Get Down With Sick Town

Derby Dame Dixie Skullpopper greets her fans after a Sick Town bout.

By day, she's Miranda Prince, LBCC student and Math 20 Aid at the Learning Center. By night, she's Dixie Skullpopper, Sick Town Derby Dame, #40. 

Prince has been a derby dame for 3 years. She saw Whip It, a movie about a roller derby league, and ended up seeing one in person the next day when she went with her husband to a Sick Town match (referred to as a bout) against Cherry City. She really wanted to try it but thought she was too old and out of shape. This was right before she turned 40. When she realized they don't really fight and punch each other in the face, like in the movie, she went for it. 

She started going to practices and continued for a year and a half before her first bout, which she says isn't typical. "Everyone improves and learns at their own pace." says Prince. "Some skaters go from beginner to bouts in 3 months, and some spend a year as a beginner."

Sick Town Derby Dames, has around 40 members with names like Bloodstain, Rollin' Rebel, Ophelia Muff Krush, and Shankee Doodle. This year, Sick Town changed the age limit from 21 to 18, and of course, there's no upper age limit, because "You're NEVER too old for derby." There's also a junior derby league, for ages 10-17, called The Candy Stripers, with around 35 members. 

Roller derby bouts consist of two teams, with about 15 skaters each. One skater from each team is designated a "jammer," and the rest are "blockers". The jammer tries to lap the blockers as well as the jammer from the other team. For every person they pass, they score a point. Each "jam" lasts two minutes.

To put on a bout, it also takes about 10 skating officials, and 15 NSOs (non-skating officials), to help run the penalty box, track line-ups, keep score, penalties, run the score board, the inside and outside white boards, and jam timer. Bob Slocum, aka "Knight B Contagious," has been a NSO for 4 years and says the energy that comes from a bout is just as high or higher as any other sport he has seen. 

"The girls work very hard to put on these bouts not only in practice but also the effort that it takes to put on the bout and the months of planning is crazy." says Slocum. "Dixie is one of the most committed and passionate people that I have met on the team. She is hard working and never gives up. Even when things go wrong, she is one who tries to make the best out of it."

Her husband Charles, aka Isaac Waves 'em Off,  is Sick Town's head skating ref. Originally, Prince (Dixie) had wanted to be a referee but fell in love with derby and ended up being a derby dame, remembering her first bout as amazing and a lot of fun.

She was happy to discuss derby before her shift started at the Learning Center to share more about her experiences, what Sick Town is really all about, and how girls who are interested can go about getting involved.

Commuter: So do you all have derby names? 
Miranda Prince: Yes. And we call each other by them. Nobody calls me Miranda at derby games. I'm Dixie.

C: How did you come up with Dixie Skullpopper? 
MP: I picked it because of a family member, my Grama Dixie. Her name was Dixie Cullpepper and she was a derby girl in the 50's. So I went with Dixie Skullpopper as a tribute to her. She was an awesome lady.

C: Would you say that roller derby is a violent sport?
MP: Yeah! It's a full-contact sport.We definitely knock each other down and that's completely legal. We hit with our hips and shoulders. But if you fight, you get kicked out. We're trying to get roller derby seen as a real sport, not just as entertainment, although it is really entertaining.

C: What's the worst injury you've gotten?
MP: I've been lucky so far. I have not really gotten any bad injuries. One time I fell on someone's skate and got a really bad bruise. Another time, I accidentally got hit and got a swollen lip.  If someone lands a really good hit on me, I'll get up and say, 'Hey, nice hit.'

C: Do you have to be a really good skater to join?
MP: It's great if you are. But if you can't and you really wanna try roller derby, we'll teach you how to skate.

C: What's involved in signing up?
MP: Beginners practice 2-3 days a week for 2 hours. If you do 2 days, you will maintain your skills, 3 days, you will improve. That's what's recommended. We skate in a warehouse in Millersburg, but are actively looking for a new practice space. Gear can be expensive but you can get used gear on Craigslist and Play It Again Sports in Corvallis. We also have loaner gear for people who want to try it before spending the money on their own gear. Dues are $30 a month, which is cheaper than any gym membership.

*The next New Skater Orientation is on Oct. 30, 6 p.m. at Market of Choice, upstairs in the banquet room.


C: What would you tell girls that want try it but are too scared?
MP: Sick Town is the nicest bunch of girls that wanna knock you down. (mischievous grin) We take it slow. Beginners are learning to skate. No one is knocking down the beginners.

C: Do the derby dames get along?
MP: On the track, we play really hard but between jams and at the after-party, we're all friends. We want each other to do well. At the end of the day, we're all one team.

Prince is also the head of new recruits and says, "It's really exciting to bring new girls into the league." Anyone who wants to join or has questions can contact her at sicktownrecruits@gmail.com.)




NEXT HOME BOUT:
Sick Down Derby Dames vs. Lilac City
Oct. 27 at Linn County Fairgrounds. 
Doors open at 5 p.m., Bout is at 6 p.m. 
$10 in advance, $13 at the door.
www.sicktownderbydames.com