Dedication to duty ... and derby

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Eric Burks
  • 2nd Combat Camera Squadron
SALT LAKE CITY --  With seconds ticking away, the skater zips through and around a sea of defenders, all focused on either slowing her progress or knocking her out of bounds.

Approaching a group of blockers holding the inside line, she takes to the air and perfectly executes an "apex jump," narrowly landing in bounds as she skates past the last defender.

The crowd inside the converted warehouse building erupts into applause and cheers of "Let's go, Wasatch!" as the scoring period - known as a "jam" - ends. Others chant, "We want Candi!" in recognition of the skater, "Skull Candi," a jammer for Midnight Terror, Wasatch Roller Derby's A-Team.

Points go up on the scoreboard, adding to Midnight Terror's lead against Sunday's visiting opponent, the Tucson Roller Derby Saddletramps. Many jams and hard hits later, the home team skates to a 304-123 victory.

The following morning, "Skull Candi" dons a different uniform for work, lacing up combat boots instead of roller skates and trading her derby colors for the pixelated palate of the Airman Battle Uniform. During the duty day, she's better known as Senior Airman Candis Rose, a medical records technician at Hill Air Force Base.

"It's interesting in how you have to work both aspects into your life," Rose said, "because I'm extremely passionate about both. The military, of course, comes first - that's my main duty and mission, but roller derby has crept its way into my heart."

Rose said her introduction to the sport came through a co-worker, not long after she arrived at Hill.

"During my first Airshow in 2009, I was working a booth for the medical group booster club and one of my co-workers, Mary Kramer from dental, asked if I would be interested playing roller derby," Rose said. "She said that I had the right personality for it and she thought I would get along with the group well.

"Mary played for a local Ogden team, the O-Town Derby Dames," she said. "I went with her the next practice and fell in love with the sport. It's been a big part of my life ever since."

When she started playing for the Derby Dames, Rose said she was far from an expert skater.

"I hadn't skated at all since childhood, so it was a challenge for me," she said. "It took me a long time to get where I am now, a lot of hard work and a lot of effort and many hours of practice put into it. But I just kept pushing myself to do better and be faster."
Ultimately, the Derby Dames disbanded and skaters that wanted to continue playing went to Wasatch Roller Derby or the Junction City Roller Dolls, Rose said. She went to Wasatch - the area's largest Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) league.

"I mostly play as the jammer ... the skater with the star helmet on," Rose said. "Her job is to skate fast, get low and score as many points as she can before the opposing jammer has a chance to score."

A jammer's initial pass through the pack determines if she receives lead jammer status, Rose said. After that pass, the lead jammer scores one point for every member of the opposing team that she passes legally and in bounds.

The other positions on the track are blockers and pivots, she added. Their objective is to get their jammer through the pack first by playing defense against the opposing team's jammer, and then offense against the opposing teams' blockers to help get their own jammer through.

Wasatch Roller Derby consists of three "home" teams, the Black Diamond Divas, Hot Wheelers, and Salt Flat Fallouts, according to the league's website. The two travel teams are Midnight Terror and Bonneville Bone Crushers. Midnight Terror is currently ranked 21st out of 163 teams in the WFTDA, and qualified to compete in the western regional playoff in 2012 - a first for the team.

"We worked hard toward to make the regional playoff last season," Rose said. "There are 37 teams in the western region alone and you have to be ranked in the top 10 in order to go to regionals."

Midnight Terror captain Teryn Mendenhall - aka "Skatey GaGa" - said, "The way we finished last season provided us a tougher schedule this year. One goal this year is to rise to those teams and beat them and keep growing in the roller derby community."
Coach Brian Horman added, "If you are new to derby, you'll be surprised by the incredible athleticism Midnight Terror demonstrates. Their teamwork strength and athleticism are second to no women's sports team in the Salt Lake City area."

"This season, we want to win at least two playoff games and develop strategy to take us to the next level," he said.

After Sunday's victory, Midnight Terror's record stands at 2-0. The team opened the season with a 240-79 win against the Sin City Rollergirls All Stars in Las Vegas Feb. 23.
Between scrimmages, team and league practices, games and other events, Rose said she dedicates a significant amount of her free time to the sport. When she's not practicing with her own teammates, she serves as a volunteer coach and mentor to the Wasatch Junior Rollers - a WRD league for girls 8 - 17 years of age.

"Skull Candi is a really good teacher and a really good friend of mine," said Lisa Nowinski, who has been playing on the junior team for two seasons, and hopes to one day join Midnight Terror.

"She puts her heart and soul into roller derby ... I'm pretty sure it's a second life," Nowinski said. "She's a really good person to learn from. She's patient, but she's not afraid to tell you when to get moving. She's a really good inspiration to all the juniors on the team, and she's my biggest inspiration for roller derby."

And while the sport may feature colorful nicknames, fancy footwork, and big hits, roller derby offers more than just fun and games for players and fans.

"Wasatch Roller Derby is part of Wasatch Women's Club, a not-for-profit organization," Rose said. "We have what we call spotlight charities ... any charity can buy tickets from us for $5 and they can sell them at whatever cost they determine. They can also set up a table or booth that spotlights their charity and often leads to additional donations."

"So, we get to do what we love and we get to help out the community," she said.
Ultimately, Rose said, the camaraderie is what makes roller derby truly special.

"My team is my family," she said. "I can go to them about anything, any problems that I'm having, and they're always there to help me. So, they're my rock."

"Everyone is encouraged, regardless of your body type, your skin color, your sexuality, everyone just loves everyone here," Rose added. "There's just no animosity. And even rivalry teams, when we play against each other we put everything on the track and we leave it on the track. Everyone is fierce, and they're there to win, but then afterward everyone can be friends."

For more information about Wasatch Roller Derby, visit www.wasatchrollerderby.com.