"Short Track Speed Skating Meets a Mosh Pit"
Raleigh, NC - June 2009 (Click to embiggen)
Unless of course, your mom is a member of the
Women's Flat Track Derby Association. You might remember
this My World post I wrote back in January about Dorton Arena (or not) and the sign by the road advertising the Roller Derby bout scheduled for January 24. I didn't make it to that event, but this past weekend the stars aligned in just the right way that I got my first look at the sport. And it has about as much in common with the version I used to see on TV as a kid as Olympic wrestling has in common with the WWE.
Seriously kids, if you're looking for theatrics, get tickets for Monday Night Raw or something. This is a serious sport despite the colorful "stage names" of the participants (even the referees go by handles like "Mae Q. Cry"). Serious or not, I don't understand it
nearly well enough (yet) to explain it, so I'll defer to the website of the
Carolina Rollergirls where you can find out all you want to know from people who... umm... actually
know.
"Holly Wanna Crackya"
Raleigh, NC - June 2009 (Click to embiggen)
I can tell ya... If I tried this, I'd be gassed before the warmups were over. If it doesn't look like work, all I can suggest is, "Try it yourself". Let me put it in perspective for you. An NHL level hockey player typically skates a 30- to 45-second shift before coming over the wall for a replacement. At the one-minute mark, fatigue becomes a concern and every second beyond that becomes a real liability. A Derby "jam" can last up to twice that long with skaters going full bore around a track so short that by the time you're exiting one turn if you're not setting up for the next one you're toast. Oh, and by the way? There are 5 people in the other team's colors that'd like nothing better than to introduce you to that concrete floor under your wheels.
"Minnie Mauser"
Raleigh, NC - June 2009 (Click to embiggen)
Saturday's bout was a double-header featuring both of the CRG travel teams, and things... uh... didn't go so well for the home squad. The first bout was against the defending National Champs and current league leaders, and it's pretty obvious they're #1 for a reason. Then again, they're based in New York City where you've got a much larger pool of potential players -- and a lot more potential sponsors. The nightcap was a close one though, and even a Derby virgin like me couldn't help getting excited about it. I have a long way to go before I understand what I'm watching, but I'll be back.
Stumble This!
Posts
