#1167 Jigsaw Youth

#1167 Jigsaw Youth

#1167 Jigsaw Youth

When did you join Cajun Rollergirls?
January of 2012.

What is your day job?
I’m a senior at Nicholls and I’m a server at a local sushi restaurant.

How did you get involved with roller derby?
Roller derby was something I always wanted to get into. I just had no idea how to go about it and I was worried because I couldn’t skate. An ex-boyfriend of mine knew a skater on the team, Fun Size Fury. She gave me all the information I needed and introduced me to the Cajun Rollergirls.

What is your favorite (derby) position?
I love to jam! Jamming is definitely not easy. It’s something I have to put a lot of work into. There’s no other feeling like the one I get when I break out of the pack first and the ref signals me lead jammer. It’s an adrenaline rush to say the least.

What is your skate gear of choice?
I’m starting to become a wheel fanatic. I just wish I had the money to buy all the sets that I want!

Do you have any pre-bout rituals?
I sleep in as late as possible. I spend all day hydrating. Fifteen minutes before the bout, I take a B12 vitamin and eat energy chews. I try to keep myself as relaxed as possible.

Do you have an inner theme song?
The Hives “Try it Again”

Please share your best derby moment (or moments).
So far, it would have to be our Tallahassee game against the Jailbreak Betties. I scored the most points at that game. As a baby jammer, that is definitely a big achievement.

Who are your derby heroes?
Vicious Van Go Go of Gotham Rollergirls

What goes through your brain as you lace up your skates?
I get terrible anxiety before every bout. When I’m lacing up my skates I just tell myself to keep breathing and figure out way to keep the anxiety down.

How would you describe your derby playing style?
I’m not very aggressive on the track. I prefer speed and agility. These are the two things I’m constantly working to improve. I mostly just try to stay on my feet and avoid all of the really big hits!

What is your pre-derby sports/skating background?
I played soccer for my high school my junior year. I didn’t play much though. The last time I had been on skates was when I was a kid. I had never been on quads in my life! The only quad roller skates that I have owned were pink, plastic, and they snapped around my shoes.

Did you play roller derby prior to joining CRG?
Nope.

Did your background make you a natural fit in assisting with your training?
Definitely not. Roller derby was hard for me in the beginning. I had to put in a lot of time off the track just to feel comfortable on my skates. I could barely skate laps around the track without wanting to cough up a lung.

What are some of your greatest roller derby accomplishments on the track?
I still have so many things to accomplish in this sport. Being the highest scoring jammer at our Tallahassee game against the Jailbreak Betties has definitely been the highlight of this season. I’m still new though. I have so many goals that I’ve set out to reach and I can’t wait to see myself accomplish them all.

How has your involvement in roller derby affected the way you live the rest of your life?
I was very shy prior to derby. Meeting new people and talking to others has always been very hard for me. Since starting derby, I’m a lot more confident. I try to have the confidence I have on the track off the track as well. I’m also much more health conscious. I want to play roller derby for as long as I can. I need my body as healthy as possible for as long as possible.

How do you find a balance between your derby life and your “real” life?
I’m still working on how to balance everything in my life with roller derby. I don’t really have much downtime with working a part-time job, being a full time student, and working enough to pay all my bills. I sacrifice a lot of restful nights to do everything I have to do and still be able to attend derby practice.

Anyone you’d like to take the opportunity to thank?
I have so many people who have supported me every step of the way into this amazing journey. My best friend has been so supportive from the very beginning. My boyfriend, who although can’t be in the country with me, I feel his support and I can practically hear him cheering me on all the way from England. My teammate, Trigger, has been so amazingly kind to me on and off the track. I attribute most of my success to her and all the extra help she’s so willing to give me. And of course, all of my wonderful teammates. All of my teammates have welcomed me into a family and I’m forever grateful.

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