In 2007 I started roller derby, up until that point I’d being doing figure skating on ice (badly) and didn’t fit in at all because while I was pretty fucking graceful I didn’t want to be all sparkly spandex. The dress code was very rigid.
At that time roller derby was very punk rock, we made our own outfits and getting bruises was a badge of honour. I fitted in well, and made good friends, we had fun, and the experience was about empowerment and having fun rather than winning.
Sometime around 2010 it started to change, there were power struggles over committee places, some teams split in two over petty crap, uniforms were professionally made so we could be “seen as real athelites” and some teams started to exploit the rules or even outright cheat in order to win.
I stopped playing, and my friend group drifted away because I’m naturally introverted … but for that bit of time I fitted in and was truly happy.
I still have some of the kit I made myself, and lots of happy memories and photos … sometimes I throw on a pair of quad skates and go for a roll around, and I can still do some of the graceful moves in the style of ice skating :-)
That’s a really great memory! Sounds like you got out at the right time as well. It’s such a good feeling when you find your people, and you’ve got such lovely memories
In 2007 I started roller derby, up until that point I’d being doing figure skating on ice (badly) and didn’t fit in at all because while I was pretty fucking graceful I didn’t want to be all sparkly spandex. The dress code was very rigid.
At that time roller derby was very punk rock, we made our own outfits and getting bruises was a badge of honour. I fitted in well, and made good friends, we had fun, and the experience was about empowerment and having fun rather than winning.
Sometime around 2010 it started to change, there were power struggles over committee places, some teams split in two over petty crap, uniforms were professionally made so we could be “seen as real athelites” and some teams started to exploit the rules or even outright cheat in order to win.
I stopped playing, and my friend group drifted away because I’m naturally introverted … but for that bit of time I fitted in and was truly happy.
I still have some of the kit I made myself, and lots of happy memories and photos … sometimes I throw on a pair of quad skates and go for a roll around, and I can still do some of the graceful moves in the style of ice skating :-)
That’s a really great memory! Sounds like you got out at the right time as well. It’s such a good feeling when you find your people, and you’ve got such lovely memories
It was a case if the right place, right time … since then every hobby I’ve tried has been chasing that, but I’ve not yet found the right thing.
Have you ever had that feeling?
I know what you mean it’s so good while it lasts