Roller Derby!
 

Who wouldn't love a full-contact, punky women's sport?

http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.co...er%20Derby.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._Dolls_003.jpg

I had lots of fun at a bout last night, even though the team I was rooting for lost. Northern Kentucky's Black-n-Bluegrass railed on the Lafayette Brawlin' Dolls. The score was ludicrous - something along the lines of 120 to 47. Every moment was an adventure. We sat on the skating rink, in what is termed "suicide seating" because we were often tackled when one of the skaters was thrown out of bounds.

Here's a description of how Roller Derby works:

The bout happens on a track. Everyone is wearing quad-wheel skates. Each bout is broken into two halves, which are 1/2 hour each. Within each half are several 2-minute jams. Each jam has two teams with 5 players: jammer, pivot, and blockers. After a jammer's first lap, points are earned each time the jammer passes a player on the opposing team. Here's a bit about each player:

1 pivot who wears a striped helmet:
http://black-n-bluegrass.com/design/images/pivot.jpg
The pivot sets the pace for the pack, but that's not all. They also...
Keep track of the other team
Call plays
Keep an eye on the jammers
Act as blockers

3 blockers wearing plain helmets:
http://black-n-bluegrass.com/design/images/blocker.jpg
The blockers are the ones who try to knock out the other team's jammer
Blockers are strong, hefty women who are mean as spit and ready to attack anyone who gets in the way.
Also help out jammers by giving them a push or pull to get ahead of the pack.

1 jammer with a starred helmet:
http://black-n-bluegrass.com/design/...jammerflip.jpg
Jammers start a moment later than the pack
Work their way through the pack
Earn points for their team
Thin, lithe, but able to take a beating
Often the strongest speed-skater


So- yeah. Cheap pizza, cheap beer, loud music, riotous laughter, athletic punky women - Now that's a sport I enjoy!
Has anyone else been to a Roller Derby?
Or maybe there are some Derby Girls among us!

That's awesome. I'm glad you had fun.

Thanks for the rundown on how it all works. I didn't know there was so much to it!

I've always wanted to go to one of these events. There's a league here in Toronto. A woman I used to work with is on one of the teams. I'm pretty sure she'd be a blocker... :)

I should just go.

i saw every match for two seasons of roller derby in tucson when i lived in arizona. i miss roller derby.

Tucson Roller Derby

I LOVE roller derby.

I mean, what's not to love?! Hot chicks pounding into each other for my entertainment.

It's kind of like hockey minus the bullshit and straight to the fighting... With chicks!

Holy mother of god, Bear Cub is in love with Derby Girl in picture #2.

That aside, roller derby combines my two favorite things: racing, and women pummeling the living shit out of each other.

I recently found out that Dayton has a roller derby team, the Gem City Rollergirls. How much do I wanna be on the team? A really whole bunch.

Should probably practice a bit more, first, though. And come up with an awesome name :)

CinnamonGirl, I would travel many, many miles to see you roller derby...

Don't let Strange Famous see this...

I will fight you to the death over that girl. Then your fur will become a rug for my study which I will make sweet, sweet, love to her on top of it.

***

I want to go to one of these, I've seen it on TV before but never in RL. I bet money that there is a league around here. Hope the girls are all like the girls from the Female Rugby team in college. The chicks that were cute were always surrounded by the scary ones that made hitting on them a contact sport.

*rimshot*

The names are the best part. I was at the Children's Museum in Boston, and one of the helpers in the art room was wearing a roller derby jacket - her name was Ethyl Vermin. How can you not love that?

My wife has a friend who is on a team here. She has been invited to go practice with the team and see if she enjoys it. I am hoping she takes her friend up on the offer, as I know she'd love it.

Ahh, if doesn't have a pit of alligators in the middle during tie-breakers, it's just not worth watching.

Sweet! If I get the nerve to actually join up, I'll let you know!

I would maul you so bad, the photos of your remnants would show up on E-Fukt.



That aside, I demand that CG become a roller derby queen and post video.

Why oh why did I highlight and click "Search google for E-Fukt"... you are a sick, sick, sick bear.

Just spreading the good word.


-The Reverend Bear Cub

If I could skate, I would LOVE to do this. Alas, I am a terrible skater.

Roller Derby Girls may be more intense than some of the Rugby girls I have come in contact with!