Roller derby (and Austin, TX, roller derby) was popularized in the 2009 movie Whip It. The movie was based on a book of the author's memoirs of the Austin Texas Roller Derby (TXRD) league. Even in Europe, my British tour director wanted to hear all about roller derby when he found out that I am from Austin. Today, TXRD matches are $25/ticket at the Palmer Event Center on Saturdays and draw large crowds. The teams of girls are athletic; and, everything from announcers to refs to an electronic scoreboard to pre-game and halftime live music is well done. If you're following the season this year, the Cherry Bombs are finishing with 100+ point leads in their matches.
However, if you want to get upclose to the sport, there is nothing like Wreck League. Wreck League is the training league for the TXRD. These girls (and guys -- it's co-ed) are honing their skills to get a spot on a TXRD team. The bleachers are uncomfortable. They are also set so close to the track that you hear the skaters whip by on the banked, wooden surface. It's all the nostalgia of roller skating when you were a kid in those dive roller skating rinks. Yet here, skaters race around at top speed, throw elbows, slam other skaters into the rail, body block skaters, fight, trip, and just generally show off with an agility that I have never possessed on eight wheels.
For those new the sport, roller derby is played between two competing teams. Each team has five players on the track at the start of a "jam". Four skaters from each team are in the "pack"; and, one member from each team is a "jammer". The jammer is the team member that score the points. She wears a "panty" over her helmet, usually with a star on it, so that everyone on the track knows that she is the jammer. The jammer needs to pass the pack, skate around the track, and then gets points for every opposing team member that she passes. For those interested in the minutiae: the track is banked; the skaters only skate counter-clockwise; there is a lip on the track to the central pit with all the other team members, coaches and some referees; there is a rail around the outside of the track.
In Wreck League, you can get closer to the action. There are more falls. Even though the skaters are fitted with heavy duty knee pads, elbow pads and wrist guards, those falls must hurt. In fact, even the penalties often involve being taken to the wooden track, whether the tug-of-war (two skaters, one rope) or the pillow fight (two skaters, two pillows). Even the long jump is often landed on the knees, not the skates.
In Wreck League, girls are trying to prove themselves. Whether it's the young girl in the running shorts and black t-shirt or the girl in leopard print top, pleather bootie shorts and leopard print socks, it's a no holds bar to show off one's skills. Since Wreck League is co-ed, there was even a guy participating the day that I watched. He appeared to receive the most pot shots while simultaneously being the most careful not to foul anyone.
One of my favorite parts of roller derby is the costumes that the participants wear. In general, there are a lot of fishnets and bootie shorts. In Wreck League, the Goths (in black) and Glams (in pink) didn't have an official uniform. There are helmets with everything from black flowers to viking horns. Girls sport various colors of hair, including pink and turquoise. Sequins appear sewn on everything from shorts to tops.
During halftime, many of the players gather in front of the one fan, an industrial one along the corner of the track. The skaters also greet friends and family who have come to see them play, easily sliding under the rails and skating along the cement floor among the bleachers. The entire event is very family friendly. Eventually, the referees blow the whistle; and, the second half begins. All of us spectators settle in for another half of falls, hits, smooth skating and sweet fights. It's definitely worth braving the Austin heat.
