News Category: Announcements

  • Happy Pride!

    Happy Pride!

    Happy Pride to our wonderful Jet City community! Here at Jet City, we are proud to nurture a place where everyone can feel safe, supported and loved as their truest selves.

     

    Derby is a sport for anyone who is brave enough to put eight wheels on their feet and run into other people, so naturally it attracts those who don’t always feel accepted in mainstream society. By providing a home and welcome community to each other, derby allows anyone to find a place to express themselves as they are.

     

    Photo credit to Urban Utopia Photography, https://www.urbanutopiaphotography.com/

    Adalaide Herout, a veteran skater who has been with Jet City since 2015, says, “Roller derby has helped me find authenticity in a way that no other venture in my life has. Having a group of people that wholeheartedly support me being the realest version of myself and offering the same for them has changed my idea of friendship and love.”

    Photo credit to Urban Utopia Photography, https://www.urbanutopiaphotography.com/

     

    At Jet City, providing support for LGBTQ+ members has meant building a community that reaches across generations as well, as many skaters also coach at junior league teams or have children who skate. The acceptance of all identities and orientations in derby means that it is often a safe space for kids who may not feel as supported in other sports.

     

    Photo credit to Urban Utopia Photography, https://www.urbanutopiaphotography.com/

    “Derby is one of the first communities where I felt like I could truly be myself in every way,” says Jacklyn Hyde, a skater on Jet City’s travel team. “It has allowed me to learn and grow as a person as well as find like minded individuals to share time and experiences with. My kid and I both skate and I love that derby has brought us closer together and built a unique bond.” Jacklyn’s kid, P.I.T.A., plays roller derby with Mob City Junior Roller Derby.

    Photo credit to Urban Utopia Photography, https://www.urbanutopiaphotography.com/

     

    And of course, at Jet City every month is Pride month, because our community is a family that is full of love, no matter its shape. Perhaps no one can say it better than Mary Contrary, who met her wife Crash Smashum here at Jet City. The two were married in 2019.

     

    Photo credit to Urban Utopia Photography, https://www.urbanutopiaphotography.com/

    “What does roller derby mean to our family? Derby is the reason FOR my family! Jet City and the derby community as a whole have always been joyful places to express and celebrate gayness. Crash and I met playing roller derby and are now married with a little Jet City super-fan of our own. Roller derby has a way of bringing people together, in all sorts of ways!”

    Photo credit to Urban Utopia Photography, https://www.urbanutopiaphotography.com/

    Happy Pride, Jet City family! We love you all!

  • Jet City Prevails in a Hard Fought Win over Cherry City

    Jet City Prevails in a Hard Fought Win over Cherry City

    On February 25th, Jet City Roller Derby traveled south to Salem, Oregon, to take on Cherry City Roller Derby in a triple header. Despite the tough competition, Jet City Roller Derby demonstrated their skill and determination on the track.

     

    Jet City’s seasoned players, including Hydraulic Tess, Crash Smashem, and Mary Contrary, along with newcomer Iron Rabbit, put on a solid jammer rotation that kept the team competitive.

     

    But it wasn’t just the jammers who shined in this game. The blockers played an equally important role, working tirelessly to prevent the opposing team’s jammer from scoring. Both teams demonstrated excellent lateral movement and endless reforming to shut down jammers and execute successful defense.

     

    Jet City’s Bombshell delivered devastating blows to Cherry City’s jammers, preventing them from breaking free from the pack. And it wasn’t just Bombshell who stood out, as players Legs, Tofu, and Crash were also recognized as some of the most valuable players of the night.

     

    Teamwork and strategy were key components of Jet City’s success, and the blockers undoubtedly played a crucial role in securing the team’s impressive win with a final score of Jet City 275, Cherry City 32.

     

    For those who missed out on this exciting event, don’t worry! You can catch Jet City at their next game on March 18th at Edmonds College, where the Mob City Junior Roller Derby will take on Tomorrowland Junior Roller Derby of Tacoma to open the game, followed by the headlining game, Jet City versus Jet City.

     

    Attending live roller derby events is a thrilling way to support local teams and experience the high-energy sport in person. Jet City Roller Derby’s impressive performance in Salem, Oregon proves that they are a force to be reckoned with, and fans can look forward to more exciting games in the future.

     

    Ally

     

    Don’t forget! Save money by buying your tickets in advance: https://m.bpt.me/event/5551851

     

    All photos credited to Factor Kites Photography. Check them out at https://www.facebook.com/FactorKites

  • Happy National Girls & Women in Sports Day!

    Happy National Girls & Women in Sports Day!

    Jet City is proud to be a part of the ongoing efforts for gender equity in sports. As part of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association, Jet City is a safe and supportive environment for all transgender women, intersex women, and gender expansive participants who choose to skate with us.

     

    Like many women’s sports, roller derby faces challenges around costs, facilities, and support from the community, including the difficulty in finding venues to host league practices and bouts. We at Jet are fortunate to have a partnership with Lynnwood Bowl & Skate for our practices and Edmonds College for our monthly bouts, but many leagues, including some in our own region, do not have such access. More than one roller derby league has found themselves practicing in parking garages or outdoor basketball courts!

     

    Roller derby is also entirely skater-run, which means our skaters have both voice and representation in how their leagues operate. If you’ve ever wondered if you can belong in a sport, roller derby has a place for you!

     

    To celebrate, here are some highlights of the amazing Jet City Roller Derby skaters!

     

     

     


     

  • Oooooh SNAP, Bouts are BACK!

    Oooooh SNAP, Bouts are BACK!

    Yes, you heard that right.

    The long wait is finally over!

    Jet City is rolling out their new season schedule,

    SO SAVE THE DATES!

     

    Come let your league know how much you’ve missed them by joining them at their first game on October 15th, 2022 at Jet City’s bout home, Edmonds Community College.

     


     

  • Roller Derby is BACK (Baby)!

    Hello JCRD family, friends, and fans!

     

    It has been quite the derby hiatus. JCRD has done its part to keep our community and our loved ones safe, and we hope that you have all been staying safe and healthy as well!

     

    BUT IT IS TIME…

     

    to come out of hibernation, to dust off our skates, to switch out those outdoor wheels, to finally wash that gear 🤢, and to take that first (perhaps wobbly) step back onto the track, because Jet City is ready to get back into the game!

    And we are excited about all things NEW!

    Just before our hiatus, we said a sad farewell to our amazing, long-time coach, Tre le Trash, so that he could persue a life of peace and paradise (or so I assume!) He left some very large skates to fill, but lead coaches Carnage Asada and AFAB have stepped up to the challenge! Please help us welcome them with open arms and minds, as they have MUCH to teach us!

    You may have also heard that we will be saying farewell to our beloved Everett Skate Deck home, which will be closing its doors on April 3rd. It is so difficult to see another establishment not survive the hardships of the pandemic and even harder to say goodbye, but we are grateful to have been taken in so graciously by our neighbors at the Lynwood Bowl & Skate!

    So, you will now find Jet City skating it up at our new location in Lynwood on Tuesdays from 9pm – 11pm and now Thursdays from 6pm – 8pm.

     

    And how about a NEW YOU!

    We know you are ready! It’s been a long break for everyone and we are in this together as we rebuild our strength and our skills. If you have been itching to learn to skate or used to play derby long ago and have been thinking of coming back, what better time to start than now!

    Six reasons to start derby:

    1. Roller derby and skating is GREAT exercise (perfect for post-pandemic)
    2. You will fit right in (there is no “I need to be ____ to join” in derby. We accept you as you are!)
    3. Join a really awesome community of kick ass humans (some of the most inclusive and accepting individuals around)
    4. Even if competing isn’t for you, you can build up your skating skills (I like skating for the pure joy of skating!)
    5. Develop your punny/badass alter ego (and wear fun make-up and outfits on bout day!)

    oh and…

    WE WILL TRAIN YOU!

    Take advantage of our One Month of Unlimited Roller Derby Classes from Jet City Roller Derby (Up to 62% Off) GroupOn! We welcome vaccinated skaters of all levels to join us.

     

    If all that wasn’t motivating enough, then check out our TikTok to take a stroll down memory lane and follow us for more incoming derby action!

    @jetcityrollerderby Established in 2006, and based out of Everett, WA, JCRD is run by the skaters for the skaters.We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.#skate #skater #rollerderby #wftda #learntoskate #rollerskate #rollerderbygame #jetcityrollerderby #supportlocalrollerderby #pnwrollerderby #pnwrollerskating ♬ Roller Derby – Automatic Music Explosion

     

  • Help Save Our Skate Rink Home!

    Hello my readers!

    We all know that the pandemic has been tough on business, especially those that rely on social gatherings. Our beloved Everett Skate Deck is one such place and in need of our help!

    The skate deck has been our home since Ruby Ruckus, Nova Payne, and SassyPants made a plan to bring the “new” sport of roller derby to Everett and founded Jet City Rollergirls (now Jet City Roller Derby). Perhaps you have your own fond memories of the rink: skating as a kid with your parents, spending weekends there as a teen, fun skate night functions hosted by your school. We hope our little ones can have a place to make similar memories!

    We can assure you, roller derby will be back. Please help us make sure it’s returns to Snohomish County. Help us save our home.

    A skating coach has set up a GoFundMe to help the Everett Skate Deck. Click. Donate. Share.

    Jet City Roller Derby thanks you!

     

    Update: The Skate Deck has reopened to the public! Check out their website if you are interested in attending one of their open skate sessions. Come support our home rink and of course, please remember to wear your mask the entire time!

  • Find What Feels Good

    In hearing the Governor’s somber announcement that our stay-in-place orders have been extended into 2021, you may be thinking to yourself, “I wonder when I’ll finally snap?” Maybe it’ll be hearing “Moooooom, my Zoom meeting froze again” one more time, or hitting your head on the cabinet door while reorganizing your kitchen for the 11th time, or maybe it will be when your Christmas deliveries inevitably arrive late because you, like everyone else, waited until the last minute to put in your online orders (guilty).

     

    I’m here to tell you, its okay (and you can go ahead and throw yourself onto the bed like a just-grounded teenager and scream into your pillow.) After 10 months of quarantine, no one can blame you.

    None of us have been in a situation like this where we have so much uncertainty and so little control over our own lives. We can’t control the pandemic or how well people abide by the safety precautions, we can’t control whether the grocery store will have everything we need on our next shopping trip, we can’t control when we’ll be back out on the rink skating again! As humans, we like having control, and suddenly living in a world of “we’ll have to wait and see” is bound to drive us crazy!

    I hadn’t even realized how much I needed my routine until I was no longer following one. At the beginning, having the freedom to take longer mornings and not feeling like I had to rush off to practice or somewhere else in the evenings was therapeutic. I had the time to just deal with the anxiety and emotions that came with the pandemic (and everything else that followed). However, after becoming accustomed to this new lifestyle, my unstructured, chaotic day was starting to add to the stress and lack of control I felt in my life. I didn’t have set times on anything that I did anymore; when I’d stop work, when I’d take breaks, when I’d eat a meal, letting whatever I was feeling or whatever was going on around me plan my day for me. I worked too long, spent WAY too much time looking at my phone during my “down time”, and rushed my meals, often defaulting to eating cereal for dinner (not that that is entirely a bad thing, I LOVE cereal). But more than anything, I was ending my day feeling like I hadn’t actually done anything for myself (this has been one part of derby that I’ve missed the most). I needed to find one thing that could stick to, something I would look forward to, something that made me feel like I was working on project: Me.

    And then a friend introduced me to Yoga with Adriane.

    Adriane is fun and quirky and down to Earth. She is all about being true to yourself and finding what feels good. (Side note, she has an app called FWFG.) In one moment, she might be serious, talking about being patient with yourself and sending love to the universe, and in the next, will break into singing “A whole new world”. It’s been my morning dose of wholesome goodness. She also has a lovable dog, Benji, who makes a regular (welcomed) appearance in her videos.

    Adriene Mishler on Twitter: "Yoga With Adriene YouTube!… "

    Downward dog with Adriane and Benji (credit https://twitter.com/yogawithadriene)

    Adriane is also a wonderful yoga teacher. I’ve been doing her 30 day challenge series (just finished my 2nd one since the start of the pandemic). These series are well thought out, progressing from beginner to intermediate, where you’ll start to build up strength, and then back off for something more grounding, and then build the intensity again (getting a mix of vinyasa, floor core work, stretching, and standing balances all throughout the series). Even if you have been doing yoga for a while, Adriane helps and encourages you to “find something new”. I also appreciate her awareness of her audience. She will provide alternatives for poses for various ranges of skill levels and for whatever energy level you are feeling that day.

    Bonus suggestion: form a small group to go on the 30 day journey with! While we can’t practice together in person right now, it’s still fun and motivating to be on a thread together and to share your progress and discuss anything you felt or encountered during a practice. (Finally getting yourself into and holding crow pose is exciting if you have friends to share the news with!)

    If you are not feeling ready for a committed 30 days of yoga, Adriane also has individual lessons. She has a wide range of videos for different needs, whether it be for a specific area of the body, a specific amount of practice time, or for a specific time of day. There is even one called “Yoga For When You Feel Dead Inside”.

    Yoga isn’t quite derby, but Adriane has helped me start a new chapter of my quarantine life. Now my mornings start with waking up, drinking a full glass of water (another good habit I picked up during the pandemic), throwing on some leggings, and getting my body moving and blood flowing with my daily morning yoga. It feel goods to complete at least one thing I’ve set out to do for myself, even if the rest of my day goes a bit unplanned.

    So, as Adriane will tell you, “put on something comfy and let’s get started”. Whether it is yoga or something else, take back control of a moment in your day and make time for you.

     

    Keep staying safe everyone.

    Panda


    Update: Adriane just came out with a new 30 day challenge on January 1st called Breath! Go check it out!

  • Jet City Continue to “Play” it Safe

    Jet City Continue to “Play” it Safe

    We at Jet City miss being out on the rink…

    (and we miss, you, our awesome fans)

    …but we believe that everybody’s safety is top priority as COVID cases continue to spread in the US.

    This is why Jet City has been and will continue to follow the WFTDA guildlines for returning to play. If you haven’t seen it before, the “return-to-derby ladder” is super detailed and well thought out (I love how it is color coded), so much so that it was featured on Full Frontal with Samantha Bee.

     

    WFTDA's return to play tiers

    WFTDA’s Return-to-Play Ladder

    So go check out the full guidelines

    And in the meantime,
    practice social distancing and wear your masks!

    Stay safe and be healthy everyone!

    We will get through this, together!

     

  • !! BOUT ANNOUNCEMENT: MARCH 7th BOUT CANCELLED !!

    We are sad to announce that under the recommendation from Snohomish County, our venue, Edmonds Community College, has cancelled all events that are gatherings of over 50 people. This inclues our March 7th bout.

    If you have already purchased tickets online through BPT, you will automatically recieve a refund.

    In the meantime…

    Please look forward to our upcoming bout on April 16th, as well as our two day Snoho Collision Tournament April 4-5th!

    And stay safe and healthy out there.

  • JCRD Rolling into the New Decade~

    JCRD Rolling into the New Decade~

    Happy Holidays from JCRD

    Hoping you all spent some wonderful time with family and friends over the holiday, as Jet City Roller Derby also took a little break. But we are excited for what 2020 has in store!!

    Such as our next upcoming bout on January 25th

    and our all new SnoHo Collision Tournament in April!

     

    See you all in the new year!

    ~Panda