This month we talked to Pepper Stix. Pepper is known to the league as one of the kindest, hardest working team mate/leader/league members. You may remember her as a tenacious jammer turned blocker. She was on the Devil Dollies home team, served as the Furies captain and ran Interleague. She sounds incredible, because she is! Read on to find out more about this amazing human!
Box: I’d like to jump right into it, what brought you to Queen City and how did you land on your name?
Pepper: I started derby boot camp in summer 2008 after hearing about the local league. I had never been to a Queen City game, but I remembered the 1980s roller derby that was on TV. After the 1st day of boot camp, I was hooked! 🙂
My name was hard to settle on- when I was picking a name there were some rules about no two players anywhere having the same name. It seemed like whenever I came up with a good name, I checked it and it was already taken!
Ultimately I chose “Pepper Stix” because I liked the name Pepper and Stix was something my dad called me when I was a kid.
B: That’s a familiar story! Once you see derby, it’s almost impossible not to fall in love with it! What was your experience after boot camp? Which team were you drafted to and how long were you active with the league?
P: So true about falling in love with derby!
After boot camp, but before the draft, the individual teams each hosted a practice open to available draftees. So, I attended those to get to know each team and see what the experience was like. Some teams had “fresh legs” parties too where you could hang out more off skates and get to know each other. When league practices started, I think I attended every one available. I had total FOMO if I missed any 🙂
I was ultimately drafted to the Devil Dollies! I started on the travel team not too long after… just before we picked the name “Lake Effect Furies” for it. I was with the league until 2019, so 11 years!
B: Eleven years! That’s an incredible testament to the power of the roller derby community! What are some of your favorite memories or most memorable moments that you still think about?
P: Some of my favorite memories are:
– Finishing boot camp on the hottest days of summer at Rainbow Rink.
– When I was a Devil Dollie and we won the league cup in 2012.
– Arriving trackside at our first D1 Playoffs in Omaha, NE.
– When the Furies hosted the New Skids at Riverworks and the home crowd was the loudest I’ve ever heard.
– The Furies Chili Cook Off and Meat Raffles were always a blast.
– Fun memories of dancing with the Furies at after parties in the early days.
– Favorite memory of all- looking trackside or up to the balcony and seeing my parents out for the game!
B: Those are some pretty amazing memories! The home crowd and family cheering you on are always so impactful! And I can’t even imagine skating out at a D1 Playoff!
What, if any, are things you miss about roller derby?
P: I miss being part of a family that is working together for a goal. Eating, sleeping, and drinking derby. I miss being able to push my body to the limit like we did. I miss the excitement and focus on game day (especially when we were doing well- haha!). And the travel- it was demanding but very cool to play derby far from home.
B: I’m sure many derby folks can relate to all of these sentiments. Travel team is so much different than Home team. With Home teams, you get a sense of your opponents game over game. With Travel, the opponents change with every game, as does the venue and crowd.
You said you skated with QCRD until 2019, what are you up to now that you have stepped away from derby and what was the thing that ended your skating career?
P: I stopped playing derby for a few reasons. I wanted more time with family and a break from late nights and travel. Also, my body had been telling me it was time to stop for a few years before I finally did. It was a tough decision.
Since stopping derby, I have volunteered with Messinger Woods Wildlife Care and Education Center and am currently ice skating with Gliding Stars of WNY. I regularly do home yoga and am learning pickleball.
B: That sounds like an amazing and well rounded way to keep yourself active, both physically and in the community! As we wrap up, is there anything you hope to see for the future of QCRD?
P: As for the future of QCRD, my hopes are that it remains full of skaters so that roller derby thrives in Buffalo!