roller derby fashion starter kit

gabe montesanti

“Roller Derby Fashion starter kit”- A hand drawing in black ink with pastel colored pencils with small illustrations scattered about the page with little handwritten labels of a grey “S1 Helmet” skate style helmet, “knee pads, maximum padding x2”, “duct tape, for equipment Malfunctions” in “Hot Pink”, an “extra strength” red can of “Whoop ass”, “ankle booties (prevents blisters)” extra wheels  x8”, “arm bands, elastic”, “permanent marker for that teammate who forgets their armbands, " extra laces”, “skates (quads) x2”, “glitter for eyelids”, “Sisu mouthguard, pink”, “elbow Pads x2” “jersey, Cropped if possible” illustration depicts tank style black jersey that says” arch rival with color blocked pink straps”, bandana, and “wrist guards x2”.

“Roller Derby Fashion starter kit”- A hand drawing in black ink with pastel colored pencils with small illustrations scattered about the page with little handwritten labels of a grey “S1 Helmet” skate style helmet, “knee pads, maximum padding x2”, “duct tape, for equipment Malfunctions” in “Hot Pink”, an “extra strength” red can of “Whoop ass”, “ankle booties (prevents blisters)” extra wheels  x8”, “arm bands, elastic”, “permanent marker for that teammate who forgets their armbands, " extra laces”, “skates (quads) x2”, “glitter for eyelids”, “Sisu mouthguard, pink”, “elbow Pads x2” “jersey, Cropped if possible” illustration depicts tank style black jersey that says” arch rival with color blocked pink straps”, bandana, and “wrist guards x2”.

“Stunt Devils” “Roller Derby Team. A hand drawing in black ink with pastel colored pencils with small illustrations scattered about the page with little handwritten labels of “Aviators, Black”, an elongated ring of fire labeled “Fire hood for Team i…

“Stunt Devils” “Roller Derby Team. A hand drawing in black ink with pastel colored pencils with small illustrations scattered about the page with little handwritten labels of “Aviators, Black”, an elongated ring of fire labeled “Fire hood for Team intros”, extra bearings” for skates”, a folding directors chair with the words movie star and a yellow star on it in place of “Cinema Name Puns”, “Sparkly Purple Blazer, many “Back Up Wheels”, “purple lipstick”, “purple helmet” , black roller skate with yellow chevrons that say “Skates of Fire” with flames coming off of it, “Purple Bandanas for neck, and “Champagne for the locker room”.

A hand drawing in black ink with pastel colored pencils . At the top says “Smashinistas” in skinny bubble lettering and underneath says “Roller Derby Team”. Small illustrations are scattered about the page with little handwritten labels. “Red Lipstick (optional)”, “team Jersey” (in green with a yellow downward pointing chevron that says “Smash” on the front, a grey nikon camera “Support from team photographer”, Gold Glittery Helmet”, “Dog Tags”; that say “Smashies”, a large 80’s style boombox “Radio for uncensored Intro Songs”, Gold Glitter Makeup”, “more chevrons” patches, a “cake for smashing” on a platter with “extra sprinkles”, a “hair Brush” and comb for “great hair required”, purple amethyst “calming crystals to put in bra”, 2 Polaroid Team Pics” featuring the cake and a human silhouette, and a stick on mustache” all on a light green background.

A hand drawing in black ink with pastel colored pencils . At the top says “Smashinistas” in skinny bubble lettering and underneath says “Roller Derby Team”. Small illustrations are scattered about the page with little handwritten labels. “Red Lipstick (optional)”, “team Jersey” (in green with a yellow downward pointing chevron that says “Smash” on the front, a grey nikon camera “Support from team photographer”, Gold Glittery Helmet”, “Dog Tags”; that say “Smashies”, a large 80’s style boombox “Radio for uncensored Intro Songs”, Gold Glitter Makeup”, “more chevrons” patches, a “cake for smashing” on a platter with “extra sprinkles”, a “hair Brush” and comb for “great hair required”, purple amethyst “calming crystals to put in bra”, 2 Polaroid Team Pics” featuring the cake and a human silhouette, and a stick on mustache” all on a light green background.

A hand drawing in black ink with pastel colored pencils . At the top says “Rebel Skate Alliance” in skinny bubble lettering and underneath says “Roller Derby Team”. Small illustrations are scattered about the page with little handwritten labels. “Spacy Leggings (silver)” next to a pair of gray leggings with knee patches drawn in, “team Jersey” (in gray with a logo on the lower right bottom of the jersey and the words Rebel Skate Al curve around it), a symbol with a star on top that has the text “special stars for helmet covers” below it, a series of crossing blue, green, and red light sabers, next to the text “light sabers (for intros)”, a bingo card with text above that reads “for team night out,” a set of power ballz (with text next to it) in brown, a jar of ICY HOT with text next to it that reads “for joints”, a Baby Yoda with a brown robe and the text reads “Baby Yoda, for Team Morale,” and a set of “Ewok ears for helmet” that are brown.

A hand drawing in black ink with pastel colored pencils . At the top says “Rebel Skate Alliance” in skinny bubble lettering and underneath says “Roller Derby Team”. Small illustrations are scattered about the page with little handwritten labels. “Spacy Leggings (silver)” next to a pair of gray leggings with knee patches drawn in, “team Jersey” (in gray with a logo on the lower right bottom of the jersey and the words Rebel Skate Al curve around it), a symbol with a star on top that has the text “special stars for helmet covers” below it, a series of crossing blue, green, and red light sabers, next to the text “light sabers (for intros)”, a bingo card with text above that reads “for team night out,” a set of power ballz (with text next to it) in brown, a jar of ICY HOT with text next to it that reads “for joints”, a Baby Yoda with a brown robe and the text reads “Baby Yoda, for Team Morale,” and a set of “Ewok ears for helmet” that are brown.

“M-80’s Roller Derby Team”, A hand drawing in black ink with pastel colored pencils with small illustrations scattered about the page with little handwritten labels of Taco Booty Shorts”, “Boyscouts patches” on a “sash”, a “merit Badge” featuring a …

“M-80’s Roller Derby Team”, A hand drawing in black ink with pastel colored pencils with small illustrations scattered about the page with little handwritten labels of Taco Booty Shorts”, “Boyscouts patches” on a “sash”, a “merit Badge” featuring a camp fire, “extra tall socks” that are “kind of clean”, “snacks” and “backup snacks” featuring 3 slices of pepperoni pizza”, an “Axe for Chopping Wood” and “wood piles”, a Sharpie “for drawing on unibrows”, 3 red “kazoos”, a “mascot head for alumni to wear” that looks like a beaver, “Denim booty shorts (maternity optional) featuring stretchy waistband, “jersy, plaid, extra crop” shown in red with yellow detailing around the neck and a “practice jersy, reversible red/white” that says “Bush Hogo” in script with “Back on my queer quad BS” around the center on athletic mesh, “extra bearings”.

vol. 01 summer 2021

vol. 01
summer 2021

A professional headshot of a white queer wearing a black leather jacket over a black shirt with a scalloped collar. She has brown chin length wavy hair, smokey purple eye makeup, a nose ring and red lipstick.

A professional headshot of a white queer wearing a black leather jacket over a black shirt with a scalloped collar. She has brown chin length wavy hair, smokey purple eye makeup, a nose ring and red lipstick.

about the artist

Gabe Montesanti is a queer, Midwestern roller derby player. She earned her BA from Kalamazoo College and her MFA from Washington University in St. Louis. Her piece, "The Worldwide Roller Derby Convention" was recognized as a notable essay in The Best American Essays 2020. Her roller derby memoir, BRACE FOR IMPACT, is forthcoming from The Dial Press in 2022.