This year I took a huge step forward in my roller derby career. After skating with the Queen City Junior Roller Girls for 6 seasons, I transitioned into the adult league at QCRG. This change was anticipated highly by myself, my friends, and my family. While roller derby is nothing new to me, I didn’t know what to expect from the transition. I was both thrilled and a little bit terrified all at the same time.
To understand how I came to be where I am now, it’s important to know how this journey began. Picture this: a mother negotiating with her 11 year old daughter on how to become more active. Looking back at it now I don’t blame her. I was an early bloomer and my metabolism was not cooperating with my growing hunger. My parents decided it was time to do something about this so I was told to pick two sports. Eventually stubborn little me caved in and joined a cheerleading team, however I was still in need of one more activity.
Fast forward about 6 years, the 2016-2017 season was to be my “senior year” of junior roller derby. I would be turning 18 and moving up to the adult league at the end of the season. Unfortunately, I did not get to skate with my team for my final junior season due to a major knee injury. During cheerleading practice a fall resulted in a torn ACL and meniscus. I spent my last season as a junior skater on the bench, going through surgery and extensive physical therapy. Now, a year later I have finally been cleared to play the sport I love in all of its hard hitting glory! Pushing myself all summer long leading up to the QCRG home team draft paid off as I was drafted to the Devil Dollies team.
Something I have noticed about my new team in particular is the seriousness that everyone has and treats this sport with. Little things such as not wasting practice time by talking excessively or taking long water breaks, and having written homework assignments due at next week’s practice show me that as an adult skater I have responsibilities. Holding myself and my teammates accountable is important in order to have a successful team.
What started out as something to keep myself in shape and out of trouble became one of the most important aspects of my identity. Transitioning from a junior skater to an adult skater has been a learning experience. Every practice I leave with new knowledge, and positive energy. I intend to continue on this roller derby journey one stride at a time and I look forward to the rest of my first season as an adult skater.
~Mer Maiden