January 2025 : Skater of the Month
Photo taken by Larry Petterborg
In 2005, the Dallas Derby Devils began skating exhibition bouts- soon becoming a cornerstone in the roller derby revival of the 2000’s. We remain one of the largest flat track leagues in all of America- and to mark the 20th anniversary of Dallas’s beloved non-profit, we decided to kick the new year off with an interview of our longest playing skater- Juice Box!
Skating with the High Sea Haughties and playing under #1229, Juice Box has been with DDD since 2006- only a year after it’s skating start!
Juice Box grew up as a rink rat, and after a member of the league saw her skating, was scouted and became a Devil- as she says the “Rest is history.” Here’s more directly from the Devil herself!
As a long time skater, you’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly of derby- is there anything you miss from the early days of flat track?
Oh my, we used to have a penalty wheel. Meaning if we went to the penalty box we had to spin a wheel, which would have anything from push ups to beating another skater with Socker Boppers. We used to have minor penalties, if I remember correctly we needed 4 before we went to the penalty box. This is back when derby was really fast paced and we used to have a strategy called stroller derby- (she noted that no babies were harmed) or we would take a knee on the jammer line- but it’s basically what derby is now. We also had double starts, meaning they blew the whistle twice to start the Jam.
What keeps you doing derby almost two decades later?
I am not a people person but Derby folks are built different. I get a great workout and I get to do a few of my favorite things 1) skate 2) hit people and not get in trouble for it.
Everyone knows and loves Juicy- but why did you choose the name juice box in the first place?
Back when I started my Derby career my name was Juicy J, to make a long story short one of my good friends nicknamed me Juicy and at the time I was driving a Chevy Cavalier (J-body). I eventually realized I spent entirely too much time in the penalty box so I changed my name to Juice Box.
Do you have a favorite memory doing derby with DDD?
All of my memories with Dallas have been amazing and unforgettable. But, my favorite memory would have to be the season we became a Division 1 team.
Finally, why do you think people should be checking out the Dallas Derby Devils in the new year?
The Dallas Derby Devils are an amazing group of people who love this sport and care so much for our community. Never skated before? No problem, we have a training program that’ll teach you the fundamentals of skating and roller derby- which is amazing, if you ask me. Everyone is welcome and just like that, you’re part of our family. Everyone joins for different reasons but I promise you will leave with so much more than you came with.
Ask around in the derby community and you probably won’t find many skaters who started with a league and has skated exclusively for that league for decades. If nothing else I said makes you want to join, that should.
In the new year and the upcoming season- be sure to check the Dallas Derby Devils out at the NYTEX Sports Centre in North Richland Hills- where we’ve been holding our games since 2008!