Name & number: Liz Boss, #808
Where are you from originally? I grew up in Dexter, MI, and did my undergrad up here at Michigan Tech -then spent ten years on O’ahu before moving back here in 2014.
Name a fun little known fact about you: I started learning to read palms when I was 14, then was surprised to get a refresher in Taoist medicine school. I have branched out to include Taoist face reading after taking a facial rejuvenation continuing education course. So what I think I’m saying is that I can read your mind.
Year that you stared roller derby and how did you get involved? 2017. A friend invited me to my first bout soon after moving back to the area and I was instantly hooked! I enthusiastically spectated for a year or two before becoming a team sponsor [editor’s note: THANK YOU!!!]. It was so fun sitting front row as a sponsor that I decided to get even closer in 2017 by joining Fresh Meat to learn to ref, then an injury gave me the opportunity to have a great time being an NSO in the 2018 season. Now in 2019 I am starting my first season as a referee!
How did you pick your derby name? Ms. Thimbleberry Slam named me.
What’s your pre-derby athletics and/or skating background? I hadn’t roller-skated since 1992 when I went out for Fresh Meat in originally, so I don’t have much skating experience to speak of. However, I have enjoyed many other sports prior to joining derby: most notably briefly racing outrigger ocean canoes, surfing, boxing, yoga, and- since moving back here-classic cross country skiing and being bad at snowboarding!
Sounds like you’re a certified badass! Takes one to know one lol
-Laughter-
Anyway, where were we? Um… what’s your favorite part of officiating? Well, since I haven’t actually officiated in a game yet, I’m going to have to say not getting hit by anyone (on purpose). On a more serious note, being so close to all the action has increased not only my respect for the players, but also I am blown away by the other referees and their ability to see what’s happening and being able to make the interpretative decisions on the fly while the game is zipping past them.. whilst not falling on their faces.
What is your job outside of roller derby? And how, if at all, has it contributed to your experience of roller derby? Outside of derby I am a board certified acupuncturist. There are many ways it has contributed to my experience, but it all comes down to the fact that I have so much fun helping the team heal injuries and stay healthy. Recently, I had a personal experience with this a few weeks ago when I fell at practice and felt my neck starting to seize up before I had even gotten my skates off- due to a number of old injuries I have. When I got home I treated myself with acupuncture and got my neck to release almost instantly! I am so thankful to have those skills not only for myself, but also for my whole team.
What advice do you have for people who want to play roller derby? If you like activities that are so much fun and cause you to spend so much time laughing that your face hurts and you don’t realize how much work you’re doing; this is for you. So basically what are you waiting for, right?
And lastly, your favorite places in the Keweenaw? Here’s my short list: the top of Bare Bluff, Canyon Falls (not sure that counts as the Keweenaw), Pete’s house, sitting on the beach looking at the lake (anywhere), eating ice cream at McLain State Park while looking for agates, driving down Quincy hill when the spring leaves are just popping, and up to Copper Harbor when fall color is peaking (also all of the color tours), Mt. Ripley tubing park, snowshoeing while giant snow-globe flakes are falling, my house (specifically the kitchen) when there is a crazy blizzard raging – right after I went to the grocery store. And of course, home KRD bouts.