Roller Derby: Fast and Furious

Roller Derby: Fast and Furious

Take roller skates, a healthy serving of protective gear, and a heaping spoonful of punk-infused third-wave feminism. Throw in a dash of miniskirts and fishnets, and mix (well, “smash together” would probably be more accurate) in a flat skating track. The result? Roller derby. Popularized on the national level after the 2009 indie flick Whip It, roller derby is a predominantly female full-contact sport. And it’s been thriving in Rhode Island since 2004.

See Them Battle

The next Providence Roller Derby bout is tonight, June 11th, at the Rhode Island Convention Center. The event is a double header, featuring the Killah Bees at 5 pm and the Rhode Island Riveters
playing New York’s Suburban Brawl at 7 pm. There will be a charity raffle to benefit Girls Rock! Tickets are available online as well as at ArtTixRI.

Building a League

Providence Roller Derby was founded in 2004 by Sara Doom; it was the first women’s flat track roller derby league in New England. The league, a member of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association, now has three home teams—The Mob Squad, The Rats, and The Old Money Honeys - and two travel teams - The Rhode Island Riveters and the Killah Bees. According to Bunnicula, the league’s head coach, “The travel teams represent the league nationally and internationally. Yes, we played Canada and London! “

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

Trophy Bruises

Roller derby has struck a powerful chord with women seeking a competitive, athletic outlet. It’s a fast-paced game, where skaters simultaneously play offense and defense. Sis Boom Bonnie, the league’s community relations and charities coordinator, recounted her earlier experiences with sports: “I didn’t play organized sports. I hid in the locker room during gym class. The boys were always rude and inappropriate, and I couldn’t do anything about it. So my experience with roller derby is that it has been very empowering...it makes me feel strong.”

Keeping it Real

Anyone who has watched a roller derby bout can testify that the sport is edgy, with a strong independent streak. But this extends far beyond just the players’ aesthetic choices. The league is a nonprofit organization that is skater owned

and operated, so the women play entirely on their own terms. The league also recognizes its responsibility to use its popularity to benefit the community. Every bout features a charity raffle, and players participate in a once-a-month volunteer date with Habitat for Humanity. It’s particularly refreshing in a world where sports have become inseparable from—even defined by—sponsorships, marketing, and commercialism.

The Next Generation

After Whip It was released, there was so much interest in roller derby that the Providence Roller Derby had to hold its first official tryouts. Now, the league is always recruiting. And Providence Roller Derby is expected to continue expanding. Says Bunnicula, “As the league grows, expect a new home team!”

For league schedules, go here.