Alligator pits, a banked track and heavy-hitting dramatic rivalries akin to the world of pro wrestling — this is the image often associated with the world of Roller Derby. To those outside the track, Roller Derby is a bygone spectacle of the 1980s and ’90s; however, the sport has endured and continues to lace up the skates, slip on the knee pads and jam on.
“Now, the sport has sort of evolved into much more of a defensive game,” said Nikkie “Nyx Warcat” Wargo-Catallo, B-Sides player and marketing chair of Roc City Roller Derby.
Any current misconceptions of the sport are because “people remember the spectacle that it was,” she added, “where people were completely taking each other out while racing.”
Roller Derby is a sport that has stood the test of time. What started as a marathon race in 1935 has evolved to present-day rules; the iconic banked track was originally introduced to add difficulty to the competition. The hard-hitting, full contact of the skaters quickly became a notable part of every bout. This led to the popularization of the sport in the 1980s and early ’90s, when it took on the pro wrestling-like persona of scripted outcomes.
In 2001, the founding of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) set the tone for what can be expected at Roller Derby bouts today, including pun-laden nicknames inspired by the drag scene in Austin, Texas. WFTDA now has over 400 member leagues across six continents. Founded in 2008, the Roc City Roller Derby league is home to two — Roc Stars and the B-Sides — out of 144 teams in the Northeast Division.
The current era of the sport has created an inclusive, accessible product that has so far proven successful. Roc Quarry, for instance, is an entry-level team designed to get those new to the sport familiarized and, eventually, rostered to Roc Stars or B-Sides.
“There’s players of all ages, all skill levels,” said Wargo-Catallo. “We have boot camp at least a couple times a year to get people involved.”
While best understood in-person, the basic principles of the flat track Roller Derby are as follows: Both teams, consisting of four blockers and one jammer, are simultaneously able to score points during a two-minute session called a “jam.” A point is scored for each blocker a jammer laps.
“As a jammer, essentially you are the ball,” said Kelly “FeFe” Wilton Roc Stars player and coach for Roc Quarry. “You’re going against the other team’s blockers, but you’re also in a race with the other jammer.”
Banked — a track with a slight incline on the curves — track play is a bit different, and much more pricey.
We’re on a flat track, which is way more accessible because you don’t need an $80,000 banked track.” said Wilton.
The world of women’s flat track Roller Derby is one that has thrived on a collective love for the sport, inclusivity and community. The impact the sport has made in women’s sports has rippled through generations and is often seen as a gender-expansive league, inclusive of individuals of marginalized gender.
“Roller Derby sounds intimidating, but we’re all just people wanting to build community,” said Gwen “GO!” Olton, Roc Stars player and conflict resolution chair for Roc City Roller Derby. “No matter who you are, what you look like, whether you can skate or not — we have a place for you, we’ll get you in the door, we’ll welcome you.”
As is the case with virtually all leagues under WFTDA, Roc City Roller Derby is a non-profit, member-run organization that relies heavily on volunteers. The league has created a local community estimated to have doubled in size over the past three years, and hopes to continue growing.
“It takes a lot to put on practice or to put on a game — all of us have multiple jobs beyond ‘skater,’” said Olton,“but as much time as we can spend in person, building relationships with people in our actual physical location — it’s good for your soul.” rocderby.com
This article appears in Dec 1-31, 2024.
