Skater of the Month - Trackcident

NAME: Trackcident / Amy NUMBER: 39 How did you get involved with roller derby? I'd seen Whip It ages ago, and thought derby looked amazing. Years after that I got introduced to flat track derby by a journalist I followed who played for Montreal and Team Canada (Artoo). Last September Facebook suggested the taster sessions' event, I got a friend to come with me, and I fell in love! Tell us about your derby name and number? I know a lot of people are very attached to their skater name, but mine was more soemthing I picked because I had to. I hesitated with Astron'Amy for a while, but liked the pun in Trackcident more -- which also works given how flaily I can get on track! My number is 12 parsecs, converted to lightyears (that's the Kessel Run from Star Wars because I'm a massive nerd ) What is your skate gear of choice? I have Bont hybrid boots and blaster plates, which I love, with radar presto wheels (88 and 91). My helmet is from S1, and the rest of my pad a mix that came with my newbie kit, and is now falling apart. Before you discovered roller derby, were you involved in any other sports/exercise? If yes, how has derby impacted on this? Not really. I'd done a bunch of different sports over the years - bouldering most recently - but nothing on a really regular basis. Derby is the first sport that I haven't gotten bored of after a few months, and that's a pretty great feeling! For the first time, I actually try to work out on the side to get more fit for derby which is completely new to me. What is your position of choice? I passed mins thinking I'd only want to be a jammer, and I still think that's my favourite position, but I feel I've progressed a bunch as a blocker and I've grown to love being in a wall too! The only thing I'm not comfortable doing yet is offence – loads of penalties for little effect! Which teams have you skated with? I've skated a handful of bouts with our Bonnie Colliders, which were the best experiences ever! Other than that, I've skated with mixed teams for two expo games and a sevens tournament (Krustfest). Do you have a pre/post-bout ritual? I'm not a big eater in the morning so I usually try to force myself to have a solid breakfast to avoid fainting at lineup. On the more silly/personal side, I like to put on lipstick and (if I'm awake enough) eyeliner. I barely ever wear makeup outside of bouts but it boosts my self confidence a bit! How would you describe your derby playing style, do you have a signature move? I don't know if I really have a style -- I think "skate fast and lose control when you hit the wall" is probably how I'd describe my jamming! I really love being on my toe stops and usually always go for the lines.

As a blocker, I try to keep calm externally and limit the panic to my head -- and gripping my brace so hard they get bruises on their shoulders (sorry Rae'n!) What is your day job? How has your involvement in roller derby affected the way you live the rest of your life? I'm doing a PhD in astrophysics, studying dust clouds in failed stars. Derby has helped me a lot since I started newbies. It's given me an accepting space where I know I'm safe being queer and trans, which I sorely needed, and I've made a bunch of amazing friends. Go DRD! Favourite motivational quote? I don't really have any from "famous" folks but I'd go with "Let's do the thing", which gets said a lot on the bench and before games. Who do you choose as next month’s Skater of the month? I'm going to pick GingerSnap! We started newbies together and she's put so much work into training this season, getting to play on the Bonnie Colliders with her is amazing!