Believe it or not, this is a sport born and bred in the good ol’ USA. It is an All American phenomenon! It is a high velocity sport that takes roller skating from the average neighbourhood street to an indoor oval track. In its early years, roller derby was a professional sport played by both men and women. Today it is a primarily amateur sport that has teams and circuits all over the world and has becomes predominantly a women’s sport. Hoo Rahh for the hard hitting women of roller derby USA!
Historically, the term Roller Derby was first coined in 1922 in the Chicago Tribune. It was used to describe flat track roller skating races. Leo Seltzer a promoter and sportswriter, Damon Runyon have been credited with impacting the competitions in the 1930’s by making it focus on the physcallity of the sport and the spectacle of it. Seltzer actually trade marked the term “Roller Derby” and used this to promote his professional teams as they toured through the US. Roller Derby became a part of pop culture as the matches took place through the US. The matches were broadcast on radio in the early years and later became a television phenomenon with an increasing fan base.
Great ideas never stand alone. Competing organizations such as Roller Games, burst onto the scene. But as many fast rising stars often do, the sport had to ride out many ups and downs. The mainstream event finally fizzled in the 1970’s. Much of the interest over the next few decades were fueled by the veterans and die hard fans.
Today’s Roller Derby has re-emerged. In fact 3,700 fans attened the debut of the 2007 Minnesota RollerGirls season. Rooler Derby has entered into next era. This sport has spread beyond its American roots and leagues have poppeed up in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. It has reconencted with today’s hard hitting women and captured not only the athleticism but acquired a “campy” personality all of its own.
The revival is attributed to the non-affiliated DIY young women who took on the sport with guts and gusto. Roller derby is a contact sport and injuries range from common bruises and sprains to broken bones and beyond. No wonder that EMT’s are often on hand at the matches. These injuries become the well documented and discussed “battle scars”, to be flaunted and exploited as a part of the culture that follows this growing sport. Safety equipment such as helmets, elbow pads, knee pads are required. Roller derby skates have to be built for the rigors of the face paced track.
The Derby demons of today’s Roller Derby has its own look and feel. The look is often inspired by rockabilly or burlesque fashions. Cool tattoos and tutus are a part of the Derby style. In some leagues, “Larger-than-life” on-track aggressive behavior, the half-time entertainment and “penalty games” provide the “entertainment” in this sport. It is attitude and velocity combined wth the griity fast paced excitement that draws fans all over the world.