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ClustrMaps
2009 Sat 14th Nov Support your local Roller Derby team!
Tonight was Roller Derby night! Last bout of the season and it was an exciting double header - the local Derby Girls rocked the house with high scoring wins in both bouts and lots of fun and action throughout!
If you have never been to a Roller Derby bout (what a match is called), it is an exciting event, and many may be surprised to learn, a family event as well! The girls are dressed in great "uniforms" that are anything but uniform! Some wear fishnets with short shorts, others wear lacy half tights with mini skirts, and still others wear thigh high tights or socks with boy shorts...sometimes with entertaining commentary printed on them.
Tops usually consist of a team shirt or tank top - some ripped around the middle or on the sides, others with the necks cut low - with the team member's name on it and their number. Roller Derby names are very fun and there are no duplicates throughout the country. In fact, a list is kept of every member nationwide and everyone must register their name. The numbers duplicate, but a player can choose any number they want. I've seen height, weight and body measurements used as numbers as well as police call numbers, such as 5150 and 1019.
The names are also very fun, usually a play on words of some sort. For example, one of my favorites is "Curly Shrew" (because I am Curly too, of course), and one of my least favorites is "Black Star Heroine", and I think the reason there is pretty obvious. Roller Derby is a great team environment where women are competitive and physical and basically bad ass on the rink. Having met some of the girls off rink, it is funny to see how normal and considerate they are. On the rink, they are aggressive, competitive, and seriously...well, bad ass. How fun is that, getting to have a whole other persona, fun name included?!
I am seriously considering trying out for my local Roller Derby team. I have committed myself to go through the training and then decide if I am ready for the next step. The truth is, I am not sure I am tough enough anymore, and being that I am almost 40, I don't know if I am willing to get hurt when it takes much longer to heal these days than it used to. On the other hand, I love the competitiveness, the sport itself, and of course, the names and outfits! So, I will take it one step at a time and see how it goes.
If you have never been to a Roller Derby bout, I highly recommend you check out your local area and find the closest team - with so many teams now playing across the country, chances are there is one close to you and you may not even know it. Once you find the team, go to a bout! Its fun for the whole family and they also do a lot of charitable work in their communities, supporting local groups in need with their time and money. Support your local Roller Derby, and support your community!
Get out there and cheer!!!