How did you find out about roller derby in general, and WCR specifically?

I grew up in New York, and when I was about 17 I went to Coney Island and saw some of the Gotham Girls doing a skating demo on the boardwalk. I was just there to ride the Cyclone and eat a hot dog, but I was totally amazed and swept up in how fast those girls could skate and how perfectly they rocked that boardwalk. Coney Island is this great crazy relic, where things like freak shows and carnival hawkers remain and are revitalized as these wonderful things that had, elsewhere, been on the brink of extinction. The derby girls were representing this sport that I'd thought was, like Coney Island, extinct except in this liminal space! I was totally hooked from the start, and kept up with the local New York teams until I went to art school here in Chicago. But I didn't know my way around the city, and didn't make it out of a few miles radius from the Art Institute for a while. So it wasn't until I'd been here a few years that I caught on to the WCR and got all swept up in how wonderful it is. I realized that my high-school aged passion for derby as a sort of idealized esthetic had transformed into an actual understanding of the sport and passion for the skill and talent of the players. I think it's pretty easy to get that way about the WCRs.

What made you want to dedicate a comic to WCR?

Actually, I touch on my derby love in earlier comics. One in particular, in a comics endurance exercise known as an hourly comic (where two panels are drawn each hour of the day), I depicted myself wearing my Manic Attackers T-shirt throughout the day. I was completely bowled over and starstruck when a few of the players commented on the comic and encouraged me to say hi to them after the next bout. I'd always been too shy to do so, but with their kind invitation I felt like I had to muster the gumption, and thus my comic about meeting Ruth Enasia, and how cool that was for me. It also came at a time during my convention season, when I travel around selling my work at comic arts festivals, and meeting my readers. I'm always so flattered and surprised when people are excited and flustered meeting me, so I wanted to do a comic about that feeling, and how I completely relate – how anyone can relate to that giddy feeling of being a fan.

Your comic was such a great summing up of what it’s like to be a fan of anything. What’s it like when people come up to you with the same tongue-tied enthusiasm as when you approached Ruth Enasia?

I'm really touched when readers get all tongue-tied and goofy when they meet me, because I know how that feels! I think it's wonderful when that kind of connection of awe and inspiration can form between strangers – so much great positive energy for people you don't even know in person. I've had experiences where people were so nervous to meet me, having such a strong connection to my life as I depict it in my comics, that they have a lot of trouble overcoming their shyness. I wanted to make my derby-meeting comic to make sure that people are reminded that everyone is a nerdy fangirl or fanboy about something/someone or another!

What do you think is the best way to convert non-derby fans to fans?

Ha, ha, I wish I knew! I'm terrible at doing this. I think because when I bring uninitiated friends to bouts, I'm either paying too much attention to the rink, or lecturing them on the rules and how the game is played, or slobbering over how great certain players are. I think it's overwhelming for them. I think everyone has to come to it on their own, without being dragged or coerced.

Your site says you’re working on a second graphic novel. What’s the subject matter and do you have a publishing date yet?

It's a full-color book about food, and growing up under the wing of my mother, who is a professional chef. It's sort of a girl-power, mom-daughter collection of stories about the connection between memory and food, and a few of my favorite things I've learned from my mom about cooking and eating. It'll come out under First Second Publishing, probably sometime in 2012. I'd love to do a long derby comic someday, but I've gotta finish this book first!

photo by Thia Penta

Loco Chanel: This is your second year with the Windy City Rollers, can you compare and contrast the feelings of going into this season vs your rookie season?

Deb Autry: My first year I was drafted onto the Hell's Belles who were coming off an undefeated, championship season.  We had a solid roster of amazing and talented girls, so if I wanted a place on the team, I had to prove myself every time I stepped onto the track.  I was brand new to skating and roller derby, so I was a sponge trying to absorb every tip and all the words of wisdom from my more experienced teammates.  That season was really about learning the game and finding my stride as a skater.

In the off season we had a rash of retirements so this year I AM the experienced teammate.  With 10+ new skaters on the team, this season is more about developing everyone and learning to play together as a cohesive team.  This year I’m working on stepping into a leadership role and sharing my knowledge, while still refining my own game.

LC: What's your sports experience prior to joining the Windy City Rollers? How did you get involved in roller derby?

DA: I’ve played soccer as long as I can remember.  Starting in grade school up through playing Varsity level in High School.  In college at UW-Madison I played co-ed intramural soccer, but the season was only 6 weeks long.  When I started to get antsy between my soccer fixes a friend suggested I give rugby a try.  I instantly liked the physicality of it and after playing soccer for 15+ years it was fun to learn a new sport with new rules and strategy.

Right around the time of my graduation, the Madison roller derby league was starting up.  A lot of girls from rugby were joining, so roller derby was definitely on my radar.  I was intrigued, but I knew I’d be moving back to Chicago so I didn't want to start something I couldn't finish.  In Chicago I’d attend a couple bouts here and there.  I really enjoyed it and told all my friends “I could do that,” but I also knew it was a big time commitment that I wasn’t ready for.  After 2 years I finally started to feel settled and after talking the talk, I decided it was time to walk the walk.  I borrowed some skates, tried out, and the rest is history.

LC: You're one of the more versatile players on the Belles-- good at defensive blocking, offensive blocking, and a strong jammer. What's your favorite position to play?

DA: Haha, I think I’m expected to say jammer, but the truth is jamming still scares the crap out of me.  Sure you get all the glory, but you also get all the pressure.  They should really replace the star on your helmet with a target.  And as an offensive blocker sometime it’s hard for me to turn off my jammer instincts and too often I  find myself taking my jammer’s path.

I’d say I enjoy defensive blocking the most.  It’s fun to be the scary, intimidating one; the predator instead of the prey.  Nothing beats landing a good hit on the jammer.

LC: What's been your favorite WCR memory/ experience thus far?

DA: Being a nervous rookie in my first bout, but still going out there and performing was a big "I can do this" moment for me.  Getting lead jammer against girls who play as All Stars was terrifying in the most exhilarating way and made me a lot more confident in myself and my abilities.

Photo by Thia Penta

Eamon Daly (formerly known as Scorey Feldman) has been involved with the Windy City Rollers since the days at the Congress Theatre and has been instrumental in the league's growth. Learn what those stats overviews on your favorite team and players' pages mean!

Loco Chanel: You've been involved with the Windy City Rollers since the early days. How did you become involved with the league in the first place?

Eamon Daly: I attended the Rollers' very first bout in 2005 and was completely blown away by the speed, athleticism, and brute force of the whole thing. When Mob Hit Molly and The Chicago Ace put out a request for volunteers, I jumped at the opportunity to be part of the organization.

Through the course of our 6 seasons of play, you've been involved in a lot of projects in the league beyond tallying our points and penalties. What other projects have you worked on? What are you involved with now?

It's been a long, strange trip, that's for sure! In the early days, just the idea of formally recording stats was brand new, so for the first few bouts I just sat in a dark corner of the stage with a legal pad, recording things that I thought might be interesting. Slowly but surely I hammered on those notes and figures to create a reliable set of forms, eventually becoming our Head Statistician. It was a short hop from there to Head of Officiating (formerly "Rules & Regs"), where I helped referees and statspeople work together in perfect harmony; and this season, I was named to the Executive Board to help ensure the league stays true to its mission. From laying the track to shuffling papers to managing staff to balancing budgets, I've been incredibly fortunate to have seen it all.

Except for the bathroom in our practice space. I'm pretty sure I could've gone my whole life without seeing that bathroom.

Our newly revamped website has lots of statistics on the team and player pages. However, even as a skater who 1) keeps her fingers on the pulse of WFTDA Rules and 2) is pretty mathy, I don't understand most of the statistics that are presented (beyond how many minutes I spent in the box). Can you please explain what our statisticians are tracking, what the acronyms mean, and what the percentages show?

It's beautiful, isn't it? New this year is the WFTDA StatsBook, the first real attempt to standardize the way leagues record and display bout data. The stats on our website are just a small window into the many crazy bits of information we're teasing out of those numbers: we're basically recording every hard-earned point, every bone-jarring block, every nasty fall. It's a challenge, but we've got an amazing crew of volunteers who've been knocking it out of the park.

I won't go into every bit of data, but you can get a pretty good overview by keeping an eye on these key columns:

• J, P, and B (Jammer/Pivot/Blocker) tell you what position the skater played
• LJ and LJ% (Lead Jammer/Lead Jammer Percent) tell you how often the skater obtained Lead Jammer status
• Min and Maj (Minors/Majors) tell you how many penalties a skater picked up
• Off and Def tell you how many times the skater did something that helped her Jammer (Offense) or hurt the opposing Jammer (Defense)

Jammer enthusiasts might also geek out over the number of grand slams (GS) or total points (Pts), but I'm a strong believer that the only stat that really matters is the one in the "win" column. The irony of that is not lost on me.

Mya Ssault is in her second season with the Hell's Belles. Learn more about how she's handling the transition from rookie last year to leading her team's defense this year.

Mya Ssault: Being drafted onto the Hell's Belles last season was such an incredible honor. I'd been a fan for a few years and knowing their legacy as such a strong team was quite intimidating! Last season I didn't get a ton of playing time because we had so many strong, smart players on the Belles. After the retirement of basically the entire team, there was plenty of room for me in the lineups-- not to mention plenty of room for our newest Belles. We have been working hard  to make our team a cohesive unit and I really feel that we are ready to show the fans a good game and the rest of the league what we are made of!

LC: What was your sports background prior to joining WCR?

MS: Nothing! Absolutely nothing! I realize that I have to work that much harder then the girls that played sports their entire life-- this definitely does not come easy to me! I did grow up hitting the local roller rink, but I unlaced my skates the minute I turned sixteen and started to drive, ha!

LC: As a teammate, I've seen you develop tremendously in the past year, especially skating on the Second Wind this summer. What are your goals for the 2010 season?

MS: My biggest goal for this season is to be a good leader and teammate to all our newest Belles. We are going though such a transition as a new team, and without the voices of the amazing girls that trained me last season, I had to find my own voice on the track, both for myself and my teammates. And as always, hit harder! Skate lower! Fight harder! Play smarter! Stay positive!

LC: What's been your favorite WCR experience thus far?

MS: It's so hard to pick just one! But if I had to choose it would probably be during the Second Wind's game against [Indianapolis's] Naptown Roller Girls. I remember one of the NRG girls yelling to one of her teammates "Someone get on her!" and they were talking about me! At that moment I realized that I was a force to be reckoned with!

LC: So. Lady Gaga came into your our place of business and ate a delicious hamburger about a month ago. Tell me more!

MS: Being that Kuma's is a "metal bar," most of the staff either didn't know who she is or didn't care that she was there. But she was really nice, mingled among the other patrons while she waited for a seat, and tipped really well! The bigger deal for us metal fans was that Rob Halford, the lead singer of Judas Priest, said that Lady Gaga ate our Judas Priest burger at the Grammys!

Sassy Squash, currently in her third season as a Double Crosser, is emerging as a skater to watch out for thanks to her brutal blocking skills.

Loco Chanel: This is your third year with the Windy City Rollers, can you compare and contrast the feelings of going into this season vs. seasons prior?

Sassy Squash: This season has been a very different from the past seasons for me. When I was first drafted to the Double Crossers, the team was pretty established-- most of the players had been on it for a few seasons. I felt that second season was also a learning season for me; I really tried to focus on improving my game and knowledge of derby.  I also joined the Second Wind, which was a great experience to work with girls from other teams and try out interleague play. This season is very different on our team; with most of our star players gone or retired, we 3^rd season girls really had to step up for our team. It’s a very exciting and scary feeling.

LC: What's your sports experience prior to joining the Windy City Rollers?

SS: Before joining derby, I didn’t have much experience in playing team sports. I have always been an active person, mostly in the gym or organized classes like martial arts, boxing, spin. Derby brings all that up a notch. I am constantly looking for ways to challenge myself and bring my game to the next level.
 

LC: You were awarded Player of the Game in Bout 2 vs the Manic Attackers, and I believe you're the first dedicated blocker who's been given that honor for a home season game. What are your thoughts on that experience?

SS: I was honored and surprised.  I was not aware that I was the first dedicated blocker to be given the award. Very cool! I think my team went into that game with the decision to win it, and we all fought hard, it was very exciting win for us. I think that I really raised the bar for myself on a personal level with that game, and hope to continue to do so throughout the rest of my derby experience.

LC: What's been your favorite WCR memory/ experience thus far?

SS: There are so many memories and experiences in WCR for me so far. I think the one that stands out the most right now is when I got Player of the Game, it was really exciting and such an honor. This past game was also a great experience for me, my team really pulled together. I look forward to playing out the rest of the season.

Loco Chanel: OK. So. You're the O.G. Windy City Roller, as you are one of the founders from back in the day ("the day" being 2004). How has your role in the league evolved over the past SIX years? What's your role now?

Juanna Rumbel: Yep! We started in 2004 and I'm so impressed that we just keep going and getting better every year. Over the last six years, I've been in every role that you can on the league. Except for finance because I hate dealing with money except when I bathe in it, which is never.

Currently, I am still the league founder, Executive Board member, the Rioters' Coach, a skater for The Fury, and all around bad ass. That being said, my skating still stinks.

LC: What was your sports background prior to WCR?

JR: I ran a 10 mile race once and did a 110 mile bike ride in one day. I thought that was impressive, but nothing like my career in fencing! That lasted for 2 hours until I took out my teacher's eye. But, he didn't need it, since he was a pirate anyway.

LC: What are you most excited about for the 2010 season?

JR: My retirement. I'm sick of all y'all. But, mostly I'm really excited about the fact that Eva Dead and I will be opening a donut/ice cream shop with treadmills. You can't buy dessert until after your workout. We're also considering a dancing bear for the lobby. But, it may be too radical of a concept for Chicago. We'll ease it in.

LC: One of your big roles in the league now is coach for the league's farm team, the Haymarket Rioters. What would you say to any women who are interested in trying out for the Windy City Rollers?

JR: IF YOU WANT IT! DO IT!! But don't irritate me. I still have my épée.

Throughout our sixth season, I'll be interviewing members of the Windy City Rollers. Our next bout is Saturday, March 27. Get tickets here!

Loco Chanel: This is your fourth year with the Windy City Rollers, can you compare and contrast the feelings of going into this season vs seasons prior?

Ada Hatelace: Being on the Manics, each season has felt VERY different on the team, as well as the changes in my own development as a skater. As a team, going into the previous two seasons, we were coming off two full years of losses - we had nothing to lose and nowhere to go but up. This year, coming off of a Championship win, we have more of a target on our backs, but our team chemistry and confidence is a lot higher than it has been in previous seasons, because now we know how awesome we are capable of being, and we want to live up to the standard we set for ourselves last season.

On a personal level, this is the first season I'm playing regularly as a pivot. It has been fascinating to really delve into the strategic aspects of this role, which I worked on at the end of last season and over the summer with the WCR B-team, the Second Wind. I love roller derby strategy and the challenges of calling plays, gaining a much greater understanding of my teammates and what their strengths and weaknesses are and how this affects what roles in the pack I am assigning each of us, and becoming a much better communicator and leader on the track.

LC: You're one of the skaters who's been spreading the gospel of aerial/trapeze training and performance throughout Windy City. Can you tell us a little more about how you got into aerial work and how it fits in with derby?

AH: Aerial and trapeze training is awesome! I got into it nearly 2 years ago when the Manics signed up for a basic trapeze workshop at the Aloft Loft (http://aloftloft.com), just as a team-bonding experience, and I totally loved it, so I signed up for classes right away. The cross training benefits are huge. Derby focuses mostly on legs and core, while aerial training focuses on shoulders/arms/back and core - so it both balances out your body in general, while building up your abs like nothing else. My stability and strength for roller derby has increased tremendously since becoming serious about aerial training. It goes the other way too. Having strong derby legs helps a lot with trapeze tricks! The biggest challenge is trying to fit in aerial training alongside a derby practice schedule, but several of us in the league have managed to do it, so it's possible.

After we had taken classes for about six months, Beth Amphetamine and I started learning doubles trapeze - this is where two people share one trapeze and do tricks together. Becoming a trapeze duo with my teammate has helped our derby teamwork as well! We performed in our first circus show in December - check out our act here.

LC: The evolution of the Manictard. Please describe.

AH: The Manictard! How can you not love it? The history of the Manictard is often surprising, especially to people who feel the need to attempt to console us that we "have to" wear it. What most people don't know is that the Manictard was CHOSEN. For the 2009 season, our "official" team uniform was nothing but a loose set of color guidelines. Our intention was actually to let everyone on the team choose their own top and bottoms as long as they were the correct colors. Then, Wreck n' Shrew showed up at practice with a turquoise leotard with a full length yellow zipper, exclaiming about how awesome it was. Not everyone was convinced right away, and some of us started out by insisting we were going to stick with just a turquoise tank top and yellow shorts - but one by one, every Manic ended up deciding that the Manictard was the way to go. Its spread through our team was totally organic.

For 2010, we had to change our shade of blue to be less like the general WCR blue, and this also gave us an opportunity to try a different cut and fabric - so now we have shiny royal blue biketards.

My personal theory is that when a whole team decides to wear something that can be described as equal parts ridiculous, horrible, and awesome, what this really does for us is increase our team bonding. I'm totally serious. The Manictard helped us win the Ivy King Cup, which is one of my favorite WCR memories thus far. It was magical.

Hermione Danger: When I was a rookie, I fought to earn my spot on the track. This season, I’m fighting to keep it. My drive to become a better player hasn’t changed from one season to the next.

My dad used to tell me that I’m becoming a better athlete when I push myself on the hard days. The easy days only count for fitness. The hard days count for greatness! Mostly, I just want to play roller derby and play it well.

LC: What was sports background before joining WCR?

HD: In seventh grade, I rollerbladed down a hill into a tree and broke my arm. That was the last time I put on skates before I joined derby.

Aside from a few years on my high school soccer team, a sad attempt at little league softball and a formidable four years on my high school color guard squad, my athletic background has been primarily self-motivated and quasi-antisocial. I was a gym rat, frequented bike trails and had more than a handful of personal trainers.

It’s hard for me to remember my life without roller derby, even though this is just my second WCR skating season. In 2006, I decided I wanted to play. When I make a steadfast goal, you can bet your ass I’ll achieve it. After a year on a league that has since disbanded, a series of setbacks and injuries, a year on our amazing referee squad and a lot practice, I tried out for Windy City and was drafted to the Belles for the 2009 season. Then I played on the first ever Windy City B Team, the Second Wind, last summer.

LC: You and Shocka stepped up to captain the Hell's Belles this season and are both first-time captains. Along with two new leaders at the helm, there are a lot of new faces on the team. How has the experience been thus far and what can fans expect from the 2010 Belles?

HD: The Belles are a team of fighters. Many of the skaters have been working for years to get on a team, and I am so proud of all they have accomplished. I knew this season was going to be a challenge, but I’m not one to do things that are easy. I’ve been Shocka’s No. 1 fan since she started skating, and I’m honored to be standing beside her. I want our fans to be proud of our skaters, and I want our skaters to be proud of themselves.

LC: What's been your favorite WCR memory/experience thus far?

HD: Probably the first Belles practice after the first draft this season: I remember looking around the practice space during warm ups and feeling excited for the team we were starting to build. Or perhaps about a week before the first game this season when I realized that I was finally a jammer. That was surreal and felt damn good. Or… winning games with the B team and knowing that I had been a part of making that happen.

Loco Chanel: This is your third year with the Windy City Rollers. Can you compare and contrast the feelings of going into this season vs seasons prior?

Di Richmond: Last season was totally magical. I wouldn't have wanted it to take any other path.  I just can't get the thought out of my head that we're going to have 6 games where we are announced as defending champions. Champions, that sounds awesome doesn't it?

Anyway, that being said, I'm excited to see how well the team works together this year. I think we've got generally good team cohesion and some great newbs. We're lining up for our total domination and that feels nice.

LC: Please describe your sports background prior to joining the Windy City Rollers.

LC: You're responsible for the sparklefication of numerous WCR skater helmets (including mine). How many have you done so far? Whose was your favorite? How did you get the idea to sparklefy helmets in the first place?

LC: What's been your favorite WCR memory/ experience thus far?