| on 11-08-2008 15:07
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Published in : , Misc |
 photo by Skiver.cz
By Roman 'Skiver.Cz' Skyva
Mouth guards and lipstick, knee-pads over fishnets, tattoos, sharp elbows, roller skates - these are the things that make up roller derby. The sport began as an all-female endurance race, but in the 1930s a man named Leo Seltzer made some important modifications that created this spectacular low-brow event, infamous for its cat-fights, dramatic wipe-outs and acrobatic stunts.
Today, roller derby is a lot less commercial than it was originally. It is currently undergoing a grass-roots revival both in Britain and the USA, morphing into a new fast-paced, counter-cultural entertainment for rowdy adults. Though mixed teams are emerging, the game is still dominated by women who rock a tongue-in-cheek punk attitude with their feminism. Just about any gym that can accommodate a basketball court and a few benches can house a roller derby event, giving them a raw home-made atmosphere.
The rules are simple: two teams, made up of four blockers and one jammer, skate around an oval track. The match is divided into two-minute jams. A jam starts at the blow of the referee's whistle, when the pack of blockers starts moving. The jammers follow on a second signal and try to "establish a lead" by overtaking the pack. Scoring starts once the lead jammer overtakes the pack, with one point given for every opponent she overtakes. No tripping, grabbing or pulling of opponents' hair is allowed, but the sport is a distinctly full-contact affair as blockers try to assist their jammer and stop the opposition. Games last for an hour, split into two or three periods of play, with bruises common and broken bones possible. Some games require a medical team on standby.
What does it take to have a roller derby team?
First, you need five or more women, then a place to practice and hold bouts. Any flat area with enough space to knock down a skater will do, including skating rinks, basketball courts, gyms or even parking lots. After that comes fund-raising to pay for the equipment (a helmet, padding, a mouth guard, and quad skates), where raffles and donation drives with skaters dressed in team gear take on a life of their own. You won't get rich rolling on these skates, but it is a hell of a lot more fun than scooting around in an office chair. The more people you can get involved the better; because like with all the finer things in life, it's not as much fun to practice alone. The practice itself should be relentless: you don't just need to learn how to skate, you need to toughen up and know how to take a fall. But above all, you have to embrace the punk culture with style and demonstrate a primeval love for the finesse of brutal skating.
The full rules of Women's Flat Track Derby Association are online at http://www.wftda.com/
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