The saddest part of every roller derby season is the whistle before that last jam, when you know that this is it; this is the end, well, for now. There are many things we all do in order to appease our need for derby in the off-season; we hang out with each other, we work out at the gym, we train at Just For Kicks Martial Arts, but what makes it seem like we are actually on the track again is our End of Season Party.

A Roller Derby Party to Remember

The End of Season Party this year far exceeded my expectations from last year, or any year prior. For starters, our new batch of fresh meat (new skaters) had now graduated to “tender meat” and had played in several bouts. I could easily say they doubled our team in numbers. Lolita Lebruise graciously offered her non-derby/work-related turf for our party at Bard College. To say that Bard College is beautiful would be an understatement. Bard College is set up a lot like colleges are on TV, where its over-the-top, and unrealistic. The only difference is this WAS a real college, and the way the hall was decorated, it was more like a gala.

The decorations were beautiful-and of course “horrors” themed. Tons of silver and black tablecloths, and cute metallic red confetti adorned each table; everyone was dressed in silver, red, and black. Instead of skates, high-heels. Instead of helmets, fancy hair do’s. We were here to celebrate our achievements. There were many notable achievements this year to acknowledge: We played our first WFTDA-ranked season. This was huge. This was years in the making. When I was fresh meat, the first thing I was told is that we were working towards becoming a WFTDA league. Four years later, I played for the first WFTDA ranked Hudson Valley Horrors Team; this was our 2011 season.

Personalized Roller Derby Awards

This year, we decided to commemorate all of the skaters who have gone above and beyond on and off the track. Rxy Ramalotte, founder of HVHRD spent countless hours creating personal awards made out of old wheels, with a personal touch. The awards ceremony felt like the Oscars or the Grammys. There were presenters, and quick thank-you’s. Some awards included “deadliest shoulder check” (winner Puffy Bangs), “Most Improved Player” (Pin-Up Ghoul), “So Fast I missed Her” (Lacerated, Honey Punches Nd Gloats),  Most Points Scored in One Jam (Rxy Ramalotte), NSO Appreciation (our volunteers), Zebra Awards (to our refs), and many others.

My own victories include “most likely to fall while standing still” and “smelliest pads” (okay so I’m clumsy and I smell, but I’m only hazardous when I’m not moving…it’s a blessing and a curse). I have full confidence I can sacrifice my smelly pads award this year to other stinkers on my team, but somehow I think I will end up with the clumsy award again in 2012.  When I was handed my award, I was taken aback by how professional it looked. I expected a glittery wheel with some sort of cheesy writing on it. When I had it in my hand, not only was it cut so it would stand on a table without rolling away, but it had plastic in the middle with my name on it, the year, and the name of the award. These were created by Brainstorm Computers and Technology in Kingston using their awesome custom engraving laser technology.  These were fancy! (by the way, there was still glitter. We love glitter.)

After the awards, we went onto the dance floor, where Trixie was DJing. We danced, feasted on a vast variety of food (some vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free) and drank soda, seltzer, wine, and liquor. When it was time to leave, we were filled with sadness. Nobody wanted to leave. When you spend this much time with the same people, their presence brings a sense of comfort that I could try to describe all day, but nobody would ever quite understand. I knew that it was a mere 2 weeks until the season started and we would be back on skates, but 2 weeks was just TOO long from then. We said our goodbyes, cleaned up, and Bard began to look more like a college than a gala. We got in the car and reminisced about the night the whole ride home. “Did you see how cute so-and-so looked? How nice are these awards? The guacamole was delicious! I can’t wait for the season to start!”

Now the season has started; we have had scrimmages, various committee meetings, plans for the future. When I come home, elated, smelly, and sore, I look on my shelf at my awards. I probably look at them once a week. I’ll have these forever. I know I’m more than a stinky and clumsy person on my team. I’m quirky, and I am just one of 40 puzzle pieces that make up the Horrors. Without me, a piece is missing. Without anyone else, I’m just a puzzle piece. There is more to derby than its glitz-the tights, the skirts, the names; it’s a sisterhood. My derby sisters and I are part of something huge. We are part of the roller derby revolution. We are happy on the track. There’s nothing else to it. We are happy. Whoever said money couldn’t buy happiness has never bought and strapped on a pair of skates and played roller derby, because THAT, right there, is happiness.