The Sintral Florida Derby Demons took home the win! (243-155)

Congratulations to all of the MVPs!

OPCDG MVP Pivot: Migraine Jane
OPCDG MVP Blocker: Hart of War
OPCDG MVP Jammer: The Bayou Basher

SFDD MVP Pivot: Slim Skatie
SFDD MVP Blocker: Rocky Brawlboa
SFDD MVP Jammer: Skatey Spice


Photo Credit: Canonball

Orlando Women's Roller Derby ready for action
May 16, 2013

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2013-05-16/sports/os-rollery-derby-orlando-0517-20130516_1_roller-derby-flat-track-derby-association-orlando-psycho-city-derby

Women's roller derbies might be ancient television history, but the sport is still very present. And it's nothing like the rambunctious WWE-style shows from the 1970s.

There are rules, order and, of course, plenty of bruises.

"I always have various bruises around my body, mostly on my shins and shoulders," chuckled Erin Palmer, who works for a public relations firm during the day and is a roller derby queen at night. "They all know what I do in my spare time and they think it's great."

Palmer, also known by her derby nickname "Migraine Jane," competes for the Straight Jackettes travel team underneath the umbrella of the Orlando Psycho City Derby Girls. The Jackettes host the Daytona Sintral Florida Derby Demons on Sunday, 5 p.m. at Semoran Skateway, 2670 Cassel Creek Blvd., Casselberry. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $10 on brownpapertickets.com or at the door for $13.

The Jackettes only have one victory this season so far, but the team has come a long way. The league is relatively new with just four years of existence and was in danger of shutting down altogether until partners Tiffany Maitland and Melissa Biddle purchased the company.

Maitland discovered her passion for roller derby when she moved from Orlando to Las Vegas temporarily a few years ago. She was down on her luck with no job, no hope and walking down a street in Vegas with a pair skates draped across her shoulder when a stranger asked her if she'd be interested in joining a roller derby team.

"I heard of it in the '60s, but didn't know it was still going on," Maitland said. "I don't know how many hours of the day I stayed on the track practicing, but it built my self-esteem and brought my motivation back ever since I started derby in Vegas."

Flat track roller derby is growing in popularity as there are 1,200 leagues throughout the world, and it's currently one of the eight sports being considered for inclusion in the 2020 Olympic Games.

These highly-skilled skaters compete under the governing body of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association. The Orlando Psycho City Derby Girls are not yet competing in sanctioned bouts, but they are working in that direction.

Maitland's watched the league's growth boom over the past four years from just nine to 54 skaters, currently ranging in ages from 18 to 52-years-old. Several of the athletes have never skated before or competed in team sports. Others, like Jill "Green Bay Smackher" Powers, skated all their lives but had never been exposed to roller derby before.

Powers, who works at the Florida Blood Center, first joined a league in Lakeland three years ago before moving to Orlando. She is the captain of the Straight Jackettes and the recruitment coordinator for the league.

Interested roller derby competitors are trained on skates for two to three months and must pass a written test on the rules of the game before joining the team. Orlando's league has three home teams and one travel team for the more advanced skaters.

"I think it's important for everybody to know you can do this," Powers said. "It just takes training and commitment to do it."

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2013-05-16/sports/os-rollery-derby-orlando-0517-20130516_1_roller-derby-flat-track-derby-association-orlando-psycho-city-derby

Psycho City would like to welcome the newest members of our travel team, the Straight Jackettes:

Devil's Songbird #333, Harley Hellrazer #930, Hart of War #298, Mistress-Toxica #X0, Ruby Ruff-n-Tumble #5 of 7, and Tainted Slayer #23

The Orlando Psycho City Derby Girls would like to wish all the moms out there a very Happy Mother's Day!





 

Name and Number: Alberta AWOL #101
Team: Serial Thrillers
Position: Blocker

1. What is the story behind your name?
When I started derby all of my time was spent at work or on my blog. I work at Disney on the Jungle Cruise while I am finishing school. The radio announcer in the queue's name is Albert AWOL, so a long time ago I titled my blog Alberta AWOL. Since that is a big part of my life right now, Alberta AWOL just seemed right.

2. What was one of the hardest/toughest skills you finally mastered?
I am still working on skating sideways, I always end up going in an angle. But the fact that I can do it at all is pretty awesome.

3. How do you separate yourself from all the "derby gossip"?
I'm not sure on that one, I usually find out about things weeks after they happen. It's actually kind of aggravating, I'm always out of the loop!

4. What has been your most memorable experience so far? - Doesn't have to be derby related, I know you've done some cool stuff outside of this.
I think the first derby game I played in was really awesome. It was the season opener, and even though the Thrillers only played for 20ish minutes, all of my work friends and family and best friends showed up. They chanted and yelled for me, and I had never felt so overwhelmed by affection ever.

5. Who can we expect to see cheering you on at a game?
I guess this goes with the last question, my friends and family have started calling themselves AWOL's Army. They have serial colored shirts with things like "I'm going AWOL" and "Momma AWOL" written on them.

6. How do you manage to fit derby and all the requirements into your busy schedule?
Fitting derby into my life if excruciatingly difficult most of the time, and I wouldn't do it if I didn't love it. I am trying to finish my degrees, working full time, raising a hellion of a puppy, and trying to spend time with my sick mother. Sometimes it doesn't work. Sometimes I have to make choices, but derby is usually my favorite choice to make.

7. Who’s the one person you strive to play like?
When I first joined OPCDG we had a player named Guantanamo Slay. She was fantastic. She moved and plays banked track on the west coast now, but I always wanted to play like her.