| on 11-08-2008 15:10
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Published in : , Misc |
By Manda Singer
Despite it having gone through numerous cycles of abandonment and renewal over the past century, roller derby looks like it is here to stay. Although the crux of its recognition remains in America, myriad teams have formed the world over, and now Berlin can finally boast having its very own - the Berlin Bombshells.
The Bombshells are one of only four teams in Germany, with the others located in Stuttgart, Hamburg, and Ludwigsburg. Though the Bombshells do not currently hold bouts outside of their own club in Berlin, they have the intention of competing nationally and are closely linked with the Stuttgart team, who played a crucial role in the team's development. "The Stuttgart team hosted our first meeting," says Molly, the Bombshells captain, "two of the girls came up and brought training videos and talked to the girls about setting up the team." The Stuttgart players' advice including how to find inexpensive equipment and tips to generate interest for the sport in both Berlin and Germany as a whole.
Beyond the brutality of the sport itself, it is no easy task to start a team in Germany. As well as their current efforts to recruit members, the Bombshells have been soliciting the help of local bands and venues to hold gigs in the hope of promoting the sport and raising money. Their last benefit concert, held at Cassiopeia in Friedrichshain, raised enough money to pay for half of their equipment, but due to the scarcity, and therefore high price, of quad roller skates in Germany the team has resorted to ordering their skates from America - a less expensive alternative for high quality equipment. The drawback is this entails a lot of forward planning, as the skates must be ordered in large numbers for shipping purposes and take weeks to process.
The team continues to hold practices twice a week at the Lurich e.V. in Kreuzberg, even without full equipment. Each girl must sign up for a year’s membership in order to use the gym, operating out of an old industrial building, but this grants them access to any and all of its facilities - essential to prepare for the physical demands roller derby makes on the body. The Berlin Bombshells’ perseverance is just one example of the attitude that makes Roller Derby what it is today. However, they need continued help in the form of both spectators and new players for what Molly describes as "roller skates, short skirts, and a lot of beer."
www.myspace.com/7_theberlinbombshall_7
Meet the team every Wednesday night from 9pm at the Rock’n’Roll Herberge, Muskauer strasse 11, 10997, Berlin, or at the fence outside the Lurich e.V. on the corner of Wrangelstrasse and Mariannenplatz every Monday at 8pm and Thursday at 7pm.
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