This a blog post I wrote on 17 April 2010 for a Brisbane-based website that is closing down this week; republishing here for posterity:
When I grow up I wanna be a roller derby girl!
Alright, so I’ve just returned from watching the Northern Brisbane Rollers bout at the Convention Centre in South Brisbane, and maybe the excitement is getting to me. However, as a girl who spent her Saturday mornings doing the speedskate to The Vapours’ ‘Turning Japanese’ at Mt Gravatt Skateaway, I’m very tempted to go out and buy some skates tomorrow.
I’m even listening to The Spazzys while I write this blog post, as it seems like the sort of music roller derby chicks would play at training.
Anyway, enough of my derby daydreams, back to tonight’s action.
Roller derby really has been making a comeback the last few years. In fact, many have been deriding how “trendy” it’s becoming. Ignore the naysayers, there’s a reason it’s making a comeback – it’s terrific, and for so many reasons. It’s a fast-paced, full contact women’s team sport that requires speed, strategy and athleticism. Not only do the girls need to be fit, skilled and trained in how to protect themselves and their opponents while trying to best them at the same time, they also look fabulous while doing it! How many athletes get to wear fishnets while competing? Even Dennis Rodman has to wait till after the match to don his.
Roller derby history
Roller Derby is an American-invented contact sport, dating back to 1922. Americans took to it as a spectator sport as matches were held across the country and even broadcast on radio and TV.
It peaked in the US and other countries (including Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK) in the mid-1970s.
At the start of the 21st century an international grassroots DIY revival occurred that was organised by a new generation of young women.
There are now currently more than 20 leagues throughout Australia. In Queensland there are leagues in Toowoomba, Gladstone, Townsville, Cairns and the Gold Coast, and in Brisbane there’s the Sun State Rollers (south), Brisbane City Rollers (west) and the Northern Brisbane Rollers (north, obviously).
The basics of the game
So, it’s all about big, strapping lasses knocking each other over, right? Wrong!
The girls need to be fit. Super fit. It is a full contact sport, and there are injuries, but it’s more about the skill and athleticism than the brute force.
Before they can compete, all team members must pass a minimum skills requirements test (so they can fall safely and jump over any other skaters who may have fallen over) and a written rules test. Due to the physical nature of the sport, all players wear full protective gear, including helmet, mouthguard and pads.
A bout (or game) lasts for an hour, with two 30minute halves and a 15minute interval.
Two teams of 5, compete against each other around an oval track. Each team consists of 3 Blockers, forming the pack, 1 Pivot, guiding the pack, and 1 Jammer, the point scorer.
The Jammers from each team try to weave through the pack while the pack tries to stop the oppositions Jammer from passing while also assisting their own Jammer through. The Jammer scores points for her team calculated by the number of opposing players she passes per lap.
The time taken to score points are called jams. They can last up to 2 minutes, and points scored in a jam can be quite varied. To give you a guide, it was very close for most of tonight’s bout, with both teams taking the lead on numerous occasions. The Diner Might Dolls were leading the Love Rockettes 76 – 71 at halftime. At the 45th minute it was 100 – 100, but the Dolls won 157 – 113.
Ah yes, the names. Great aren’t they? And it’s not just the team names that make you smile, the players have the best monikers – Blonde Reaper, Infamous Butcher, Meanie Grrl, Cherry Lightning, Bee Strange, Chastity BeltHer, Dreadly Diva, Raspberry Bullet … the list goes on!
Where to watch
So you’re keen to check it out now? Well, don’t be shy, get along to the next Sun State Roller Girls bout at the Beenleigh Arena on Saturday 24 April or catch the Northern Brisbane Rollers at the Convention Centre on Saturday 15 May.
It’s a very inviting atmosphere; everyone is welcome, young and old. Tonight’s crowd of 4000 was a real mixed bag - older folk who were obviously roller derby fans the first time ‘round in the 70s, families with children (the kids went crazy at half-time dancing on the track to the live music) and a younger, alternative element in the audience too.
If (like me) you’re keen to strap on the skates and try it out, then contact your nearest club and ask them when they’re having their next “fresh meat” intake.
Right, I’m off to watch Whip It.
