Heroes VS Zombies Roller Derby

The poster by Dean Reeves for the upcoming Calgary Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo Roller Derby, which I'm sure will be awesome but not quite as awesome as Wonder Woman battling zombies, though they do seem distinctly at a disadvantage. This one's for you, Andrea.

Previously on Popped Culture...

The Birth Of Wonder Woman

If Superheroes Were Hipsters

The Walken Dead

Sydney Derby Babes

Through Daisy-Boo Cannon the lovely lady who featured in my last volume of Talk Derby To Me I found these rad pictures. They were taken by Gunther Hang at the last two D'viants vs The Screaming Assault Sirens bout. They are Fantastic!

Enjoy.

Sassy Librarians Daisy-Boo Cannon & Rogue Streak

Winnie Bruise & Thunder Pussy

Milla Chokabitch

Captain Ratz

Belle, Feisty Cuffs & Blood Bath Binki

Great Bolz Of Fire

Find SRDL here.

Talk Derby To Me vol.2

The darling Daisy Boo Canon is the sweetest little hard arse on skates! She stole my heart when she was skating for Newcastle Roller Derby. Now she's rolling for Sydney on The Screaming Assault Sirens! She's a librarian turned derby queen! What a perfect combination of two things I love.

How did you find out about derby and what was it that attracted you to the sport?

My derby wife Ruby doomsday, (who at the time was my friend Bec) told me about derby. We met working in libraries in 2001. In 2008 Ruby saw the first airing of Roller derby dolls on ABC and told me excitedly about it! I filed it as awesome because of the skating, the personas and the DIY attitude. In late 2008 I saw a link on a friends facebook page that there was a group that was called "Lets Start Derby In Newcastle" I told ruby and registered my interest. I actually missed out on first month due to breaking my arm in a drinking accident. One month after they started I rocked up with no gear and borrowed skates to the netball courts in Newie and became part of NRDL. I liked derby because I loved skating around outside my house when i was a kid, and I liked the mix of women it attracted and i really liked the idea of contact.

What do you think the biggest misconception out there about derby and the girls that do it?

The biggest misconception about derby is that it's just a passing phase and isn't really that popular. People are shocked when I tell them I have played at two sold out bouts at the Horden in front of 2500 people each time! People also underestimate the athleticism and commitment required. I train for 8 hours a week formally and at least 2 informally and i am not a sporty type! The biggest misconception about the girls that play it is that we are all tough and rough and mean. I am a library girl with no tattoos or piercings and completely white bread and middle class. NICE GIRLS PLAY DERBY!

Is there a derby girl who inspires you the most?

At the moment (there have been many along the way) is THE MIGHTY TOOSH of Sydney Roller Derby League. She worked through SRDL fresh meat training last year. After missing assessments at the end she worked her but off to improve her agility and fitness and skate confidence and successfully passed her white star the same day I tried out for SRDL when I transferred from Newie in Feb 2010. Since then Tish has gotten better and better, she works SO HARD at trainings, listens to advice, ABSORBS everything, studied hard for her rules test so she is like a rule encyclopedia now. This weekend she is making her debut at the Horden and i am so so proud of her achievement. she is tough agile and derby clever in the pack. SO GLAD SHE IS ON MY TEAM!

Being the nerd that I am I adore you derby name. How did you decide on it?

Well, being a library lady i really wanted a literary derby name. At the time i joined derby I had 3ft long hair and was petite and wore dresses and pretty shoes. I bought white skates. So in the beginning i felt different due to my 'nice girl" looks. I thought i would pursue that with a name. however i wanted the name to be a 'sound alike' name with a rough edge to it. FINALLY I LOVE THE TWENTIES AND THIRTIES! love the opulence and tragedy of the great Gatsby, love the idea of being a femme fatal so Daisy--Buchanan of the great Gatsby set in 1922 became Daisy-Boo Cannon #1922 ROLLER DERBY GIRL :) I love it when people recognise it without explaining, and now Daisy is as much my identity as Alison.

I think a lot of people don’t realise the amount of training that goes into derby. What is your usual training schedule like?

Okay on Sunday I train 1 till 3, Tuesdays and Thursdays I train 6 till 8, Fridays I train 7 till 9 and on Wednesdays I try to street skate with some other people. I skate to the start point of the street skate from my home so I guess that is another hour and a half. Also our team The Screaming Assault Sirens try to train separately before league training which is about 2 hours a fortnight (if that). On top of that i attempt to do fitness like jogging and strength but that is very much a daisy will try rather than a daisy definitely does.

Lastly do you have any advice for anyone who is starting derby?

At first you may not realise how much you will surrender yourself to derby. Be prepared for it taking over your time budget wardrobe and relationships. Explain carefully to your partner and family and non derby friends how much this new sport means to you, never apologise for finding the sport you love, however try to find a life derby balance.

Ask for help with your skating from the veterans THEY ARE NOT SCARY THEY ARE NICE! Lastly the key to derby success is time on your skates and time watching games. STREET SKATE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN ! xoxo Daisy

Photos by Ange Malone, Sweet Acid Photography and CasPix

Talk Derby To Me vol.1

Welcome to my first instalment of Talk Derby To Me! Roller Derby is one of the biggest parts of my life and is something that takes up so much of my time. So I'm asking derby questions to a different derby doll a week! I'm starting with Too Tall from Newcastle Roller Derby League. Without this lady I would never of had the confidence to get my behind on skates.

How did you find out about derby and what was it about derby that attracted you to the sport?

Derby is in my family. My aunt played Roller Derby in the 60 and 70's, and my mum was a skate teacher, so i was bought up on skates. Because of this I was always attracted to skating sports and was going to take up ice hockey until i found out that it isn't full contact for women. So when i found out that roller derby was making a come back well i signed up with my local league straight away.

I think many people’s first impressions of derby is the movie Whip It. What’s the difference between the movie version and the real derby?

"Whip It" was a great advertising and history lesson for mainstream society that either didn't know anything about roller derby or didn't know that it had been resurrected and evolved into the sport it is today.

The movie of course is not completely true to what derby is today due to the typical Hollywood dramatisation but the team spirit and comradery is very much the same.

Can you explain the term derby wife to people who don’t play derby?

A derby wife and its purpose is basically a "buddy" system, that if someone is hurt on track the medic and "wife" are the only ones allowed near that girl, if you are out on the town and your wife is under the weather its your job to hold her hair, you basically look out for each other.

A lot of people see short skirts, fishnets and girls falling over. But it’s actually a really physical sport. How much training do you usually put into derby?

A lot of "oldskool" people especially those who used to watch derby on t.v ask me how "fake" it actually is now days. I can tell you now there is NOTHING fake about it. Derby is a serious sport that has a very hard training schedule. The Representative team has a 12week training booklet and is expected to do at least 15min a day 3 days a week on top of their skate training which is a min 2 days a week, but most girls do a lot more then that. Training is held over 4 days a week so its no walk in the park. The entertainment aspect is the bonus part of derby where we get to dress in short skirts and fishnets coz with all the training we do, well we look freakin HOT!!

What’s your favourite aspect of roller derby?

My fav part of derby (apart that it has me on skates) is the family that iv gained. The girls are so accepting of everyone and for someone who has always felt judged due to my "alternate" look on life ie tats piercings music etc its been the one place i can be myself and have girls left and right of me that are very unique yet exactly the same. I love derby and i will be doing it in some shape or form for the rest of my life.

Do you have any advice for girls who are interested in playing roller derby?

Girls if your looking at derby as a possible sport be prepared for a massive change in your life for the better. Where in the world can you combine sport leisure and lifestyle all in the one category.

Derby til Death xoxo Tootall

Coffs Coast Derby Dolls

Yay for new leagues!

Find them here.

SRDL Bout 4

This is a picture of me and Nata Lickit holding our D'viants banner at the fourth bout of this years Sydney Roller Derby Leagues season. The D'viants didn't win the bout, the Screaming Assault Sirens did but that doesn't really matter. The real winner is Australian Roller Derby! This bout was held at the Horden Pavilion and it sold out. What's better than that?

All pictures taken by Kim Lee.

Her facebook is here.

Gimme Gimme Gimme

Tuesday night at training I had a fall which made me realise Protec knee pads are crud and aren't going to cut it. My knees still aching and i'm not keen on the thought of damaging them permanently.... so I think i'll buy of these tomorrow.

Great Southern Slam Shots

A few friends of mine are in Charles Williams photos from The Great Southern Slam. These pictures are reminding me how jealous I am that I wasn't there. He's one of my favourite derby photographers. You heck out more snaps here.

Flyer Bombings

Friday night training was great because most of the girls were at the nationals there was only a few of us which meant I had the time to learn a whole bunch of new things! Which was rad. I asked Kamikaze to be my derby wife! She said yes... nothings better than having a derby wife... I was scared I was going to be derby spinster forever!

Saturday night I went with Dave to Sydney because he had a gig on. He played with a bunch of glam bands. It was pretty amusing because big hair is more important that being in key. We got home so late in the morning and I got up early to go on a street skate flyer bomb for fresh meat along the foreshore. I had a blast even though I was crazy tired!

I love Newcastle Roller Derby!

Yay For Hoodies!

I've been put on full time at work which is good because I really need the cash to put more work into my caravan. It's going to be great to know what hours i'm going to be working so I can make the most out of my time rather than mill around home for a few hours waiting to get called into work.

I got home from work last night and one of my derby ladies dropped me off something to keep my warm and cosy this winter before the girls go to the great southern slam in Adelaide.

I love it so much! my house is so cold and I haven't bought a hoodie in years.

Roller Derby The Movie

It's videos like this that brings happy tears to my eyes.

It's off to work I go... will this rain ever stop?

Bearded Dames.

I've had a busy little day for someone who is still in their pjs. I just washed and dried all my makeup brushes because i'm helping out my friends little sisters photo shoot. All i know is it's going to be bearded ladies in 50's dresses and ill be doing makeup and modelling. I'm excited because since I left my last makeup job I had felt so uninspired.

I have another big weekend coming up. Dave is playing double bass in a Buddy Holly show then straight after i'm heading to a friends house haunting party. I'm stoked because its a dress up as your favourite dead celebrity theme. Which if you know me you will know who ill be dressing as.

Also on the derby front i'll be at this so you should come.

You can buy tickets for the bout on sunday here.

Ruff n Ready

Do you like rockabilly and kustom culture brands but don't like paying a heap of shipping? Well a friend of mine has started an online store for all things rockabilly and kustom culture. Ruff n Ready now stock heaps of brands I love without the expensive postage.

So check out some of the Lucky 13, Sailor Jerry, Lux Deville, Zombie Kitten, Tiki Farm and High Life products. Here's a sample of the gems available.

All pictures taken from here.

Tattoo Darling v.2

Mimsy Gleeson

This girl has got so many things going for her that I can't not mention her in my blog. She does work from a studio but is known for tattooing out of her vintage trailer at events such as Wintersun and Greazefest. Hence the name Mimsy's Trailer Trash Tattoos. She does the cutest mix of pin ups, zombies, cupcakes, lipsticks, hair dryers, perfumes and other girly creations. She recently got to tattoo the sweetest and sexiest pinup there is Sabina Kelly when she was out her for the Sydney Tattoo Convention. I think i'll shoot her an email to get tattooed at this years Greazefest...

Oh I almost forgot you might recognise her from the SBS documentary Roller Derby Dolls skating under Mimsy Mayhem.

Pics from here and here.