Clair D. Way leaves an impression when you watch her skate.
As an example, I went back and re-watched the first half of the 2012 Championship bout between Gotham and Oly. Now, my widow is not as deep into the derby world as I am, but he has seen some bouts here and there.
The first time she stepped onto the jam line, my widow said “Wait… I know her. I thought she played for Boston? Gotham got a hell of a transfer.” He went on to observe Clair’s balance and strength. He could not believe the leverage she has in her legs and her incredible ability to weather the hardest hits.
I couldn’t agree with him more. Among the legends of Gotham, Clair sometimes gets forgotten, but she is an important piece of the scheme of Gotham derby. She is able to redirect her momentum in a split second, which makes her own luck. Blockers have a hard time guessing her moves, and her skates make the subtlest, most difficult moves to get her around and through packs.
She is so much fun to watch, and you root for Clair. She is not the biggest skater on the track, but she is fearless in challenging brutal blockers. No opponent will ever take it easy on a Gotham skater, and Clair seems to relish every hit, bump and push that she receives.
Clair D. Way is (and has been since her Boston days) a skater that makes me want to put on my skates right now.
Thank you AGAIN to Dave Wood and Tyler Shaw for the photographs used in this article.
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