Skater of the Month - Venus ThighTrap
NAME: Venus ThighTrap
NUMBER: 23
How did you get involved with roller derby?
I had just moved up to Dundee and didn't know anyone at all really, so was looking to get involved in something new where I would also get to know folk. I looked to see if there was a roller derby team I could join and stumbled upon the little world of DRD.
Tell us about your derby name and number?
A friend gave me the name as a twist on venus flytrap seen I'm into nature and what with Venus flytraps using their teeth to catch prey, they're quite savage as far as plants go. I'm also OK with the fact that it nods to Venus, the goddess of some pretty wonderful things and thigh trap makes it kinda derby-ish. My number is my birthday.
What is your skate gear of choice?
My skates are just the newbie R3s, nothing spectacular but they do the job for now. It appears that since starting derby, a new favourite past time of mine is to spend not an inconsiderable amount of time getting myself worked up into flusters and throwing tantrums at my inability to decide on my dream colour combination for custom skates that realistically I'll only ever be able to buy if I win the lottery - but it's good to be prepared for these situations!
Before you discovered roller derby, were you involved in any other sports/exercise? If yes, how has derby impacted on this?
Not at all, I was really sporty when I was wee but like lots of girls, stopped when I got to high school. One reason I really love derby is that it's got me to reengage with my sporty tomboy side.
What is your position of choice?
Jammer, always. I had a very short lived phase of thinking I wanted to be a blocker because I didn't think I could hack the pressure of jamming, but with a wee bit of encouragement from my team mates I thankfully got over that.
Which teams have you skated with?
Dundee Roller Derby - Bonnie Colliders & a mixed rising stars team.
Do you have a pre/post-bout ritual?
I definitely should not be admitting this publicly, but yet here I am... When I want to make sure my day ahead stands the best possible chances of being a good one, I sprinkle lots of rose petals on my breakfast and that makes me feel nice and optimistic. So yes, before games I eat rose petals. I said it.
How would you describe your derby playing style, do you have a signature move?
I think my playing style can probably be characterised by my humiliatingly desperate pleas to Offence to come save me. "Please... help... I need you, please, help... !" Such a tough, badass skater.
What is your day job? How has your involvement in roller derby affected the way you live the rest of your life?
I do a few things work-wise. I'm a Sexual Violence Prevention Worker which mostly means going round the high schools in Dundee and Angus working with young people around gender, consent, sexual violence, pornography, that kind of thing. Then I work at Abertay University coordinating their approach to tackling gender based violence, co-organise a queer film festival and do a masters in gender studies.
Roller derby has affected the way I live the rest of my life in too many ways to list! Derby is where I go to switch off, get rid of energy and just have a damn good time. It's something I can focus on that isn't linked to some of the trickier stuff I engage with through work and activism, which keeps me from getting too absorbed with how pants the world can be. By teaching me to shout, take up space on track and use physical strength unapologetically, roller derby has also changed how I feel in my body in a really helpful way. It's got me feeling stronger, more in control of myself and better with having folk in my personal bubble, so that has a really big, positive impact on the rest of my life. Derby, you da best.
Favourite motivational quote?
I'm not that into quotes, but "there's nothing stronger than a broken woman who has rebuilt herself" by Hannah Gadsby makes me feel all kinds of motivated and empowered.
Who do you choose as next month’s Skater of the month?
I choose someone who has absolutely no idea how brilliant a skater she is. Famous for her effortless pirouettes and disgustingly impressive bunny hop transitions, I choose the wonderful Cherry Skatewell!
