August 2015 Featured Skater: Death By Chocolate

With the better part of a decade of derby under her belt, Death By Chocolate continues to be a formidable force on the track, taking charge in the pack and using her “Death Glare” to intimidate her opponents. Learn more about Death By Chocolate, and get ready to see her and her league, Houston Roller Derby, as they compete in the 2015 WFTDA D2 Playoffs in Cleveland August 21st-23rd.

What is your derby name? DBC/Death By Chocolate

Please explain the inspiration and story behind your derby name.
I couldn't decide on a name when I first started, I went through so many different ones! Nothing seemed to fit me. I asked some friends at Cactus Music (record store in Houston) and they thought about it and said, "OK we have the best name: Death...By Chocolate!" I thought, “ohhh danger and taste good too!” :o) That was 2005 and when I ran it by my leaguemates, they loved it. We were at a practice and one of my travel teammates said we needed to shorten it for on the track, thus DBC was born.

What is your number? 69

What is your home league?
Houston Roller Derby is my home league and I tell everyone that RollerCon is my home team.

Which team(s) do you play on?
I'm a travel team skater for Houston Roller Derby All Stars.

What is your skate gear of choice?
I don the Antik AR-1's and Radar Presto wheels with Pro-Designed pads and an S-1 helmet.

Do you have a pre-bout ritual?
I love to get on the floor and skate it out, get a feel for starts and stops, imagine myself doing a great job for my team. Getting no penalties! Hitting hard! Skating fast! Taking hits! Doing all things! I'm an imaginer, so I like to focus on positive things that I can do to help my team do a better job.

What do you think about when you're lacing up your skates?
I think about comfort to do a good job. I think about the other team and who I need to watch out for. I think about doing hard work for the time I'm on the floor.

Do you have a favorite motivational quote?
“Wake Up Every Morning and Tell Yourself You're A Badass Bitch From Hell and That No One Can Fuck With You and Then Don't Let Anybody Fuck With You.” Can I say that?!!

Do you have a theme song?
"Work Hard, Play Hard" by Wiz Khalifa "Back In Black" by AC/DC

How did you get involved with roller derby?
A friend invited me when Houston Roller Derby was just starting and wouldn't let up until I went to a practice. I went to one and thought, “ok, maybe.” And I proceeded to go to every practice for a month and sit on the side and watch. I hadn't skated in over 15 years, but I went out, I bought all the equipment and when I hit the floor one foot went one way, the other foot went the other way. First thought, “I bought all this equipment and I'm going to suck!” After a few practices under my belt, I was doing ok.

What is your pre-derby sports/skating background?
There was track in junior high, high school. I skated as a kid, but nothing serious.

Please tell us about your rookie year and how you learned to play roller derby.
I played in the very first Dust Devil in Tucson! That was a crazy, fun learning experience! Our travel team had never actually done a tournament, so that set a precedent for us to travel to be a very active team and be a part of Roller Derby in a big way. Ohh yeah also rookie year, broke my ankle, June 20th. I actually didn't know it was fractured until 4 days later. Our home team was on the road to a really good season, but we ended up coming in 3rd out of 4, Boo! I learned a lot being a part of the roller derby community. You look at amazing skaters, you pick apart different things they do, and you try to put your own spin on it. I love watching video and seeing how skaters grow.

What is your position of choice?
I love to pivot because you get to block but at the drop of a panty you can be the jammer and get the points. Or the call off!

What is your signature move?
I'll go for the Death Glare. Apparently I look at people crazy.

How would you describe your derby playing style?
Hard to say. I don't know that I have a certain style. As a jammer I love to juke, as a blocker I love to work with other blockers keeping the jammer back.

Please share your best derby moment (or moments).
Definitely getting the track named after me at RollerCon 2011, that was huge! Best Derby Moment EVER!

What are some of your greatest roller derby accomplishments on the track?
Our travel team getting to the 2009 WFTDA Championships in Philadelphia was huge for us. Being an intricate part of a team, just wanting everyone to do a good job, that's an accomplishment to me. Coming in 2nd at the 2014 State Wars with Team Texas!

Off the track?
I think off the track I live a good life, surrounded by some amazing people. I was always taught that you should surround yourself with good people, and hopefully you become a better person. I can be a loner at times, so just being in the derby community for as long as I have been is a big accomplishment.

Who are your derby heroes?
Of course Smarty, Scald, Mo, Swede, Bonnie, Vicious, Stef, Baller, Mercy, Luz, Erin, Queen, Bruz, Rocky Mountain Rollergirls, Rose City Rollers, Texas Men's Roller Derby, CaulkSuckers, Vagine Regime, VRDL, Atlanta Rollergirls' Dirty South Derby Girls, BERG, SASS (Southern All Star Skaters), Rat City Rollergirls, Kansas City Roller Warriors, my leaguemates of Houston Roller Derby, how much time you got?! I could go on and on, I love this sport!

What is your day job? And how, if at all, has it contributed to your experience of roller derby?
I'm a General Manager at a coffee shop and I Co-Manage a bar, both in Houston. I have to shout out my bosses: Dawn, Mim, Scott, and Scott because they are so understanding of the crazy derby schedule and they still keep me employed! P.S. I don't really drink coffee. P.P.S. We have over 300 American whiskeys at our bar! And I do drink whiskey!

How has your involvement in roller derby affected the way you live the rest of your life?
It's taught me to be organized and to plan out things. To really talk and listen to people of all types in whatever way may be comfortable for them and you. Roller Derby also taught me to hip check through crowded spaces, you hit a civilian once they won't get in your way again.

How do you find a balance between your derby life and your “real” life?
It's not hard because most people I skate with know where I work, and most people I work with know I skate. I'm DBC/Stacy regardless of where I am, it's who I am.

What advice do you have for people who want to play roller derby?
Just get in there, find what you are good at and do it! The best thing about Roller Derby is there is no shape, size, gender, ethnicity, etc. that makes you better. You make you better.

Do you have a special message to your fans?
I don't have fans, I have friends. We're all in this together People!

Do you have any upcoming bouts that you’re really excited for and why?
Just played Atlanta's Dirty South Derby Girls and love them. We're excited for the upcoming WFTDA Playoffs, you get to see the best skaters/teams in the world and that's always exciting.

Congratulations to you and the Houston All-Stars for making it to the 2015 International WFTDA D2 Playoffs in Cleveland, Ohio August 21-23! How are you preparing for tournament play and which teams do you feel will be your toughest competition?
We love playing Kansas and Columbia, looking forward to going toe to toe with those Ladies!

Earlier you mentioned coming in 2nd Place in the 2014 State Wars with Team Texas. What was it like to show the nation that Texas is top in roller derby?
Being able to play with my fellow state mates was such a great learning experience, props to TJ Binkley and GI Joel for all their hard work with us. That was a top 5 best derby moment and to be one of the chosen was truly an honor to represent our great state. Those Ladies made me a better skater, honestly loved that experience!

As a skater who has seen the sport of roller derby evolve and change over the years, what are some of the exciting things you see happening in roller derby today? What are you most looking forward to in the future of roller derby as a skater? What about as a fan?
Love seeing the Juniors evolve into amazing skaters. Love seeing the international teams doing such a kick ass job. Love to see my friends continue to skate and amaze me after years of skating. Love RollerCon! I love derby equipment, so I can't wait to see new helmets and boots, and plates, and pads, and wheels and how they up our game to be better skaters and keep us safe as well.

Is there anyone that you’d like to thank?
How about we say thank you Roller Derby and leave it at that? ;o)

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