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! 

Meet the GRD team: High Voltage

What's your skate name and number?

High Voltage #1

How long have you been playing roller derby?

Since 2017 for 8 months then again from 2019, then a pandemic until today

What's your favourite thing about roller derby?

Fun with my friends and skating

Who is your derby hero, or favourite team?

Is it sad if I say Mcmillian? 😅

What’s your best derby moment?

New intakes getting better ❤️

What do you like to do when you aren’t playing derby?

I like food and like to be busy.

Tell us an interesting fact about you.

My name is High Voltage ⚡️ because when I was learning to skate I sang it a lot to get my crossovers in rhythm for 27 in 5.

Meet the Bruisers’ Captains heading to Liverpool!

Phoenix on track for Team Scotland in 2018. Image courtesy of Dave McAleavy

Who are you and why are you in my house?

X: I’m X and I’m here to drink your tea and force you to talk about our saviour…roller derby! ✨shoots glitter in a fabulous manner✨

Phoenix: Alison McElroy aka Phoenix - Co-Captain of the Irn Bruisers. 

There was a big pause in roller derby over the pandemic and while GRD have played a couple of games and scrims, this is the first proper season since restrictions lifted. What do you see as the challenges and what are your goals?

X: The morale on our team is AMAZING! We are having a lot of fun getting back into the swing of things. We have quite a mix of skaters so the biggest challenge is learning how to skate together as a team again, and relearning all of our strategy. My goal is to have fun, enjoy derby, support my teammates and for us all to grow together.

P: I think the challenges we will face this season are: finding our feeting on becoming a competitive team, finding our place and challenging ourselves to become greater. Our goals will be to have fun and be responsive with our training.

X ruining the dreams of yet another jammer.

Liverpool Roller Birds A are the first team the Irn Bruisers are facing this quarter, and they recently took on the mighty Tiger Bay Brawlers and lost by a narrow margin. How are you feeling about the game, and what’s your strategy?

X: I’m extra excited to play Liverpool! I love Liverpool in general and although I’ve never played against them, I’ve been watching a lot of footage. They are fierce!

It’s going to be a really hard game for us, they are fast! But we’re going to play it cool, keep calm and play OUR game. It would be nice to win but it’s not the most important thing. I would love for everyone to feel like they did their best and feel good about themselves. But don’t get me wrong… It’s not going to be easy for them either 😉

P: I am really excited to be playing Liverpool! GRD historically plays them yearly and we always have a great game whether we win or lose. I'm eager for our first game this season to see how the team performs! It is our starting point so we will only progress. 

What do you think are your co-captain’s biggest strengths?

X: Phoenix is just fabulous! She’s absolutely obsessed with roller derby, and that’s my perfect match in a co-captain. She is dedicated, calm, confident, strong, knowledgeable and fair.

Phoenix is an amazing skater and I’m so happy to have her as co-captain 😍

P: Her physical strength💪, but she also brings over a decade of experience and high level knowledge of the sport and captaining.  

What is being team captain about to you, and what are your priorities?

X: A team captain needs to be dedicated and put the needs of their teammates first. I want my teammates to be happy and that’s the most important thing to me. We do this for fun!

I want to help people improve and I want to support them. Derby is for everyone and everyone wants different things from it.

P: I feel like a captain is the driver and the team are telling them where to go. I love GRD, it is an honour to be made captain and I want to help the Bruisers achieve their potential while having lots of fun and enjoying being in the team. 

What do you do outside of roller derby and how do you feel that feeds into your game?

X: There is an outside of roller derby? Jk… kinda 😉 I go on magical adventures with my wife who also plays roller derby and we talk about roller derby. I’m 100% obsessed and that’s that.

P: I’m a teacher, a mother, I paint, I read, I watch anime, I listen to pop punk, I exercise - I have a lot of other interests and I feel like they come with their own challenges and prepare me to be patient, empathetic and to persevere.

Do you do any training or sports outside of roller derby and if so, what?

X: Roller derby is the only sport that exists. We live four flights up and our house is made of stairs. That counts, I’m sure of it.

P: I go to the gym, I run the netball team and skating team at the school I work at.

What’s your number one tip for people starting out in roller derby?

X: Don’t feel bad if you’re a hot mess. Everyone starts somewhere and we have all been new. You got this *high fives*

P: Bend your knees, so if you fall, you are closer to the ground. 

Who is your roller derby hero?

X: My wife! Nuke is EVERYTHING. 12 years of skating together and they never give up….. even after a few surgeries 😬 My second favourite is Bicepsual from VRDL.

P: That is a really hard question as there are so many amazing people who have contributed to our sport. I do really love watching Kwoo from Arch Rival blocking 😍

How did you get into roller derby?

X: I moved from Glasgow to Kansas and I had no friends. A lonely loner (I hope someone reading this has seen The IT Crowd). I was actually looking for a football or rugby team, but roller derby seemed way cooler! Spoiler…. It is and I’m still here … Hi!

P: Went with a friend to watch Glasgow play Paris in 2012 and signed up the next week. 

Who would be your dream team to play against and why?

X: VRDL! I would actually die, and it would be the best death. I feel like by playing against them I would somehow be able to absorb the amazingness. It makes sense.

P: I would like to play against Crime City again. Their Jammers and Blockers are so precise and fast, it is beautiful. 

Why is roller derby so great?

X: We get to skate around a track and hit people at high speed….. Madness! There’s so much strategy, so many friends and it’s inclusive! It’s the best days.

P: I like hanging out with cool people, talking tactics, having fun on track. 

Roller derby curse time! Would you rather always fall on your butt or never be able to remove the derby stench?

X: My bum is huge… I’ll bounce back up! It’s option no stench for me.

P: Easy, falling on my butt is fine, it's like a big cushion!

Roller derby poetry for #WorldPoetryDay

DALL-E’s interpretation of roller derby poetry

Today is #WorldPoetryDay, and our Maidens co-captain Puma Thurman wrote some AMAZING roller derby-themed poetry to mark the occasion.

The jammer

Skate fast and turn left

Reach the pack, juke past blockers

Speed away, points yours

---

The blocker

In the pack, bracing

For impact, jammer speeding

Catch them, they’re yours now

---

The pivot

Blocker with the stripe

Takes the star pass when needed

The jammer’s hero

---

And then there’s this clever acrostic:

Get your skates and safety gear on

Let us teach you how to go, and how to stop

At Glasgow Roller Recruits

Sometimes you’ll fall

Guess that’s why we practise it so much

One jam is 2 minutes, the jammer is the point scorer

Want to learn this all with us?

Racing around with your team mates

One big hit after another

Land on your arse, get up again

Land on your arse again

Explain to all your pals THERE IS NO BALL

Recycle the jammer, don’t let them pass the star

Don’t forget the officials!

Either on-skates or off

Really couldn’t do this without them

But I swear that wasn’t a penalty…

Yeah ok, I’ll go and sit in the box for 30 secs then

Glasgow Roller Derby at the Glasgow International Comedy Festival

I always knew we were funny, but on Mother’s Day we got the chance to showcase this on the stage of the King’s Theatre as part of the Glasgow International Comedy Festival 2023.

We were approached by Duncan Murray (the other Murray brother) to take part in his show to try and finally impress his mum Judy Murray (yes, that one). They’ve been doing a few bits on Tiktok for a while and they did a show at the Fringe, but this time they were in Glasgow, hosted by Des Clarke.

In a bid to show Judy how he really is just as successful and talented as Andy and Jamie, Duncan decided to try out roller derby, assisted by our lovely Head of Training, Snax! Honestly she did a great job, but there’s only so much you can do as I’m sure Judy would agree.

All joking aside, he was honestly impressive for a beginner, and took a pretty big hit from Snax in front of an audience and didn’t even cry. The whole show was hilarious and we’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for his other shows!

Duncan is also the Murray with the biggest feet, FYI.