Rough in Roller Skates
Ladies, looking for an exciting way to work out and make friends? Guys, like seeing girls in tiny shorts and skirts bent over and getting physical? Then roller derby is a sport you need to check out.
Roller derby is a contact sport played on roller skates. It is usually played by women, tough, crazy women who don’t mind a few scrapes and bruises. Roller derby has only recently returned to Hawaii. It used to be popular here in the 50s and 60s and current roller girls hope it will be popular again. Pacific Roller Derby (PRD) is the O’ahu based roller derby league. There are only two teams on this island but they also play against Maui Roller Girls (MRG) and national teams.
PRD will be scrimmaging against MRG on May 17 as they begin training for this summer’s RollerCon. RollerCon is a national roller derby event held in Las Vegas. This year’s RollerCon will be held July 29 to August 2. (Check out footage of the last PRD v. MRG scrimmage here).
Roller derby is a great way to make new and diverse friends. My friend is a roller girl and her teammates are a fun and open group of people from all kinds of backgrounds. If you’re thinking about joining a roller derby team, PRG is always recruiting. Check out their site for more information. You must be 18 or older to join and be able to make it to six practices a month. And it’s relatively affordable, $20 monthly. You’ll also need a roller derby name. Anything goes. Be creative. Some of the women of PRD go by Soviette Suzette, Cookie Cut Her, Axle Greaser, Ophelia Coconuts, and Pulp Vixen.
Watching roller derby can be just as fun as actually participating, and safer. If you like to see people pushing each other or falling down, this is definitely your kind of spectator sport. Not that anyone ever cheers for unnecessary roughness or for anyone to get hurt. It just happens. These women are moving on skates, fast and in a group. Points are scored when a team’s “jammer” laps the other team’s blockers. And blockers don’t mess around. Things can get pretty exciting. Check out this video clip from KGMB in 2007 for a better idea of how roller derby works.
If you’re interested in watching roller derby live, keep an eye on the PRD website for upcoming events and practices.
C, Rainbow Connection Staff Writer
Pretty good dude. Love the opening sentence.
May 4, 2009 at 2:01 PMlet there be blood....
May 4, 2009 at 2:12 PMLove those names! I hear the derbies can get pretty rough. Don't think I'd be cut out for it.
May 4, 2009 at 2:14 PMWhat a great way to do something rarely seen in the islands here. I've seen it on television a few times but have never had the opportunity to see it live. This is an excellent source of exercise and a way for women to step out of their comfort zones.
May 4, 2009 at 2:20 PMThis piece is so funny, I totally forgot about roller skating or roller blading. I only remembered doing it when I was young, but now is this is some exciting stuff.
May 4, 2009 at 2:23 PM