The first bout to start the 2013 season was an away bout against our sister league’s B team, El Paso Roller Derby’s Pistol Whip-Hers. This was also my first bout since being elected Co-Captain of the Santas. After spending the last few weeks worrying about my teammates and strategy it was good to finally have some play time! As I had been telling other league members for the past couple weeks: “We just need to hit others who are not our team mates!”

The Santas are made up of a group of very hard working ladies. Some of us like me, are only in our first full season of derby. We are constantly working to improve and grow in this sport. Having only played two games with the Santas last season, there were times when I could feel that the lack of playtime together was still apparent in our game play. Those previous two games had resulted in losses, but as any athlete knows it’s not the wins that make you better, but the losses that help you improve. For me I have experienced many such losses in other sports before derby, and while it is not fun to lose I try not to take a loss as a personal failure and see where improvements can be made and what was done well that we can take forward into our next bout.

As with every first game of the season, you want to bring home the win. It was obvious how nervous the whole team was to play that day. For me the main thing I wanted to see happen was for us improve our ability to work together as a unit. Communication and reaction to each other’s verbal and non verbal cues were something that we needed serious work on.

And then, somehow as if by magic, during the second half things just slid into place. We just started clicking! There’s no other way I can think to put it. And while we did not win, the final score was 212-45 in favor of The Pistol Whip-Hers, we fought hard together! The experience we came away with from this bout will be essential in driving us on to greater and better things as the season continues.

– Capt. Howdy
#333

Once or twice a year we have a “Derby Doll for a Day” fundraiser to show our support for young girls helping them find their inner fierceness by decorating their outer selves. Special shout out to our friends at Shear Talent Beauty Salon for allowing us to use your space for a day. Thanks to all who attended, we’re looking forward to meeting more future derby dolls in 2014!

Why do we have fundraisers?
Crossroads City Derby (CCD) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization so any income goes directly back into the upkeep of our league, venue fees, travel and other expenses. Your support keeps us going. Thank you!

I’ve learned one thing about fundraisers at local nightclubs or bars: it’s a hard sell to get women to donate to CCD.

Hurricane Alley, also called The Cane, played host to Crossroads City Derby’s mayhem and shenanigans March second. CCD had lined up an evening of arm wrestling, hoola hooping and leg wrestling. All in the name of raising money to offset travel expenses for both travel teams (for the record: traveling means gas to and from, hotel costs, food and incidentals like hats and gloves when a cold snap hits on the way to Tulsa… players would have to incur all of the above if not for the events and kindness of CCD and derby fans).

Since I worked the door for most of the evening, my job was to pounce on Cane patrons as they arrived; giving a brief explanation of our fundraiser in such a compelling manner that people would be willing to give us anything from a dollar to twenty. Male patrons seemed to have an easier time allowing for their money to depart their wallet. Ladies? Well, suffice it to say they proved harder to convince (was it our CCD gun show on display in tank tops?).

After they moved past those of us working the door, patrons were encouraged to purchase CCD merchandise, sign up for various contests (with a small entry fee) and even pay to be paddled (an apology is in order to one Josh Beyer as he felt the sting of my swing).

We were fortunate to have Hotbox, formerly of Duke City Derby and now skating in Austin, and Elvira Mental, formerly of Duke City but recently transplanted to the West Coast, stop by and share some derby love. Incidentally, never engage Hotbox in an arm wrestling match, she may accidentally rip off your arm in the process.

CCD fundraisers at nightclubs is a great way to engage with fans, make new ones, bond in a way only dancing to hip hop can and take a breather from practices and have fun in a different forum. And did I mention it helps us raise much-needed funds? Yeah, this year’s Mayhem put the ‘fun’ back in fundraiser.

We hope to see you at our next event!

-Hell Paseo, #7