Image: Hung L. Truong
Roller Derby For Dummies
- Two five-person teams are on the track at a time.
- Two 30-minute periods are made up of two-minute Jams–periods of skating action during which points can be scored.
- Two players in the front set the pace of the pack and are called Pivots. They’re distinguished by their striped helmet covers.
- Behind them stand the bulk of the pack, known as Blockers. They have no helmet covers.
- Two Jammers, or scoring players, stand behind the pack. They’re identified by starred helmet covers.
- Jammers score points by passing the opposing team’s Blockers during each Jam.
Roller derby dates back to 1922, but it didn’t hit Houston’s flat tracks until 2005. I lived in total ignorance of the sport until Ellen Page starred in the movie Whip It, which alerted me to the potential entertainment value of an evening spent around the track.
After checking out H-town’s own roller derby scene, I can attest to the sport’s fast pace and high energy level. Props if you can keep up with the score as the “jammers” and “blockers” speed their way around the track. No derby bout goes without several near-injuries, to audience members as well as the skaters. Make sure to keep your legs and hands tucked in if you choose seats close to the action, because these feisty women often find themselves in audience members’ laps when the plays get out of control.
The girls of Houston Roller Derby are just as tough as their stage names suggest. Mommy Fearest, Shawshank, and Jekyll & Heidi are just a few of the ladies who put on their mean faces the third Saturday of each month.
The roller derby season lasts from March to September; with only three events remaining, it’s high time to purchase $15 tickets for a night of rowdy competition at the Bayou Music Center. A ticket entitles you to a double header of bouts as the four Houston Roller Derby teams take turns facing off.
Derby bouts come with the bonus of loud music, greasy snacks, and a great people watching experience—the sport attracts Houstonians of all kinds. Come support your local Psych Ward Sirens, Valkyries, Brawlers, and Bayou City Bosses.
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