Ima Hotmess (#623) began roller skating as a kid, trading driveway sessions of dancing on wheels with buddies to 80's Madonna hits for being a weekend roller rink rat as a young teen. After being a regular at Skate World in Chandler, Arizona, she took her first job there in 1992. As a proud roller skating employee, she learned how to maintain skates as well as how to teach basic skating skills, helping to lead learn to skate classes for all ages.
In 2011, Ima found roller derby. After a brief roll with the Mountain Maulers, a small and all too temporary recreational league in Boulder Creek, California, she joined the Monterey Bay Derby Dames (MBDD). As a skater with MBDD, Ima quickly rose through the ranks earning a spot on the travel team, the Beasts of Eden. During her second season on the Beasts, she was elected to captain. A member of the Training Committee, she lead the team and league through the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) apprenticeship program and into their inaugural season as a recognized WFTDA league.
By late 2013 Ima's entire family, including emerging referees husband Neoscorin and son Killa Kee, had been bitten by the derby bug. Looking for more derby opportunities for all, Ima and fam transfered to the Santa Cruz Derby Girls (SCDG) in November. Skating at SCDG, Ima played briefly on the Seabright Sirens, next working her way up to a regular spot on the Harbor Hellcats roster. By summer of 2014, with her son frequenting Santa Cruz Derby Groms practices, Ima found a regular role assitant coaching junior derby practices.
In early 2015 Ima was sidelined by a major ankle injury. Surgery, bracing devices, and physical therapy did not prevent the eventual need for an intensive ankle fusion operation. No longer able to move the right ankle, Ima can not return to skating and has dedicated herself to coaching. As President of the Santa Cruz Derby Groms, and Head Coach of the Gromshells charter team, Ima found a new calling. During her tenure Ima has successfully helped to build the juniors league from under 30 to over 100 members and lead the Gromshells team from unranked, to 9th place, to 2nd place, and onward to winning silver medals in 2017, 2019, 2022, and gold medals in 2018 and 2023, at the Junior Roller Derby Association Championships.
In 2011, Ima found roller derby. After a brief roll with the Mountain Maulers, a small and all too temporary recreational league in Boulder Creek, California, she joined the Monterey Bay Derby Dames (MBDD). As a skater with MBDD, Ima quickly rose through the ranks earning a spot on the travel team, the Beasts of Eden. During her second season on the Beasts, she was elected to captain. A member of the Training Committee, she lead the team and league through the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) apprenticeship program and into their inaugural season as a recognized WFTDA league.
By late 2013 Ima's entire family, including emerging referees husband Neoscorin and son Killa Kee, had been bitten by the derby bug. Looking for more derby opportunities for all, Ima and fam transfered to the Santa Cruz Derby Girls (SCDG) in November. Skating at SCDG, Ima played briefly on the Seabright Sirens, next working her way up to a regular spot on the Harbor Hellcats roster. By summer of 2014, with her son frequenting Santa Cruz Derby Groms practices, Ima found a regular role assitant coaching junior derby practices.
In early 2015 Ima was sidelined by a major ankle injury. Surgery, bracing devices, and physical therapy did not prevent the eventual need for an intensive ankle fusion operation. No longer able to move the right ankle, Ima can not return to skating and has dedicated herself to coaching. As President of the Santa Cruz Derby Groms, and Head Coach of the Gromshells charter team, Ima found a new calling. During her tenure Ima has successfully helped to build the juniors league from under 30 to over 100 members and lead the Gromshells team from unranked, to 9th place, to 2nd place, and onward to winning silver medals in 2017, 2019, 2022, and gold medals in 2018 and 2023, at the Junior Roller Derby Association Championships.
