Featuring C.C. Smudge from Saint John Roller Derby
Alisha Harrity aka C.C. Smudge from the Portside Pirates is the next lovely lady to be in the spotlight for me.
Alicia: Tell me a little bit about yourself. What do you do with your time off the track?
C.C: Other than derby and work, I don’t do a whole lot. I’m kind of a home-body.
Alicia: Before Derby did you have any skating experience?
C.C: I had no experience at all. The first time I put on quad skates I could barely stand.
Alicia: What drew you to roller derby? What is your favorite thing about Derby?
C.C: Originally what drew me to derby was how fun it looked. I can hit people and they can hit me? Sign me up! What keeps me coming back is the constant push to better myself both on and off the track. My favorite things about derby are the community, the challenge, the fun, it’s hard to pick just one!
Alicia: What teams have you played for?
C.C: I played for the Razor Girls for two seasons, and now I play on the Portside Pirates.
Alicia: What is your favorite position play on the track?
C.C: I like being a blocker. Blockers play both offense and defense, often shifting between the two during the same jam, so it’s always exciting and challenging.
Alicia: How did you pick your derby name?
C.C: The “C.C.” came from a friend while we were joking around about possible names. The “Smudge” part came from a friend I worked with who has a similar last name.
Alicia: Do you have a favorite team to compete against?
C.C: It’s impossible to say because every team brings something different to the track. Our training may be similar, but every team brings their own spin to the strategies.
Alicia: Is there anything that you would like to say to your fans?
C.C: I would like to say a huge thank you for their continued support! FCR has around for four years now, and there are people who have been coming to games every season. I’m still amazed that people will watch us do something that we do for our own entertainment. It’s still a big deal to us whenever we see someone with an FCR shirt on outside of a game setting.
Alicia: Why should those who have never seen a bout come out to watch the Pirates play?
C.C: There’s something for everyone. It really is an inclusive sport. Some players are at the peak of fitness, while others are just starting to realize their own strength. The game is full contact, but it’s also very strategic.
Thank you so much for taking the time for some photos and for us to learn a bit more about C.C. Smudge, # 43 of the Portside Pirates.
