What's A Derby Girl To Do?

What's A Derby Girl To Do? Adventures of the Off-Season

After an intense eight month 2008 season with the Blue Ridge Rollergirls, Asheville's all-female roller derby team, I can't help but feel a little lost and confused about what to do with all my free time during the off-season.

For folks unfamiliar with the sport, women's flat track roller derby is one of the fastest growing sports in the country right now (it may be THE fastest growing sport, but I am too lazy to look up any sort of statistics). Most everyone is familiar with the dramatized antics of roller derby in the 70's, but around 2000, there was a revival of the sport and it has blown up ever since. Drew Barrymore has even taken notice of derby and is producing a movie starring Ellen Page entitled, "Whip It," which will come out next year some time. There was a reality show on A&E a couple years ago called "Rollergirls", which characterized the lives of rollergirls living in Texas. Typical to any reality show, it displayed the drama that occurred between teammates but also during each episode, showed the fast-paced, hard-hitting action from real roller derby competitions. Probably true for many rollergirls across the country, when I saw this show, I thought to myself, "I am meant to do this."

Several years later after moving to Asheville, I discovered we had a roller derby team of our own, The Blue Ridge Rollergirls. It was one of the most exciting days of my life. I went to practice the Monday after I found out about the team and have been a part of it ever since. Any rollergirl will tell you that once you join derby, if you're into it, you're really into it. It takes over your life in an unexpected way; it becomes an obsession. Since all roller derby leagues are grassroots types organizations, we run everything ourselves. We not only skate but are working together to run a business. We put together competitions ("bouts" is actually the correct term--like boxing) against different leagues, we run a Board of Directors, we fundraise, we do PR, put on events...meanwhile we practice three times a week during the season for 2 hours and drive one hour round trip to get to the rink in Hendersonville since we don't have one here in Asheville.

After our last bout of the season on November 1st, the season is over until next spring. Already I find myself a little depressed, pacing around the house and eating ice cream while watching 90210 marathons. I wear derby attire (a lot of black, bright colored tights, leg warmers, and shirts with our logo) to inappropriate places and stick out just in attempt to strike up conversation and promote our league. I go out and party with my team mates, drink too much and talk about how much we're going to kick ass next season. While we're out, if we spot a girl at the bar with any sort of tattoo, piercing, or she just looks like she could knock the crap out of someone, we try to recruit her. It has also come to my attention that throwing blocks at parties does not quite have the same appeal as it does on the track, etiquette wise.

We still practice a couple times a week during the off-season and have events to plan which should keep me busy in between the drinking and ice cream eating. Fundraising is the main thing, since we are broke after giving the Civic Center all our money to reserve the dates we want for the 2009 season. We are having an End-Of-Season party on Saturday, December 13th from 6 until 11 p.m. at the Dragon Lady Salon if you want to check out all the derby debauchery for yourself.
For more information about the happenings of the Blue Ridge Rollergirls, go to our myspage page (our webpage is under construction) at: www.myspace.com/blueridgerollergirls

Asheville's Own, Blue Ridge Rollergirls

Photo: The Great 'Chell-0 Shoot Her of the Blue Ridge Roller Girls

Talk about a great group of people and awesome concept! Here is what I yanked off their website...

"Welcome to the home of the Blue Ridge Rollergirls, Asheville, NC's first all female, flat track roller derby league! Yes, roller derby is back! And yes, roller derby is a fast-paced, aggressive, REAL SPORT!

Founded in June of 2006, the Blue Ridge Rollergirls make up Asheville, NC's first all-female, flat track roller derby league. The league's mission is to actively create, promote, and sustain an environment that fosters strength, courage, vitality, and the empowerment of women in the roller derby sport. Each member of the league shall be challenged and supported in her pursuit of personal growth in and through the sport. The league itself shall remain deeply rooted in the spirit of good sportswomanship so as to bring honor and distinction to the league, women in the sport, and roller derby as a whole.

As an applicant to become an official Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) league, Blue Ridge Rollergirls follows WFTDA's motto, "by the skaters, for the skaters."

We are a not for profit organization and will foster community outreach through support of local charities. A few chairties the league has supported and raised funds for during their home bouts include: Reach for the Skye, RAINN, and Interlace. Please research these worthy local charities and give til it hurts!"

Taken from www.BlueRidgeRollerGirls.com