Tomato Tornado

Q. What brought you to the Tilted Thunder Rail Birds?
A. I skated on the flat track with leagues in Rhode Island and Texas. I was recently relocated to Seattle when a co-worker, Twister Knickers, informed me there was a banked league starting and did I want to join with her? Two words: HELL YES.

Q. How did you come up with your name?
A. I totally asked for help. I wanted something feminine, fun, and representative of my love of nature and twirling. A friend gifted me with Tomato Tornado and once I heard it, I could be no one else on the track.

Q. What inspires you to kick butt like you do?
A. Every time I walk in our warehouse and see that monster sitting there….I get the most glorious butterflies. The kind I get before I get on a roller coaster or go out on a first date with someone I really, really like. I’m astounded every single day that the universe conspired to put, not only derby, but TTRB in the path of my life. I’m strong , health, and hungry enough to devote to the training and I’m fortunate enough that our founders, Sally and Mae, had the vision of TTRB and the fortitude to make it so. Less than a year ago, there was no banked track in Seattle and today I’ll walk in the Aviary once more and there it will be. I was able to see this transition from dream to reality and the privilege of that is not lost on me. Inspiration breeds inspiration and I am swept in the tide of a dream.

Q. What is the best part about doing derby?
A. There is no best part. It’s all the best part from stripey socks to flippy skirt, from dripping sweat to black eye, from beyond exhaustion to beyond elation, from violent aggression to controlled strategy….there is no best part because there is no ‘worst’ part. Derby is by far, the most aesthetically, physically, emotionally, fulfilling experience that also remains healthy and legal.

Q. What advice would you give the new chicks?
A. You get out of derby what you put into it. The more you practice the more you will progress. The more you show up to league activities the more at home you will feel. Make small goals and celebrate your achievements. Take pride in your own accomplishment and skill, you are exactly where you should be. Derby is challenging for everyone and you really only get to experience it for the first time once so don’t rush the process, revel in it.

Q. What is your most embarrassing moment?
A. Being a complete klutz I've had many but my most recent was two bouts ago when the elastic in my uniform skirt twisted completely offering a clear view of my hotpants of which I was completely oblivious...the picture could have only been more complete if I'd had toilet paper streaming from my skate.

Q. What do you do when you’re not skating?
A. I’m going to interpret this question to include what am I doing when I’m not skating or participating in league things….I strive, really strive, for a balanced life as derby is a major life committment. I have a full time job in community mental health. I clearly obsess over being in beautiful, natural spaces and photographing them. I spend considerable time making sure the people in my life realize I adore them. I love to read, write, and learn new things. I really, truly enjoy experiencing new things and seek them out as much as possible.

Q. What is your beverage of choice?
A. Carmenere.

Q. If you could be an animal, what would you be?
A. Hands down, I'm a lion.

Q. And lastly, if you were caught in an elevator with the leading man or woman of your dreams, right now, what color underwear would they catch you in?
A. Rainbow cheeky style. :D