No doubt by now you've at least heard of Whip It , the new roller derby flick that Drew Barrymore directs and appears in. The film focuses on a teenage girl who escapes smalltown life in a nowhere Texas town and finds herself in the sport of roller derby. What's not to like about the bizarre mix of self-discovery, and full-on girl-on-girl violencemixed with a dash of punk spirit?
Sure, Whip It is a Holly wood movie that draws on roller derby's alternative cool-dyed hair, tattoos, uniforms that look like variations on fetish gear, and grrl-power politics. But roller derby has become the champion of underground athletics that challenges the status quo of American sports.
Like your wacko cousin who shows up late for the family Thanksgiving dinner and then passes out face first in the pumpkin pie, roller derby is an alternative-universe to corporate American sports. Palyers in this game really do play for love, and the good of the sport really does come first. In less than a decade, derby has arrived, without corporate cash, deep-pocketed owners, or a shred of attention from mainstream sports media.
This has come about because these hot, tattooed chicks on wheels have kept control of their own sport like no other American athletes have done. Compared with derby's empowered amateursin tattoos and tutus, the overpaid paid NHL, NBA, or NFL star is a patgronized monkey.
The derby players own roller derby. The motto of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association ( WFTDA) promotes and fosters the sport of women's flat track roller derby by facilitating the development of athletic ability, sportswomanship, and goodwill among member leagues. Their philosophy is "by the skaters, for the skaters." Women skaters are primary owners and managers.
In the history of sport in America, i t's rare for a sport to maintain its independence. To date, almost every sport has ended up being owned by someone. But any hint of that in derby, people just freak out. They're especially sensitive, because at one time, roller derby was completely controlled by sleazy promoters. Since then, players have made a conscious and determined effort to avoid that.
The Pikes Peak Derby Dames is a case in point. They first surfaced in the summer of 2005, when one girl from Colorado Springs decided to take up the challenge of starting up a roller derby league in her home town. Founded by Slugs-N-Kisses, the league has continued to grow one girl at a time ever since. PPDD is a diverse group committed to the athletic development and empowerment of women in the Pikes Peak region.
The Pikes Peak Derby Dames come from all walks of life: business professionals and business owners, students, mothers, tattoo artists, and hair dressers. Rock-n-rollers, punks, honky-tonk girls-and everything in between. They share a passion for Roller Derby, a strong sense of camaraderie, and the belief that Roller Derby is the greatest sport EVER invented!
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No doubt by now you've at least heard of Whip It , the new roller derby flick that Drew Barrymore directs and appears in. The film focuses on a teenage girl who escapes smalltown life in a nowhere Texas town and finds herself in the sport of roller derby. What's not to like about the bizarre mix of self-discovery, and full-on girl-on-girl violencemixed with a dash of punk spirit?
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