Bakersfield College professor Natalie Bursztyn is one of the newest members of Bakersfield’s female roller derby team, The Diamond Divas.
It’s only fitting that the adviser of the Geology Club and teacher of the earth science classes would be on a team named “Diamond Divas.”
While the mineral diamond may not be new to Bursztyn, skating is. Bursztyn is in her fifth year of teaching at BC, and is just in her first year of skating.
“At the beginning of the 2009 spring semester, the Geology Club thought it would be fun to go to Skateland to skate and hang out and watch their adviser who had never been on skates before try skating,” said Bursztyn. “I got recruited by one of the derby girls there, and showed up to practice the following day.”
Bursztyn, or as she’s referred to on the track, “The Canadian Crusher,” plays the position of blocker. Her job is to not allow opposing “jammers” to score points by passing the blockers.
Helen “Dutch Dynamite” Swall was one of the original seven divas. The team formed in October of 2008. Swall is also a fellow teacher on the team. She teaches second grade at Granite Point Elementary in the Greenfield School District.
Swall feels like Bursztyn is starting to come into her own.
“She’s starting to really see the plays,” said Swall. “This last bout she came out of nowhere. She was on the outside and came and snuck right in on the inside and helped ‘Sticki Vicki’ (the captain).”
Vic Swall, “Coach Ducnati,” has also been impressed by the Crusher’s progress.
“It’s definitely a learned feeling,” explained Coach Ducnati. “Not only position blocking and how to get angles on somebody, but the hits. She’s just getting the feel for how to get that hit.”
“I know what I’m supposed to do but my feet are not as fast as my brain,” chuckled Bursztyn.
Bursztyn was so kind as to show off her “shooting the duck” move, where she balanced on one skate and extended the other leg while crouching down.
“It’s totally useless in derby,” said Bursztyn.
“It’s a good balance and stability exercise,” laughed Coach Ducnati.
The Bakersfield Diamond Divas are an all-female, flat track roller derby team. Their inspiration derives from the pin ups of the 1940s. While their style may be glamorous, they want the opposing team to experience the “dangerous undercurrent,” as described on their Web site.
Their next bout is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. They will host CCAD’s Atomic Assault at their home track Skateland (the “Diamond Mine”).
Proceeds benefit the America Lung Association. You can get more information at www.bakersfielddiamonddivas.com.