Well hey...I still have this page! So I figure I might as well make some use of it. And the first thing I'm going to do is FINALLY post this interview with Chaos Fury of the Bellingham Roller Betties. She sent me this right as I was in the middle of preparing for my move to Tulsa. And in that (ahem) chaos, I simply never got around to posting it.
Well, better late than never, eh? Chaos has quietly become one of the northwests best blockers. And I think that is proven true by the way her peers and fans voted her onto the 2009 Northwest Roller Derby All-Star Team on this page. So what all does Ms. Fury have to say? Well, read on...
Elwood Bruise: What kind of athletic background did you have before roller derby?
Chaos Fury: I've played sports my entire life. I grew up playing soccer, softball and basketball. In high school I played Volleyball, Basketball and Softball. I've basically been an athlete since I can remember.
EB:. How did you first find out about roller derby and what made you want to try out?
CF: I first learned about derby when a few of the people who were starting the Betties brought fliers for open tryouts into the bar where I work. I was bartending and they asked if they could hand out fliers. I took one. I'm pretty surprised I went to the tryout, because I'm sorta shy about things like that.
EB: Describe your feelings before your very first public bout.
CF: I remember being very excited and very nervous. Those of us that had been part of the league since the beginning had been practicing for a year and it felt like we FINALLY got to play the game. It was really exciting playing the sport in front of 1400 fans. There were also lots of nerves, but mostly it was an excited relief.
EB: Do you have any pre-bout rituals you go through in order to get ready for the game?
CF: I'm pretty obsessive about cleaning my wheels. I get really OCD about making sure I have everything, like the helmet panties, the line-ups, extra shorts and shirts etc. I always have about 12 bottles of Gatorade, which I'm obsessed about. I usually only drink about 2-3 of them, but I seriously bring about 12 to each bout...and I like to listen to Bob Marley. He brings it home for me. I'm a very mental player and listening to music allows me to focus into my head.
EB: What are some of your best on-track memories playing against your competition both within Bellingham and around the northwest?
CF: This is a hard question. I enjoy so much about the game, the little strategies involved, the finer points of each game. I would have to say that the things that keep popping into my mind are the little plays where the chemistry between me and my teammates was ON. Working together with another blocker to create a perfect hole at the perfect time for our jammer. Holding back the other team's jammer for a period of time or at a critical moment. Those are the memories that I hold onto. I've had the opportunity to play with and against some great players from around the nation, and those are always memorable moments for me.
EB: Who are some players out there that you love to hate to play against?
CF: hmm..this is tough. there are some super squirrelly jammers out there, who can start and stop on a dime, they drive me up a wall. there are a few blockers who have cleaned my clock a few times. This is hard for me, because there are quite a few players who at different times have caused me a lot of grief, but it's really hard to isolate or list them out.
EB: You are very quietly becoming one of the best blockers in the northwest. Can you give some of the readers out there who aren't totally familiar with roller derby some of the keys to being a good blocker out there on the track?
CF: Some of the things that I have found to be useful is to have an awareness of where all the other players are, not just where the action is happening. Get yourself into a position on the track that allows you to have the most methods of attack on a jammer. It's also crucial to know where all your teammates are, so you know what areas might become vulnerable. For those people who aren't really familiar with the game, the biggest key to being a good blocker is working with your other blockers to fill the most important parts of the track, at the key times.
EB: Off the track, what are some of your other duties with the Bellingham Roller Betties?
CF: ugg. I am a captain for my team Tough Love, I am on the Training Committee and the Board of Directors. Like most ladies in derby, I do a lot of different things.
CF: How much longer do you see yourself playing roller derby?
EB: Honestly, I would love to play for many years, knock on wood that my old body holds up. When I'm no longer able to play, I'll probably transition into coaching, because I love the strategy involved in the game and I would love to coach!
EB: What do you think it will take for Bellingham to compete with the big leagues around the northwest?
CF: I think we have the raw talent. I think we just have to refine some of our talent and harness the potential of all of our skaters. I think we also will have to find the determination and believe that we can.
EB: Thanks for taking the time to do this interview, Chaos! And I'm so sorry it took so long for it to be posted.
Comments
Worth waiting for. Thanks for posting this, I had no idea there were so many things these ladies do to further the sport!
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