Name: Luna Stormborn
Number: 112- my daughter’s birthday
Team History: This is my fifth year with KRD
Year you started roller derby: 2014
Where are you from originally? Westland, MI
Name a fun little known fact about you: I adore turkeys! I find them super adorable and I get so excited when I see a gaggle of them that I clap my hands and squeal with joy. Sometimes I even get a little teary eyed in my happiness lol.
How did you get involved with roller derby? My husband mentioned that there was a roller derby team up in the Hancock area and said I should check it out. We went and watched the bout against the Lansing Derby Vixens and I was hooked.
How did you pick your name? I had the hardest time with this! I agonized over it for a really long time and narrowed it down to either a Harry Potter name or a Game of Thrones name but I wasn’t really in love with any of the ones I came up with. My husband Joey was finally like “since Luna Lovegood and Daenerys Stormborn are your favorite characters why don’t you just be Luna Stormborn?” and it just kind of stuck. I still sometimes regret not being Kimchi Killer though lol.
What is your pre-derby sports/skating background? I have zero pre-derby sport experience. I have always been super clumsy and terrible at all things active lol (editor’s note: except for roller derby, of course. The prospect of being hit by Luna is completely terrifying)
Please tell us about your rookie year and how you learned to play roller derby? My rookie year was a fun and nerve wracking experience. I almost did not make it to the first meeting because I had a panic attack in my car outside the venue. Before derby I had terrible anxiety about talking with or being around people. Once I got myself into the building I met my derby wife Dawnamite Boom and from there I knew I would have at least one person to be my friend. I think even now I am still learning how to play roller derby as game strategy is always changing and evolving. That first year though I was skating in skates that were a size too big and using huge sticky wheels. It is amazing to me now that I could even go forward in them let alone play a whole season like that!
Do you have a pre-game ritual? Bout makeup for sure and blasting fun happy music! I also do car karaoke too on my way to the game. I am not really one to blast angry heavy music to get myself psyched up.
Do you have a favorite motivational quote? You would have to ask my derby wife about those; she’s the one who’s all about motivational quotes.
What is your position of choice? Pivot or blocker. I normally end up as the brace and that is okay too.
How would you describe your derby playing style? Ummm… I like to hit people and drag them back or crush their souls when I trap them in the pack for forever. It doesn’t always happen but when it does it is pretty wonderful. Is that a style?
What are some of your greatest roller derby accomplishments on the track? When we play a team that we know is better than us or is higher ranked and we hold their jammer for forever and our jammer gets lead and scores all the points! Or even if our jammer does not get lead and we still hold their jammer for a bit… That is still a great achievement.
What advice do you have for people who want to play roller derby? DO IT! If you have any interest at all give it a shot! I promise you that you’re not too old, too fat, too small, to clumsy, or any of the other excuses. Derby people do not care and will find the perfect place for you on the team.
And lastly, favorite places in the Keweenaw? I have a lot of great childhood memories camping at Fort Wilkins and visiting the monks at the Jam Pot.