I've seen a lot of derby in the past five years, played against a number of different teams all over the midwest and the west, but never have I met a team quite like my most recent home team, the Flat Track Furies. These women are some of the strongest women I know in roller derby! They are some of the most dedicated players, most supportive team mates, and most positive influences in my life. They are smart, they are driven, and they sure as hell can cook a mean casserole (or any other dish for that matter). Never have I felt so a part of a team. I consider these women my family in the Pacific Northwest.
Boneyard Brawler and I screaming at halftime! The Furies had taken the lead against the Andromedolls!
I was so inspired from watching my team play a neck and neck bout against the Andromedolls, that the first thing I did when I woke up the next morning was email Vexine, our coach, to ask her if I could interview her about the team! She was more than kind enough to answer some questions that had been on my mind for a while.
When I came to skate for Emerald City Roller Girls, I had to start out on the Bloomin' Doom team (the fresh meat team). As a transfer skater from another WFTDA chartered team, I was lucky enough to bypass some of the things a Doomer has to do in order to be drafted, and I almost immediately started getting invites to all the different teams practices. I knew very little, at the time, of each team. All I knew was that the Furies used to be the dominant hand, and the Andromedolls had recently beaten them in the championship.
The more practices I went to, the more I learned that the Furies had suffered a few losses due to pregnancy and injury. I was up for draft soon, along with a handful of others, and I just knew I wanted to be a Fury. They made me feel the most welcome, and I knew that everyone on the team was going to be fairly new to each other, so it made the most sense for me to grow together with others (rather than trying to find my niche in an already established family).
I was pretty nervous about the draft. I was in a draft pool with some other really really talented skaters, and I was afraid that we would all be drafted to different teams. I didn't want to line up on the jammer line against these ladies! Lucky enough, the Furies needed the most players, so we weren't split a part from each other. Good thing too, because Faithless Baumer is super fast and can play just about any position, Katarina Van Rotten is an amazing jammer with mad juking skills, and Diezaster is one hell of a blocker! I'm glad we all ended up on the same team!
After being drafted though, there wasn't really any time to learn about the history of the team. We had a lot of work to do to get back up to speed with everyone else. This season was deemed the Resurgence of Fury, and we impressively enough bonded very quickly as a team on the track and started to slowly put the fear of Fury in everyone who dared take us on! And without further adieu, I give you my interview with coach Vexine. Enjoy!
FF: I understand that the Furies used to be the top dog team of the Emerald City Roller Girls. Can you tell me a little about the history of the Furies?
V: When the league first divided into teams a few years ago, we had the only two skaters with previous derby experience, plus a bunch of skaters who became incredibly proficient incredibly fast. This caused a bit of tension in the league at first, but it obviously evened out with time.
FF: Where did the name Flat Track Furies come from?
V: Our original name was actually supposed to be the Black Heart Brigade, but in a last minute coup, that decision was overturned and we ended up with the Furies. We fell in love with the Medusa imagery and the fierceness of the story. The Furies are the avenging angels of Greek mythology who track down people who've escaped justice - especially for harming women and children!
FF: What are some of the things that sets this seasons team apart from previous seasons?
V: Well, last spring - halfway through the season - we had a mass exodus of first-string players. Injury and pregnancy, as well as just plain old burn out. Burnadeath retired. Then Darrah-lict got knocked up. Then Ambruisia tore her ACL (and then got pregnant!). Then I tore my ACL. Then One Eyed Jack decided to retire, as well.
It was a really hard time for us. The Furies were forced to forfeit our place in the championship and we had to borrow new skaters (Katarina Van Rotten, F-Baum - who would later become Furies - and Ophelia Melons) to even have the numbers to play in the last game of the season. Our team was decimated - I think we were down to eight players at the lowest point - and our skill level was nowhere near the other teams. So we began to rebuild from the ground up.
FF: What are some of the challenges that the team has had to go through with the two most recent seasons? How has the team over come these challenges?
V: Blue Ruin and I were team captains when all this stuff happened last season. We decided to just shake it off and get a jump start on the next season. The biggest challenge facing us was how to get a bunch of 2nd string players to play like 1st stringers in a few months' time. We started thinking creatively and came up with a bunch of new training ideas that no one else was really doing. We had to find a way to gain an edge and I think that's what we did.
One of our greatest successes was the creation of J-HOP - the Jammer Hour of Power. We had lost all of our jammers and we needed to develop new ones immediately. We scheduled an extra hour of practice time once a week to devote to jammer development - juking, jumping, acceleration, evasion, etc. All that stuff that's hard to focus on at team practice because you're usually working on team strategy. We watched super-star jammers like Suzie Hot Rod and Bonnie Thunders, analyzed what they were doing, and designed drills to focus on those skills. And it's been working!
We expected maybe the five or six skaters who were jammers or emerging jammers to attend. A real testament to the Furies' dedication is that - even though it's not a required practice - practically the entire team shows up for every single J-HOP.
FF: We all know that training (cross training and practice) makes a good skater, but it also takes strong leadership to mold a team. Can you tell me a little about the leadership of the Furies?
V: I happened to be co-captains with Blue when I tore my ACL in the midst of the mass exodus, and I was looking at nine months of recovery. I took that time to really focus on rebuilding my team. The big focus was designing the training program and keeping everyone motivated and optimistic, even though we were in for a steep struggle. Furies leadership seems to always fit what the team needs at the time and that was exactly what happened.
We tend to have one of our two captains swap out every season, which really keeps things fresh and also creates this nice egalitarian feel on the team.
The leadership of the Furies has always been responsive to skaters' suggestions and concerns, which has made us a cohesive and positive group. I think the leadership style for the past three seasons has been to lead by example. Leaders need to be strong and confident of the path they've chosen. They need to know how to look at an apparent crisis and see the opportunity for growth. It helps to have a sense of humor and a nice set of ta-tas, too.
FF: Speaking of leadership, can you tell me a little about your role with the Furies?
V: I have recently retired because, when I finally came back from my first ACL tear and reconstruction, I promptly busted my other one. It was a painfully difficult transition and I miss being a competitor with all my heart. It's hard for me to imagine ever leaving this team, though, so I've moved into coaching.
During my initial recovery, I took on being the head trainer of the team and I absolutely loved it. I'm a teacher by vocation, so it was a natural choice for me - plus I think I'm pretty good at it. I am now back in that role, as well as being the bench manager, which is a whole new challenge, but a pretty good fit.
More than anything, I think my job is being motivational and creative. I like to deconstruct the game and put it back together in different ways, hoping to come up with something innovative that no one else has seen. My job is to bring positive energy to the track and to keep my skaters excited to learn and push themselves. I've earned their trust and respect, so I'm actually able to do that.
FF: What inspires you the most about the Furies?
V: Everyone on my team is incredibly smart and responsible. They're all grown-ups. They are rational, empathetic, and kind. I am constantly inspired by the fact that all of these women with families and careers and everything are willing to take on the challenge of achieving excellence in this sport. It shows a passion and dedication beyond that of your average human.
FF: In your opinion, what does it mean to be a Fury, and what does it take to be a Fury?
V: Being a Fury means putting your sisters first and not letting them down. It means bringing your best effort every time. It means being honest - to yourself and your teammates - even if it's difficult. And it means seeing the opportunity in every challenge and holding the belief that we will prevail.
FF: What are you looking forward to the most about the season championship bout? What are you looking forward to the most about going into next season?
V: I am looking forward to pushing my skaters to the next level. For the final home bout of the season, we'll be playing Jet City's B Team and I imagine it will be a great match-up. The plan is to get a jump on next season by diversifying the roles our skaters currently hold and improving the general fluency of the pack. I'd like to see this start happening by the May bout, for sure, so we can learn and grow from that experience.
This team is hungry and we have definitely paid our dues. Next season will be totally dominated by the Furies - of that I have no doubt.
My final thought is this: even though we've been through some hard times as a team, we have learned from every bump and bruise and we have turned those lessons into experience and skill. For pure heart and dedication, we've already won the championship.
2011 Flat Track Furies, Emerald City Roller Girls, Eugene OR
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