Happy Birthday Stroker Ace!!

Turn 2 is blessed to call you a friend, WC and I love you to pieces;  we hope you have a fantastic birthday. Last year on your birthday I was in a hotel looking down at the parade and there you go gliding down the street hanging on to a FireTruck, on your skates! I hope your birthday is equally as fun this year!

Anyone that sees Stroker today, please be sure to tell her that you are her twin sister “Spanker Ace”, and do not forget to dish out some birthday spankings!

She was a real hot shot and she bragged a lot
On skates, that girl could fly
Cause she loved the feel of her quad wheels and the girls with the bedroom eyes
And on Derby night or a bar room fight
Old Stroker stole the show
A back street blazer and a real hell raiser and a flat-track Romeo!

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Derby Name: Stroker Ace

Number: 6UL DV8

Team(s): The Hellbombers and the Burning River All Stars

Position(s): A little bit of everything

What was the inspiration behind your name? Stroker Ace, the movie and the Charlie Daniels Band song.

How did you learn of the league? This whole roller-skating thing is Professor Booty’s fault!

What do you hope to accomplish in the realm of roller derby? I just wanna skate good.

What skates are you currently using? A custom Reidell 595 boot with a Reactor plate.  The break-in period is hell but they hold up really well, which is important since I tend to be hard on my equipment.

What has been your greatest achievement in Derby so far? Probably this will sound a little goofy but it’s really been great to be part of the transition from derby as individuals trying to beat the snot out of each other to derby as a real team sport.

Does it make you mad that some people think Derby is fake? I invite those folks to step out on the track and give jamming a try!  Really, this sport is all about the fans and our fans know the truth.  Folks who think derby is fake clearly have not attended our bouts and really should take the time to come check it out.

What does your training consist of? I go for the occasional run, lift the occasional weight, kayak, snowboard, bike, make love, turn cartwheels, and nap in my hammock.

How does cross training help your derby skills? After running with the bulls in Pamplona, jamming isn’t nearly as intimidating.

Have you ever been injured due to roller derby? Nothing severe enough to land me in an emergency room.  I did bruise the heck out of my elbow once in a post bout wrestling match with Vix Smackey and another time the lovely Eva Lucien scuffed my ego up a little but overall, I think I’ve been very lucky.

What do you often eat for your breakfast? Anything I’m in the mood for but on bout days I go with pasta and Pedialite.

Do you have a signature derby move? Clearly you’ve never been Strokered.

If you could meet anyone (dead or alive) who would it be and why? Steve Nash.  Everyone should be a Steve Nash fan.

What are your thoughts/feelings on the new venue? It’s all about the fans so my only concern is whether we have adequate bleachers to allow all those screaming fans a proper view of our bouts.

How has roller derby changed your life? You do know Soul Eater and I met because of roller derby, right?

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The trip out to Fort Wayne was not an easy one; cars were off the road in ditches, semi’s jack-knifed, and every weather station telling us not to travel. But, in the harshest of environments, members of the BRRG braved the elements and traveled to Fort Wayne Indiana.

First up the Xanadont’s with secret new weapons known as The Killustrator and Chrissie B. Hynde; came out with a strong effort but finished just shy of a win. Punk’d Pixie, Margarita Mayhem, and Vix Smackey showed an intense preview of what the ‘09 season is going to look like (look out everyone, Pin-ups are contenders for the Cup). The Xanadont’s played well, but allowed fundamental mistakes to occur, fouls to hurt them, and fatigue to play a factor. It came to the last jam, but with a large crowd pumping the S.W.A.T. Team, the Xanadont’s were unable to come out on top.

I learned a lot sitting between Magic Lee Malicious and Quarter boy (GRRG) about personal styles and where working as a team is needed. I also learned a lot about inexperienced referees, and bad calls. I thank you both for your knowledge and friendship.

Now onto the All-Star Rematch; Burning River steps onto Fort Wayne turf missing a few key elements. One- The Validator: a major factor who scored many points in our first encounter with the Bomb Squad. Two- Slaughterama Mama: an incredible blocker who seems to gain energy when most others begin to feel fatigue. And three- Pain Austen: who yes did not play but has an expertise in observation when play a dirty team like the bomb squad. And yes I said Dirty! I know accidents happen and mistakes get made, refs do not see everything, but something’s you just cannot turn a blind eye to. I also understand that there will always be biased referees, and dirty skaters; and that will never change.

It was a treat to see you girls playing like a team out there! I did not see what I have seen in previous bouts; huge talent with no communication, every girl out there trying to get hers. A saw a major group effort and every girl knowing her role on the track. We had a rough start, with our first three jams, only scoring two points. But we started playing with good strategy and started nickel and dime jams. Then in a reverse of roles we started putting up major points and shutting down there jammer. By the end of the second half it was a one point game.

Unfortunately, it was becoming extremely apparent the referees from Fort Wayne had total disregard for WFTDA rules, especially when it came to fouls committed by their own players. I could go off on an hour tangent, about dozens of instances where I saw blatant fouls (by the bomb squad) with no call, or no foul or legal move being called as fouls (by BRRG). I believe this hurt the team in a way where we lost focus of the game; having to spend time and energy showing referees the fouls, and paying back the one who fouled, this is where there Jammer was able to break through the pack quick and leave our jammer fighting to get through. But in reality this is a situation we knew we were getting into, before we walked in the arena. Even speaking with members of GRRG I heard of dirty players in the bomb squad. We needed to be able to beat this team despite these hindrances. But when I look back at this bout, the team work that I saw out of the All-Stars, the moments where we every player on the track was just playing the game with such skill, technique and grace; for that I account the victory despite the score. This bout was a heck of a learning experience for me and I am sure many times over for the skaters.

Big ups go out to Slambassador for winning best blocker during the first bout; and Halochic during the All-Star bout. I must say special thank you to both Ivanna Destroya and Professor Booty for being concerned with my well being on my trip back (I made it safe!). Mad props to Gonnolea, just cuz she freakin rules! And last but not least Magic Lee Malicious for all her wonderful company and conversation there and back!

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