Please help us in congratulating our volunteer of the month…Thunder Muffin!
Thunder began skating with HRD back in the day when the league was brand new. As a new skater I was always terrified at the prospect of coming up against her in a pack. There is footage out there of her knocking the panty off of a jammer: she hit this girl SO HARD that the panty fell right off of her helmet, talk about brutal. After skating with the rollers for four seasons she had to step off the track due to an ACL injury which required surgery and cadaver ligaments to repair her knee. But Thunder’s love of roller derby didn’t stop just because she went under the knife, she continues to coach and inspire in our Redwood Saplings Junior Roller Derby program. Thunder pushed for the creation of a junior league so that the young women of our community would get a chance to play roller derby. There’s magic that we all feel when we lace up our skates and Thunder wanted to share that with the Saplings. Thanks to Thunder’s hard work our junior league has grown and thrived up here on the North Coast. Our Saplings bout each other regularly and get to travel to play other junior leagues in California. HRD is so proud of the Saplings and so grateful for Thunder’s dedication to ensuring the future of our sport.
We love you Thunder! Thanks for all that you do!
Fun fact: Thunder is a total water baby. When she’s not on the track she can be found swimming in the rivers of Humboldt County and is often mistaken for a mermaid.
April 8, 2013
rubyreddelicious
Humboldt Roller Derby 
2 responses to “Volunteer of the Month: Thunder Muffin”
gary langdon
April 8th, 2013 at 17:40
I find myself more and more surprised at the dedication of our skaters,and volunteers. I like reading about their personal lives and their faithful contribution to this sport and HRD. Thanks, Thunder Muffin for what you do and have accomplished with our lovely Saplings! As an older male, I find it amazing how women have taken to sports. there was a time, I confess, when i mocked them—over time my foolishness has been changed as I watch women in sports. I am glad they broke out of the socialized box they were in!
Kimberly Gagnon
April 10th, 2013 at 09:17
My husband & I want to say thank you to Thunder Muffin (& the General) for developing The Saplings league for the younger girls that look up to the Widow Makers & the Redwood Rollers. Our daughter was struggling with everyday life & its obstacles that get in the way when we brought her to a bout and we saw her light-up. We knew right then and there that this sport was for her! Sure enough, it has been a remarkable transformation for our entire family. So, Thunder, congrat’s at being the Volunteer of the Month! You deserve it!