They are mothers, sisters, professionals and working class heroes who all make their home in Northern New Jersey. Every week, they strap on their skates and come together for fierce, athletic competition and allow their aggressive, underlying egos to surface on the hardwood rink at Branch Brook Part in Newark, NJ. The Garden State Roller Girls is owned by each, active participant in the league, which is comprised of over 40 skaters, several referees and volunteers, as well as countless fans of all ages. UI dropped by a recent GSR bout to take in the action and talk jams, bruises and ink with some of the league's most tatted up skaters.
Amber Renee aka Diamond Knuckles
Music is Amber's obsession, which is portrayed on her right forearm as a cassette tape. She is a dancer of many styles: hip hop, freestyle, salsa, merengue and more. She is also a DJ and has dabbled in music production. As a DJ manager for DJ Myxotica, Amber has had the opportunity to meet and work with many big name, talented local and international DJs. Amber is also a freelance graphic/fashion designer. The hummingbird inked on her upper left arm is what he drew to represent her graphical design work. Amber has been a roller derby girl for two years. She plays jammer, pivot and blocker. "My persona is the 'Diva'--looking good, but with the ability to do some damage on the track."
Queen Beatdown
Queen Beatdown is a recent graduate of nursing school and a Creole native of New Orleans. Her home state is repped on her upper arm with the fleur de lis. Though she is petite, she is the loudest cheerleader in support of her girls, when not on the track, taking down the other team. Her team spirit is the epitome of passion, as she even made a green, feathered costume and created the Garden State Roller Girls' team mascot: the chicken. "You know, because we're cock blocks," said Queen Beatdown.
Venis Demolish
There's a good chance Venis Demolish likes the needle more than the artwork. There have been times she's gone into a tattoo shop, closed her eyes and pointed to a flash piece to put on her skin. There are three, however, that actually have meaning. The Mohawk skull in front of an electric guitar represents the punk life and ideals she once followed, and her status as guitarist for numerous bands. Johnny the Homicidal Maniac, portrayed by her rib cage, is a manifestation of her sociopath mentality. Other pieces are illustrative of, among other things, her bipolar personality and Gemini zodiac sign.
Jasmine Aponte aka Pimpstress Jasmine
Jasmine has always been very conscious of her body art, since getting her first tattoo at the age of 17, in both symbolism and placement. "My tattoos have meaning to me," said Jasmine. "They are not drunk decisions." Her artist is Arnold from Kingdom Tattoos in Greenwich Village, NY. Jasmine's most recent tattoo is of angel wings, holding a lotus flower with a burning passion heart, which spans from shoulder to shoulder. There is a tribal heart on her chest. It is a badge of honor to the love of her life, her wife, Tori. A courage fairy pays tribute to Jasmine's love for her mother, who fought a battle with cancer. "I am sure I will continue to have reasons for future tattoos, like one for a new passion I feel for my life as a roller girl and the league that made me a part of their family: The Garden State Roller Girls."
Jenna Von Fury
From a portrait of her grandfather, to en entire back piece displaying a World War II scene, leggy Jenna Von Fury commands attention both on and off the track. As a veteran skater of the Garden State Roller Girls league, Jenna has been skating for the last four years. She gets most of her tattoos from Matt Rosenthal of Tattoo Nation in Wayne, NJ, where she also works. Eric Eastburn of Body Art World in Long Branch, NJ has also added Jenna's collection of ink. Her tattoo style is mainly traditional with big influences from Sailor Jerry Collins and Mike Malone.
Bone Saw
All of Bone Saw's tattoos are self designed and based on people or situations that have changed her life, then taken to an artist that could best portray her creations. Bone Saw's tattoos are primarily inked by Danny Pain out of Pure Ink Tattoo in Ledgewood, NJ and others done by Nikki Parish, who was last seen in North Carolina. Because roller derby has been a life altering part of her personal story, a lot of her tattoos are derby related. "Derby has forced me to grow up. With 20 to 50 alpha females rolling around, ready to smash you at any given moment, there is always room to be a better person. One the other hand, I've never had closer friends in my life." Though Bone Saw can't claim to like everyone, she definitely loves all her sisters and roller derby, and can't imagine a life without a weekly beat down from her girls.
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