Skater of the Month - Hubs
NAME : Hubs
NUMBER : 88
This month we are delighted to welcome back Hubs, who was our Skater of the Month back in January 2013 - click here to see her previous profile.
Tell us about your derby name and number
I kind of inherited my derby name and number. I used to get called Chubby Hubby in school (I say it was because I was the hockey goalkeeper…but may have been more due to my size!) So when I told the skating girls, they adapted it and started calling me Hubs, so it just stuck! My number was inherited from Mark McCarthy who benched the Tayzers back when I started – it’s also an easy number to read, write and remember as it’s my birth year!
What would you say to people who were interested in roller derby?
Everyone can do it! Don’t say no until you’ve put some skates on and given it a go. We have been working with DSMT (Dundee Schools Music Theatre) over the past few months as they prepare for their Starlight Express show and I have been overwhelmed by the interest in skating from these kids. Some had never skated before this year and are now doing spins and transitions and jumps on toe stops! If you don’t want to skate come and join our amazing fan club that turns out at every game we play – brothers, sisters, mothers, husbands, friends - all seen on bout day wearing our fetching pink colour!
What is your day job? How has your involvement in roller derby affected the way you live the rest of your life?
I am a primary teacher and have just moved to Dundee Council which in turn has given me a shorter drive to work (meaning more time for derby admin!) When I first started derby 4 and a half years ago I said I didn’t have time in my life for it as I tend to lead a hectic social life…however time is the tester of all things and I have made time for derby. Being captain the past 2 seasons took up a lot of time so it’s nice to take a wee break from that this year and I feel more focused as a skater due to this.
Derby has given me more friends, more travel and more responsibility but I wouldn’t change it for the world – best sport and lifestyle choice I have made.
Do you have a pre/post-bout ritual?
I don’t tend to follow any strict rules pre-bout except a bacon roll in the morning and taking some Kalms before the game, and if I’m lucky trying to stomach a banana before we play! Post-bout almost always consists of a wee glass of wine or cider!
How would you describe your derby playing style - do you have a signature move, a favourite position?
Ha ha ha… my teammates will be laughing at this one as I have a few “signature moves”! One being the “bush push” and the other the “bum sweep” (both self-explanatory and both pretty effective for me).
I feel most comfortable when I am blocking and enjoy this best, however I have started jamming in the last year or two and am told I am as effective as a bulldozer! (Or as I like to call it “potato jamming” because I feel like a sack of potatoes.) I enjoy doing both blocking and jamming and hope to develop my jamming style a bit more in the future.
Tell us about your favourite/most memorable experience from your time with DRG.
My favourite experience in my time skating has to be having the honour to captain such an amazing team for 2 years. I thoroughly enjoyed leading them, winning with them and learning from them. I have seen DRG develop and expand to have home teams and a B team and I could not be prouder of our league. Most memorable has to be being voted Players' Player in 2015. Thank you to the girls I skate with week in and week out for helping push me to be the skater I am today.
What do you think has changed the most – within DRG, and roller derby in general – since your previous Skater of the Month profile?
I think the biggest thing is that the profile of DRG has grown and our reputation is developing. Home teams, B team and a thriving referee intake too. Roller derby in general has grown and the introduction of British Champs has given us opportunities to play other teams in championship.
The last time I was Skater of the Month I hadn’t even skated as a Tayzer but since then I have developed myself and the league has continued to develop too. I think DRG are a welcoming, inclusive league and this is one of our best attributes and I hope to be part of this league as it continues to grow in the future.
Favourite motivational quote?
“You don’t inspire your teammates by showing them how amazing you are. You inspire them by showing them how amazing they are.”
- Robyn Benincasa (World Champion adventure racer)
Who do you choose as next month’s Skater of the Month?
It has to be a brilliant wee skater who has gown through the ranks and did a fabulous job co-captaining the Bonnie Colliders last year. We will be sad to see her leave as she moves onto new pastures after this summer… however I hope she will come back to DRG one day! A positive, encouraging, motivational girl who I love to skate with… Katie Stott!
