DRD Spotlight - Rae'n of Terror

Skate name: Rae’n of Terror | Number: 426 | Started skating: 2015

How did you hear about Roller Derby and the DRD?

I, like a few others, saw Whip-It and then started studying the rules. Before long I was looking for a league to join!

The last time I’d worn quad skates was a pair that would close over regular shoes when I was about four. After that I’d always loved inline skating but never found an opportunity to do it regularly, so I just went to one taster and I was hooked.

Favourite thing about derby since you started?

The people! I have been so lucky to meet the most amazing people in my four years so far! No matter who you are, there is a place in the community for you and everyone is just wonderful to be around.

Any advice for people thinking about getting involved with derby?

Do it! Dive right in! Everyone in the community is so wonderful that before long it’ll start feeling like a second family!

Tell us an interesting fact about you!

I’m from Shetland! Spent 17 years on the islands before moving to Dundee for uni and never went back.

What is your job?

I am a Manufacturing Scientist. We manufacture diagnostic tests that are used in hospitals.

What position do you skate in?

I’m a blocker, usually brace and a pivot for the Bonnie Colliders so I do get to do a little jamming too!

What's your favourite derby memory?

Our win in Brighton. We left Dundee around 6am with 7 players and won by one point. Waiting for the final score to be called was one of the most suspenseful moments of my life. We couldn’t look so we all huddled round and said no matter what happens we could be proud of everything we had done that day. The final whistle went and we turned around to see that we were one point up! I think we were more surprised than anyone!

What kind of kit do you have? Anything special about it?

From the top down I wear an S1 Lifer helmet with plenty of stickers, my new 187 slim elbow pads, wrist guards that I really need to replace, 187 gaskets under Smiths Scabs knee pads and my skates are Reidell 495 boots mounted on Roll Line blaster plates with Radar Villains as pushers and Heartless Stalkers for outside wheels. I use extremely sticky wheels, Villains are 84s and Stalkers are 88s, as I tend to slide a lot. The special thing about my kit is that it is currently not held together with tape! Yay!

How does derby impact the rest of your life?

I find I’m more self confident. Whenever I look in the mirror these days I see a body suited to derby rather than seeing flaws. I also find I’m more willing to throw myself into social situations. Derby people are the coolest folk I know so as long as they think I’m alright I must be ok! “I can’t, I have derby” has also become phrase I use pretty regularly, but I love it so much I can’t even complain, and usually I just end up going out really late on Friday nights after scrims.

What is your favourite thing to do in Dundee?

Dance ma wee socks off! I love a night out, usually starting with a burger at Dukes Corner and finishing at Pout Nightclub.

Favourite after party memory?

Disappearing with Crime City in Tenerife and trekking all around the city with them before turning up again. We even managed to break into a private party accidentally!

What’s your favourite band?

I’d have to say overall, Panic! at the Disco who I saw this year in Glasgow finally, but at the moment I’m being brought back to the 00s with a (slightly embarrassing) Cobra Starship kick.

What's the biggest challenge you've faced in your derby time?

Travel planning honestly. I’m a huge procrastinator so trying to book flights any time in advance is unlikely. I have a tendency to worry my teammates occasionally.

Where is your favourite place in the world?

Amsterdam, sitting by the canals, day or night. It’s such a beautiful city and when Pride hits the whole place is absolutely buzzing! It’s an amazing energy.

Favourite TV programme atm?

I have been recommending Good Omens to everyone I’ve met in the past month, but to recommend something a little more off the radar I have to say The Expanse. It’s a sci-fi show about people living in space and nothing going to plan and it’s not afraid to show how much gravity hates us. If you like Firefly, I highly recommend it.

Who do you choose for next month's DRD spotlight and why?

I’d like to nominate a skater I’ve been pals with from the very start of our derby journeys together. I believe we are the last two survivors from our intake, and that at some point we will have to thunderdome it out. HullabaLou is an excellent jammer, top notch motivational gym buddy and overall amazing human person (and definitely not secretly a bundle of anxiety trapped in a trench coat).