Careening around a track on roller skates with nothing but pads to shield them from collisions or falls, local New England women are competing hard—and loving it. Boston's Roller Derby Dames are bringing a new heart and style back to the old sport of Roller Derby.
One might remember Roller Derby from the early '50s when weekly bouts were televised on ABC between teams like the New York Bombers, Texas Outlaws, and the Detroit Devils. It was also a popular Televison destination on Saturday afternoons in the early '70s.
Although initially known more for its camp value than for its being a true sport, Roller Derby has been in and out of America's consciousness since it first began in the early 1930s.
The "Roller Derby" was the idea of Leo Seltzer in response to the growing popularity of local dance marathons in the '30s that were lowering attendance at his Oregon movie theaters. Seltzer came up with his own dance marathons, which rapidly morphed into a "Transcontinental Roller Derby," where contestants skated around the track until they dropped from exhaustion. The last team standing won. Seltzer had a hit with this new "Roller Derby" and soon took it on the road around the country.
A sports writer at the time, Damon Runyon, noticed that the most exciting part of these "races" were when the contestants collided or fell down. He suggested Mr. Seltzer tweak the rules of the game to encourage more physical contact. Seltzer initially was against the idea, but seeing the fans' response to the additional body contact made the "Transcontinental Roller Derby" an even bigger hit.
Although similar to the old-style Roller Derby in its play and feel, most skaters now compete in what is now called Flat Track Derby Racing. The women skate mostly on flat surfaces like asphalt or on indoor roller skating rinks, instead of the old wooden banked tracks that were initially used.
And yes, you read correctly—they skate on asphalt. So rest assured these women are serious about their sport, and Boston's Roller Derby Dames train just as hard as any athletes around.
The "Dames," as they affectionately call themselves—train three to four times a week, with regular bouts held among their three local teams. They travel to other cities to compete and are currently preparing for a national event in Seattle over Labor Day weekend according to the team's co-owner, Eva McCloskey, 26.
R. Galluccio/The Epoch Times
Ms. McCloskey, the director of public relations for a local advertising agency, has been skating with the team for over a year now.
"I feel like Roller Derby found me, she says. I was looking to do something athletic and joining the gym seemed boring."
Fellow skater Jenna Catanzano, 21, a call center representative, was watching a reality TV show on A&E about women's Roller Derby and thought it looked fun.
"I was really excited when we googled it and found the Boston Derby Dames. It was so close to where we live and accepting new members," Ms. Catanzano says. "About a week and a half after making contact we attended our first practice to watch, and a week after that we all had new skates and were ready to roll."
Roller Derby or Women's Flat Track Derby Racing appears to be rapidly becoming a new extreme sport for women around the country. According to the Woman's Flat Track Derby Association Web site, there are 30 leagues around the country. A member of the WFTDA, the Boston Derby Dames number around 80 people in their organization, and at a regular bout in South Boston on Aug. 20, there was quite a large crowd in attendance.
There is even a waiting list to join the team.
Ms. McCloskey hopes it becomes even bigger and can support itself someday. Right now in addition to training and working their regular jobs, the "Dames" cover all the promotion and traveling expenses out of their own pockets.
"Aside from the initial shock of actually being able to excel at a sport, I've surprised myself with my dedication to Roller Derby." She continues emphatically, "It's no longer a hobby, it's a second full time job! And a very fulfilling one, at that."
Being committed to the team and skating hard is something all the players seem to echo. Their commitment and respect for each other is obvious as you watch them compete.
One of the founding members, 27-year-old Rebekah Jude Allen, agrees.
"Starting the league was the best possible introduction to Boston. I'm the only person who moved to Boston and had 50 close female friends within months," she says.
This commitment to each other does not end with the team, but goes beyond to family and friends. One might think that family members would be concerned given the extreme physical contact and at times violent nature of the sport, but family members make up the largest proportion of fans—though they worry, too, of course.
Ms. McCloskey laughed and smiled saying she had to tell her mother, "Look, Mom, if I get hurt you can't just run out onto the track."
Many of the women did mention broken bones, black-and-blue eyes, and needing dental work from skating mishaps. But none of them seemed fazed by the risks. It is all part of the game and any of their injuries could have easily come from any other contact sport such as field hockey, skateboarding or football.
They all have to be at least 21 and have health insurance in order to skate, Ms. McCloskey says.
"We train tirelessly to skate, fall, and play safely— and minimize the risk of injury."
Proper training support as well as love for the game is evident when you watch these women compete.
While not a traditional sport, Women's Flat Track Racing is offering an opportunity for women to compete in sports other than the standard ones like basketball, softball or field hockey.
McCloskey says, "The best thing that's happened to me since joining the Boston Derby Dames is meeting a group of smart, talented, driven women and learning to run a successful business together. The camaraderie and love that I feel with Dames is an amazing thing."
With enthusiasm like that, it's hard not to get hooked, no matter how rough the sport.
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