The Upstart

Four members of the Lansing Vixen Roller Derby team spoke about everything from memorable moments to training techniques at a press conference at the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association (MIPA) Summer Journalism Workshop on Aug. 2.

Mostly, these fierce females discussed injuries, a common aspect of roller derby that players have simply accepted. However, the Lansing Vixens still take every precaution possible to avoid serious injuries.

“We work hard on learning different falling techniques,” jammer Kim Layman (UR His Tori) said. “We do our best to learn how to fall without getting injured.”

Despite all of the precautions, it is impossible to avoid injury altogether during roller derby games, and the Lansing Vixens have had their share of accidents.

“Knee injuries are the most common injuries, which is what happened to me,” back blocker Julie Yingling (Ludacrush) said. “But we’ve also had broken bones.”

Though the team has suffered broken collarbones and broken elbows, they’re not always on the receiving end of injuries. Yingling is known throughout the roller derby world for her strong hits and admits that she’s sent more than a few players to the hospital.

“I’ve separated a girl’s shoulder before, and tore a girl’s hamstring,” Yingling said. “I’m not an aggressive player, but I guess I hit harder then I think I do. I have a lot of hits where girls go down and just don’t get back up.” By Melanie Sweet

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