What it's like to be in Glasgow Roller Recruits

Yankee Brutal who currently skates with our Glasgow Roller Recruits new skater group

With a new skater intake coming up on 28 May, we got one of our current skaters to tell us what it’s like… If it inspires you to sign up head to the Event page and stick in your details!

Hi there! Can you tell us who you are and a little bit about you?

Hi! My name is Peyton Lana Rose aka Yankee Brutal, and I'm from Glasgow via the USA! I love gigs, nerding out to films, birds, and of course skating! 

When and where did you first hear about roller derby?

I actually first heard about roller derby 13 years ago when I worked with someone who skated with Auld Reekie and thought it sounded cool - but then I'm sure like many others I saw Whip It and that's really what got me hooked! 

When did you join GRR and what was it that prompted you to take the leap?

I joined GRR the first time in May 2022 (I had to leave and come back). I'd just moved to Glasgow and had been thinking about trying derby and it just so happened there was an intake - I also really wanted to make new friends and be more active so it was a perfect excuse! 

What is GRR like? Is it how you expected? What's different?

GRR is great - it's a really friendly vibe where everyone helps each other (way less cutthroat than the movies!!) and being able to learn to skate from the bare basics with a holistic approach has been so important! It definitely is as I expected which is really nice as someone who has anxiety! 

What would you say to someone who was thinking about signing up but was maybe a bit hesitant? 

I would say absolutely try it - learning to skate is easier than it looks and you'll be surrounded by support! You'll also make new friends, and who doesn't love that? If it turns out you don't like skating, there are so many other ways you can get involved in the sport too. Come join us! 

What's the best thing about roller derby / GRR?

The family vibe and acceptance from the get go. I feel like I've gained a whole crew of siblings that I can throw myself round a track with while learning a sport and honestly that's a beautiful thing! 

What do you do outside GRR?

Outside of GRR I'm a singer-songwriter called Lana Wild, and also an aspiring actor! 

Finally, the derby curse! Would you rather get velcro rash on your face or bruise your tailbone?

I think bruise my tailbone, because at least nobody could see it and I could lie on my front! They're both equally cursed though! 

GRR / LEAP Festival Fortnight

On a Tuesday evening way back at the start of June one of our referees, Feminist Killjoy, ran a special training session for GRR as part of the LEAP Festival Fortnight.

Our rookie skaters learning more about actual gameplay from self-confessed roller derby geek, Feminist Killjoy.

FK has been skating with GRD since 2013 and also works for LEAP Sports Scotland, whose mission is to break down the barriers preventing LGBTI people from participating in and excelling at sports. Every June, they organise the Festival Fortnight during which sports clubs across the country are invited to take part by running a taster session/quiz/film night etc.

Equality and promoting roller derby sounded right up our street, so when FK offered to open up a GRR session to the public as part of the event, we were all over it! And GRR were in for an absolute treat, with Feminist Killjoy giving them a masterclass in roller derby rules and tactics, allowing them to see where the basic skating skills they'd been learning in isolation would fit into the game as a whole.  

The introduction of the sock derby section of the event also coincided with the gun show, apparently. 

To get involved in GRD, check out our website for more information and if you want to know more about the excellent work of LEAP Sports Scotland then their website is also full of useful information. 

Made from GRRders

So you’ve seen the posters, maybe you’ve been to a game, you’ve bought some excellent Glasgow Roller Derby merch and you’ve had a good blether to some of our skaters. You’re really sure now, roller derby is COOL. You know that we run a ‘fresh meat’ programme to train the next generation of derby superstars and you’ve priced up the rookie kit packages at our local skate shop 5Th Blocker Skates. You’re seriously thinking of coming along to the next Glasgow Roller Recruits intake session on Sunday 24th April, but you’re a wee bit nervous.

DON’T PANIC! We know it can be nerve wracking to come along to your first session, especially if you’re one of those people who hasn’t been on skates since you were a tot in Fisher Price strap-on wheels. In order to give you some great reasons to be your own hero we’ve spoken to two of our current Roller Recruits to get the lowdown on what GRR is really like.  Here are five top tips from skater Charlotte AKA Tesla Recoil and trainee referee Sean, AKA Rolla Fett.

1. You don’t need to know loads about derby before you start!

Tesla - To be completely honest I hadn’t been aware of roller derby prior to signing up! My friend was wanting to join the new intake and I was looking for an activity that would make me fitter. I have never played any sort of sport and derby seemed like something different that would be challenging and fun. A year and a half later, it still is!

2. Nobody will tell you off for doing it ‘wrong’.

Rolla - The first training session I had was great, the coaches were really friendly and very clear in how to do everything safely. It was mostly time spent skating rather than just spending half the time listening to someone drone on about how to do it right.

3. We take your safety very seriously!

Tesla - I’d never been on skates before so I was very nervous about getting started. I didn’t even know which way round all the pads went! However, once we got into the hall I was concentrating too hard to be scared. We started with important things like learning how to fall properly (something I have had oodles of practice at since) and how to stand up safely; we did all this before even putting the wheels on our feet. Then it was on to rolling and stopping. Some of the more experienced skaters were separated off to push them a bit harder so you never really felt like you were holding others back. I finished the session exhausted and elated!

4. Derby is an incredibly inclusive sport. There’s a place for everyone here – this means YOU!

Rolla - I started having known a fair bit about derby as a sport as I’ve known various people in the past who have played, but my favourite experience has been how inclusive and friendly the league is. Everything and everyone seem quite relaxed but there has also been a great focus of everyone wanting to better themselves on and off track, but also to support each other. As a guy it might be seen to be unusual to pick a women’s team to skate/officiate with but the atmosphere when I got there made it a simple decision. GRD is made up of great high level teams and players so I thought that was the best place to learn and push myself.

5. Derby will change your life.

Tesla - I am my own worst and most damning critic. I have had to learn to stop berating myself for not getting something first time round and to overcome my gut reaction to quit every time something went wrong. Everyone progresses at different rates, everyone learns differently; that has never been so clear to me as it has been at derby. The best part of this is that I am also starting to see this in non-derby parts of my life too so it’s a complete change of mindset for me. Whilst it is the most difficult part it’s probably also one of the most rewarding!

Finally, we asked Tesla and Rolla what they’d say to anyone considering joining up to become the next generation of GRR skaters:

Rolla - To anyone considering coming along for the first time, DO IT. If you don't mind falling over occasionally… everyone falls but you get taught to do it safely!

Tesla - Please just give it a go! You might find a new family, a new state of mind, an unusual pride in bruises…If nothing else you have a brilliant conversation starter at parties and work functions. They go something like: 

Person: “So what do you do when you’re not working?”
Me: “I play roller derby”
Person: “What’s roller derby?”
Me: “Well, it’s a full contact sport on roller skates. A bit like rugby, on skates, without the ball. And completely different. And brilliant. You should join!”

So there you have it, straight from the baby zebra’s mouth. If you’ve got any questions about joining our next intake you can visit the Glasgow Roller Recruits Facebook page, the New Intake events page, or you can contact us for more information. We hope to see you there!