Ah, roller derby. When you think of this sport, you might think of fishnet-clad lesbians punching each other in the face or creative names such as Frita Hitabitch or Princess Slaya. Maybe you think of Ellen Page dramatically jumping over an opposing skater in 2009’s Whip It. But, no matter your impressions, let’s be realistic; roller derby is not all booty shorts and broken bones. There are real-life rules (Whaaaat?! Yeah, I know). There are decades of history behind roller derby, which has been dubbed “The Official Sport of Hard-Hitting Badasses Who Want To Mess Some People Up While Having a Great Time.” Okay, that’s not its actual nickname, but that’s basically what it is. Besides being a historically queer, feminist, and body-positive sport, derby is quickly becoming the most exciting way to show off one’s badassery.
Let’s go over the basic rules of roller derby. Each team has five players on the track for each play, or “jam.” Jams can last up to two minutes, but are often shorter. On each team, there are four blockers and one jammer. The jammer’s job is to score points by passing opposing players in the “pack” (group of blockers). The blockers’ job is to help their own jammer through the pack while stopping the opposing jammer. The jammer gets one point for each opposing player they pass, and the winning team is the one with the most points at the end of two 30-minute halves.
I spoke to LACS sophomore Indigo Kane (a.k.a. Indy-structible) about the reality of playing roller derby in Ithaca.
Alex Clavel ’19: How did you find out about roller derby, and when did you start playing? Also, what position do you play?
Indigo Kane ’19: My mom’s friend Tamara (aka Dusa Damage) introduced it to me, and I’ve been playing for six years. I play all of the positions, but mostly I’m a jammer.
AC: How did you come up with your derby name?
IK: My mom thought of it—she’s really good at puns.
AC: Did you have any apprehensions about starting derby?
IK: Yeah a bit; I was afraid that I wouldn’t fit in with the other kids, but it turned out I found a bunch of new friends that I would say are as close as family. So, that was pretty great.
AC: What’s one of your favorite things about roller derby in Ithaca?
IK: Well, I love to roller skate, but also all of the close friendships I’ve made and how everyone is so accepting.
AC: What would you say is one of your proudest moments during your derby career?
IK: Jumping the apex* while jamming and getting MVP jammer.
AC: Do you feel that playing roller derby has enabled you to be a better version of yourself, or helped you discover something new about yourself? If so, how?
IK: Yes, definitely it has made me a better person. Before starting derby I never really knew what my sexuality was, but being able to be in such an open environment with so many different and cool people gave me the opportunity to really explore and know who I was. Although I’m still not a hundred percent sure how I identify sexually, I know I’m not straight and derby was one of the big things that helped me see that in myself.
AC: Finally, what advice would you give to someone who wants to start skating, but is nervous about it?
IK: Just do it! Even if you suck at skating, you’ll learn, and that’s the best part about derby: you’re always learning new things! Also, don’t be afraid, because all of us are super cool and nice.
*Jumping the apex is when a jammer avoids the pack by jumping over the boundary line where the track curves.
So, there you have it. Roller derby is not just a bunch of lesbians beating the crap out of each other. It’s a complex (but awesome) sport that is rooted in feminism and body positivity. Seriously, there is a position for you no matter your body type. You’re built like a brick wall? You can be a killer blocker. Just want to hit people like there’s no tomorrow? You can do that, too. No matter your body type or level of experience, there is something for everyone in roller derby. In the words of Maggie Mayhem from Whip It, “Put some skates on. Be your own hero.”