The swish of skates, the zooming bodies, the violent collisions: the sport of roller derby has veered in and out of American culture for more than 80 years. After drawing tens of thousands to Madison Square Garden and television audiences in the millions in the 1970s, the sport dwindled to near-invisibility during the 1990s. But in 2000, a new incarnation of the sport arose out of Austin, Texas. The new roller derby was not the creation of a cynical sports promoter; it was a grassroots phenomenon, self-organized by the same women who would put their bodies on the line in pursuit of victory. They embraced the sport’s campy image, violent tendencies, and raucous soundtrack to create something new and undeniably exciting.
The Memphis Roller Derby started in early 2006. The first year, four teams competed for local bragging rights as the new generation of women honed their skating skills. Soon after, the travel team, the Memphis Hustlin’ Rollers, started racking up an impressive series of victories over newly formed regional rivals, culminating in two straight Tennessee state championships, an undefeated 2008 season, and earning MRD’s accreditation with the Woman’s Flat Track Derby Association.
But beyond the flashing skates, fishnet hose, and and war paint, roller derby is a real sport played by real women who display real athleticism. In their everyday lives, these derby girls are students, mothers, professionals, and citizens. But on the weekends, they lace up their skates, empowered and united by their common need for speed.
Memphis Roller Derby
http://www.memphisrollerderby.com/
Women’s Flat Track Derby Association
http://www.wftda.com/
CREDITS
special thanks to
Aundrea Lowery
Joy Rathheim
Vicki Lassiter
Gypsee McManus
Christine McManus
Kristen B. Johnson
Robin Richards
Lauren Goller
Melissa Hurt
Rubi Renfro
Erica Page
Erin Coughlin
L Smithson
Brooke Gettys
Lauren Ruth
Samantha Noah
Tiffany Newman
Adrienne Klein
Cindy Dyer
Jane “Beth” Hendrickson
Jennifer Stone
Jill Blasingaml
Kelly Schrank
Katy E. Berry
Colleen Couch-Smith
Heather Ashcraft
Alexanna Scott
Anna Carothers
James McLendon
Joe Spake
charles E. Campbell
Jeremy Kitchen
Scott Toberman
Judy Watkins
Greg Watkins
Thomas Watkins
Brian Watkins
Kelli Halsell
Crate Morat
Bill Webb
Joseph W. Morris
Travis Chaney
Mackenzie Stonis
C. Scott McCoy
Al Kapone
Liberty Bowl Stadium and Fairgrounds
music
“Animal Life”
performed by Alicja Trout
Tags: Memphis Roller Derby
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[...] FLIPSIDE REVERSE SKATE: More on the Memphis Roller Derby, which you’ll see in all its glory tonight, can be delved into here. [...]
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