It’s All in the Derby Family | Fatal Femme & Uniballer

Posted on May 12, 2012

All in the Detroit Derby Girls Family. It’s recurring segment on our blog highlighting how roller derby in Detroit is a family affair for many skaters and volunteers. This week we’re highlighting Fatal Femme, co-captain of the D-Funk Allstars, and Uniballer, manager of the Detroit Derby Girls Allstars – DDG’s travel team who play other Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) league teams across the country.

Husband and wife. Coach and player. They took a few minutes from travel team practice to discuss their dynamic and their goals for the 2012-2013 DDG Allstars season.

How did you get involved with Detroit Derby Girls?

Fatal Femme: When I heard there was roller derby in Detroit I knew I wanted to join. When we went that night to my first bout, I feel in love. My husband was all for me joining and asked me everyday if I contacted anyone. I was putting it off because I wanted to practice – I hadn’t been on skates for many years. And to be honest, it was a little intimidating. Shortly after the bout a pair of brand new shiny speed skates arrived to my surprise at my work from my husband. He told me I had no reason now not to do it. I signed up that night.

Uniballer: Way back in the day, Fatal asked me to come to a D-Funk practice and see if there was some stuff my football coaching could help out with. The rest is history.

Did you both join at the same time or did one join before the other?

FF:  I had been with the league for a couple of years before Roxanna Hardplace and I begged him to come help D-Funk. First he was helping with hitting drills, we wanted to use his football background to become beasts. We quickly saw that he was an awesome coach and we asked him to come aboard as an official manager of D-Funk.

Uni: Nope, she got in first – did her thing, then brought me in to do mine.

What’s it like having your spouse involved with DDG?

FF: It’s nice having us both involved, we both love this sport. I love that I can talk to him about derby and he gets it. It’s a lot of hard work and takes up a lot of time, I’m glad I can share that with him. Derby is such a big part of our lives it’s nice to be able to bounce ideas off each other or to even ask what he thinks about a new drill I came up with. I wouldn’t want it any other way!! 

Uni: It’s the best/worst thing in the world. Lol!

Is it weird coaching your wife? / Is it weird having your husband as your coach?

FF: Having us both as a manager and captain on D-Funk can be difficult. We have worked through it and we have become a pretty good team. Travel team was harder at first for me because he could just boss me around and I didn’t have a say. Lol! It took awhile to get use to, but now I just put my head down and skate when he is coaching me (I still say things in my head but I have learned to keep quiet.)

Uni: Naw, it’s not weird, I think we do a good job keeping a separation between all the different aspects of it.

What are your goals for this year’s travel team?

FF: My goals for this year’s travel team are to get better conditioned and to learn more mental toughness. Travel team is hard,  the intensity is insane.  I really want to push myself harder than any other season so far. We have an awesome team this year, we have so many new girls and so much talent. I can’t wait to see how we mold and kick butt this season <3

Uni: The long term goal is of course to put in a good showing at regionals, and take that momentum onto nationals.  In the meantime, it’s to build a team that puts Detroit above themselves and works their butts off to accomplish that long term goal.

See Fatal Femme in action at the DDG Grudge Match (battle for third place) on Saturday, May 19th when D-Funk plays the Pistolwhippers. Need tickets? Go to BrownPaperTickets.com.

NUDOC Physical Therapy Talks Derby to Me

Posted on March 25, 2012

Roller derby is not a sport that’s easy on the body. If you’re a derby girl, it’s weird if you don’t have at least one bump or bruise at any given time during the season. Taking care of your body before, during and after practice is crucial to the longevity of any derby girl’s career. So we sat down with Detroit Derby Girls sponsor NUDOC Physical Therapy Owner/Clinical Director, Robert Burns, PT, DPT to pick his brain about why he became interested in roller derby and what research he’s doing related to roller derby injuries.

How did you hear about the Detroit Derby Girls?
I was originally introduced to derby more as a coincidence than anything else. I had a patient who was the neighbor or family friend of one of the girls. He had just gone to his first bout the night before. He came in to therapy the next day and asked me if I’d heard of “this roller derby thing?” He then went on to tell me what a great time he had.

Why did you become involved?
At the same time, I had started working with more, non-ball-sport athletes (runners, cyclists, gymnasts, swimmers, skateboarders) and wondered aloud to my staff if this would be a good niche for our office. I had someone from my office get in contact with the league. Tess Tackles was the first derby girl that I met. She was very down to earth and easy to talk to, as every else has been. I immediately got the feeling that DDG would be a really fun group to work with.

Initially, Novi Doctors of Physical Therapy/ NUDOC Physical Therapy was just a sponsor. I was, and still am growing my practice, and so I was hopeful that people would see our banner while at bouts and consider us. But over the years our relationship has grown. From a mild curiosity in derby, to now truly understanding the game and strategy; now really enjoying the nuances of the game; and most of all, working with the skaters. It is a lot of fun.

I also felt and feel that I bring something to the league. My background, experience, and particular skill set to help get you and keep you on your skates. DDG is, whether you know it or not, a vehicle for health promotion to a good number of young women. I want to be a part of that.

What is your background?
How far in-depth do you want me to go? I was born in a log cabin that I build in 1783….Ok, actually I was born in Detroit. Moved to Ann Arbor as a young teen when my mom started working at U of M. I became interested in physical therapy my sophomore year in high school when taking my first anatomy class. I wanted to get out on my own after high school, so I went down to Hampton University in Virginia for college. After finishing my bachelor’s at Hampton, I applied to and was accepted at the University of Southern California. USC was at the time the #2 physical therapy program in the country. USC has been the #1 physical therapy school since my 2nd year there, and is still number 1 today. I am very proud to be a part of that tradition.

After much debate, I decided to move back to Detroit after finishing my time at USC and took a position at U of M, outpatient rehabilitation. On my off days from U of M, I worked at the DMC, at Harper inpatient and at the Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan. My first year out of school I worked 6, sometimes 7 days week on average. Crazy. I’d never do that again, but I certainly learned a great deal during that time; soaking up knowledge from several experienced physical therapists at each place. I left U of M and the DMC, when I was offered a clinical director position with an outpatient private practice. After running that facility for two years, I decided it was time to move on and established NUDOC Physical Therapy, LLC with two colleagues

With your expertise, what are the top 5 ways skaters can prevent/reduce injury?
This is the question that we are trying to answer through research, having partnered with Oakland University. The first step in that research is a survey, which DDG skaters are presently being asked to participate online to contribute to the data pool.

To attempt to answer your question, based on my interactions with dozens of DDG skaters over the years, I would suggest the following:

Work on your technique. Poor technique likely increases risk of injury. Practice doesn’t make perfect; perfect practice makes perfect.

Don’t be afraid to coach each other up. In any contact sport, the player who is able to control their center of mass, and lower that center of mass during contact is most likely to be on the better end of the hit. Remember: derby is not a contact sport; it is a collision sport. When you observe a teammate with poor form, or too high a center of mass, etc., tell them. It is hard, if not impossible, to accurately self-evaluate, so skaters really need each other to help coach form and technique.

Strengthen the core. “Core” means more than just abdominals. Core also includes pelvic and hip muscles essential for stabilization. This kind of strengthening requires doing some work outside of practices. It requires some initiative.

Stretching. I’m often asked if dynamic stretching (quick stretching like many DDG skaters do on your skates) is better or worse than static stretching (where you hold a position for 30 seconds). There is support for both in the literature. Dynamic stretching may be better for warming up, but does not effectively lengthen tissue. So if you know that you have tight hamstrings, hip flexors, etc, or if there is something that bothers you after skating, a more sustained stretch will most likely be more appropriate. As with strengthening, stretching to lengthen tissue needs to be done more than just once or twice per week during practice.

Aerobic/ cardiovascular conditioning. Derby requires a great deal of endurance. In most contact sports, when athletes are tired, they get sloppy and are more likely to get hurt. I suspect this is true in derby as well, but there is no research to support this claim. This may find it’s way into a future study. Bicycling, jogging, skating laps on your own, using the elliptical, swimming, cross training; there are several ways to build your endurance, and doing so will most likely decrease your risk of injury.

What injuries have you sustained playing roller derby? Do you have a tip that your league uses to help prevent injuries? Leave us your thoughts in the comments section below.

It’s All in the Derby Family | Kraken Whips & Dr. Rocktopus

Posted on March 14, 2012

All in the Detroit Derby Girls Family. It’s a new segment on our blog highlighting how roller derby in Detroit is a family affair for many skaters and volunteers. This week we’re highlighting Kraken Whips, co-captain of the Detroit Pistoffs, and Dr. Rocktopus, manager of the Devil’s Night Dames. Husband and wife. And soon to be bitter enemies come Saturday, March 17th as one from the bench and the other from the track duke it out for martial derby glory.

How did you get involved with Detroit Derby Girls?

Kraken Whips: I fell in love with derby long before I had enough “hutzbah” to try out, considering I never had been on roller skates. Becoming a mom gave me the idea that “hey if I can do this I can do anything” and I bought a cheap pair of skates and figured it out. I kept learning, trying and pushing my limitations and here I am.

Dr. Rocktapus: Well we both got involved around the same time. Kraken began her start at Derby! U and then started going to Racer McChaseHer‘s Monday night speed class. I came along just to see if I could skate on quads. I started to meet a lot of people from the league including the wonderfull Marv Illis who put the idea in my head to join as a volunteer. After Kraken missed her first skills test by a few points and didn’t get discouraged and still put her all into becoming a DDG, we both joined the Stat Army together. She obviously went on and got drafted and then moved up to captaining the Pistoffs. I started in stats, moved to reffing and now coach the Dames. It’s pretty freakin’ sweet.

Did you both join at the same time or did one join before the other?

KW:  I joined before Rocktopus, I joined to have my own thing and like all husbands he just can’t let his wife have all the fun, so he became a NSO/Ref. His background is hockey so he was already a better skater than me and he’s one of those people who are naturally athletic…jerk. The worst part is he couldn’t teach me anything he knows because he’s so afraid to tell me what to do  He was also afraid I was becoming the cooler parent and he just couldn’t live with that.

What’s it like having your spouse involved with DDG?

KW: It’s pretty fun! We raz each other all the time. I’ve checked him into the fridge, he’s checked me over the chez lounge. If it weren’t for hitting him on a regular and often unexpected basis, I wouldn’t have been able to get as tough as I have. He can’t even knock me down now cause he’s weaker than me … BOOOYA!! Plus Pixie (our daughter) comes in and hip checks his knees, if he gets too rowdey. Pixie just screams “I’m on the girls team!” and boom he gets taken down. It’s also pretty funny when she says things like “I want to be a Grand Prix Madonna” when she’s mad at us.

DR: I love being married to a derby girl! It’s been great to see how far Kraken has come, and how hard she has worked to get it. And I still get butterflies every time I see her skate. And with us both being on different teams it keeps everything interesting, I love it when she says talk derby to me. Dealing with a team can get stressfull, this way we don’t bring it home and can just talk about the fun stuff.

What’s the first word that comes to mind when you hear “Pistoffs/Dames” (who you play on St. Patrick’s Day?)

KW: Epic. It’s really funny that it’s on St. Patricks day considering Rocktopus used to be a drummer in a celtic bagpipe and drum band, so he’s usually pretty inhibriated. I’m thinking I’m going to post up some pictures of him passed out face down in his kilt on the scoreboard, just to psyc him out.

DR: The first thing that comes to mind with our bout coming up is the Cold War. Up until recently, we always had an open line of derby communication, bouncing ideas back and forth, telling each other about practice. Now it’s all hushed phone calls, secret texts, and secret meetings. I directly blame Cookie Rumble for this. Cookie has been trying to drive a wedge between us for some time now, she has said this publicly many times. This bout gave her the perfect opportunity to do just that thing. So what’s a guy supposed to do? In times of war people have to do things they are not proud of. It started off with poking holes in condoms, the time frame for that tactic has run out. I tried to hip check Kraken down the stairs, but in a moment of weakness I pulled back only giving her a small tap. She has not trusted me near the stairs, or in any manner since. So I guess it will all play out on the 17th when the Dames and the Pistoffs take to the floor.

How are you going to prepare for this bout?

KW: I’m going to start by maxing out a credit card to stress him out. Put a dent in the car. Then on bout day he’ll get some laxatives dropped in his pre-bout “Monster” drink. That’ll stop him from his usual chirpping he likes to do to opposing captains.

Want to see Kraken Whips and Dr. Rocktopus battle it out for marital glory on St. Patrick’s Day? Get your tickets online at BrownPaperTickets.com.

Spotlight: Stat Army Member Laces-Up for Derby! U

Posted on February 20, 2012

As dedicated member of Detroit Derby Girls’ Stat Army, spreadsheet guru Pitzy made the decision to strap on some quads and give skating a whirl.

How did you hear about the Detroit Derby Girls?

A coworker of mine actually had a poster for a bout up in her cube a few years ago.  I had heard of roller derby before but didn’t know there was a team in Michigan.  She told me she was working on trying out for Flint City Derby Girls (I was surprised to find out there were now two teams! Imagine my awe two years later when I find out how many teams/leagues there really are in Michigan!).  A friend of mine and I headed up and checked out a Flint bout and we had a great time.  After that I really started poking around the internet for more information on Detroit and finally got a group of friends to go check out a bout in December 2009. And after that I was hooked.

 

 

How did you get involved with DDG?

I had season tickets last year, and found out that I had two friends from high school involved in the league that I hadn’t known about previously: one being Joy Stixx (former Grand Prix Madonna) and the other Interrobanger (former Stat Army). I love cheering for my friends when I find out such things, so I made a t-shirt for Joy, and later brought a sign stating “I  geeks! Stat Army Rocks!”  Kilty Conscience and Skid Bro approached me between bouts and asked me to join.  I don’t know if I would have pursued my idea of joining had they not encouraged me to. Believe it or not I can be quite shy.

So you made the decision to give skating a try and attended Derby! U. What was Derby! U like? Was this your first time ever on skates?

Derby! U was great!  I used to skate as a young teen, but I haven’t really skated much since then.  When I decided to join Stat Army, I started going to open skates near my house and just trying to get a feel for it again, but my shin splints have been really discouraging.  Thanks to a number of skaters I learned a few stretches and eventually bought my own skates (So much nicer than rentals! And a lot less stress on my shins!) The first day of Derby! U was literally my second time putting on my skates since I had gotten them just the week prior.  You could definitely say I was a beginner skater.  What I loved most about Derby! U was that as we were out on the floor learning the different techniques, a different skater would be there watching you and offer you new advice. As ShamWow told me while I was practicing the plow stop, “eventually someone is going to say the right words and it’s just going to click.”  And she was exactly right.

What are your thoughts about becoming a skater? Were you always interested in eventually skating?

As of right now, I really enjoy my role in the Stat Army, but I wouldn’t mind getting better on my skates.  Roller skating is a lot of fun, and it’s especially fun when you can hit up an open skate at say Riverside Arena and skate with not only other Stat Army folk, but refs and skaters too.  I think it helps build those lasting friendships that derby is known for.

What is the DDG Stat Army?

The DDG Stat Army is a group of dedicated volunteers that work together as a team to keep track of scores, penalties, lineups, and actions for each DDG bout.  Some of us are stat geeks who love the sport of roller derby but totally dig numbers and keeping our feet flat on the ground. Some of us are hopeful skaters that maybe weren’t quite ready to be on a team, but are willing to stay involved and get a better understanding of the game, and some of us are refs who enjoy skating and have a love for the rules of the game.

Interested in becoming involved with Detroit Derby Girls? Check out  our website: http://detroitderbygirls.com/joinstaff.html

It’s All in the Derby Family | Cookie Rumble & Elle McFearsome

Posted on January 21, 2012

All in the Detroit Derby Girls Family. It’s a new segment on our blog highlighting how roller derby in Detroit is a family affair for many skaters and volunteers. This week we’re showcasing Cookie Rumble and Elle McFearsome. Sisters. Teammates. And supported by their parents – the McRumblesomes.

How did you get involved with Detroit Derby Girls?

Cookie Rumble: I was hanging out at the 2500 Club with AK40oz (known then as Adam) when the DDG had their very first fundraiser party. A friend had said we should sign up, but because I didn’t know how to skate (and I was very shy) I said no. She signed us up anyways. Even though she never tried out, I went to the very first “official” practice at the Bohemian Social Club and I’ve been hooked ever since.

Elle McFearsome: I had been a figure skater when I was very young, but had moved on to other athletic endeavors, until I heard about derby from my mom (after Cookie had gushed about the first practice). Since I was between sports, and I already knew how to skate, I figured it was worth checking out, and I’ve been playing for DDG ever since.

 

Did you both join at the same time or did one join before the other?

CR: Elle called me on my way home from the first practice and proceeded to yell at me for not telling her about it. She was at the second practice.

EM: After Cookie talked up derby to my mom, I heard about it from her, and proceeded to berate Cookie for not telling me about it before the first practice…so naturally, I had to come to the second one  After all, I didn’t want to let her have all the fun without me!

 

What’s it like playing with your sister for the Detroit Pistoffs and DDG Allstars?

CR: I love her on my teams – I always know that she’s got my back (and I’ve got hers). Plus, Mom says we’re not allowed to be on separate teams. We would kill each other (literally).

EM: I’m not sure what I would do if we didn’t play together…I think we’re both very protective of each other, and I love playing with her! I think we complement each other well, both on and off the track. And as Cookie has mentioned, there’s no possibility that we could ever play against each other…I don’t think either of us would survive that experience!

 

You’re parents (the “McRumblesomes”) are season ticket holders. How has their support helped you in derby? 

CR: My parents are the best fans to have! They consider the entire league as their family and are always cheering everyone on. They make sure to be at every single game they can (both the league and DDG Allstars games). It’s great when we’re traveling to have at least two fans in the crowd who will cheer for us and defend us from the not so nice fans of the competition (I’ve seen my mom give the finger waggle to an unruly fan before). Plus they’ve been know to get the team cupcakes and snacks! YAAY!

EM: I don’t think anyone could ask for better fans! Both of our parents have always been very supportive in whatever activities we’ve been involved in, but having them there to support us on the road, especially on the national level, has been invaluable! They have supported not only Cookie and I, but our teams, and the league, and truly embody the essence of the sport.

 

What’s the first word that comes to mind when you hear “Pistolwhippers” (who you play tonight)? 

CR: Well, I was going to comment on how I love them and that they are always a tough team to play – but after reading Cool Whip’s comment, all Im going to say is “stinky.”

EM: The first word that comes to mind is “rivalry.” I love to play against the Pistolwhippers as a team, not only because I enjoy the rivalry with the Pistolwhippers  that we’ve developed over the years, but also because we now get to fight for bragging rights with Cool Whip and Boo D. Livers for best sister-team duo!

 

Need tickets to the Pistoffs vs. the Pistolwhippers? Buy them at the door tonight at the Masonic Temple in Detroit. Doors open at 6. Whistle blow at 7. See you then!

It’s All in the Derby Family | Boo D. Livers & Cool Whip

Posted on January 18, 2012

All in the Detroit Derby Girls Family. It’s a new segment on our blog highlighting how roller derby in Detroit is a family affair for many skaters and volunteers. This week we’re highlighting Boo D. Livers and Cool Whip. Sisters. Teammates. And coached by dad (Coach Cliff).

How did you get involved with Detroit Derby Girls?

Boo D. Livers: I came to a game a few years back with some friends.  They announced that there would be open tryouts the next day.  My friend, who used to speed skate, wanted to go, but didn’t want to go alone.  I went to keep her company.  She bailed and I was taken prisoner by the DDG.

Cool Whip: I went to see my sister play and it was insane! What a great night, I had never seen anything like it. Then Boo demanded I try out.

 

Did you both join at the same time or did one join before the other?

BDL: CW is a copycat (but I am really glad she is).

CW: See question #1

 

What’s it like playing with your sister for the Pistolwhippers and the DDG Allstars?

BDL: It’s GREAT!  She is seven years older than me so while we both grew up playing sports, we never really got to play any together – aside from her and my brother pushing me around in the backyard.

She’s hilarious and has the one of the best attitudes in the league.  She’s a team player and one of the reasons I love coming to practice.  *Ahem* when she shows up to practice.

CW: Playing with Boo is the best, my little sister has always been MY hero. I will tell you that it is way better to play WITH Boo rather than AGAINST Boo.  My sis is a great leader on the track and has an intensity that is unmatched. She is always active during game play and sweet to watch! She also doesn’t let me get away with half assing it, she keeps me in line. We also get to travel together and we laugh a lot!

 

You’re dad (Coach Cliff) is the Pistolwhippers coach. What is it like having your dad as the coach? And how has your parent’s support help you in derby?

BDL: Same ole same ole.  My dad and mom have coached me on and off since I was 6.  It’s fun to revisit that role.  People ask if I give him attitude because he’d my dad… never have never will.  Well, not on a field or track.  He is an awesome coach.  He’s smart, athletic minded, fair, and big on sportsmanship.  He is getting more and more involved in his role as derby coach and I hope he continues to do so.

My parents have always been super supportive of us athletically.  We are lucky because they have always been in the stands cheering us on and critiquing us all the way home.  Not much has changed as far as that goes.  Also, my mom makes sweet stuff like tee-shirts and voodoo coffins.  She comes to all of our games (even if she doesn’t really feel like it).  Needless to say she’s glad we are on the same team now.  And my dad just bought me new boots – nuff said.

CW: This isn’t the first time dad has coached us. He coached our soccer teams when we were younger and as my soccer career grew he held an large role in my training. We get to see eachother a ton more and he really loves us girls. He gets a kick outta the whole scene and is like a dad to all the skaters. He is always there to help. Plus if your lucky, he will buy you a beer! My mom comes to all of our bouts too! When Boo and I were on separate teams she made a half D-Funk Allstars half Pistolwhippers t-shirt to wear.  She is super happy we are on the same team now. She makes us little signs and stuff to hand out to our friends. It’s like being a kid again and you’re playing out there and you can look up and always find your mom and dad…and my husband….and sister…..and sometimes my brother shows up. He remains a D-Funk fan to piss us off.

 

What’s the first word that comes to mind when you hear “Detroit Pistoffs” (who you play on 1/21)?

BDL: Insane.  I mean Intense!!!  They play like they mean it.  Always.  It will be interesting going up against them with the Whippers this year.  Not sure what to expect other than a lot of really aggressive hits and tough tough walls.  Should be fun.

CW: Annoying.

 

Need tickets to the Pistoffs vs. the Pistolwhippers? No problemo. See you this weekend!  http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/211933

Roller Derby Nutrition – Top 3 Tips to Stay on Skates

Posted on January 11, 2012

Derby girls work their booties off. On the track, we skate hard and push our bodies to the limit: endurance skating, speed skating, hits, whips, knee slides, barrel rolls, ankle twists, bruised tailbones and bruised egos – all that needs rejuvenation and fuel to get us back at 100%. Devil Kitty, a Detroit Derby Girls founding member and skater for the Detroit Pistoffs, knows a thing or two about how to keep us healthy through nutrition. I give you Devil Kitty…

 

You have an amazing body. Tall, short, wide, narrow, curvaceous, muscular, firm, soft, athletic, lanky, vertically challenged, however you describe yourself — I think your body is amazing. If you take a minute to think about all the things our bodies are doing internally every minute of every day and how it all comes down to a series of events happening in a specific sequence, it’s pretty mind boggling.

With every derby practice, speed training or agility workout, we are pushing our bodies to do more, asking our bodies to better than they were yesterday. In roller derby that doesn’t necessarily mean achieving an ideal body type or reaching a specific weight goal. However, to be a healthy skater and to get the most out of every workout, nutrition is important. So whether you are ultra competitive and trying to reach the top of your game or just want to be active and a contributing member of a team or are trying to lose weight and have a fitness goal, I’ve compiled list of starting points to kick off 2012:

 

1.   Eat more (non-starchy) vegetables.  Put down the chips, cookies and crackers. Snack on this: vegetables are the fountain of youth and their benefits are seemingly endless.

We all know that vegetables are vitamin-rich food sources.  Four vitamins (A, D, E and K) are fat-soluble and can be stored by your body. The rest (C and all the B’s) are water soluble and you pee out any extra so you need a continuous supply of these vitamins.  These vitamins are required by your body to produce fuel from energy sources, maintain healthy skin and bones, promote good vision, build red blood cells and maintain your nervous and immune systems.

Phytochemicals are the substances that give vegetables their color, aromas and taste. In our bodies, they help prevent cell damage and cancer cell replication as well as decrease cholesterol levels. The more variety of vegetables you eat, the better! There isn’t a supplement out there that supplies as many of these substances as vegetables.

Non-starchy vegetables are low in calories so you can eat as many as you like (provided you aren’t eating them drenched in Ranch dressing or doused in butter sauce).

Vegetables are high in fiber, which will keep things moving right along in your digestive tract and help lower your LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) levels.

 

2.   Shift to eating lean protein. Protein is used by your body to build, maintain and replace tissues in your body. Athletes need more protein than non-athletes, anywhere from 0.6-0.8 grams/lb of body weight depending on your level of activity. Most athletes already consume enough protein and eating more has not been shown to enhance performance. However, many protein sources are high in saturated fat. To hit your target protein intake and still eat healthy, try these alternatives:

*Eggs /egg whites

*Quinoa

*Fish – be careful of how it is prepared . Frying and dipping sauces = danger

*Soy  (tofu, milk, yogurt, edamame)

*White meat poultry

*Black beans

*Low-fat dairy – plain yogurt, cottage cheese, skim milk

 

3.   Eliminate / reduce / manage your toxin intake. It is impossible to eliminate every harmful risk out there but consider addressing the following three:

*Smoking: Aside from the physical damage to your lungs, the hardening of your arteries and the cancer risk, smoking also interferes with the way your body uses nutrients. For example, smoking a single cigarette breaks down as much Vitamin C as you would get from eating an orange, drastically reducing the amount antioxidants available to fight cell damage. Smoking also interferes with Vitamin D and Calcium metabolism increasing the risk for osteoporosis.

*Alcohol: Alcohol has been shown to increase appetite while suppressing fat metabolism. According to a study in the American Journal of Clinical, fat metabolism can be reduced by as much as 73% after only two drinks of vodka and lemonade over one hour. So it’s not necessarily the calories from alcohol that lead to fat, it’s the effect that alcohol has on your overall metabolism.

*Trans and saturated fats: We all need fat in our diets and, for an athlete, fat is the primary fuel for light to moderate exercise. But we need the right kind of fat. Saturated fats are found in animal products and processed foods and are known to raise LDL cholesterol. Trans fats are primarily used to extend the shelf life of products and both raise LDL cholesterol AND lower HDL cholesterol levels. We need to avoid both to make room for the healthy fats like those found in fish, avocados, nuts, olive oil and soy milk. The good news is that companies are required to list trans and saturated fat levels on nutrition labels so you can make informed decisions.

 

About DK:
Devil Kitty is one of the founding members of the Detroit Derby Girls. She is a former U.S. National Team and University of Michigan swimmer who achieved a No. 5 World Ranking and National Champion title in the 200 meter backstroke as well as several All-American and Big-Ten titles. She has her B.S. in Biology from the University of Michigan and is currently studying Nutrition and Food Science at Wayne State University in pursuit of R.D. credentials. She hopes to run a Boston Marathon qualifying time in 2012.

Spotlight: DDG’s Newest Team is Ready for Season Two

Posted on December 15, 2011

Detroit Derby Girls’ newest kid on the block, the Grand Prix Madonnas, are back at it with their sophomore season in purple and checkers. Although they are still a young team with only one season under their belts, GPMs don’t want you to underestimate them. GPM Captain Spanish Ass’assin and Co-Captain Mean Josie Greene took a few sweaty minutes to sit down with Spotlight to answer some questions before their first bout of the 2011-2012 season against the Pistolwhippers.

What are you looking forward to most this season?
Spanish Ass’assin: Upping our GPM game! Last year we had almost a whole team full of newbies so we were sticking to the basics and focusing on learning the sport. The skaters did amazing and now we’re ready to really dive into the advanced strategy.

Mean Josie Greene: GPMs are just starting our second year in the league. Last year’s bright-eyed rookies are now grizzled vets looking to throw down and take some names. I think we caught everyone a bit by surprise last year by taking third place with a brand new team. This year is all about building on that success and turning GPM into a derby powerhouse for years to come.

Tell us about your rookies this year.
SA: We actually have five new skaters with a wide variety of skating/derby backgrounds this year. We have some definite jammer hopefuls and skaters that are already good on their skates so I was very pleased with the draft outcome. Plus they are so excited to be playing with us that I know they are going to excel quickly. I’m very eager to see what they bring to the bout table.

MJG: We’ve got a fantastic group of rookies this year. We picked up Yoko Razy, a transfer skater from Traverse City, who has got great derby instincts and quick moves. Ash Hole is a strong blocker who is going to help make our walls even stronger.  Lilli Monster is a scrappy jammer/blocker who I think is really going to surprise people this year. We’re expecting aNOMaly’s quick feet to find holes in opposing defenses and rack up the points.  ShamWow is a really smart skater who we’re expecting her to be effective at a number of positions.  They’ve all been working really hard and I know they are all excited for their debut this Saturday.

What makes the GPM different than the rest of the DDG teams?
SA: The team in itself is very young with it being only our second season this year.  I believe that to be a positive aspect over the other teams because we are not set in any specific ways.  We are still learning and developing as a team and I feel as though we look at all options of play style.  We’re definitely the eager puppy looking to learn new tricks and I think that is what other older teams should be afraid of.

MJG: Um… well obviously GPM is the best!!!  Since we are such a new team, I think GPM skaters are really dedicated and hungry to improve.  We have a team-first mentality.  We know that we need to play as a unit to win, and everyone is on board with doing whatever it takes to help the team.  It’s a great group of girls to be around.

You’re first game of the 2012 season is this Saturday, December 17th against the Pistolwhippers. What can we expect?
SA: Well it’s the rematch for the fight for 3rd place from last year but the Pistolwhippers are really a new team this year.  You can expect that the Grand Prix Madonnas will be fighting like it’s the same team that beat us at our first bout ever though.  We’ve got really talented skaters on the team and I fully intend to unleash their competitive natures 

MJG: GPM vs PW is turning into a great rivalry.  In our very first game as a team in December of last year, the Pistolwhippers trounced us pretty well.  That gave us plenty of incentive to come back and beat them in the 2011 Grudge Match.  So the December 17th bout is going to be a great matchup, no matter what.  I think one of the major things people commented on last year is the size difference between the two teams.  Grand Prix is a big, physical blocking team that likes to swarm opposing jammers.  While the Whippers certainly have some great hitters, they tend to be a bit smaller overall.  The Whippers have some great jammers on their side, but let’s face it – I certainly wouldn’t want to be a jammer coming up on a wall of purple & checkered!  And of course, we’ve got Racer McChaseHer – who just came back from the Derby World Cup and Team USA– always amazing to watch in action.  It’s going to be a hard-hitting, rough & tumble bout and one that’s sure to be fun to watch.

What’s it like playing at the Masonic Temple?
SA: It’s like coming home for the holidays!  A lot of us played at the Masonic Temple for years before we went to the COBO Center.  Even though we could fit more people in the bigger venue, the Masonic will always have that comfortable home vibe to it.  It was an easy transition back and I didn’t realize how much I missed the closeness of the crowd. When you look up from the track, all of the fans are right there!  I can see my family and friends cheering up close no matter where they are sitting, and they like to be able to see the fun and sassy facial expressions I make while I’m playing.  It’s a win-win really.

MJG: The Masonic is everything that derby should be – classy and a little bit gritty.

Do you have any pre-game rituals?
SA: The team always gets together the night before the bout for a pre-bout dinner.  It’s a fun evening full of carbs, bout footage and just hanging out together as a team to prepare to play as a team the next day.  And GPM’s love to eat so dinner is always yummy!!

MJG: I harness my inner Mean.  Then I chug a Coke.

Any words for your fans?
SA: I would like to thank the fans for welcoming our new team so amazingly well last year.  Home teams always have dedicated fans that follow them over the years but when our new team came around, there was absolutely no lack of love from the crowd.  Our team t-shirts sold faster than we could put them on the racks and it wasn’t long before GPM love was being blasted all over the internet.  It’s such a cool feeling!

MJG: Pick up some purple and checkered and come out Saturday to cheer the GPMs on to victory!  Good times and a great bout guaranteed. If you need more GPM in your lives, “Like” us on our Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/GrandPrixMadonnas

 

You can see GPM Vs. Pistolwhippers action this weekend on Saturday, December 17th at the Masonic Temple. Doors open at 6pm. Wheels roll at 7pm. Need tickets? No problemo. Get them on BrownPaperTickets.com

Spotlight: Diesel Doll & Lazer Beam Crack That Whip

Posted on December 12, 2011

You’ve got to whip it. Whip it good. And the Pistolwhippers are more than ready to CRACK THAT WHIP this weekend against the purple and checkered Grand Prix Madonnas. The Pistolwhippers’ Captain, Lazer Beam, and Co-Captain, Diesel Doll, agreed to take a few minutes from practicing johnny crashes and outside whips to sit down with Spotlight and answer a few questions about their upcoming bout.

What are you looking forward to most this season?

Lazer Beam: I am looking forward to a fun and successful season for my team. We have lots of new faces and we want to make this year fun. We all know winning is FUN! I am just happy to be back on skates and get to skate with my team again.

Diesel Doll: I’m very excited to see how our team has gelled in such a short time. This season is definitely a rebuilding season for the Pistolwhippers and we have a lot of amazing new talent on our team. Del Bomber is stepping back from skating this year to manage our team, and as an original veteran and former Detroit Derby Girls Allstars skater, she brings a great deal of derby knowledge and strategy to our bench. She and Coach Cliff are going to be a management force to be reckoned with. All of this is a combination for success on the track.

Tell us about your rookies this year?

LB: We have a lot of them: six rookies, two transfers and a trade. They are all fantastic. Meli Ali is super fast and agile. Rock’em Shock’em is tough as they come. Sam-I-Slam has an unreal knowledge of the game. Scizzor Bangz she has style on and off the track. Travis Blocker snapped her leg in half, so you may not get to see her in action this season other than cheering on her teammates. Uhura Belle Death as a killer plow stop and knows how to use it. We also got Genniferal from The Windy City Rollers and Vera Toss from B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls – both are great players who have brought new ideas for us to use here in the D! We also got boo d. livers in a trade. It’s much better to have her playing with you than against you.

DD:  I want the derby world and its fans to know I am extremely proud to be playing with the following new Pistolwhippers and expect a lot of focused and controlled mayhem coming from them this season:  Meli Ali, Sam-I-Slam, Scizzor Bangs, Uhura Belle Death, Rock’em Shock’em and our beloved Travis Blocker. They are locked and loaded, ready for battle.

What makes the Pistolwhippers different than the rest of the DDG teams?

LB: I am not real sure. I just know we are different.

DD: We have more fresh blood on our team than any other, in transfers, rookies and trades.  With all the new skaters and Whippers management comes new strategies and enthusiasm that has spread throughout the team.  Also, we have a unique family dynamic consisting of Coach Cliff and his two demure daughters boo d.livers and Cool Whip. To add two cherries to this sundae we have transfer players from two highly ranked derby leagues: Vera Toss and Genniferal.

You’re first game of the 2012 season is this Saturday, December 17th against the Grand Prix Madonnas. What can we expect?

LB: You are going to see lots of heart and giving it 110% in true Whipper fashion.

DD: Pistolwhippers are coming out with guns a’blazing!  While we are not underestimating the talent of the GPM’s we are ready to CRACK THAT WHIP!

What’s it like playing at the Masonic Temple?

LB: I have only played at Masonic Temple in my Fresh Meat Faceoff last season. But I loved it. I love the wood floor. Must be the speed skater in me. I know the fans seems to love it and that is all that really matters.

DD: We are proud to continue our DDG legacy at a venue that is more unique than any other in the derby world. It’s a privilege to be a part of a historic building that has had such an important role in Detroit’s heritage. The sound of skating wheels on the wood floor is second to none.

Do you have any pre-game rituals?

LB: I play on Facebook all day until it’s time to leave. Then once I would get to Cobo Center (DDG’s previous bout venue) I would get sick. I get so nervous. Tuna, last year’s manager of the Grand Prix Madonnas, told me it just means I care.

DD: Nothing gets the blood flowing like going to the gun range and shooting off 100 rounds of ammo.  That, and coconut water.

Any words for you fans?

LB: Yes! I have lots to say to the fans. Thank you so much for all the love, support and encouragement the last eight months. It meant a lot to me knowing you guys wanted me back on skates as bad as I wanted to be. Also, thank you for voting me Fan Favorite last season. I was truly shocked. I would also like to say thank you to our sponsor Dr. Burns and his staff of Nudoc Physical Therapy for all the help they have given me. Without them I would not be able to do what I love. PLAY ROLLER DERBY!

DD: Thanks for voting us Fan Favorite Team of 2011!  We promise to deliver another exciting year to the spectators and hard knocks to our derby sisters. Thank you for making Detroit Derby Girls what it is today.  Stop by our Facebook Page and  shoot us message! http://tinyurl.com/83abwmq

You can crack that whip with the Pistolwhippers on Saturday, December 17th at the Masonic Temple in Detroit, MI. Doors open at 6, wheels roll at 7. Tickets are available online at BrownPaperTickets.com.

 

Spotlight: Kraken Whips & Cookie Rumble Are Super Pist and Want Burritos

Posted on November 18, 2011

Their team motto is GET PIST! and that’s just want they want their fans to do.

Detroit Pistoff co-captain Kraken Whips and DDG OG Cookie Rumble took a few minutes from practice this week to sit down with Spotlight to discuss their upcoming battle against the D-Funk Allstars in this weekend’s Detroit Derby Girls 2012 Season Opener.

 

What are you looking forward to most this season?

Kraken Whips: This season the Pistoffs are looking forward to trying new plays and building up our skill levels as a team. Over the summer we lost Effin Money and Maim West to their real lives, which was heartbreaking but, on the flip side we collected several rookies and Deadly Dose has found her way back home to the Pistoffs as well.

Cookie Rumble: I’m looking forward to playing with our newest teammates and having a rollicking good time.

Tell us about your rookies this year.

KW: We have six new rookies this year. U.S.S. DentHerPrize, who is probably the most crafty girl on skates I’ve ever met. Wham!tramck is a rookie that could most likely do a bout skating backward the entire time. Belle Isle Hurtya is a NSO turned skater so she has really good knowledge of the game. Princess Die is very sweet off the track but gets super intense in game play. VeroniKILL is a very hard worker and has put in a ton of effort to get where she is. Kai’ outi Krash is as tall as Devil Kitty so between the two of them, they’ll be running a monoply on track real estate. Then of course I mentioned we have Deadly Dose back on the team after taking a couple seasons off, she’s still as fast as when she left.

CR: They are all amazing and smell of rich mahogany. They have many leather-bound books.

What makes the Pistoffs different than the rest of the DDG teams?

KW: We do things a little different on the Detroit Pistoffs, we like to dance while we’re waiting to get on the track, we like to dance when we’re on the track and we really like to dance at the afterparty. There are a lot of funny girls within the league but, by far the Pistoffs are the funniest!

CR: We have the fanciest mustaches and tiny shiny pants.

You’re first game is this Saturday, November 19th against D-Funk. What can we expect?

KW: We can expect the same intense action you saw at the 2010-2011 Championships back in June. I think D-funk is ready and really looking forward to trying to get a win on us, so we are working very hard to make sure that doesn’t happen for them. There will be hard hitting, fast jamming, confusing penalties, all in all it’ll be Detroit Derby at it’s finest.

CR: Expect the unexpected; or seeing as how we’ve played against each other many times before….expect the expected.

What’s it like playing at the Masonic Temple?

KW: I’m really excited to be playing at the Masonic Temple this season. I think with the drill hall being much smaller than Cobo Arena, we can get back to that intimate feeling with the fans. The floor is pretty fun to skate and the fans sound much louder in the drill hall, and who doesn’t like that?

CR: It feels like home.

Do you have any pre-game rituals?

KW: The Pistoffs like to slap on some black eyes and munch on Redvines while we get ready for battle. As for myself, my only rituals are to make sure my toe stops are properly secured and my helmet fits, because I always seem to have a problem with those.

CR: Two words. Manhattan sammich.

Any words for you fans?

KW: Fans should check out our Detroit Pistoff Facebook page to get all the info on the Rookies we picked up, and to tell us what kinds of things they’d like to see out of us this season, and of course all our fans should….GET PIST!!!

CR: I love you and if you give me burritos, I will love you more.

You can catch the Pistoffs in action this Saturday, November 19th at the Masonic Temple. Doors open at 6. Whistle blows at 7. Tickets are available online at BrownPaperTickets.com.

 

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