June 2023

Upcoming Events

In light of this week’s tragic events, please consider making a donation or sharing this GoFundMe, supporting the family of Shawn Jackson and Renzo Smith.

Anti-Trans Legislation Statement

from the RCRD Equalities Committee

We at River City Roller Derby are infuriated and deeply troubled by the wave of anti-trans legislation rolling through this country. We believe unequivocally that trans rights are human rights, and we proudly align our league with the trans community. Transgender people are our beloved friends, teammates, and league members. We are proud and honored to welcome all transgender and gender nonconforming skaters, officials, and volunteers to our league. Legislation that seeks to criminalize and eradicate transgender people is state-sponsored bigotry. Fearmongerers are trying to make punching-down against an already-marginalized group an American pastime.

River City Roller Derby stands firmly in opposition to all attempts to remove a community's dignity and human rights. We will continue to speak and act in solidarity with our trans siblings, loudly and proudly.

Fundraisers: Battle of the Bananas & Spice Up The Rink!

River City Roller Derby had a record number of new rookie skaters level up during assessments this past year! They are lovingly called “Bananas,” hence the Battle of the Bananas! We would love for our fans to show their support - vote for your favorite derby name by donating to that skater's page! The skater with the most money donated will win a prize! As always, we love our fans & we appreciate your continued support of our league!

Vote here!

RCRD & VCTF Trail Skate Clinic // Cap2Cap Recap (lol)

Several of our RCRD skaters conquered the Virginia Capital Trail in April, skating various lengths of 10, 26, and the full 51.7 miles! Our skaters and volunteers received so much support and hype from cyclists & pedestrians all along the trail that day, including a shoutout on the Virginia Capital Trail FB Page, and we celebrated with much-needed drinks and food at Billsburg Brewery.

Do you want to level up your skating skills and enjoy the Virginia Capital Trail on your quad or inline skates? Join us for a Trail Skate Clinic and we’ll teach you the basics! Check out the event page to learn more and register for the free clinic - please bring your own skates and helmet, and follow RCRD and VCTF social media accounts for more details!

Game Highlights

We’ve been busy with a May double-header at home, and a June triple-header away in Columbus Ohio! Check out some of our recent highlights and travel photos, courtesy of our own skaters and Joe Cool (aka Joe Ring):

Team Spotlights

Riot/A-Team: AYUDANTE DE SATAN #314

Derby name and number?

Ayudante de Satán / #314 

League role?

Equality Committee 

How long have you been playing?

13 years

How long with RCRD?

4 years

Favorite position to play?

Blocking / I love doing the Offense

How'd you pick your name?

I didn’t! It was given to me from a member of my former league because I used to work for Metal Music festivals back in Colombia, so I basically became “Satan’s Helper.”

What's your Roller Derby origin story?

I saw it in a show (not because of Whip It) and thought it was very bad ass hitting people while skating 😂💪🏾

What's something you really struggled with when you first started out, but now you feel good about?

Skating backwards, now I barely skate forward on the track 🤣🤡 sorry not sorry 😬

What's your favorite food/thing after a hard practice?

Quesadillas for the win

Favorite derby memory?

Getting my first MVP for being an OK-ish Blocker 💪🏾

How has derby positively impacted your life off skates?

Feeling physically strong every day; also my endurance is so much better. 

Rats/B-Team: DYKE VAN DICK #1312

Derby name and number?

Dyke van Dick #1312

League role?

Banana! (Newly leveled-up Vet Skater)

How long have you been playing?

I was a member of @rollerderbyatUVA in college, and they taught me how to play. So around 3 years in college. Then I did park skating until I joined RCRD this past fall! 

How long with RCRD?

10 months

Favorite position to play?

I like blocking and gravitate towards that but I also think jamming is really exciting! Maybe one day I’ll have enough track awareness to be a good pivot. 

How'd you pick your name?

My partner tweeted it in high school. It made me giggle so I took it :) 

What's your Roller Derby origin story?

I always wanted to play roller derby because of Elliot Page in Whip-It, of course. And when I was a kid, my dad went to a RCRD game and brought me back a T-shirt. I thought it was the coolest team ever. And now I’m on it!

What's something you really struggled with when you first started out, but now you feel good about?

Switching from park skates back to flat skates was a challenge for me, but I’m feeling a lot more comfortable now. And my endurance has gotten so much better!

What's your favorite food/thing after a hard practice?

Always love a Doritos Locos Taco or two 🌮 

Favorite derby memory?

Leg wrestling the other Bananas on the patio at Don’t Look Back. I’m the reigning Banana Champion!

How has derby positively impacted your life off skates?

Derby has been really gender affirming for me as a transmasc non-binary person. I played a lot of women’s sports growing up, and they made me feel agile or fast or athletic, but I was never encouraged to feel strong like roller derby makes me feel. RCRD is a place where, as a fat trans person, I feel safe and excited to take up as much space as possible. 🏳️‍⚧️ 🛼

Rookies: Victoria

Name: Victoria 

How long have you been playing?

I have been skating since I was a kid, and joined with RCRD's most recent round of rookies back in April! 

Position you hope to play?

I want to try everything but am definitely interested in jamming! 

Sneak peak into name?

I teach preschool so I'm thinking it will be nursery rhyme related 

Roller derby origin story?

I've always been interested in playing derby and attended Mother State practices for a while around 2015. I also love to park skate! 

Something I struggled with but now feel good about: I really struggled to learn how to skate backwards, but now I am cruising along and even doing backwards crossovers 🤩

Favorite food after practice?

Hitting up the Taco Bell for a vegan black bean Crunchwrap (add potatoes) 

Favorite derby moment?

I haven't been with the team long but we recently had a rookies only hangout/skate session that was super fun and made me feel even more bonded with my teammates. We watched a documentary showcasing some derby history and I loved learning more about the origins of the sport. 

How derby has positively impacted your life?

I came into derby with no real sense of community and now I feel like part of such a supportive and encouraging group of skaters who push each other to be the best version of themselves. Learning new skills has also been great for my self-confidence and I can't wait to keep growing alongside my teammates!

Official: TANK BOY

Derby name?

Tank Boy

League role?

Head NSO & Asst. Rookie Coach

How long have you been an NSO/with RCRD?

April 2017 for both

Do you prefer NSOing or Rookie Coaching?

I love both...they're so different...so, I get to see/experience so many facets of derby by doing both.

How'd you pick your derby name?

I love comics. I love TANK GIRL. It was an easy leap.

What's your roller derby origin story?

In the fall of 2016 a new comic came out about derby called SLAM. I enjoyed it. One day the owner came in and told me a derby player came in & got a copy. Not knowing we had a team here, I went online. Fast-forward through a few months of me watching every game on YouTube of the 2014, 2015, and 2016 Championships...and I go see my first live game! After I see RCRD's second game, I see them advertise for new refs and NSOs. I go out. Three months later, I'm elected Head NSO.

What's something you really struggled with when you first started out, but now you feel good about?

Running games. As an NSO, you work your spot to the best of your ability...but as Head NSO, it's SO much more! That was driven home on my second game as Head NSO: during the pre-game Officials meeting, I pulled the Head Ref (Admiral Mayhem) aside and asked her how she wanted to do something. (Side note: I'd worked with Admiral before, so she knew me) With a slight smile on her face, she shook her head and said "YOU'RE Head NSO. That's YOUR call. YOU decide." ...and that was the kick in the butt I needed to step up. And I haven't looked back!

What's your favorite food/ritual after a hard practice?

Depends where we go. Sometimes tacos, sometimes BBQ.

Favorite derby moment/memory?

There are so many individual ones with players and the league, so I'll pick one that's just about me to be safe lol. I joined derby in April 2017. By Nov 2017, I was working for WFTDA at the World Championships--watching the best players in the world, meeting some of my favorite players, walking around down on the track area, etc. In one year, I went from knowing nothing about derby to working at the Championships and meeting all of these players that I'd only ever seen online!

How has derby positively impacted your life off-skates?

I had moved to VA about a year before I learned of RCRD. So, I quickly had dozens of new people in my life! Being elected as Asst Rookie Coach allowed me to use my 20+ years of teaching experience, albeit in a way different subject than the Mathematics I was trained in lol.

Community Spotlight: The Float Zone

The Float Zone is proud to be a sponsor of the RCRD! The Float Zone, located adjacent to Scott's Addition, is RVA’s premiere float spa - featuring four state of the art float pods, each in their own private room.  Each room has a float tank, shower and all the amenities you may need, such as towels, earplugs, soap, shampoo, conditioner.  You can keep the lid open, closed, or cracked, and you float face up in 10” of skin temperature (94 degree) water, saturated with 1000 pounds of Epsom salt.  There are options for music or silence, light (any color of the rainbow) or darkness. You customize the float experience to your comfort. You float for an hour and emerge feeling completely different in body and mind.  As a result of defying gravity, absorbing Magnesium from the Epsom salt and tricking the brain into relaxation mode from the 94 degree water, floating is a great nervous system hack.

Float therapy is best known for its anxiety reducing effects, but also improves heart rate variability, lowers blood pressure, soothes muscles and joints, helps with sleep, manages pain, helps healing (including bruises! 😎), lowers adrenaline & cortisol - and as a result, is the perfect choice for athletic recovery! 

Many athletes use floating as a recovery method and find that performance is enhanced on both mental and physical levels.  RCRD members are able to sign up for free floats during the week & deeply discounted floats on the weekends, all throughout the season.

Please visit our website, @myfloatzone on IG, and @thefloatzone on FB!

RCRD FANS!

We love engaging with our community, so we have rolled out (pun intended! 😉) a few ways for you to connect with us and get featured in our BRUISEletter! Here's how:

1. RCRD in the Wild: Spot someone wearing their RCRD merch out in the world? Get consent for a pic and send it in. We love seeing your team spirit!

2. Fan Art Submissions: Submit your RCRD paintings, digital art, stories and more! We love when y'all show your support and create with us!

3. RCRD Featured Fans: Show off your team spirit, get loud, proud, and a little rowdy for the team, and show your support at our games for a chance to be one of our Featured Fans and get a spotlight in our BRUISEletter!

🖤💚 Email your submissions to pr.rivercityrollerderby@gmail.com 💚🖤