Skater of the Month: June 2013

Name and Number: Pirate-i-Tude #1492
Team: Arkham Assailants
Position: Blocker

1. Your props include a skull flag, sword, and blow-up parrot. What’s the inspiration behind your name and number?
I remember an episode of Wife Swap with a family that dressed up and acted like pirates paired with a very conservative family. Calamity ensues. The kids of the pirate family were terribly behaved but their dad said that they were proud of their “pirate-i-tude.” It was their family motto and I thought that it was wonderful.
Other names I considered: GI Jo-mama (would have been army themed), and Ninja-fication. I have an obsession with ninjas; however, I’m pretty clumsy and not stealthy.
The 1492 comes from Christopher Columbus sailing the ocean blue. Of course when I teach this to my students, we add a verse to the usual refrain: In fourteen hundred and ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. But in fourteen hundred and ninety-three, Columbus stole all he could see.

2. This past year there has been some changes. What aspect/part do you think has helped you improve the most?
Getting back up. I’ve had a lot of experience falling (still do), but learning to get back up quickly has made a big difference in my game. Also, I’m not a powerful hitter, but I am good at positional blocking and getting in front of other players.
My husband built a “derby hitting station” out of a barn door track and an old punching bag, so I’m trying to get better at my hitting, especially with my hips.

3. You’ve also played for different leagues (small, large, coed). How do they compare?
I started in the summer of 2011 with a small coed team. I loved it. They gave me derby fever and all of the encouragement anyone could want. Before I came to OCPDG, I had already fallen in love with derby culture and community. Psycho City has continued to embrace me.
I’ve really enjoyed how many people are in our league. We can scrimmage and do drills that smaller league can’t. It really is an amazing group of people I have the privilege of skating with.

4. In the beginning, you were a little concerned/reserved because of your career. Do you still feel the same way?
As a school teacher, I do have to be more cautious than other professions. When working with kids, you have to understand that they are impressionable even when we don’t always want them to be. In the classroom, they take on my mannerisms. One year I was obsessed with ninjas; I read books and everything. If something was cool, I’d say that is soooooooo ninja. Yes, so in the hallways of my school, you’d hear kids say that is so ninja. Quickly it was played out. But it is a good illustration of the power of working with kids.
My caution only goes so far. Many people are surprised that I invite my students to watch roller derby or that I don’t cover up my tattoos at work. I am proud to be a derby girl and want everyone to know it.

5. When Pirate-i-tude isn’t skating what can we see her doing?
I love playing music; hopefully my band Animals in the Attic will have a reunion soon. I love speaking in front of people (Google my name, Amy Selikoff, or 7th graders are awesome). My husband, Nate, and I love to travel. I am also an artist (amyselikoff.com) and an activist (this year I want to free some of the 27 million slaves around the world—you can check out more info at freetheslaves.net). We love having people over to our house for dinner and good times.

6. I know you have a pretty cool opportunity coming up. Can you tell us what that is?
Not sure which one but I’ll tell you about two:
Fringe Festival presents: PechaKucha: this is a 6 minute 40 second speech my husband and I are giving about our 1000 mile bicycle trip that we took across the country. You can read our blog from the trip at NathanAndAmy.com.
Paris: we’re going to stay in Paris for about a month and in the Netherlands for about a week. Every year we save up so that we can find adventures. I’m bringing my derby gear and hope to be able to skate with the Paris roller girls and the team in Enschede, Netherlands.

7. Any final thoughts/comments you’d like to share?
If I can do derby, anyone can. So come on out! You won’t ever regret it.