The 2022 Adelaide Roller Derby season is reaching the mid-point with the next bout between the Road Train Rollers (four wins) versus Wild Hearses (two wins) taking place tomorrow (25 June).
Fresh from The Great Southern Slam (11-13 June) where the ADRD Ads made it to the Division One TGSS Grand Final, where they were beaten by the Victorian Roller Derby League's Lightning squad.Roller derby is a great way to spend an afternoon and evening with a family-friendly atmosphere, building community and creating positive change, alongside the fierce competition on track.
Here, we profile Mile Die Club player Jetfire.
Who is Jetfire... I am now in my 13th year of roller derby and can't see myself stopping anytime soon. I am loud, dorky and always have a hilarious (I think) comment to add. I don't take myself too seriously.
I play derby because it is the most fun I have ever had doing a sport. When I started roller derby, I could barely stand up. . . and stopping without the help of a wall or the floor was completely out of the question! But here I am now, more at home on eight wheels than off.
I've been with the Mile Die Club since I started and it is safe to say that I now bleed leopard print.
My role... I'm the loud, bossy one in track. . . known as a mother hen. I make sure everyone is on the same page and knows what needs to be done. I am not the most agile player, so I use my knowledge of strategy and the game to make use of other players' skills.
I also enjoy playing offence and generally just annoying the other team, so they leave my jammer alone!
My first roller derby bout was... Sooooooooooo long ago! It was against the Road Train Rollers and I was so nervous I gave myself an asthma attack. I then used my puffer too much and had the shakes through the entire game.
When did you settle on your roller derby name, and was it a unanimous decision? I desperately wanted a funny pun name but I am terrible at puns, so it was a bit of a lost cause.
When I first started, roller derby was small enough that there was a register of names and no two skaters could have the same name; that added an extra challenge. I decided on Jetfire as I am a nerd and loved Transformers growing up.
Jetfire was one of the more understated characters who started off bad but turned good. I also thought the name was just cool.
What celebrity/ famous person would you love to be the team's spokesperson? Awkwafina is the BEST! She's funny, whip smart and strong AF. . . all while being completely daggy and likeable. Mile Die Club are renowned for loving ourselves sick while having a god time. Awkwafina would fit right in.
To date, my most embarrassing moment was the time... I do stupid things all. The. Time. So much so that I don't even know if I'm capable of being embarrassed anymore. I find it easy to laugh at myself, so that's a bonus.
My favourite app at the moment is... Not really an app but I am really enjoying Wordle. It's a nice way to turn my brain on with my morning coffee at work.
Three people you'd like to invite around for a dinner party? David Attenborough, Frida Kahlo and Jane Austen.
Can you imagine the conversation at the table!? Science, art and literature along with two women who pushed against societal norms while achieving immortality in their fields. I feel like there would be some super wholesome and spicy debates plus, Frida sounds like she could really bring the good times to a party.
Social media is... Good for learning random bits of information (which is apparently annoying when you share this pointless knowledge constantly during conversations).
If we were coming over to your place, what would you cook us? Probably a few different versions of a Thai dish to accommodate a million different dietary requirements. It's the norm in my house! But you're doing the cleaning up.
Last show you binge-watched? 'Our Flag Means Death'. It was funny, full of action and also surprisingly wholesome. Taika Waititi is great and he really did a fabulous job with this pirate love story. It was very different from everything else I had been watching.
When it comes to pets are you a lover or hater of our furry friends? Oh my god! I've been banned from adopting any more furry friends! I have two dogs, two cats and three chickens. . . then my two kids have to squeeze into the house as well. You'll often find me outside playing with the community cat colony as well.
What's the one chore you dislike the most? Vacuuming! I have a white German Shepherd and the hair is NEVER ENDING! Plus he's old so there is drool everywhere, all the time as well.
The last time I saw the inside of a gym was... Last week. I'm trying to get buff. Look at these guns *kisses biceps*!
Do you have any phobias? Ironically enough, fire. I'm terrified of being burnt. It probably comes from when I was two years old and fell into the fireplace. I only lost my eyebrows (they have never recovered), but I guess it left an impression.
Would you ever partake in a reality show? I'd love to do 'Survivor', but back in the day before it got all crazy. I like the idea of the physical challenges and being in a completely different setting. The idea of partaking in one of the home reno shows makes me feel physically ill though.
If you could prank any of your friends, who's your target, and how are you bringing them down? Don't get me wrong, I love my friends, but we're all jerks so someone is always the victim of some kind of joke. I'm not really a planner of pranks, but I will take any opportunity that comes up if they aren't careful.
Which fictional character best describes your personality? Fat Amy from 'Pitch Perfect'. She's loud, over the top, quick with one liners and you either love her or hate her. Plus her humour isn't for everyone. I feel like I'm an older, less cool version of her.
Adelaide Roller Derby 2022 Season
Sat 25 Jun - Wild Hearses v Road Train RollersSat 9 Jul - Salties v Mile Die Club
Sat 6 Aug - Grand Final Double Header
