Sexuality Happens

Photo by Rachelle Lee Smith

Happy Olympic HNT!

I have to be honest, I’m cheating. In two ways. a) This pictures was taken almost two years ago, when I was playing with the Penn Jersey She Devils. Since then, I’ve been with two other leagues: The Philly Roller Girls and my current league, The Denver Roller Dolls. More over, I am now functioning as a ref, rather than a player. and b) Roller derby isn’t an olympic sport…although it should be :) Just kidding, I like it the way it is.

But I wanted to bring this amazing sport to your attention. It IS real, it isn’t like the WWE, people do train multiple days a week, and people DO get hurt. When I played, I broke my tailbone twice, and had a possible mild concussion. I’ve had friends tear ACLs and MCLs, break their arms and wrists and collarbones, and more. However, it’s probably my favorite sport EVER.

Reasons I <3 roller derby:

*The camaraderie between the players. What happens on the track, stays on the track. Otherwise, you go out drinking and partying together, and stay with each other on travel bouts, etc.

*Giving back — every league I’ve been with has worked with charities in their area to give back to the community

*The exercise; roller girls are hardcore, and not just because they can beat you up. Training is INTENSE!

*The hot outfits. Striped socks, fishnets, underwear over tights (for panty whips), and much more. It doesn’t get hotter than that.

*The amazing names. This list is kept so no two girls have the same skater name. Some of my favorites? Juggernaut Bitch, Betty Rage, Nora Morse, Candy Vour, Robin Drugstores, Heavy Flo, Gloria Gindem, Janet Meano, Butterscotch Cripple, Chickadee Struction, and more. I’m Essin’ Em of course. I contemplated changing to Judith Kick Butler, but I didn’t think most people would get it….

*The big events. Regionals, nationals, Rollercon, the East Coast Derby Extravaganza, etc. Meeting other roller girls from all over the country (and Canada!)

*The fans. Derby fans are almost as hard core as the skaters. So much energy, signs, cheers, and carefulness to not spill their beers.

*The diversity. Roller girls can be any age (well, over 18 or 21, depending on who you skate with), from any job, any race, any size. I’ve met women skating aged 18-47 (including a woman in PA who skates there, and her mother skates on a team in TN!), people with all different jobs (massage therapist, professors, postal workers, bartenders, customer service, mechanics, CPAs, lawyers, etc), and so on. Size is even sometimes an advantage; derby ass and hips are amazing. I like that a lot.

*How everyone kicks in to get stuff (bouts, fundraising, tryout, etc) together as flawlessly as possible.

And lastly:
*The look on others’ faces when you tell them you’re part of roller derby!

There are over 150 leagues in America, and more in England, Canada, Australia, and more. Find a local derby league, go to their games, and join the fastest growing sports craze (in America) that is roller derby!

-Essin’ Em