Since there are lots of family members and friends of roller derby girls from all over the country who read this blog, I thought it'd be a good idea to offer up some gift suggestions for the naughty or nice rollergirl in your life as we inch closer to (insert winter holiday of choice here). Many of these ideas would also work for refs and coaches. Got more suggestions? Post them in the comments or e-mail me. Have fun!

-First, do not attempt to buy your rollergirl new skates, wheels, bearings, a helmet or any other piece of equipment unless you are 100 percent certain about what she wants. There are just too many options out there and chances are you'll make an expensive mistake. Money for such purchases, however, is always appreciated.


-"Rollergirls: The Complete Season One" on DVD. Legend has it that Brian Eno once said that although hardly anyone bought the Velvet Underground's debut album when it first came out in 1967, everyone who did went on to form their own band. Sort of similarly, it seems that whoever saw this A&E "reality-based" series about Austin's TXRD Lonestar Rollergirls earlier this year, which was cancelled due to low ratings, went on to form their own roller derby league or join one. Even though the series is about a banked-track league and most of the roller derby leagues today are flat-track, it's still a must-have for any derby girl.



-A gift card to Portland, Oregon-based online retailer Sock Dreams. They call themselves the best sock store in the known universe, and although I've never ordered anything from them, I'd have to agree just based on searching around on their site. They have literally hundreds of styles and colors of socks of all heights, fishnets, tights and leggings and accessories like arm warmers, leg warmers, garter belts, sock garters and even petticoats. The search engine at the bottom right of the home page is also great--you can search by style, material or pattern (i.e., skulls). If you've seen even just one roller derby bout, you know that unique, eye-catching legwear is a key component of any rollergirl's ensemble, and I think we're all getting tired of going to Hot Topic and fighting over fishnets with 14-year-olds.






-A subscription to Blood & Thunder or Derby Gal magazine, two new publications chronicling the all-girl roller derby revolution. Both are new and who knows how long they'll be around, but that's all the more reason to subscribe now.






-So there's this dude named Uncle Leon who penned a little ditty called "Roller Derby Saved My Soul" that now seems to be playing on three out of four roller derby-related MySpace pages. Due to popular demand, Uncle Leon is now selling CDs of the song for a mere $5, which come with charming, hand-colored, Schoolhouse Rock-esque CD covers. Go to his MySpace page for more info.







-Know a crafty rollergirl? Check out this adorable roller derby embroidery pattern from Sublime Stitching for a mere $3. If she needs supplies, get one of these kits so she can put the design on a towel, pillowcase, banner or even a bib.






-How about a handpainted gold clutch with a skate on it from Austin's Naughty Secretary Club? It doesn't exactly look like a derby skate, but who cares. There's also this roller skate pin.





-A gift certificate for a massage somewhere. Rollergirls are sore more often than not.

-A basket filled with Band-Aids, Neosporin, various pain relievers, a mouthguard, temporary tattoos, eye black, and other rollergirl supplies. My brother and sister-in-law got me something like this for my birthday this year. It was a great idea. Steal it.

-And if you really want to make your rollergirl happy, buy some plane tickets to Las Vegas so you're there from Aug. 8 to 12. That's when the third annual roller derby convention RollerCon is happening next year. And hey, how about a swanky hotel room to go along with it?