Eric Slopey
By Rich Besser
How old were you when you learned how to roller skate and then inline skate?
I was about three when I started to skate on quads and I was pretty much a rink rat my whole life. I spent every weekend at the rink skating until I was twelve then my focus turned to hockey and I played that every week. As for inline I started that when I was 11 and have never stopped I liked it about 100 times as much a quads.
Were you skating for other sports before Roller Jam? If so what sport? What teams?
I skated for a roller hockey team called the Deltona Devils from the time I was 15 till Roller Jam was over. Several other Roller Jam skaters were also on my team.
Have you received any trophies or awards for skating? Dates?
I've won about 50 trophies for hockey starting in 1995 and I still win about 1 a year.
How did you get into Roller Jam? Did you tryout or did scouts come to you?
I was actually playing hockey with some friends at the future practice facility for Roller Jam when a guy asked me to stay and tryout. I hated it at first because it went on a banked track so I quit till the track went up.
What was it like being on the California Quakes?
At first I hated it because I was the low man on the totem pole I wanted to play for the Hot Dice. But then I worked my way up and became the lead jammer and I really started to like it.
Who taught you how to pay Roller Jam?
One of my first trainers was Richard Brown and then there was Sean and his dad Buddy.
What was your first thought, if you remember, getting on the track for the first time? Was it easy to skate on?
It was a little weird at first but after 15 min I thought it was actually easier due to the bank.
What was your nickname and how did you get the name?
My nickname was the "white pony" which was given to me when I started goofing off on the jam one night. Then at the end of Roller Jam I started being called Slopedog by Sean and that has stuck ever since.
What was it like skating with Sean Atkinson? Did he teach you some skating moves?
Sean was my biggest teacher on and off the rink he taught me a lot about Roller Jam but even more about live and that is more important than any skating advice ever could be.
What did you think about other famous skaters like Mark D'Amato and Richard Brown?At first I was intimidated but then I just saw them as obstacles on the course that I had to destroy.
Who did you think was the fastest skater out there? Why?
Jason McDaniel and Sigmund Williams they both came from a speed skating background and were so damn quick. Jason could skate on any edge of his wheel. He taught me a lot about edges just by going to the same practice as he did.
Did you have any problems with skaters who had quad skates while you had inline skaters?
None ever.
Were the skates you wore for Roller Jam made only for the game?
Absolutely not my skates where mission proto Vsi carbons made for roller hockey.
Where can you buy professional skates like the ones your wore?
You can buy better ones than mine from any hockey catalog.
Who were some of your rivals in Roller Jam?
Christian was a great friend and rival along with McDaniel and Mo. The biggest rivals were my friends like Andy Wallis, Christian Salvia And Bryan Krebs before he went to the Quakes.
Did you like skating for the red shire team (away team) or the white shirt team (home team)?
Red shirt I liked being a dirty player. I hated being dirty at first but I grew to love it. That probably came from Sean.
Did you think the Quakes were the strongest and most talented team?
By far I think that we were the most talented team. At one point in time we had me, Rusty, Sean, Bryan, and Tony. This gave us the best blocking crew and the best overall jamming crew and I loved playing for my team.
Were there any skaters you didn't get along with? If so, was there a particular situation that occurred?
The only skaters that I never got along with were the two twin brothers that came in the last season. I hated them, they were cheap and couldn't skate for shit.
If you were traded to another team what team would you have liked to be put on? Why?
I couldn't skate for any other team but the Quakes. I was offered highlighted spots on newer teams, but I just couldn't do it. I had to stick to my roots!
Do you remember a humorous situation on the track?
I remember lots of boobs popping out all the time and then the was a time in Vegas when Craig Fisher jumped and hit a glass ball in the middle of the track and it shattered everywhere. It was the first ball to get broken and everyone went nuts.
Since Roller Jam ended what other career move have you pursued?
I'm back in school and I have a year and a half left in my degree in computer science.
If Roller Jam or Derby came back would you get back on the track?
If the right situation and time arose, I would have to do it. It was just too much fun to pass up.
What did you think of the fans?
The fans made the show. We had some the best fans I've ever encountered they loved the sport and the players and we loved them. We would not have gone as far as we did with out the fans we had.
What did the Roller Jam teach you? Or in other word, what did you get out of being in Roller Jam?
I learned to take life in your hands because you may never know what tomorrow might bring or take away with no notice.
Any future goals with skating?
I would love to start training again. I never felt as healthy as I did when I skated Roller Jam.