The Cincinnati Rollergirls’ March 14 home season opener is fast approaching, and it’s no secret that 2015 has brought a lot of new faces to the lineup. Make sure that when you take your seat on Saturday you know who’s who and have a chance to establish new favorites!

Jas Hubbard #135


Favorite Derby Position: Jammer
Transfer or Rookie? Transfer from Bleeding Heartland Roller Derby
Derby Experience: I’m entering my second season of roller derby – I first stepped onto the track in September 2013.
What are the rewards you get from playing roller derby? I am mentally tough and physically strong. I’m in the best shape of my life because of derby. I’ve also met tons of great people, and basically have another family.
Inspiration Behind Your Name: I skated under a derby name my rookie season (Speedium Rear) but decided to skate under my real name from here on out.
What gets you pumped up before a practice or game? Music. I need music before I bout. I don’t like distractions or goofing off – I’m rather serious and always with headphones.
How do you cross train? Aside from derby, I do a lot of heavy lifting. And a ton of HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) workouts.
What are your biggest goals for roller derby? To stay on the charter roster and remain a Black Sheep. I also want to learn how to jump the apex backwards…
Who is your favorite inspirational athlete or person? Lolo Jones. She is amazing and such a strong athlete; running track was my first love and I’ve always been inspired by Lolo.
What is your roller derby/athletic mantra? BE A CHAMPION!

Macrum #93


Favorite Derby Position: On the track. Anything I can do to be on 8 wheels playing derby is my favorite position.
Transfer or Rookie? Transfer from Pair O’ Dice City Roller Derby
Derby Experience: I have played derby for five years, with four different leagues due to moving: Mother State Roller Derby (Richmond, VA), Pioneer Valley Roller Derby (Florence, MA), Pair O’ Dice City Rollers (Springfield, MA), and now CRG!
What has been your biggest challenge while playing roller derby? My biggest challenge in transferring to CRG has been getting to know everyone involved! We are so much bigger than the small leagues I have skated with before.
What are the rewards you get from playing roller derby? Meeting people – I’m such an introvert, so derby automatically gives me something to talk about with new people. I also very much enjoy the competition. I grew up swimming and mountain biking, and I played soccer through college, so having a competitive outlet is in my make-up.
What made you choose CRG? I moved to Cincinnati for work in my real-life and CRG was the most competitive team in the area I could join when I moved here. CRG is in a really cool place in terms of where we can go from here as a league, so being part of that transition is also really exciting!
Inspiration Behind Your Name: That is a deep, dark secret, and if I told you, I would have to kill you.
What are your biggest goals for roller derby? Being a competitor contributing to the improvement of our league as a whole is what I strive to do. I want to skate with the (Black) Sheep, but I also feel very strongly about skater development, because making everyone better will also make me better.
What’s the biggest misconception you’ve been faced with regarding roller derby? Where’s the ball? Is it staged? Do you throw ‘bows?
What gets you pumped up before a practice or game? Thinking about making the opposing jammers cry because they have to work so hard. Taking time to prepare all my pre and during bout food, as well as gearing up – I have a very specific method.
What’s your most valued piece of gear you own/wear? My knee brace. Rhonda (that’s my knee’s name) and I could not do the derby without her alter ego, RoboRhonda. And maybe my half-shield, because I’ve been kicked in the face before and that really stinks!
How do you cross train? Hot yoga, Barre, mountain biking
Who is your favorite inspirational athlete or person? All the derby teammates I have ever had. We all come to derby for very different reasons and with different strengths and needs, and somehow it is what makes us all better. I could not be who I am without them. What each of my teammates bring to the track is humbling and inspiring.
What is your roller derby/athletic mantra? “It’s time to riot, not time to quiet,” a quote from Iron Boots, a song by my favorite band, Rustic Overtones.
What is something fans might not know about you? I have a laugh that is obnoxious and can be picked from the largest of crowds.

Chainsaw Chic #80


Favorite Derby Position: Blocker – I like to play 1 or 4, however, I’ve been trying to play 2 and 3 more lately.
Transfer or Rookie? Transfer from Houston Roller Derby
Derby Experience: This is my ninth season.
What has been your biggest challenge while playing roller derby? Learning a new playing style. Transferring from Texas to here in Cincinnati, we use different strategies and styles than what I’ve previously used.
What are the rewards you get from playing roller derby? The people!!! Roller derby has the greatest fans and participants ever. I have made so many friends across the country from playing and traveling with this sport. The other thing I love about roller derby is the way it makes me challenge myself on so many levels, which I think has made me a better, stronger person.
What made you choose CRG? My fiance has been a long-time fan and season ticket holder for CRG. When he found out I played roller derby, he told me how great CRG is, so I tried out. He is absolutely right; CRG has so much talent!
Inspiration Behind Your Name: My daughters chose it for me. My kids presented me with a few choices (art included). We voted as a family which one we liked best.
What are your biggest goals for roller derby? My personal goals are to be able to slow down the action in a pack in my head – to see clearly what’s happening – and act accordingly, quickly. My second goal I’m really working on (on and off the track) is to improve my endurance.
What’s the biggest misconception you’ve been faced with regarding roller derby? That all the people that play are mean “bruiser” types. Nothing could be further from the truth. Roller derby has shown me how compassionate and caring people can be. The beauty of it is your derby sisters become your family.
What gets you pumped up before a practice or game? Seeing and hearing the fans.
What’s your most valued piece of gear you own/wear? I have a pink custom-painted helmet that I love, however, it’s been retired after receiving a major concussion in it.
How do you cross train? I do a combo of cardio and strength training.
Who is your favorite inspirational athlete or person? JJ Watt – I am from Houston after all!
What is your roller derby/athletic mantra? I am Seabiscuit – the reason: “Seabiscuit was the underdog before he showed the world what he was really made of. Despite his smaller size compared to his rivals in his time, he was asked to run with heavier loads, but still managed to run in record time.”

Royal T #533


Favorite Derby Position: Jammer
Transfer or Rookie? Transfer from Kansas City Roller Warriors
Derby Experience: I have skated since I was a teenager, but I have about three months of derby experience before CRG.
Inspiration Behind Your Name: I’m a long-time Kansas City Royals fan and I use Lorenzo Cain’s batting average during the 2014 American League Championship Series (.533) as the inspiration for my jersey number.
How do you cross train? Rucking and running.
What gets you pumped up before a practice or game? I like to listen to heavy metal before a practice or scrimmage. Bands like Five Finger Death Punch, Disturbed and Shinedown are among my favorites.
What are your biggest goals for roller derby? Right now, my goal is to make a roster.
What’s your most valued piece of gear you own/wear? Definitely my skates. I love everything from the boots to the bearings.
What is your roller derby/athletic mantra? I am woman – hear me roar!

Ellie Stab’er #631


Favorite Derby Position: Jammer and Pivot
Transfer or Rookie? Transfer from ROCK (Rollergirls of Central Kentucky).
Derby Experience: Started skating in May 2013.
What is something you’d want to tell fans? I am a full-time Elementary Education Undergrad at Northern Kentucky University. However, I commute for school and derby from Lexington, Kentucky.
What has been your biggest challenge while playing roller derby? Gelling and getting in sync with a new league. I’ve skated with some of my teammates previously but sometimes it just takes time to adjust.
What are the rewards you get from playing roller derby? I love the way I get to use my body strength. I’ve never been a petite lady so finally finding a sport where my body type is an advantage is amazing. Plus, it’s a great stress reliever!
What made you choose CRG? CRG is a competitive team that raises the expectations of their skaters. Plus, CRG works with my school schedule.
Inspiration Behind Your Name: My name is a play on Elliot Stabler’s character on Law and Order: SVU. My number is a shortened version of his badge number.
What are your biggest goals for roller derby? Making the Charter.
What’s the biggest misconception you’ve been faced with regarding roller derby? That people think it’s fake. And that we only play on a banked track. There are so many different types of derby that people haven’t gotten a chance to experience.
What gets you pumped up before a practice or game? A burrito bowl and good pop-punk music.
What’s your most valued piece of gear you own/wear? My skull grippy skate laces and Pro-Designed wrist guards.
How do you cross train? I like to strength train. An ankle injury has prevented me from running for awhile so I substitute cycling and other interval cardio.
Who is your favorite inspirational athlete or person? My teammate Nuk’em has always been a mentor and inspiration for me. I love watching her on the track.
What is your roller derby/athletic mantra? “You know how to do this. Just play your game your way. Plus, you’re a bad b*tch.”
-Karli Hustle
Check back soon for the second installment of our new skater profiles!