This month’s featured skater is not only a skater, she’s also a team leader, board member, and a Guardian Angel to bunnies everywhere! Tiara Misu had a little chat with Trina Tiroxin and here’s what she had to say:
NHRD: You’ve been such an important part of NHRD, wearing many different hats – tell us about your time with NHRD?
TRINA: My first practice with NHRD, I stepped on the track and promptly fell flat on my back! Not a great start! I was not a great skater, but I really wanted to play roller derby so I never gave up. My first year was rocky but it set the ground work for how I view things within the league: work hard, never give up, be friendly and helpful, respect others and they will respect you and get up within three seconds when someone knocks you down! I went from being the scared girl who knew no one to a captain and Governing Board member who skates on three teams!
NHRD: As a non-skating member of NHRD, you’ve ALWAYS made me feel like I’m a valued member of NHRD. I see this same inclusiveness in the teams you’ve been a leader in. You do a great job of giving people a sense of “family”. Can you talk about that?
TRINA: That is so touching! Derby is empowering. It made me strong physically and mentally. I want that for every woman who joins the league in whatever role they play! So when I see girls feeling insecure about skills or feeling nervous about playing, I want to assure them that we all start out that way! And that they will get better! And that they have 50+ people supporting them and there to help them!
NHRD: In your derby career, what is the best piece of advice you’ve been given that you’d like to pass on?
TRINA: I think the best advice is something I had to learn for myself and that it’s not how to take or give the biggest hit or how to skate faster, but rather how to deal with people! When you join a league there are suddenly 50 new people in your life. All with different personalities, I had to learn that just because someone didn’t say “hi” to me doesn’t mean they hate me. Sure some people aren’t the friendliest or may say things that you don’t like. Accepting that everybody is different will help you get along with everyone and that makes for a much more harmonious derby experience. That girl who didn’ say “hi’ — it turned out she is kind of shy.
NHRD: As someone who has been involved in taking NHRD to new levels and has been a part of its growth and how it runs, where do you see the league going next and where DON’T you want it to go?
TRINA: I want us to continue to take a chance on that girl who may not be so great right away but obviously really wants it. You can see it when they talk. It may take them longer to get the skills they need, but almost always these girls end up being the heart and soul of the league. They show up to every practice, go to every event, and are on multiple committees. These girls are the ones who will stay when others quit. I hope we keep taking chances on those girls!
NHRD: You’ve love of zombies is legendary. Tell us Non-Zombie people something essential that we all really should know!
TRINA: Don’t go banging on canisters with corpses in them! It never ends well. And if you don’t know what I’m talking about, watch “Return of the Living Dead!” It’s the movie I took my derby name from!
