The life and times of Merry Khaos and her alter-ego, Kristie Grey. A romp through the inner workings of a mind in roller derby athletics, training, and business management.
1) What pump up song plays in your head when you take the track? What pump up song plays in your head when you take the track? I don’t normally listen to any music before a bout. I usually am trying to stay calm before bouts, I don’t need anything else to get me to keyed up. You’ll probably see me circling the floor before bouts, that’s to keep myself calm.
2) What is your favorite city to travel to play derby in? What is your favorite city to travel to play derby in? Jacksonville!! Really, anywhere that is in a skating rink with a nice wooden floor. That’s what I grew up skating on, so that’s where I’m the most comfortable.
3) Who is your favorite WFTDA skater and why? Who is your favorite WFTDA skater and why? Kat Von from the New Jax City Rollers. Because she’s my girlfriend!!! Seriously though, she’s been playing for almost 9 years and is still going strong. As other girls have had to retire or had the game pass them by, she’s still out there working hard and trying to get better. She always working on becoming a better skater and a better teamwork. The entire New Jax team has taught me how to play this game. I wouldn’t be where I am without going to their practices every week.
4) When the team travels, which team mate(s) do you room with? When the team travels, which team mate(s) do you room with? Well this weekend will be only my 3rd time traveling with MCM. I’m staying with Christopher Smith and Jason Moseley.
5) Which MRDA skater pushes you to be better [because they’ve beaten you in the past]? Which MRDA skater pushes you to be better [because they’ve beaten you in the past]? Anyone from St. Louis. Their teamwork is unbelievable. They have the most solid walls I’ve ever played against. Hopefully we’ll get another shot to go up against them this weekend at Champs.
6) What is your favorite post-bout food? What is your favorite post-bout food? Pizza!! Really, anything. I love to eat.
I’d like to give a special thanks to Debbie Rice and Erin Jackson of Bont Quad Skates for all their support this season. My skates really are lighter, faster, and stronger than any other skates I’ve ever used. The Magic City Misfits are ready for Champs and can’t wait to show everyone we’re back!!!!!
1) What pump up song plays in your head when you take the track? I like to listen to a lot a Volbeat and Eminem while warming up.
2) What is your favorite city to travel to play derby in? One of my favorite places to play Derby would have be seattle, I love the fish market.
3) Who is your favorite WFTDA skater and why? Tracy akers, she’s a tough blocker then can drop you to your knees.
4) When the team travels, which team mate(s) do you room with? I typically bunk up with either Cleveland Stever but I also like me some unicorn log jam!
5) Which MRDA skater pushes you to be better [because they’ve beaten you in the past]? I like watching Scott Slamilton, his foot work is phenomenal.
6) What is your favorite post-bout food? I love a good steak but it’s typically more like pizza and beer.
This is speed against speed. Magic City has the stamina and the muscle to toe up against Your Mom, but the key will be teamwork. The guys from Des Moines know each other well enough, and have reflexes sharp enough, to work around each other fluidly and with few mistakes.
Both teams have jammers that can spin and hop around the competition. Both teams have big blockers with hard-to-beat lateral motion. This is going to be a test of nerves and penalties. Both teams are known for going through waves of penalty trouble, but Des Moines has always been able to recover with grace (and fury) in the past, thus their 3 consecutive gold medals. If Magic City can keep their head cool, they’ll be a real contender in the final game of the evening. Chef is ready to start cooking, and Becker’s ready to break some walls. This will be a game to watch.
Your Mom faces off against the men of Florida at 7p CST on wftda.tv
1) What pump up song plays in your head when you take the track? I like to listen to #1 by nelly hahahaha 2) What is your favorite city to travel to play derby in? Seattle, the city is awesome and the puget sound guys are a fun team to play against 3) Who is your favorite WFTDA skater and why? Crowe, she skates for the San Diego roller derby starlettes. One has tag says it all #croweknows hahaha the world will know about her soon enough. 4) When the team travels, which team mate(s) do you room with? I room with a couple of my favorites waterboy, boo, Bobby light and my bestie MO oweuone 5) Which MRDA skater pushes you to be better [because they’ve beaten you in the past]? B Stang for sure, I have skated with him and around him since we were young. He’s always been a step ahead of the rest. I work for him now and I use all that time with him to gain knowledge. In my opinion he’s the best skater in the world. 6) What is your favorite post-bout food? I always order a pitcher of shirley temple hahaha
1) What pump up song plays in your head when you take the track? How we roll (fast five soundtrack) 2) What is your favorite city to travel to play derby in? Ft Wayne. Just because we have been there so many times for spring roll I can drive around without gps. 3) Who is your favorite WFTDA skater and why? Ms. Jaxem [Erin Jackson of Jacksonville Rollergirls]. She grew up in my home rink and seeing her go from rink rat to world champion speed skater and arguably the best jammer in wftda is awesome! 4) When the team travels, which team mate(s) do you room with? I normally room with Chef, Bratz, or Moseley. 5) Which MRDA skater pushes you to be better [because they’ve beaten you in the past]? I wouldnt say a particular skater, but Texas men’s has really impressed me this season and shown what hard work and practice can do. 6) What is your favorite post-bout food? If it’s a tournament weekend, the Tour of Italy. It’s a team thing! Carb load!! 😀
The Aftershocks are generally an unknown in the MRDA.They played (and lost) to Puget earlier this season, but their roster has gradually increased with talent over the year. Magic City returns to Champs this year, and they are hungry to prove that they belong in the Top 5.
Taking on Denver. Photo by Joel Giltner
Both teams play with speed, and both teams prefer a face-to-face blocking game to rotating walls. The Aftershocks have world champions B Stang and Just Mike from Your Mom on their squad, and they bring high level experience to the squad.However, Streak has been ‘getting the band back together’ all year in Jacksonville, you can expect to see the unnecessary spins and extreme lateral coverage that has made MCM a fun team to watch.
East Coast versus West Coast happens on WFTDA.tv at 11am CST on October 17, 2015.
Bratz escapes a Gatekeeper pack. Photo by James Brady 2015
So… my blog has been super quiet for a while. Sorry about that. It hasn’t been for a lack of wanting to write, or for a lack of material. I have about three blogs either outlined, or in the works including “balancing the zebra and the lion”, “creating the plan” (how to schedule your training and why), one about how to overcome the difficulties of transferring, and one about what it means to really be a part of a team.
It’s Why has my blog been quiet? I’ve been back to the life of the “real world”. I’ve lived in three places since I’ve been here in Florida and FINALLY have settled into a little town called Gulfport, and landed me a job at a place called Taco Bus. And quite honestly, when I get home from running around slinging tacos for 6 hours, I have a hard time mustering creativity.
Also, I have been skating 4-6x a week. Monday, Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday I train with Tampa Roller Derby. Currently I’m a blocker on the Bruise Crew and the Black Widows, and I hope that one day my team mates will see enough potential in me to make me a Tampa Tantrum, and I’ll get to wear a shiny WFTDA patch on my jersey again.
Bruise Crew 2015; Photo by Phantom Photographics
Tuesdays you can find me with the Tampa Bay Men’s Roller Derby. I’m officially recognized by the MRDA as a ref (woot!), and technically am TBMRD’s head ref. This rainbows into the other things I do on the weekend. Most Saturdays you’ll find me either making calls and wearing stripes, or you’ll find me playing on Team Zebra.
You can see me in the background there, all disguised in stripes; Photo by Phantom Photographics
When I’m not skating for Tampa, I’m usually at a fundraiser for the Bruise Crew, or a league appearance, or I’m straight up at the gym. I train 3-6x a week; 3 days of weight training, 3 days of conditioning (assuming my work schedule and traffic allows).
What else have I been up to? Well there have a few times that I started to write blogs, and then remembered that I have deadlines to attend to. I’m now writing a column for JAMMERLINE MAGAZINE out of Canada called “Below the 45th, which is focused on US derby. I also have been asked by BLOOD AND THUNDER MAGAZINE to do articles and blogs concerning off skates training. I’m also piecing my book together. I had to rewrite a BUNCH of it since my perspective on training has shifted a lot in the last year and a half.
Mashing it up, and jamming through; Photo by Phantom Photographics
The last piece is Derbalife. I’ve gotten settled in enough that I have started my business of health coaching back up and I’m getting back to my roots of helping people with their NUTRITION. A bunch of us coaches had gone astray and gotten distracted the last few months, but now we’re locking arms and changing the world!
There is another reason I haven’t written much. And that’s because I had gotten a bit discouraged. Over the years, it has gotten more difficult to find photographs to use in my blog. I am not a photographer. I will not pretend to be one with my iPhone. I have too much respect for the craft. But I am also super wordy. ^^^ As you may have noticed. To have blogs without photos to break up the scheme, it’s really hard to read.
I, by no means, want any photographer to feel undervalued or that their work isn’t worth purchasing. That being said, I have been hand washing my clothing for the last 4 weeks instead of going to the laundromat just to have extra money for food, gas, and bills. This blog makes zero dollars. I write because I love to write, and because sometimes people like to read it.
The whole thing had gotten really depressed and defeated honestly. I didn’t want to write because I knew I wouldn’t feel confident publishing without photos. But … now that defeat has gone away. I’m super stoked that Florida has Phantom Photographics down here documenting all of the awesome that is happening.
Photo by Phantom Photographics
Florida derby is expanding SUPER quick, and the competition is getting very high amongst the teams. Phantom is one of the photographers that travels around the state and takes PHENOMENAL photos! MRDA, JRDA, WFTDA; he does it all. He does a lot of portrait work too, which I’ve always been a fan of.
At State Wars Roller Derby; Photo by Phantom Photographics
For those of you from the Northeast, he’s like having a Sean Hale, Prints Charming, Sir Clicks-a-Lot, Rick Odell, or Shutterfly. And he’s super nice. So… Go visit his page because he’s awesome. I’m so happy that he’s letting me use his photos in my blogs, and I feel confident in writing again. 😀 You should buy a shirt from him too. (PS if you’re a photog and you want me to feature any of your photos, don’t be shy in letting me know!!)
If there’s a topic you want to see me cover in an upcoming blog – drop me a line at DerbyAmerica@gmail.com ! Have you gotten your ticket to RC? I’m submitting to teach classes again. I hope to see you there at the WESTGATE!! If you don’t already, follow me on Instagram at KHAOS24FIT
Khaos Theory Derby 