Big Derby Girls Don't Cry

I've had so many people come and ask me about fresh meat for this year, with one of the main concerns being about body image. "Oh I'm too small, too tall, I'm too big,too old....or concerns about the clothing! Do I really have to wear hot pants and fishnets!!??. Having started out my derby career as one of the larger girls I thought it would be nice to provide you all with some inspiration. We all have attributes that lend themselves to the derby track and in the words of Marshall Stacks...
"Every body type has it's special derby attributes, big butts do great blocking, super short people can sneak through the pack and hit low, tall girls have greater reach and can cover the track with ease, big thighs equal strong thighs that can jump around. Derby is about embracing you and using your body in a new way which will change your world, if you're worried about body image rest assured you won't be judged."


MS: "My derby experience with ADRD has been amazing in regards to my relationship with my body, no-one has ever been insensitive or unsupportive about me or anyone else that I've heard. The focus has always been on improving my fitness and strength to improve my playing and to use the special qualities my body, it has never been on my appearance. My size and shape make me hard to move, stable and a hard blocker which makes for a strong derby girl, I've had nothing but compliments from fans with compliments on my appearance as well as my playing, this is not a crowd that tolerates demeaning comments from it's audience so you have nothing to fear there."


Cannon Wonderful one of ADRD's more colourful members says: "To feel comfortable in the skin your in is one of the best friends you can have. Expression in this community is also cherished i cannot think of another sport which would allow me to express my inner unicorn loving hippie in such a lovely way. "

Clothing is also something that is very individual, there are no set rules about what you must wear to training so long as it's safe for you and wont endanger other skaters. Some girls like wearing leggings, some like shorts or skorts, even long skirts it's up to you. If you don't like singlets a T'shirt is fine.
Many girls have tattoos and are not shy to let them show, yet some are more concerned about covering their scars. The beauty of derby is that regardless of how you look, how you dress, or how you feel we all have the ability to leave our hang ups at the door, if you can't then perhaps roller derby isn't the sport for you.

CW: "My body is the way it is and i honestly don't give a shit what people think about that. Derby is good for that cos it blurs social conventions in a way because we all come in different shapes and forms but we're all important. There is not one way of being that's better than another."

MS: "If you're worried about body image rest assured you won't be judged, you can train in baggy shorts and an over sized T shirt to start with, and the crowd will love you if you bring personality and heart to the track no matter what you look like while doing it."

Want to see what other ADRD girls have to say? check out this short film by Amiee Knight & Jane Baird
Talk Derby To Me