June Featured Skater: PrincesSleia

Derby name: PrincesSleia

Number: #311

Position(s): Blocker

How long have you been playing derby?

4ish years (COVID interrupted my fresh meat class, so I didn’t play until 2022)

How did you get started playing derby?

I had been paying attention to Little City since they started. I had always wanted to play derby, but life got in the way. In 2020, I saw their recruitment flyer on Facebook, and since my son was growing into his own hobbies, I showed up that February and never looked back.

What's your favorite thing about it?

Growing into such a diverse community. Just when you think you’re about to get down on yourself, there’s someone there to tell you to be kind to yourself. Also, I meet people that I would likely never meet elsewhere- so many backgrounds and perspectives, and we all come together for this awesome sport. Not only that, derby has helped me learn to appreciate my body, to learn to be comfortable in my own skin. I, like so many others, spent a significant part of my life wishing my body was something that it wasn’t. Derby helped me put into perspective how strong and capable THIS body is. Derby is for all bodies, and that level of acceptance isn’t present in a lot of sports or other female dominated activities.

How did you pick your derby name/number?

Lazily. I couldn’t come up with anything very Punny, so I just did the play on my real name. My number is my favorite band: promoters of positivity and inclusivity.

What's your proudest accomplishment on the track?

Last year at our “Bristol Baby” bout I was awarded MVB. I had secretly made that a goal for the year, halfway thinking that it would never happen. I was pulling up the track when it was announced, and I was taken completely by surprise. I knew I had had a good game, but that really solidified that I had actually been making improvements in my skills.

What's your gnarliest injury?

Probably the bruise I sustained on my booty cheek that was a perfect outline of a skate wheel--it lasted for MONTHS!

How would you describe your derby playing style?

Chaos monster.

What are your goals for the season?

To learn and execute well designed strategy. I want the chaos to have purpose.

What do you like to do in your free time?

What free time? Derby is my free time.

If you had a song play every time you walked into a room, what would it be?

Beautiful Disaster by 311.