Derby, derby, derby. It seems as if my life has become consumed by this fast growing phenomenon we call roller derby. I joined Crossroads City Derby the summer of 2010 just for exercise. I really didn’t put too much thought in to it; it was just something for me to do that would get me off the couch and away from the refrigerator. I didn’t know that like everyone else who has found this sport and made it a part of their lives, I’d be bitten by the derby bug. It’s been three years since that day, and my passion for derby has grown with each game. So when the opportunity arose to play in El Paso’s Block ‘N Roll Mash Up on July 20th, 2013, I jumped at the chance. My league would have the opportunity to play with and against women from El Paso Roller Derby, Tall City Roller Betties, Safford Roller Derby, Derbal Remedy Roller Derby, Marfa Roller Derby, 575 Roller Babes, and Liga Roller Derby. These ladies were coming from all over Texas, New Mexico and even Juarez Mexico to compete against one another in three thirty minute themed bouts. I’d never played an actual game with players from another team so this was going to be interesting.

Bout day. Morning. I wake up and the first thing on my mind is the game. I was on Team 80s, aka The Breakfast Club. We were in the second game of the day and were playing against The Pink Ladies (Team 50s). Although I had an entire day before the game itself, I was already jittery. At work all I could think about was the game: Will I fall? Will I get too many penalties? Will I look like a fool? What if I do everything wrong? By the time Lady Longlegs came to pick me up at 3:15pm in her 80s inspired blinged out shoulder pads, I was ready to go and get this over with.

After picking up Fearless Foxy Fighter, we were off! We chatted excitedly on the 45-minute drive to El Paso TX., each of us wondering what to expect, all of us expecting (wanting) to win. We arrived at the venue, Nations Tobin Park, and as we walked inside the large square building, the parking lot was already beginning to fill. Once inside, there were derby ladies of all shapes and sizes walking around in their themed outfits: pink beauty school tops (Team 50s), rocker t-shirts (Team Rock Scars), and our 80s fluorescent green/yellow t-shirts (The Breakfast Club) were the outfits that stood out as we made our way to our change area. There we met some of our teammates, ladies from various parts of Texas and New Mexico. The three of us then did a quick look around the venue. There were a few vendors and a snack area. In the center of the room, there was sport court surrounded by folding chairs for the coming crowds to watch the games.

After saying hello to some of our fellow Crossroads City Derby (CCD) folks, Foxy left us to go ref the first game:Rock Scars vs. The Achy Breaky Hearts. Lady Longlegs and I found seats towards the back and caught a few minutes of the first game. The skill on the court was obvious as the women from Texas and New Mexico battled it out! Penalties were handed out so fast I couldn’t keep track. In the middle of  second half, we had to leave to get ready for our own game but we heard it was a close match with the Rock Scars taking the win: 113-70. I am proud to note that many of CCD players walked away with Most Valuable Player Awards. Boozeberry Pie took the MVP blocker for the Rock Scars; RX Bex was awarded MVP Jammer for the Achy Breaky Hearts; and Goldy Blocks snatched up MVP overall also for team Achy Breaky Hearts.

Then it was my turn, Pink Ladies vs. The Breakfast Club. I took to the court in the first jam. Nervous, I waited for the whistle.  “Next whistle starts the jam!” yelled the ref.  Tweet!  After that, every thing is a blur. Hitting, twisting, looking for team mates and trying to hold a wall were the only things on my mind. The Pink Ladies pulled ahead quickly in the first half as their bench coach Goldie A Go Go lined them up and made the calls. As usual, I don’t really remember much (derby amnesia) but I do remember that I had fun. Lady Longlegs jammed like a champ and in the second half, Foxy showed her leadership skills by organizing some of the lineups. Not having a bench coach had hurt us but we weren’t going to give up. We did manage to pull it together and make some of our points back but the Pink Ladies stayed ahead for the rest of the game. Final score: 132-82.

I didn’t really care. I played derby to the best of my ability and it was amazing! I still smile when I think of the bright spots that I managed to remember: Lady Longlegs and I actually held the fast moving Puncher Villa as she tried to score points; I actually spun completely around to avoid a hit; and Notorious TIJ and I went shoulder to shoulder a couple of times as she broke through our line to score points. Lady Longlegs was awarded MVP jammer, and I somehow managed to score MVP blocker for The Breakfast Club!

The night wasn’t over. In the last game of the evening,The Misfits vs. Club 54, I sat on the floor with my fellow Crossroads City crew to cheer on the last of the CCD ladies to play that night: Injur-Venous and Vicious V. As new players, this would be one of their first games against opposing league players. They made us proud. In the end, Injur-venous was awarded MVP over all for the Misfits who pulled out a win against Studio 54.  Final score: 183-100.

Afterwards, a few of us headed over to Chili’s to refuel and discuss the days events before making the drive back to Las Cruces. We were all tired but happy as we chatted and laughed over our burgers and fries. It’d been an excellent night of derby with women from all over doing what they loved. Who could ask for anything more?

-ZDestroYA, #0

Villains vs Super Heroes… The images conjure up comic characters we grew up with saving the humanity from almost imminent peril. In the case of Crossroads City Derby, it was pulling players from our league and having them play against each other with an entertaining theme that benefited a great organization.

On the one hand, it is fun to participate in a themed bout and play the part: pick matching tights to the team’s colors and consider face paint or helmet stickers. On the other hand, it is rather difficult to lace up your skates and play against a teammate and best friend (or in my case my partner). We do occasionally take hits or called penalties personally and it can be hard to separate yourself from the bout you’re playing, but at the end of regulation time it was the best bout CCD has played at home so far this season.

The Villains were ahead by half time but the second half proved a nail-biter with lead changes, power jams, key penalties and the eventual outcome of the Super Heroes prevailing (in true comic book form) in the last few minutes of the bout. (Final Score: Heroes 146, Villains 141)

For the players, nothing was as fun as letting the newer CCD members play and watching the love of the sport grow with every jam and the melding of strategy and skills as the jams progressed.

As a player that has been with CCD since the league’s name was first voted on, it warmed my Villain heart to see ladies who were just babies on skates months earlier take their first lap after their names were called out by Biffy. Because Hero or Villain, penalty or lead jammer, it’s all about our skaters; our sisters. Instilling the love of the sport, a sense of empowerment with every lap and a bond with nine other players on the track is what counts and that makes us all super heroes.

-Hell Paseo, #7

On May 17th the Crossroads City Derby Sucias hit the road for a now very familiar drive north to Colorado, this time to the town of Parker to bout against the Castle Rock ‘n’ Rollers. For most of us this was our 5th bout in four weeks, and with only 11 skaters rostered this time (we only have 12 total on our entire team), we were feeling the strain.

What better way to wind up the day after spending 10 hours on road? Thai food! It’s become a pre-bout ritual for us. We found the tiny but absolutely delicious Dancing Noodle restaurant in the appropriately named Crossroads Plaza.

Bout day! My roommates (Fearless Foxy Fighter, Captain Howdy, Sgt. Smite) and I first visited Waffle House, where we unexpectedly caught the attention of a Denver Roller Doll who recognized our shirts from the Colorado Cup and came over to congratulate us on our performance there and wished us luck that night. That led to a waitress asking us to sign her hat, right next to her Harlem Globetrotter’s autographs. After breakfast we decided to stop and check out the Parker Field House, where we would bout later that night. It was a truly amazing facility; it included a hockey rink w/sport court (where we would bout), a climbing wall, batting cages, a gym, sports turf, and an elevated track. We wistfully walked past the climbing wall (it looked REALLY fun) and settled for watching groups of children play soccer and volleyball. Then we made the drive to Derbyville in Denver (not because we necessarily NEEDED anything but when you live in a town without a skate shop you can’t pass up the opportunity to visit one that caters specifically to derby). Last stop, The Shoppe Bakery, to admire the wonderfully original and amazing cupcakes (the Nutella and Bacon Salted Caramel are some of our favorites). While making our purchase a family in the shop commented on our league shirts (seriously, we represent CCD everywhere we go), leading to a discussion about derby and concluding with us signing autographs on their copy of Westword (a free weekly Denver newspaper), which just happened to feature a cover story on roller derby.

After that it was time to head back to the hotel and get ready to bout! When we took the track for warm up all thoughts of being tired and worries about nagging injuries were replaced with the energy that only a bout can create.  We’d trained hard, we were together, and we got to play derby!!!  The 1st whistle blew and we ended up scoring a quick 20 points on a power jam. We never relinquished that lead; the score remained close (within 30 points) during the 1st half but then we showed why we’re considered a 2nd half team by gradually pulling away during the final 20 minutes. It was a fast paced, physical bout but thanks to our excellent fitness (thanks coach!) we were up to the challenge: final score 189-104. Onto the after party, which we also won, thanks to some outstanding dance moves and some old school hip-hop. Our referee Sgt. Smite was even voted after party MVP.

So we played derby, it was awesome, we all made it safely home, what else could add to the weekend? Seeing Crossroads City Derby listed on the newly released top 100 things about Las Cruces. Seeing that made me realize that although we’ve only been around for four years we have a solid fan base and are becoming recognized as part of the community. We proudly represent Las Cruces everywhere we go, and we look forward to our next away bout August 17th in San Angelo, TX.

– Nikki Six-Shooter #colt 45