Cyndi Lawbreaker and Terror to Pieces skating hard. Copyright South Sea Roller Derby.
Rock and roll, broken bones, quad skates and mascara. If this sounds like your cup of tea, then you are going to love Roller Derby.
The sport pits two teams of women on skates in a full contact “jam” where a designated skater attempts to score by passing a group of blockers trying to stop them.
According to two-and-a-half year derby veteran Ale Mary, the South Sea Roller Derby league employs DIY ideals that attract many participants.
“It’s broadly girl only, there might be a handful of male leagues out there, but it is largely women run and we call it by the skater for the skater. There’s a girl power element to it, but it is not the Spice Girls,” Mary said.
The fastest growing woman’s sport in the country, there is also a physical element you won’t find in your local netball league.
“Our injury list is always pretty big, the fact that it is full contact is really appealing to a lot of us,” Mary said.
“It is sensible physical. It is in a safe and protected environment, you’re really all padded up.
“In theory you can’t hurt yourself too much, it’s really the fact you’re on skates that adds that risky level.
“I managed to break my arm early on, tripping over my own skates, but you get less injuries as you progress in your career.”
Terror to Pieces after taking a hard hit. Copyright South Sea Roller Derby.
Students Get Involved
The sport began in the United States, but has been successfully imported to Melbourne.
Talibamma Slamma, the “Dolly Roger’s” American import, is currently studying Law and International Relations at Deakin University and has found the sport important in creating social roots in a new country.
“I didn’t know anybody so I was just looking for something to do … I need to keep active and I saw the movie ‘Whip It’ and went ‘Oh, I wonder if they do roller derby in Australia’ and found out it was huge,” Talibamma said.
Despite being a big fan of sport, Talibamma also found she was attracted to the more dramatic elements of derby.
“There’s a bit of a punk rock, DIY edge, you see a lot of rockabilly people show up and you get the most amazing outfits at our bouts, like these gorgeous fifties dresses, or they just go all out, like we had a whole bunch of storm troopers show up to one, so that was fun!”
The next meet, called “BRAmageddon”, sees the Cutthroat Charmers take on the Dolly Rogers this Saturday night and encourages fans to donate bras to Project Uplift, who send them to women in third world countries.
The jam takes place at Springers Leisure Centre – 400 Cheltenham Rd, Keysborough. Doors open at 6pm.
