Image courtesy of The Acadiana Advocate
Slept On Podcast Drop: An Exclusive Interview with JXN Roller Derby
This week our team chats with seasoned derby players Miriam “Battlescar Hiptastica” and “Scrammin” Sarah about derby helmets, “concrete burn,” and what goes into the perfect derby nickname. Tune in to listen to this Inferno exclusive interview, and catch the highlights here.
Tough as Nails
Roller derby isn’t for the faint of heart. Miriam, for example, shattered her ankle on the track. But as Scrammin points out, injuries like broken bones are rare; she’s seen less than 5 in her 14-year career. The real danger? Sprained ankles and knees, which are much more common. Miriam adds that these injuries aren’t due to roughhousing on the track, but “on not falling properly.”
Falling? On a Concrete Track?
Yes, falls—and falling safely—are a huge part of derby. Helmets are a must for head safety, but they can also signal player positions. Jammers’ helmets are marked by stars, and Pivot players’ helmets are marked by a stripe. (If you don’t know what those words mean, Miriam and Sarah give a great derby rundown on the pod.)
Knee pads, and elbow pads are the norm, but players sometimes add tailbone and hipbone cushions. As Miriam points out “We practice in a warehouse with no air conditioning… it’s just too hot to wear a lot, really.” And despite layering up, “concrete burn” is inevitable (and painful).
Over the Line
Even in a sport as physical as derby, there are lines players can’t cross. Miriam recalls a time when “it’s gotten so heated that my team has decided to leave a game and leave a venue before [the game] is over.” Derby has a strict penalty system, in which offenses like head butting, kicking, or punching lead to immediate ejection. But the sport is more about communication and respect than chaos. “Safety is a priority,” Miriam stresses, and players normally are able to communicate and adjust when they’re feeling unsafe. There is also a crew of seven skating referees keeping an eye on the pack, and even more non-skating officials watching from the sidelines.
Tight-Laced
Joining a roller derby team seems to be the fastest way to make lifelong adult friends. As Scrammin jokes, “There are some days where I swear I talk to my teammates more than my husband. ” Miriam agrees, “I have met people that have basically become my family.” Both have played derby for just under 15 years, and each have a deep respect for derby culture.
What’s in a Name?
The legendary derby nickname is part of what makes the sport iconic. Miriam’s name, “Battlescar Hiptastica” is a nod to the show Battlescar Galactica. Besides paying homage to a great show, the nickname has the perfect derby vibes: “When you hear ‘Battlescar,’ you think ‘oh shit!’” Scrammin’s name comes from a radioactive pun. “Scram” is both a nuclear term (her husband works in the nuclear field) and a command to “get out of the way.”
No matter what you choose for your derby name, injecting comedic cleverness is a must. Nicknames are also derby players’ first impressions of each other before a match, so you get props if you have a particularly good one. Sarah recalls, “I’ll sit there and giggle sometimes when they’re announcing the names… that’s clever, I like that!”
Ready to Roll?
The roller derby season starts in April, but right now, players are deep into boot camp. “You can go from nothing to learning how to play roller derby,” says Miriam. If you’re in the Jackson area and looking to skate, JXN Derby is the place to start. You can find them on Facebook and Instagram.
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How a random flyer led to life-long friends. Japanese-language puns. Discord cat photos. Catch all this and more on this week’s Slept On podcast featuring JXN Roller Derby!
Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen.
