5280 Fight Club Make RMRG Proud at the Continental Cup West in August

by Sylvia’s Wrath
photos by Southern Discomfort

In early August, Rocky Mountain Rollergirls 5280 Fight Club hit the road to play in WFTDA’s Continental Cup West in Orem, Utah. We had some ups and downs, but in the end, a great time was had by all. Fight Club was the fourth seed, and we first faced off against tournament hosts Happy Valley Derby Darlins, an obvious crowd favorite as the home team. Though Fight Club battled to the end, Happy Valley proved victorious, pulling out a five point win over the Rocky Mountain team. Although we were disappointed with the outcome, everyone fought hard and the camaraderie and support from teammates on the bench and leaguemates back home kept things in perspective. Always looking on the bright side, we took solace in the fact that the loss allowed us a day of rest and recreation on Saturday. Rather than mope over our defeat in a very close game, we took to the beaches of Deer Creek reservoir in Provo Canyon. If you’ve never been, it’s worth the road trip! We picnicked in the grass, relaxed in the sun, and even played a little “volleyball” in the chilly waters of the reservoir, which felt great after a tough game the night before!

When a storm rolled in Saturday afternoon, we took the party back to the hotel pool, where chicken fights and synchronized swimming rounded out an amazing day of bonding. This followed by team dinner that included an embarrassing birthday dessert delivery for Coach Mark Henry (was it REALLY his birthday? Maybe, maybe not). On Sunday, we were back on the track to face off against Australia’s Adeladies, formidable opponents for sure. This time, Fight Club was able to pull out the win, taking the game 137-119. Sure felt good to end on a high note! Win or lose, Rocky did it as a team. And even if we didn’t bring home a medal, the good times spent together on this trip just proved to us that no matter what, RMRG always wins.

Paws for the Cause

by Justice of the Peach

Rocky Mountain Roller Girls would like to introduce “Paws for the Cause,” our first newsletter promotion of our neighbors and partner, Rocky Mountain Feline Rescue. This newsletter will feature the foster kittens of two of our RMRG Skaters, Sassy Bee Otch and Nintendoll. Fostering animals is a great way to volunteer and serve your community, and also get to enjoy the pet experience without actually committing to owning one (or 7). Animals need fostered for many different reasons, in the case of Bee’s kitten’s because they are very young and need more attention than an older cat.

Bee is currently fostering 2 brothers named Ellis and Patton (but, says Bee, “We usually call Ellis “Twinkle Toes,” because the only white on him is on the tips of his back toes on one foot.”). Fosters don’t always come named and after adoption, people can change their names, which is easier with a kitten rather than an adult cat who already knows their name. Both brothers are just 8 weeks old and just over 2 lbs. Bee and her family are doing a great job brining these boys up to weight, since they were around 1 pound when they were first brought home.

Bee says, “Ellis and Patton are best buddies and a bonded pair. They play hard together, and they also enjoy playing with our dog who is quite gentle with them considering he’s a young pup. Their purr motors are excellent, and they love to be snuggled after they tire themselves out.”

Doll and her manpanion David got their foster, Kate, last Friday. They opted for an adult because, “we already have another kitty and we weren’t sure if we could handle a litter!” While Kate is an adult, she was a foster candidate because of some medical issues she has.

Doll explained to us what that looks like: “Kate possibly has IBD, Irritable Bowel Disease. That means her tummy has a hard time with most food. When we got her, she came with the food that didn’t make her sick. Unfortunately, it was also food she doesn’t want to eat. The first weekend we had her, she acted completely normal except she starved herself. She. Wouldn’t. Eat. One. Bite.”

As a result she ended up going back to the vet and having two blood draws and an IV.
“She went home with some new food that we aren’t sure about. She eats it for now – great! But she also could react very badly to it. So it may be touch and go for her in these next months. Here’s hoping we succeed in keeping her healthy!”

“Kate is the sweetest cat I’ve ever lived with,” Doll told us, “She will take all the pets, sits in your lap, and even lets me pet her tummy! She is 3 years old and the tiniest full grown cat.”

Bee and Doll both acknowledge that that fostering can be difficult (especially Bee explaining to her daughter that no, they can’t keep all their kitties!)
Doll adds that, especially with a special needs animal, “It really is emotionally hard. You are basically signing up for a cat/kittens in need of care. Sure, it takes extra time, but it gives you an added bond too!”

However, “The bottom line is,” Doll smiled, “You will fall in love immediately.” If you’re interested in adopting these or any other felines, RMFR has an application and adoption fee of $120 for 1 kitten and $180 for 2 kittens. That fee covers vaccinations, de-worming, spay/neuter, and microchip.

“If someone wants to visit my foster kittens and see if they like them, they are more than welcome and then an early application will give them priority on those kittens. Otherwise, they can come visit all the available kittens in the shelter. They get a tour of the facility and the staff can help them look at kittens or adult cats that will work well within their household,” Bee explains.
If you’re interested in adopting, fostering or volunteering, make a trip to Rocky Mountain Feline Rescue at 2390 S Delaware Street, or stop by their table at one of the upcoming RMRG games just across the street at the Rollerdome.

Skater of the Month: Melter Skelter

Expectation pools heavy on the darkening air as people cozy down onto blankets and into chairs, eager for the coming show. As the veil of night draws everyone deeper into its’ folds, the watchers begin to mummer in restive eagerness. Will it ever be time?

Just as the smallest of the children begin to grow fidgety and restless with anticipation, just as someone begins to head for the can, just as you begin to think – What the hell, I might as well go back for another scoop of potato salad, chub rub has already burned a hole on one inner thigh today- the first of the fireworks explode across the sky in a startling and inspiring show of bright force, each denouement of the previous display eclipsed again and again by the rising crescendos, and you find yourself pinned to the spot, riveted by the spectacle as the crowd gives a collective sigh of, “Ooooh…. Awww….”.

Have we set the scene for you? Good. Now swap out “fireworks,” for “Melter Skelter,” and we can get started talking about our July Skater of the Month.

Much like the majestic displays of annual rockets seen in parks and stadiums, RMRG’s Skelter burst onto the scene 2 years ago this September, pleasantly awing all onlookers, and continuing to outdo herself as time goes on.

Our gamine girl grew up on a dairy farm in upstate New York, played softball in college, tackle football and then rugby, thus setting a precedent for mild and lady like sports before finding roller derby. P.S. she also trained as a boxer with a member of the “Wonder Woman,” cast (P.P.S. although her chest protector is made of plastic, the Skelter Fruit did not fall far from Bronze Breastplate Tree of the women of Amazonia).

Stripling and svelte, Skelter (who joined derby with her partner’s daughter, Killer Kitten, was reportedly so uncoordinated the kid didn’t want to skate with her) quickly caught onto the whole wheel shoes things, pretty much it seems -to this viewer anyway- by sheer strength of will alone. Skelter never failed to doggedly hurl herself into the pack, and never let anything keep her down, even if that “anything,” was several bodies lying on her.

A cabinet maker by profession, Skelter’s duties to the Rocky Mountain Rollergirls include the Events and Sponsorship committees, doing many bar things, and being the Warehouse’s [Motorbutt’s] Dogsbody, an unofficial but nonetheless grueling position. Such unspecified but vital tasks included Skelter- swoon worthily striding about in a masterful fashion clad in a tank top and angle grinder- helping finish up the spectator wall that was required in order for Rocky to hold our WFTDA Sanctioned Besterns Tournament. Skelter was rostered to be a jammer on the Contender’s this year and did her team more than proud at Udder Chaos, April’s tournament, in Madison Wisconsin. Drafted onto the United States Pummeling Service, the Eagles greeted the scrappy jammer with open wings, just in time for the last Home Teams game where Skelter again displayed her sinewy mettle by jamming in two back to back games.

RMRG is proud to call Skelter our very own firecracker and would like to thank her for all that she does both on and off the track. Consistently humble, perpetually down to earth, a bunch of fun to be around and eternally ready to take a run-or a power tool- at the wall in front of her, Skelter really does light everything up around her.

(Author slowly backs away from article softly crooning, “You Light Up My Life.”)

Photo credit: Sophie Mercer