"Full Circle Moments; From Roller Girl To Roller Derby." by Live Wire
- Chicago Style
- Mar 14
- 3 min read
A “FULL CIRCLE” moment refers to a situation where someone or something returns to a previous state or position after going through a series of changes. It means essentially ending up where they started but with a deeper understanding or perspective gained through the journey; it signifies a completion of a cycle and a sense of coming back to the origin point. My entire Roller Derby experience happens to be a FULL CIRCLE moment!
I have always LOVED to skate. Ice skating, roller blading, roller skating… you name it! I first laced up a pair of skates when I was four. After stepping on the ice for the first time, I took off and never looked back. Then, when I was nine, my Brownie Troop read Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson, a Newbery Honor Award winning graphic novel that takes growing up and throws it together with one of the coolest sports there is, ROLLER DERBY! My troop went to Coachlite Skate Center to meet REAL roller girls. All of my troop just wanted to skate around- but I wanted to talk to the derby players. I skated holding their hands. I very curiously touched their tattoos and one skater let me draw a tattoo on her with a marker. Another skater put makeup on me to make me look like a Girl PUNK instead of a Girl Scout. It was the time of my LIFE. I knew then, that no matter when, no matter how, I was determined to be a derby skater one day.
Once I graduated from high school, I used ALL of my graduation money to buy a pair of starter skates and some basic gear. I started to return to as many open skate hours as I could find to get used to skating again as it had been a few years since I was regularly roller blading and many years since I had been on quads. I joined CSRD’s New Crew mere weeks after I turned 18 as “BABY” of New Crew and the entire league.
On the first day of practice, I was full of anticipation and pure excitement. Almost 10 years had led to this exact moment!! Everything had a vague familiarity. The disco balls, the lockers, the skate rental booth . . . everything gave me a sense of Deja Vu. I had yet to fully grasp that my new home rink was the same rink that started it all. I was addicted to derby as soon as I first stepped on the rink. I learned an astounding amount EVERY. SINGLE. PRACTICE. I was a bit nervous being the youngest one, but I felt extremely welcome, ALWAYS. In a strange way, it felt like we were all friends before we even knew each other's names (Derby names, that is . . . I still don’t know any actual BIRTH names . . . When you can be Live Wire, Crissy Crossbones, Ricky Ricochet, Chi-Town Choker, Ima Stoner… who wants to be Beth or Susie?)
Practices on Monday and Wednesday nights were definitely the highlight of my week. Nothing was a higher priority than the rush of gearing up and being with my TEAMMATES! I would watch other league members practice for upcoming bouts and would be so excited that I was getting closer and closer to being on that track, ON the roster! Now, a year and a half later, here I am headed to Indiana for the first bout of my first full season of play.
In honor of the 10 year anniversary of Roller Girl, come check out our New Crew Program starting March 31st and see what we are all about. There is a place for EVERYONE at Chicago Style Roller Derby. Come and find yours!
"Full Circle Moments; From Roller Girl To Roller Derby."
Author: Live Wire
New Crew Class of 2023
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