Vermont Men's Roller Derby

02/11/2019

It's true! We are recruiting! Come join us Sundays at 12:30 pm at the Montpelier Rec Center!

People learn to skate in Montpelier.

01/13/2019

Lately we’ve been practicing on Sundays in Montpelier with Central Vermont Roller Derby. We did a big recruitment push, with CVRD, the last few weeks and it really paid off. Lots of new faces today! Come on out and join us!

09/20/2018

In the world of derby many skaters adopt a pseudonym. Few skaters, however, have a second pseudonym given to them. David Ferrara aka Ferrari Kid did, because he was just that special. He took the name “Ferrari Kid” as play on his own name Ferrara. A fitting name as the guy was built like a high-end sports car and was just as fast. Most other teams called him “smiley” due to his signature smile, which you can see in photos below.

What many didn’t realize was that he wasn’t always smiling. Ferrari was a fierce competitor who always gave everything he had when we was playing. He would often grimace as he pushed himself to the limit, making it look like he was smiling. At the same time, he loved roller derby and he loved to play, so sometimes he was actually smiling, making hard to tell if he was overexerting himself or having a good time or a little of both.

Ferrari was one of the first skaters to join the newly formed Mean Mountain Boys. Having been former roller hockey play, he quickly picked up the game and became an outstanding jammer. His ability came not only from his amazing skating skills, but his unbelievable determination, fearlessness, and refusal to quit. On more than one occasion, the team had to bench him because he would continue to play even after injuring himself. This would upset him greatly, not so much that he could no longer play, but because he felt he was letting the team down by not being out there doing his part.

Ferrari moved to Baltimore and began skating with Harm City Havoc. We would continue to see him at tournaments and other derby related events. It was always such a pleasure getting to see him. He was one of the kindest, most decent people you will ever meet. He was a competitor, but also one of the greatest sportsmen in the game. Other teams would always speak highly of what a great person he was. In 2014, at the Mohawk Valley Cup, we ending up having to play against him and Harm City, we got to experience firsthand what it was like to play against such a fierce competitor. It was a hard fought game, but there were lots of handshakes and hugs between jams. Many of them instigated by Ferrari, who loved his opponents almost as much as his teammates.

Sadly Ferrari was diagnosed with a very aggressive brain tumor. Being the fighter that he is, he had the tumor removed and continued to fight the disease with everything had right until the end. Ferrari’s fight ended yesterday afternoon. This is a huge loss for the entire derby community. We will miss his spirit, his enthusiasm, his warm, his humor, and that signature smile. Farewell friend. Rest in peace.

09/07/2018

Sadly, the world of Roller Derby has lost a literal giant of the sport, Paul Murray-Stringer aka Bo***ck Obama. As you can see, he's the tall guy, second from the left in the back of this photo.

Although he lived in the UK, he and his family would come to Vermont every summer to visit relatives for several weeks. Paul would often come and practice with the Mean Mountain Boys while he was in town. He was a friendly, fun, and outgoing guy. He was a real joy to be around and we would always look forward to his summer visits, getting to skate with him, and going out after practice and joking around over a pint.

As you can see from the photo, he even skated with the Bomb Quads (the team that proceeded the Mountain Boys) once, in a game against Montreal when we were shorthanded.

Our hearts and our love go out to his family, friends, and teammates. We will miss him, especially in the summers, when we would wait for the message that he was back in town and looking to put his skates on. Rest in peace, friend.

06/25/2018

Twelve weeks ago, Thunder Baby broke his ankle in three places. This kind of injury would have caused many skaters to hang up their skates. Yesterday was his first day back on Skates! VMRD is excited to have him as a part of our team. We are all amazed by his energy, enthusiasm and unwillingness to give up!

10/09/2017

VMRD is sad to report that the derby community has lost another amazing skater - Dance Party aka FearUs Oxide aka Christopher Ziobrowski. Way back in pre VMRD History, there was a local men’s team called the Bomb Quads. VMRD was founded by former Bomb Quads. Dance Party frequently drove out from Maine to ref our games and games for other Vermont teams. He also skated for the Bomb Quads and the Mean Mountain Boys on a few occasions when we were shorthanded and needed a few more skaters on our roster in order to play. He was a warm and caring person. He was always kind, supportive, and helpful to newer skaters who were just learning the game or learning to skate. It was always a pleasure having him around.

Many derby players choose their derby names, apparently “Dance Party” was a name that was given to him based on his fluid, seemingly effortless footwork, when he skated. Later he would go on to be one of the first skaters to join Casco Bay Gentlemen’s Roller Derby, as the Not so Jolly Roger’s started to form as a team. For Casco Bay he began to skate under the name FearUs Oxide. They quickly became a friendly rival of the Mean Mountain Boys. Three years in a row, we were invited out to Maine Roller Derby’s annual Wicked vs. Good, Halloween themed game to play the Not so Jolly Rogers. VMRD won the first one, CBGRD won the second, and the last time we played them, Casco Bay won by just seven points in one of the most exciting games we’ve ever played.

Next weekend will be bittersweet for the Mean Mountain Boys as we once again travel out to Portland for what has become a fall tradition. Sweet in that we get to once again take the track against our old friends from Casco Bay, but it will not be the same with number 26 absent from the track. We will miss that crazy footwork you make seem easy, and we will miss your kind and gentle nature. Rest in peace Dance Party.

Photo by Scott Lovejoy

08/27/2017

Vermont Men's Roller Derby would like to congratulate two of its members who tied the knot yesterday! Congratulations to Trash Panda and Thunder Baby, may you share a lifetime of happiness on and off the track!

04/09/2017

Come practice with the Mean Mountain Boys at our new practice location at the Montpelier Rec Center!!

Come stop by and check us out! 6:30-8:30pm tonight!

03/14/2017