Shanks has been an athlete her entire life. She credits her mother for getting her hooked on roller derby. The league has a requirement that players be 18 years of age, so Shanks reluctantly had to wait before she became eligible.
“My mom took me to a bout and from that day forward, I was hooked. I started about six months after I graduated high school. I had never wanted to be involved in a sport so badly,” she said.
People are often curious how skaters get their derby names. Shanks originally put together a list of a thousand possible names (and still has the list). “I wanted a name that I would be proud to introduce myself as; one that would instantly become my superhero-like alter ego,” she explained. Her full derby name is Tyra Shanks but she prefers to be called Shanks: short, sweet and to the point.
Derby has been a big part of Shank’s maturation. She is one of the youngest girls on the team, having recently celebrated her 21st birthday. She credits her derby sisters for teaching her how to be a great player and offering life lessons. “These girls are amazing,” she said. “We may all come from different backgrounds but all are in love with this one thing. My biggest challenge is not letting myself be my biggest enemy,” adding, “I believe the minute I say ‘I can’t,’ I have already lost the battle.”
“I am a jammer, and even if the biggest, toughest, jammer is jamming against me, I cannot let her get into my head. Even if everyone firmly believes the other girl will get the lead over me, I make it my goal to prove them all wrong,” Shanks said. “My high school volleyball coach used to tell us it’s 10% physical and 90% mental. It’s true and any athlete will attest to that.”
Shanks will be in action for the Angel City Derby Girl’s final match of the year at Veterans Memorial Hall in Culver City on Saturday, Nov. 19, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. – but doors open at 7 p.m. and beer and wine will be available to fans over 21 years of age.