Box: Hello, and welcome to your interview! Our audience is very interested in getting to know the real Apex! So, thank you again for agreeing to share your story with us!
What brought you into the derbyverse?
Apex: You’re welcome, it’s awesome to be considered for this!
So my wife joined a small league a few years back, and the best way for me to support and be involved was to help fill their need for officials. She still skates for Enchanted Mountain, and we both officiate to help other leagues in the area.
Box: Did you find yourself jumping into reffing or did you start as an NSO? What was your skating background when you made the decision to ref?
Apex: I had a bit of experience on roller blades as a kid, so I started on those. I switched over to quads pretty early, and went to practices as a Ref, learned to run drills, and when numbers were short acted as kind of a stand in blocking dummy. Basically whatever was needed to keep things growing.
Box: As some may know, your brother is also a ref in the derbyverse. Were you the one who got him into the life or was there some other factor?
Apex: So I * may * have helped connect the dots..
We were living an hour apart at the time, I had met some of the Erie skaters at a skate park in Jamestown where I lived, they were nice enough to give me some tips as I was just learning the basics.
Horsey and I went to watch an Erie game, and found that he had met the team at a trivia event near where he lived. With some slight nudging they all connected and he started practicing with that team, and now we all travel around the Derbyverse wherever officials are needed. And to give proper credit, his whole name is “Behold! Stripey Horse.”
Box: That is THE best name! Speaking of names, what is your origin story? How did you land on Apex Detonator?
Apex: My long running side job is Pyrotechnics, basically commercial fireworks shows, so it comes from that. Oddly enough, it feels a bit like derby! – A lot of work and preparation for a short spectacle, enough danger to be exciting, and most of all working with a highly skilled crew focused on doing things safely but still having fun with it all.
Box: That’s really cool! Very Flash! Bang! Pow! Exactly like derby!
Recently, you’ve been attending QCRD’s open gender practices and participating in mixed level scrimmages. When did you get the call to try your skates as a player, and not just ref? What inspired you to give playing derby a try?
Apex: I started playing less than a year ago. Niagara Roller Derby puts on a fantastic holiday scrimmage, so I finally jumped in, and it was great people to skate with!
Seeing the skater perspective helps me be a more well rounded official. I’ve done the drills for years, but the firsthand experience has already shown me so much!
As an unexpected bonus, it seems to put me closer to the community aspect of the sport. I’ve found several mixed gender scrimmage all over, from Syracuse to West Virginia, and these smaller hometown leagues have a very welcoming vibe. It’s been great getting to know skaters on a more individual level.
Box: Love that Derby Community journey!!! So, do you fancy yourself a blocker or are you more the jammer type?
Apex: Haha at the moment I’m equally bad at both!
As a Ref I enjoy being able to fill all the roles, so I can imagine wanting to have the ability to block or jam. So far I have a lot more experience in recognizing what skaters do, I don’t have as much opportunity to practice, so I can’t quite make my body do the things reflexively yet. My next project is finding chances for practicing all the basics till it’s muscle memory.
I suppose I like the idea of Pivot, and I have a huge respect for those that do it well, their awareness of both jammers and the whole situation is incredible!
Box: No cap! A seasoned pivot is a crucial part of any good line. Being able to see what your jammer needs, like quick offense, and then switching gears suddenly to take the star is a talent that deserves true appreciation.
Apex: Absolutely!
Box: What is some advice that you would give to an aspiring referee?
Apex: Officiating doesn’t need to be intimidating. Derby is meant to be run by humans, so no one is expected to be perfect before starting. You come into each game with the skills you have at the time, and that’s all you need, a great officiating crew will cover the gaps for each other, and you’ll grow each time you try.
There’s so many people willing to answer questions, and meet people wherever they’re at in Derby knowledge, it really is a great group to grow within!
Box: You’re not wrong! Roller derby is truly a place for everyone and everybody!
As we come into QCRD’s 20th Anniversary Season, is there anything in particular that you are looking forward to?
Apex: The officials already have some great momentum working together, and there’s so many new skaters both on the track and interested in working with us! I’m excited to see how things develop!