Bada** women and roller skates. These are the ingredients for what's potentially the coolest sport on the planet: roller derby.
Roller Derby began in the 1930s as an endurance roller skate racing event. According to the official origin story, entertainment entrepreneur Leo Seltzer hosted the first Transcontinental Roller Derby in 1935, wherein competitors would skate simulated trans-American routes on an indoor skate track. Skaters were expected to complete thousands of miles in order to avoid elimination. The event even lasted up to 42 days!
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During the 30s, roller derby served as a reprieve for Americans suffering financial woes in the Great Depression. As derby transitioned into the 1940s, the design of the sport transformed into the competitive, butt-busting sport it is today. Two teams take the track at a time. Each team consists of five members: one jammer and four blockers. The jammer scores points for their team by lapping the track once. Easy, right? Not quite—don't forget the other 4 teammates! The opposing team's blockers attempt to block the jammer from lapping the track using their bodies. A derby match consists of ten women on 80 little plastic wheels speeding around the track and running into each other while an announcer keeps the crowd going and a referee tries to keep the derby girls from rolling each other into pancakes.
Derby girls are notorious for their energy, commitment, and toughness. Beneath layers of padding and a giant plastic helmets are women with complexities and talents that extend beyond their derby persona, but on the track, they're united by their love for the team. Each member even gets their own special nickname, like "Brusin’ B. Anthony" or "Amynition."
Today, roller derby is the chosen sport for women from a wide range of backgrounds. Mothers, professionals, and students alike strap on the pads and a pair of skates in the name of derby. Since I've joined roller derby, I've gained confidence, athleticism, and a sisterhood. The best part of roller derby isn't necessarily winning (which does feel really great), but rather the feeling of being a part of a community with a rich history and a commitment to treating everyone like family!
