commands, "Inside! Outside! 3 to the front! No pack!" I was blown away. These women were not what I expected. Small girls, big girls, some with tattoos, some looking more like models and less like a tough badass. There they were all with big smiles welcoming me into their home. I had to prove myself, I still do, but every practice night I'm there. For the first time in my life I've walked (skated) into a room and immediately felt like I was where I belonged. Derby isn't just about you. Derby isn't just about finding yourself or your confidence. Derby is about community. The community of girls from all backgrounds and beliefs coming together to do something amazing -- something they genuinely love. I love derby because of the way I feel when I'm on my skates. I love derby because of the new family I am joining. I love derby because of the intense
satisfaction I feel when I hit another person. But mostly, I love derby because of the people I am surrounded by. They amaze me and I am reminded every time I'm sitting in a circle of girls who are strapping on their skates, talking about how smelling their gear is and comparing rink rash how blessed I am to be a part of it. I can't imagine my life without derby.”
SUBMISSION B:
"In less than 6 years roller derby has given me what countless therapists never could. Roller Derby gave me the confidence to not only be who I am but to embrace and love that person. Roller Derby gave me the security to not only come out of the closet with a bang but to be a part of and eventually help run "The Vagine Regime" an organization that lets me help other girls the same way my league mates helped me. I recently transferred to another league after over 5 years with my league and couldn't believe how easily accepted I was. I think I felt like the “new guy” for 2 practices tops. The positive energy and easily forged friendships among woman is a modern miracle to someone who has always been "one of the guys". So what is it I love about Roller Derby? The shiny shorts of course ;)"
SUBMISSION C:
"Okay okay..so aside from stating the obvious- “what is there not to love about roller derby?” and “who doesn’t love roller derby?” there a lots of reasons I love roller derby. Not just love roller derby- but looooooooove derby.
I never did sports when I was in school. At 5’11’’ I should have been all about basketball, or volleyball or something. I tried volleyball, and it was fun, but just not enough. I tried basketball and skipped practices to hang out with my friends. It was a no go. I’ve always been a bit of a loner, and so teamwork was often a foreign idea to me.
Skip ahead several years later. A friend of a friend told me she was learning to skate for roller derby. Did I want to learn too? “Uh- hell yes!” I went and bought skates the next day and a year later I’m still skating with my league.
Why do I love roller derby? Because it gets me off my butt even when I don’t feel like moving. Because there are 20 other girls (and some guys) who notice when I don’t show up to even one practice. Because every time I talk about it I can’t help but laugh a little and smile. Because I feel like a rock star even when I’m standing still. Because I’ve lost 30 lbs since I started and still eat junk every day. Because I never thought I could. Because it’s important and I want other people to fall in love with the sport like I have.
I might not be an awesome skater yet- might even have a long way to go; all I know is that I’m going to keep going. I love derby and I feel somewhere deep deep down- derby loves me too."
SUBMISSION D:
"Roller Derby is not just a sport to me, it’s a family, and It’s an obsession. When I am not skating, I am pulling 18 credit hours at Western Kentucky University. Which, in turn, makes me absolutely bogged down with stress and lack of sleep. Up until 5 months ago when I started fresh meat with my league, I had horrible knee pains, which almost caused me to wash out of boot camp, but I forced my way through it, despite warnings, and cryptic messages from my doctors.
After skilling out, my family decided to move again. (military brat) and I had to spend the summer in Germany, and luckily, I was able to find a roller derby team there to skate with while I was gone. 2 months into roller derby, and 3 weeks after my skill out, my knee pain is completely gone, I have more confidence in every day life, and my personal relationships have improved as now have an outlet for all my stress.
It took skating internationally to see just how big roller derby is, and just how wonderful the skaters I have met, and bout’ed with all come together, even though we didn’t all speak the same language. It was my first bout, as a visiting skater with a league that made me realize my love for roller derby, and my connection with the roller girls. It made me realize that a touch, push, and sticky skate is the same in every language. Everyone knows that the pack skates together, everyone knows that regardless of your size, height or muscle mass, that you have your position on the track, and that your blockers will help you hold it.
I put my life and every moment I have left in my day-to-day schedule (and then some) into derby, and helping with bout production, and volunteering to teach “fun size” and “snack size” children how to skate to benefit my league. Regardless of you selecting me to win, I have enjoyed sharing my life’s passion with you."
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