Above, jammer Misty Motorboatin' (in blue with starred helmet) goes down during bout against Akron City Rollergirls.
Photos by Bull Leigh
Article by Jeremy Benson
There are limited occasions that allow, nay, require fishnet stockings to be worn, much less fishnets with gaps and runs. Even rarer are situations calling for hip blocks and body checks. While on roller skates. In fishnets.
The oddity of such an event is perhaps why so few people understand the culture of modern Roller Derby. In the past the sport has been marred by the choreographed televised matches of the 1970s, and most would-be spectators just can't handle the raw athleticism and power of armored women on wheels.
Yet curiosity abounds, and leagues like Mount Morris' own Mid Michigan Derby Girls (MMDG) have sprouted up to meet the challenge, to set the record straight, and take no prisoners—only converts.
The Mid Michigan Derby Girls formed their non-profit league in 2008, as a trio of bruisers—R.I.P. SaW, Kay OTIC, and Emilee VaBruise—began spreading the word and recruiting other skaters. Training started that autumn alongside "Get to Know Roller Derby" nights, which introduced uninitiated members of the public to the sport.
The sport's rules are as intimidating as its players, but that shouldn't keep you from getting to know either. Two teams, made up of four blockers and one jammer, take the oval track for each jam. As the pack of eight blockers makes its way around the course, the two jammers must attempt to skate their way through, earning points with each blocker they pass. A Jam ends after two minutes, or when the first jammer to get out of the pack boastfully puts her hands on her hips. And then they go again. Each bout has two thirty-minute periods of as many jams as they can fit.
The game takes incredible amounts of strength and endurance, and as a full-contact sport, players will frequently come off the field of play with scrapes and bruises. For all derby girls, safety is as important as fun, protective wear is as necessary as fishnets. Each player must pass a skills test before entering into competition, and the league spends hours in practice learning how to fall correctly. Much training is dedicated to keeping their bodies in top shape, ready to handle a shove or two.
"It's a great way to stay fit and meet other people," says Smash YoFacin, a derby girl from Lapeer. Smash is not her real name, of course; each derby girl adopts a nickname to intensify the spectacle and fun of the game, as well as the familial bonds among the team. Having seen an ad on Craigslist.com, Smash joined as the league entered its first season. "I thought to myself, 'that would be cool.' And now I have a great group of girls that I can call my friends and family."
The "family" is composed of women from all sorts of backgrounds. Some are former non-athletes, while others play softball in the off-season, or come from the speed- or dance-skate arenas. But once they've hit the track, it hardly seems to matter if a blocker is 18 or 52, or if a jammer has to sell tennis shoes in the morning.
Mariah Scurry joined the derby club last March specifically for the social aspects. "I had never been a sports person," she confesses. "I wanted to go have fun with the people who were in it. I guess I joined without really knowing what it was."
Along with increasing numbers of players and spectators, Mariah discovered that roller derby has the power to impact more than just flesh. At each home bout, MMDG donates proceeds from ticket, food and merchandise sales to a selected charity or non-profit organization. In the past they've raised money for Toys for Tots, Coats for Kids, the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan in Flint, and the Genesee County Humane Society, among others. "It gives us a lot of chances to give back to the community," says Smash.
In MAY-hem, their final bout of the 2009-2010 derby season, the Mid Michigan Derby Girls will host the Burning River Roller Girls Hazmat Crew of Cleveland, Ohio, on Saturday May 15, at their home court of Skateland Arena in Mount Morris. Working with the non-profit Girl Power 2 Cure, the league will be "Rollin' for Rett," raising money to fund research and support for Rett's Syndrome. Rett's Syndrome is a developmental disorder that is similar to severe Autism and primarily affects girls.
"We're always looking for other organizations to help," says Mariah. "It's a community thing, it's a family thing."
Because a tutorial accompanies each bout, any match is great for introducing oneself to Roller Derby. And when you think about it, fishnets or no, a well-bonded group of rollerskating women raising awareness and money for a good cause really isn't that intimidating after all. Besides, they're likely to kick your butt if you don't attend.
The Mid Michigan Roller Girls face the Burning River Roller Girls at Skateland Arena in Mt. Morris on Saturday, May 15 at 7PM. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $8, or at Skateland Area, The Dive Shop, or online at brownpapertickets.com. Get more information about the MMDG at their website.
© Jeremy Benson, 2010