112 Kat Strator
1. Who?
Katariina Kyrölä known as Kat Strator 112 – it’s a very common occurrence that it takes people a while to really get my derby name. Here’s a tip: you gotta say it out loud pretty fast! The first name refers to my real name and the full name plays around with a certain stereotype that is sometimes connected to feminists… And I’m a feminist, of course!
2. Playing position? Jammer
3. History with roller derby:
I started Stockholm Roller Derby‘s beginners course in the fall 2011. A friend had started derby earlier that year and wouldn’t shut up about it. I went to see a bout and fell in love instantly: why hadn’t anyone told me about this sport before?!? 😂 I ordered skates the next week and started practicing on parking lots with the aid of YouTube. It was and is the first and only sport I’ve loved. I played in Stockholm a couple of years, half a year in Sydney, then I got a job in Turku and been with DRRD since fall 2013.
4. What is the best thing about our team?
The politics and the love: the values that DRRD stands for, and the feeling that no matter what, so many people got your back.
5. Fun fact:
At 40, I’m the oldest person in our league, and sometimes it’s funny and weird that I could be another player’s parent 
. But derby stands for embracing diversity and hey, I plan to keep doing this as long as my body holds up!
6. Game day song?
I like to have a moment of complete silence, breathe deep and visualize my first jam.
7. Any advices for people considering roller derby?
During beginner’s course, you’ll find out if this is the sport for you. I recommend trying it out – you’ll have fun and make friends for sure, even if you decide to drop it later! If you really want it, you will get it, but for different people it takes a different time for the mind and the body to adjust to the intensity. Listen to your body, be patient. Also, very few people have time for any other hobbies than derby, so be prepared. 
But also, a whole new world may open up to you!
Picture: Maija Kurki