"...Atomatrix is not a robot. Robots can be stopped with water and/or magnets!"
– Blackie Braless, DNN commentator

What the MVP Means To Me - by Julie Glass, (Atomatrix)
 
"The dream of a national title started at Derby Nationals in Portland of 2008. Being co-owner of a skate brand and Atom Wheels, I took time out from work and the twins (who were only i year old at the time) to go check out what this sport was all about.  Being on the sideline and not knowing the game/rules, I really didn't have a clue what I was watching.  All I could pick apart was speed and technique. I knew when starting the sport I had the fast track on skating skills, but I had a lot of work to do figuring out the sport / rules of the game. I hadn't seen my quads in 15 years and had to put a call in to Grand Rapids, Michigan where I’m from and tell my parents to dust off the cobwebs and send them to me.  (I was born and raised in Jenison, MI and moved to Southern California to start a skating business at 18).  Oly Rollers were waiting for me to hit my first practice and I couldn't wait.  Even though I was fast, I didn't have a clue of what I was doing out there and the whole team knew it.  I wasn't welcomed with open arms, but after time and continuous hard work, we began to come together."

From the very beginning, I have to admit, our biggest fan as a team and for me personally is my husband Doug. He knew with hard work and dedication we could win Nationals.  He started telling everyone around me, which just made me more and more nervous and yet wondering the whole time - can we really do it our first year?  YES, we can and we did! A big THANKS to Doug, my teammate in life, business and skating.

"I'm ecstatic to receive the MVP award for 2009, the best part being it was voted on by the derby community. What an honor.  I have several people to thank who are receiving this award right along with me.  My parents who got me involved in skating and supported me from the very beginning.  McSpeedy of DDG, a former world medalist himself and my coach on inlines - we won several world/national titles together.  Sassy, Tannibal, Heffer, the Tamaccio's (the blondes!) and the rest of the Oly Rollers team.  Quadzilla, for telling me I'm not a derby player - that rung in my ears for a long time.  Bonnie Thunders for telling me it would be Texas and Gotham in the finals.  To my big brothers for making me tougher than I thought possible and the pep talks on being a team player.  DNN, WFTDA and TXRG, for all your hard work and support of derby day in and day out."

"Looking forward to a fantastic season – see you on the flat track!"
 
Atomatrix #03 - Oly Rollers / 2009 National Champions

photographs courtesy of www.joerollerfan.com

Full 2009 Derby Award results available at:
www.derbynewsnetwork.com