July's Skater of the Month– General Tso Fine

photo courtesy of Shutterfly.

Derby Name and Number? How did you come up with it?
-General Tso Fine - 899. $8.99 is the cost of overpriced General Tso's chicken. The number 8 is lucky in Chinese.

Where did you grow up?
-Chinatown, Philadelphia, PA. I know. Total shocker...

What made you start playing roller derby?
-My sister, Misfortune Cookie! <3

What is your pre-game routine?
-"Hydrate." Make sure I have my uniform and gear. Eat bananas while maintaining eye contact with strangers.

What is your favorite off-skates workout?
-Running. Going to the gym...sometimes.

What is your favorite position to play and why?
-Jammer. Blockers are usually bigger than I am, so it's the most physically challenging position for me. That's fun.

Worst derby-related injury?
-I'M NOT LISTENING! LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA...

What is the most rewarding part of being a member of Penn Jersey Roller Derby?
-Watching us and the sport grow. Meeting loads of awesome derby people. Traveling to places I wouldn't otherwise go with said awesome derby people.

As a member of a bitracksual league, tell us how you feel about the banked track versus the flat track.
-We're proof that they can co-exist. I love them both. Those double-headers that we played against Capital District Trauma Authority, Mass Maelstrom, and the Carolina Wreckingballs were awesome!

What inspires you most when training?
-Whenever I'm tired or hurting, I ask myself something like, "Is there anything left in me that I can give for these guys right now?"

May's Skater of the Month- Speed Turtle!

Derby Name and Number? How did you come up with it?
-Speed Turtle, 143. Nurse Ratchet named me at my first CCRE– it wasn't intentional, I had wanted to be "Sailor Moonshine." I picked 143, because I love Mr. Rogers, and that was the code for "I love you." 1 letter, 4 letters, 3 letters.

Where did you grow up?
-Just North of Princeton, NJ.

What made you start playing roller derby?
-I wanted to make more friends with girls, and I've always liked roller skating. It just worked out too well not to.

What is your pre-game routine?
-Lavender bath, candles and folk music. I like to smell extra good before I smell extra bad... I also get really nervous, so I like to calm myself down before I play.

What is your favorite off-skates workout?
-I love riding my bike. I have 3 bicycles, and one in the works.

What is your favorite position to play and why?
-I used to like pivot best, but I think I'm starting to really like jamming.

Worst derby-related injury?
-In my last game I sprained my knee... but the scariest injury was a concussion I got when I flew off the high part of the banked track, and landed on my chin.

What is the most rewarding part of being a member of Penn Jersey Roller Derby?
-The people, without question.

As a member of a bitracksual league, tell us how you feel about the banked track versus the flat track.
-I prefer skating banked to flat, but I learn all my footwork on the flat track first. I need them both!

What inspires you most when training?
-Other skaters. Watching other people grow as skaters, and growing with them, is incredibly rewarding.