April 2011 Featured Skater: Leia Flat

While she only occasionally dons the jammer star, this derby girl has lead by example, working hard at the basics, until she has become a star. If you’re not careful on the track, she’s likely to lay you flat on your back. Off the track, she is still a Tampa Bay Derby Darlin, especially when wrangling her middle school students. Learn more about Leia Flat here…

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Name: Leia Flat
Number: 80D

League: Tampa Bay Derby Darlins
Teams you play for: The Tampa Tantrums and my home team is the Cigar City Mafia

Tagline: “Leia Flat...on ya back!"

What is your (roller derby) position of choice?
Pivot, blocker, jammer...in that order.

What is your skate gear of choice?
Bont skate boots, TSG pads, and I am currently rockin' a Lowboy/Stinger wheel combo.

Do you have a pre-bout ritual?
Bout day always starts with 5 shots of espresso on ice from Starbucks. If we are traveling, the team knows that I do not function and they probably should not talk to me before I've had my coffee. If it's a home bout, the team usually comes over to my house a few hours before game time and we get ready together, sometimes watch old derby bouts, snack a little, etc.

What are some of your best/favorite moments in roller derby?
There's no way that I could pick just one...the Tampa Tantrums beating the Dallas Derby Devils All-Star Travel Team, after a longtime rivalry, would probably top the charts, but every time I put on my skates is an awesome derby moment. ☺

Who are your roller derby heroes?
Sarah Hipel – I’ve looked up to her as an amazing skater and derby player for years. She's visited Tampa several times over the years and has always been an inspiration to our league.
Lunch Lady – One of my best friends and teammates, who constantly challenges me to be the best player that I can be.

Do you have a motivational quote?
There are two:
1. "Every jam is a brand new start...forget what happened in the last jam and do your best."
2. "You can do anything for two minutes."

What goes through your brain as you lace up your skates?
My mind is constantly in a thousand places at once. "80D" is not just a number...it's a lifestyle.

Do you have a theme song?
I don't have my own theme song, but currently, we all go crazy when we hear "Buss It Wide Open" by Lil Kee.

Do you have a signature move?
I don't think that I have a signature move, but I've been told that I have a really funny gait when I'm trying to go fast. Some of my teammates have affectionately dubbed it my "pimp limp".

Any advice for girls who want to join roller derby?
Derby requires a lot of dedication, patience, and commitment. There will be times that you are so frustrated that you want to throw in the towel, but no matter how much it hurts and no matter how hard it is, it will all be worth it and it's going to be the most amazing ride of your life. You get out of it exactly what you put in.

How did you get involved with roller derby?
I was on the phone with a friend in Minnesota one night and she had to hang up because she was going to a roller derby game. I thought that sounded pretty awesome, so I did a Google search for "Tampa roller derby" and found out that a league was just starting up nearby. I went to my first practice the following week.

How long have you been playing roller derby?
I'm starting my 6th season with TBDD.

What is your sports/skating background?
I had zero skating background before starting derby. I rode horses competitively for about 20 years growing up and then played rugby in college.

What are some of your greatest roller derby accomplishments?
Just learning how to skate was a great accomplishment for me. ☺ Being named League MVP for TBDD and Team MVP for the Cigar City Mafia in 2008 was pretty amazing. Every time I get an award of any kind, I'm usually completely floored and honored, especially this one.

From what we understand, you couldn't skate very well when you joined roller derby. What made you stick with it? And how did you get to the competitive level you are at now?
I was definitely a wall-hugger when I started. It took me about a year to actually learn to do an effective crossover and I couldn't stop without crashing into the wall or falling. I was addicted to derby from the second I put on that pair of crappy rental skates at my first practice. I was terrible, but failure was never an option. We have a very knowledgeable coach, with an extensive background in speed skating, who helped me with my form, even making me skate with my arms out like an airplane when I was learning.

I have had to work very hard at roller derby, as I am not a natural skater and not the most graceful person on or off skates. I've gotten to this point by practicing...I rarely miss practice and work hard every time I lace up my skates. If you want anything badly enough, you can do it!!

Many skaters consider you a powerhouse skater: able to take big hits without sacrificing your position on the track. What do you attribute this skill to? What tips do you have for skaters who are trying to emulate this ability?
Being short and squat (for lack of a better word) gives me a low center of gravity, which I think helps a lot. If you know that an unavoidable hit is coming, lean into it to maintain your balance and move on.

In addition to taking hits, we hear that you really do lay skaters flat. Were you always able to do this? If not, how did you work to develop this skill?
Hitting has always been my favorite part of derby. I played rugby in college, so my early derby hits were basically glorified rugby hits on skates...this means that I flew through the air, taking myself out in the process. I've since learned how to control my body and, again, practiced a lot.

You've become a leader in your league, having been team captain for the Tampa Tantrums, and you are known for being an inspiration to other skaters. How do you feel about those roles (leader, inspiration)? Do they affect the way you play?
Actually, this is the first time in my 5-year derby career that I am not a team captain, as I've taken a step back to finish grad school. I led the Tantrums for 4 years and captained/co-captained home teams for 4 years. It has always been an honor to lead and skate with such an amazing group of women. I try to lead by example in all areas of my life. If you want your girls to come to practice, the captain must show up to practice. If you want respect, you must give respect. If you expect 110%, you must give 110%.

How has your involvement in roller derby affected the way you live the rest of your life?
Derby has made me a much more diverse person. I think that it has made me a more assertive and effective leader in my professional life. As a middle school teacher, I had lots of experience talking to and controlling rowdy teenagers, but derby is the first time I've ever had to use these skills with adults...and let me tell ya...derby girls make middle schoolers look tame.

Lately, we've been seeing you don the jammer star. Is this a full-time transition for you, or can we still expect to see you laying people flat?
I will probably always be a primary blocker, but I do love jamming sometimes and have dabbled, mostly in home games. I never thought that I could or would be an effective jammer, so it's exciting for me to get the opportunity to do so. I definitely believe the best players are well rounded enough to play any position necessary, and I know that my blocking has gotten stronger since I've started jamming.

Anyone you'd like to take the opportunity to thank?
Thank you to all of the amazing teammates that I've had over the years. Being a part of TBDD has been one of the most incredible experiences of my life.

Thank you to our coach, Shirley N. Sane, who has made me the skater that I am today and always believed in me, even before I could crossover in a corner.

Thank you to Bont Skates for setting me up in some amazing skate boots – their stability has made me a much stronger skater.

And you – thank you to the WFTDA for everything that you do for the sport of roller derby.

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Would you like to be the WFTDA Featured Skater of the month (or nominate one of your fantastic teammates)? If you are an active skater on a WFTDA full member league that has a dazzling derby career, please contact webmaster@wftda.com and let us know what makes you shine.