Supporting Team Vietnam for Roller Derby World Cup 2025!

Xin chào các bạn! / Hello Friends!

We are a group of 15 roller derby skaters of Vietnamese descent, residing from the U.S, Europe, Australia and Canada. We’ve put together this fundraiser to help offset some of the costs of our journey to Austria for the Roller Derby World Cup coming up this July.

Any and all support is appreciated!

This team has been put together specifically for the World Cup. As such, many of our players are making their debut to International and/or high-level derby. To get to know us, here are a few stories from our players:

Rice Rocket (Leeds Roller Derby – Leeds, UK)

“Roller derby has always been a part of my heart no matter where I went in the world. I've been playing roller derby for more than 10 years in 3 different countries. Growing up, I had never heard of a famous Vietnamese athlete. It made me believe that Vietnamese people were not recognized for their athleticism; only their struggles and sacrifices portrayed in popular media.

As a part of Team Vietnam, I want to inspire future generations of Vietnamese people to be inspired to roller skate, to play a contact sport, and to be truely free to express themselves. Roller derby and Team Vietnam makes me feel like I'm a strong Vietnamese woman who deserves to take up space at the Roller Derby World Cup.”

– Rice Rocket

Steph Infection (Angel City Derby – Los Angeles, CA)

"My derby story began when I watched Whip It in college, and despite never having skated before in my life, I immediately knew that I wanted to play roller derby. I grew up swimming and playing tennis, and started powerlifting and running the occasional half marathon in college. Powerlifting was the first sport I’ve done where being short was a massive advantage, and I’ve had the honor of competing at several national level meets. During the pandemic my sister (who also doesn’t know how to skate) tried to “teach” me how to skate through watching youtube videos. After I moved to LA in 2021 for graduate school (to get my PhD in biomedical engineering), I joined Angel City Derby’s Rookie program where they taught me everything I know today. While I am still a somewhat newer skater, I am able to leverage my powerlifting background to be an incredibly strong jammer.

I am honored and delighted to be representing Team Vietnam for the World Cup. This year marks the 50th anniversary of my family fleeing Vietnam during the fall of Saigon; my father was only 7 years old when he came to America, and I never cease to be amazed by the resiliency and sacrifices of my family. Being able to play with other Vietnamese skaters has allowed me to feel more in touch with my Vietnamese heritage, and I am so excited to be playing with this team in Austria."

– Steph Infection

Nhung Chux #101 (Los Angeles, CA)

“When I was in college I started training Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu thinking I could fight in Amatuer fights to help pay for college. I learned real quick that although my strength was naturally growing my fast twitch muscles weren’t that fast. Slow but strong did not play well for me. Concussions, the possible cauliflower ear, I tore both rotator cuffs, sprained both ankles, and probably had a black eye every few months. I didn’t mind the black and blues to my body, but the face was getting old to explain to the community.

I was looking through a magazine and saw “Come skate, meet other women, and relief stress”. Huge in empowering females of all walks, no matter, social, financial, sexual, preferences, that caught my eye. Went in to small Orange County league to watch a video and signed up that day. They taught me how to skate, fall, use my small size to drive instead of hit, it was great….played hard teams, first few months, total freak accident, my nose got broken, took a crazy hit where now my right thigh is permanently damaged.

Life happened too quick for me, took a break, and a few years ago came to LA Derby Dolls to retry out for Fresh Meat, been back just before the pandemic. The great humans I have been able to meet, cross paths with, became friends with, skate with, played against, has been one of the greatest ongoing experience I am thankful to have. So much more to tell, but stories for next time. Thanks for supporting Team Vietnam on our new journey together.”

– Chux

TBear (Sugar Sands Roller Derby – Panama City, FL)

“I’ve played derby since 2012. It's a dream come true to be skating at the World Cup representing my birth country. I am very honor to be part of Team Vietnam.”

– Tbear

Sports Collection (Hogtown Roller Derby – Toronto, Canada)

“My dad was around 8 years old when he left his home in Biên Hòa, as a refugee in the late 70’s. He first lived in Winnipeg and then eventually moved to Toronto. Growing up in Toronto in the 80s/90s, roller rinks were popular. Skating became a fun hobby of his that he later passed down onto me and my siblings. I don’t really remember a time when I didn’t know how to skate, or a time when I didn’t love to skate. Rolling down the Humber Arch Bridge at full-speed on my shoddy rollerblades, skating lap after lap around our basement – these are some of my favourite memories.

I didn’t take skating seriously as a hobby until I had the means and free time to do so during the pandemic. For a summer, I learned slalom skating with my dad, easing myself back into the hobby. But I quickly fell down the rabbit hole of quad skating, and the internet world of rhythm skating. When I saw an ad for Derby 101 with Hogtown, I joined just to learn to skate better... I wasn't sure if I'd stay since I thought derby was a violent sport. However, I quickly discovered I do like a little violence, and I’ve been obsessed ever since, to say the least.

At the end of my first season with Hogtown, I found out that Team Vietnam was recruiting for the World Cup. I was hesitant to sign up due to my lack of experience. However, I eventually decided to join, because it's rare to have an opportunity to share my love for skating and Roller Derby with the broader Vietnamese/Asian community. Now, I have no regrets, and it's been wonderful to meet and learn from many skilled skaters from leagues thousands of kilometers away from home! Though the story is continuing to unfold and I'm working hard to get stronger day-by-day. I have no doubts that going to World Cup with Team Vietnam will be another treasured memory.”

– Sport

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If you're interested in merch, we have a variety available through the Ko-Fi shop: https://ko-fi.com/teamvietnamrd/shop.

Feel free to reach out if purchasing from and shipping to Canada.

Thank you again for your support!

- Team Vietnam Roller Derby