Joel Robson assesses the popularity of roller derby…
Fractured foot bones, torn ligaments, and broken tailbones: for those of you that are unaware that is just some of the carnage that comes out of the full-contact female sport roller derby.
The roller derby scene has been growing in Britain over the last decade and there are now almost 50 amateur leagues, along with many unregistered participants playing at local sports clubs.
It is somewhere where women can show physical strength, be aggressive and compete in a high intensity crowd pleasing sport.
Derby also has a real family feel to it, with teams consisting of players from all walks of life. Whether it is the lawyer playing as the blocker, or the mum of four in the jammer position, all involved come together with their numerous alter egos and creative aliases to knock each other around and hear the sounds of body armour crashing to the floor.
Its lifestyle elements stem from the competitors’ sheer passion for the game: the fact there is no official funding means the roller girls have to make all arrangements themselves which shows what this sport means to them. Combine all the other elements of derby like its culture, music and do-it-yourself aspects then you have a fantastic spectacle. The graphics and the teams’ face paints paired with some wacky tattoos make you feel that you’re watching a theatre play meeting brutal competitiveness.
If the outfits and theatrics don’t impress you, then the women’s agility and incredible balance will. When any of us skate in one form or the other, the sole purpose is just staying on your toes, but the skill and agility the women possess to get round the jammers at speed is of optimum entertainment. The sounds of sirens and the crowd cheering on the relentless pace is exhilarating, making this self-made sport definitely worth checking out.