Roller Derby Flyers Published July 8, 2015 By Airman 1st Class Erica Holbert-Siebert 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs 7/09/2015 - SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- -- Master Sgt. Christina Henderlong and Tech. Sgt. Danielle Long come to work with bruises, and their co-workers question why they have them. The fact is, these flight attendants for 932d Airlift Squadron assets, are both on a local roller-derby team called Confluence Crush, which involves high contact with opponents and inevitable falling. They started joining the practices together in December 2014, building themselves up to eventually join the team, and now as members of Confluence Crush, they are participating in a sport requiring agility, strength, speed, control, peripheral vision, communication, and teamwork. Each team fields a single point scoring skater, called the Jammer, whose objective is to lap as many opposing skaters as they can, while the rest of the skaters work defensively and offensively at the same time to block the opposing Jammer. Henderlong, 54th Airlift Squadron, and Long, 73rd Airlift Squadron, picked their designated names to make them recognizable throughout the entire Women's Flat Track Derby Association, the governing body of the sport. "I thought why not go vintage bombardier, and with my name 'Mile High Moxy', I get to have a bit of that spirit with my name and represent my military roots," said Long, "I'm going to be dropping bombs on that floor with my hips and my body." Henderlong's name came from her smaller physical stature, but she's not letting that determine her aggressiveness on the skate track. "I've always said I'm not short or tiny, I'm fun sized. My husband thought that I would get clobbered, but I came up with a name that reflects that I'm a fighter. I may be small, but I'm fatal on wheels. All my friends helped me come up with my name 'Fatally Fun Sized'," said Henderlong. "Working as a team with the derby girls gives me a comradery I've never known. You are there to protect your teammates and we all work seamlessly to create this synergy. When I come to practice, everyone is encouraging and positive, it is very motivating to always do your best. Also, at work I am more conscious of how I treat people and how I am perceived. Hanging out with 20 girls 3 times a week will do that," said Henderlong. Henderlong and Long said the sport has become an outlet for promoting endurance, and they have made improvements in running and strength training because of all the drills at practices, and pushing themselves to the limit is a goal they look forward to. "I've always been active, but this is a new level. It's fast paced, slightly dangerous, and there's always a new strategy to master," said Henderlong, "I'm kind of an adrenaline junkie, so I'm constantly pushing myself to be better, skate faster, and hit harder. Knowing I am doing something that very few women do is fun for me every time I gear up." "To be eligible to play in a bout, in five minutes, you have to do 27 laps, as well as three laps backwards in one minute. It's worse than a PT test. I'm not even worried about the PT test anymore," said Long. Henderlong said, "Physically, I am probably in the best shape I've been in years. My cardio is great, and I earned my best run time ever for my last PT test. Emotionally, I feel calmer, and it is a great outlet for when I am stressed. My confidence is higher, because I can do this amazing sport, and although it's mentally and physically exhausting at times, when I do really well at practice, I am on a natural high." "Our laps are very stressful to pass because your brain thinks, there is no way I can skate that fast. By the third minute you are exhausted, but we did it. I call the other skill requirements "upgrade training", and they include things such as knee taps, to help you fall safely, transitions, which improves the ability to turn left and right and keep skating, and jumping over cones, to land safely," said Henderlong. No matter the time put in practicing technique around the skate rink, drill after drill, everyone has room for improvement. "I've got to hit harder and cut faster, so I've got to be more fatal," said Henderlong. "It's hard during practice to give the moves full force like you would during a game because you don't want to hurt your teammates. It's about knowing how to make the move when you have to break through." "I fall down a lot right now, so I am bruised and sore from our intense practices," said Henderlong. "It takes up a lot of my personal time. I thought it was originally going to be something fun to do once a week, and instead I've fallen in love with it, we practice two to three hours a night, three nights a week, and I watch derby games in person and online." Being on the roller derby team additionally requires buying protective equipment, skates and time investment. Military personnel also have to sign a High Risk Activity Acknowledgement Form, and receive their commander's approval, that states that the member is aware of the risks. Participants must have protective gear and be knowledgeable on how to stay safe in their chosen high risk activity. For many skaters, focusing on improving individual skills creates a better team player and a stronger team. Long said, "You can't help but smile on skates. Plus the adrenaline rush, and the constant competition with yourself keeps me loving it. Comparison to another skater's abilities is the thief of joy," said Long, "each one of the skaters has their very own unique set of skills." Henderlong said the team not only makes her feel a part of the community, but it offers another opportunity to do community works. The Confluence Crush is active in the community, doing volunteer work or sponsoring a cause once a month or so, and participating in local parades and charity raffles at the home bouts. Henderlong said she finds herself talking to businesses she frequents about roller derby and handing out fliers. Feeling interconnected in the community is another benefit of being on the team. Long said, "Traveling with the military as a kid never lets you put down home roots, but playing for this team in the Metro East makes you feel like you have a giant extended family." Since they've been enhancing their skills and qualifying to be part of the derby team, they've also been readying themselves for their first game, or bout, on August 1. Henderlong and Long are excited to finally represent the league. "We have been practicing and honing all skills since December, and I've watched our [team's] games and been chomping at the bit to play," said Henderlong. "Now that I am eligible, all my friends want to come watch me, I am nervous I won't be as amazing as I have been in my own mind. At our first bout, I may only see two minutes of game play, but if I can do well in that two minutes, I will feel it was a success. I just want to earn my name, and show our opponents what the Crush is made of in front of our community." "I have been telling everyone about derby and encouraging women of all ages and sizes to come out, she said. "I tell everyone it is a fun way to work out, feel empowered, and make new friends and do something different where you will create great memories."