Team Finland’s skaters are a mixture of all that is great about Finland. Make no mistake in underestimating these lovely ladies of the North. There is a strong streak of blue in each of their hearts and it pulses with the energy of a nation. Let us introduce to you the hardest working team this side of the equator: Team Finland!
Only # 1
League: Kallio Rolling Rainbow
Background: I put skates on for the first time in April 2010 and since then have rather not taken them off.
Favorite piece of equipment: My skates!
What World Cup team would you most like to play against? England, they are bunch of bad ass skaters!
What is the best part about being a member of Team Finland? To get on a track with amazing players and learn from them!
Udre # 3
League: Kallio Rolling Rainbow
Background: Started roller derby in 2009
Favorite piece of equipment: Skates
What World Cup team would you most like to play against? USA
What is the best part about being a member of Team Finland? To play against amazing players and learn from them
Page Disaster # the 6th sense
League: Helsinki Roller Derby
Background: I started roller derby in April 2010, before that I was somehow lost with my sport-me.
Favorite piece of equipment: Helmet. I also like to use one outside of roller derby, comes very handy when bumbling into things.
What World Cup team would you most like to play against? Team Ireland
What is the best part about being a member of Team Finland? Getting to play with great (the best!) players from many different leagues and having the opportunity to travel and experience all of this together with them. And also to make history!
Pink Spanker # gr8
League: Kallio Rolling Rainbow
Background: I’ve been doing sports all my life, but always played a sport that has something to do with hitting, kicking or throwing a ball to score points. The first time I tried roller derby, it felt weird that there was no ball put into play. But I was immediately hooked and loved this sport since. Started skating fall 2010.
Favorite piece of equipment:The mouthguard, it has saved my smile a few times.
What World Cup team would you most like to play against? USA. What an honor it would be to play against the toughest players ever.
What is the best part about being a member of Team Finland? To get to experience this amazing event, meet outstanding people, learn from all this and represent our country.
Misty “Muffa” Muffdiviah # 09
League: Crime City Rollers, Malmö, Sweden
Background: I´m a fun loving kindergarten teacher from Finland who moved to Sweden 12 years ago. I’ve always loved skiing and culture (not music) and when I saw “Whip It” at the Stockholm Film Festival I knew this was something I had to do. 4 months later Crime City Rollers was born and is now the biggest league in the Nordic countries. My life changed over night and I haven´t experienced that much culture since then but I have talked derby with Juliette Lewis and I have had the pleasure of having Swede Hurt as my head coach for 9 months. Roller derby has changed me and my life. I now even know how to flip over the banked track rail thanks to TXRD Lonestar Rollergirls!
Favorite piece of equipment: My Atom wheels, all my Atom wheels (with my skates that is).
What World Cup team would you most like to play against? I just wanna play derby! But if I have to choose only one team it´ll be Team USA. I met some of the Team USA players this summer when I was traveling around the States and it´d be so cool to meet them on the track in Toronto.
What is the best part about being a member of Team Finland? Team Finland will bout Team Sweden in Helsinki in October which is one of the best things because then my friends in Team Sweden get to see my beautiful hometown and that my family and friends in Finland get to have a chance to meet me and see me bout. Otherwise to get to participate in the first World Cup ever is more than a dream come true. I´m looking forward to get to play with and against some of the world´s greatest derbygirls. This will be a memory and experience for life.
Kata Strofi # 10
League: Helsinki Roller Derby
Background: I started roller derby in November 2010 but I’m from Lapland where people eat reindeer and are born with skates. I’ve always liked to exercise but I finally found a sport that I love and there’s no return.
Favorite piece of equipment: My Roll-Line Forester wheels.
What World Cup team would you most like to play against? I would like to play Team USA and beat Bonnie Thunders and Suzy Hotrod – in my dreams! I like to set my goals high.
What is the best part about being a member of Team Finland? Being part of this incredible journey with incredible people.
Juicy Butther # 22
League: Dirty River Roller Grrrls (DRRG!), Turku
Background: I was introduced to roller derby in Malmö 1,5 years ago and when I moved back to Turku in June 2010 I started DRRG! together with two other people.
Favorite piece of equipment: I love my ratty skates.
What World Cup team would you most like to play against? I’m looking forward to meet them all!
What is the best part about being a member of Team Finland? The opportunity to practice and play with the best players in Finland and to be a part of this tough team. I am also looking forward to meeting the best players in the world, it’s going to be CRAZY.
Estrogeena Davis # 29.97 fps
League: Helsinki Roller Derby
Background: I have been involved with roller derby since early 2007. But you could say my derby history alread started in the late 80s when I got my first pair of adjustable Fisher-Price plastic roller skates in red and yellow, which contained bells so that you could hear me coming from a mile away.
Favorite piece of equipment: My custom made Gumshields mouthguard showcasing the Finnish flag every time I smile.
What World Cup team would you most like to play against? Team Ireland, naturally.
What is the best part about being a member of Team Finland? Getting to look like a shiny pickled herring.
The Blizzard # 54
League: Bristol Roller Derby
Background: I’m finnish but have been living in the UK since 2004. I first heard about roller derby in early 2008. My friends had set up a league but I had just moved to another city and was missing all the fun. After a couple of years of being gutted about it, in spring 2010, I took the big step of getting a league running in Bristol with some likeminded girls – the best thing I’ve ever done. I like the physical and rough side of derby and the way I am a bit fearless helps. I had ice skated and inline skated as kid, but soon realised that derby is so much more than skating, it is a challenge for the whole body and mind and I love that!
Favorite piece of equipment: Hotpants by my home team mate Tequila Jammer. They magically make every bum look awesome. She’s now got a business making them and other derby gear: Frock ‘n’ Rollers.
What World Cup team would you most like to play against? Team England, because this country does great derby! I have met, been coached by and played with a few of them and they are a true inspiration for me.
What is the best part about being a member of Team Finland? The amazing opportunity of being part of a team representing my home country in an international sports competition. I cannot think past that date; currently it is the ultimate goal of my derby career.
Bloody-HO-Mary # 85
League: Tampere Rollin’ Hos
Background: Have skated for 1 year
Favorite piece of equipment: My semi-custom skates
What World Cup team would you most like to play against? Team Ireland
What is the best part about being a member of Team Finland? Skating in the first Roller Derby World Cup ever with awesome skaters and having an opportunity to learn from the best roller derby players in the world.
KC Knucklebone # 88,6
League: Helsinki Roller Derby
Background: Roller Derby blocker since 2009
Favorite piece of equipment: A good quality sports-bra
What World Cup team would you most like to play against? Argentina.
What is the best part about being a member of Team Finland? Who wouldn’t want to represent their own country in the world’s coolest sport and meeting the world’s coolest people?
Trixie GrandBang # 94
League: Helsinki Roller Derby
Background: I have tried a lot of different kinds of sports in my life: riding, vaulting, cheerleading and sport aerobics just to name a few, but I was never really good at them. Luckily I found roller derby!
Favorite piece of equipment: My skates
What World Cup team would you most like to play against? Team England. I know they are tough, but I just love the players! Some of my idols will play in that team.
What is the best part about being a member of Team Finland? I get to represent the Finnish as well as European derby and also get to play against roller girls around the world. The whole experience is going to make me a better player, I know I will learn so much!
Kati Kyyrö # 95
League: Helsinki Roller Derby
Background: I’ve been a sport lover all my life, doing different kinds of individual sports. Took me years to understand the value of team sport. Now that I’ve found Roller Derby I feel like I’ve finally found the true meaning of sport. Playing since 2009.
Favorite piece of equipment: It’s all about the skates.
What World Cup team would you most like to play against? There’s no specific one. Wanna play and meet them all.
What is the best part about being a member of Team Finland? The blood, the sweat, the tears and the love. This is an honour.
Lizz Troublegum # 96
League: Helsinki Roller Derby
Background: In early 2010 I joined the Freshmeat Training Period.
Favorite piece of equipment: Without my skates I’m nothing.
What World Cup team would you most like to play against? Team Ireland.
What is the best part about being a member of Team Finland? The knowledge you’re in a team whose purpose is to reach the sky and land among the stars.
Suvi Hokkari # 99
League: Helsinki Roller Derby
Background: Spent 10 years chasing the ball on the football field. I saw a youtube clip on derby and thought it looked fun, although I didn´t have time for a new sport in my life I accidentally found cheap skates during the winter 2009. I wanted to support Estrogeena Davis on her mission to bring derby to Finland and when she arrived to Helsinki I was suddenly hooked on the sport.
Favorite piece of equipment: Knee protection
What World Cup team would you most like to play against? Team England, I adore em all!
What is the best part about being a member of Team Finland? I get to be part of the first world cup ever! It means that i will get to skate with the best and learn from them. I’m also proud to represent the country and show the world what we have achieved in these 2 years. And maybe someday soon derby will be recognized as a sport in Finland.
Liisa Saari # 121
League: Helsinki Roller Derby
Background: I have done sports all my life: ballet, basketball and snowboarding, but roller derby is the first sport i really love
Favorite piece of equipment: helmet
What World Cup team would you most like to play against? USA (of course!)
What is the best part about being a member of Team Finland? Having opportunity to play with the best skaters in Finland.
Tigre Force # 142
League: Helsinki Roller Derby
Background: I’ve skated for two years with Helsinki Roller Derby. I’ve participated in several bootcamps: TXRG bootcamp in London, RCRG bootcamp in Manchester, RollerCon 2010, and I travelled around the US for two months to learn more roller derby and to get to know Team USA skaters!
Favorite piece of equipment: Helmet. I love the colour and the sweatsavers. My nephew drew me good luck wishes to it so I wouldn’t fall and hurt myself (eh, I actually did that but now I’ve learned my lesson).
What World Cup team would you most like to play against? Team Germany and Team England interests me the most since they are the most advanced teams from Europe. It’d be fun to know how well we’d be able to play against them!
What is the best part about being a member of Team Finland? Making new friends, skating with friends, working hard with friends and doing together what we love most: playing roller derby. Is there anything cooler than that?
Doris # 404
League: Helsinki Roller Derby
Background: I put skates on for the first time in April 2010.
Favorite piece of equipment: Gameface.
What World Cup team would you most like to play against? Team England. I love the people and so many of my favorites play on that team.
What is the best part about being a member of Team Finland? I get to represent Finland with such an amazing team and get to play some seriously awesome derby with people who have inspired me to practice harder. And I’m pretty proud of myself for making it to Team Finland, which is nice.