ROLLER DERBY GOES PRO
Television is always changing. Reality shows faded, replaced by artistic competition shows like American Idol and Dancing With The Stars. The next big thing has yet to break, but there are hints that it may involve athletic exploits. One part of that big thing may be on wheels---again.
Girls skating and bashing other girl skaters was a huge hit in the 50's and 60's. Roller Derby was shown on every television station in America. Skaters created outrageous personalities, like a female version of Wide World of Wrestling. Fans could cheer for the sweet blonde and boo the nasty villain who knocked her down. A catfight was always brewing, and fans always knew that before the game ended, two rival skaters would fall to the floor, rolling and punching until separated by the refs and sent to the penalty box.
But Derby's popularity dwindled. A 1998 attempt to bring it back didn't succeed. Then the unexpected happened: there was a sudden explosion of Roller Derby on a grass roots, non-TV level. Teams consisted of skaters who, in the real world, were bank tellers and doctors and housewives and college students. There are now dozens of leagues in every state, hundreds of teams throughout America. Good skaters are starting to get known, and the fan base is building.
Even conservative Salt Lake City has over a dozen Derby teams, with tickets selling out for each bout, or game. And, the bouts are no longer sedate.
Rookie Genea Gaudet, who has only been skating for eight months, is seeing the sport make big changes. She says, "Roller Derby in Salt Lake is more professional than ever. As a league, everybody's a better skater. Just since my first bout last month, and the second this weekend, I've seen a huge difference in the skill level. We were all faster, and a lot more physical with each other."
The Salt City Derby Girls league is ramping up the game for all its teams. "We have been practicing hitting skills as a league. Until now, my team has been more focused on skating fast instead of using hard hitting Derby skills. But after you play one hard hitting team, you want to be able to hit back," she said.
Gaudet skates for team "Leave It To Cleavers." They skate in short skirts with mini-aprons, flashing sequined panties as they crouch for the start of each jam, or two-minute heat. This season, the skaters are also making performance art of their alter-ego personalities, using exaggerated makeup and costume embellishments.
"I think everyone is encouraged to have their own personal style. Some girls are more flamboyant than others, and the league likes that. So do the fans. Derby is also starting to attract girls who have been skating for years, elite speed skaters and figure skaters ," says Gaudet.
And there is a sense of stardom that can almost be felt. More people are asking for autographs. In some states, bouts are reported like major league games, with highlights and color commentators. There has been talk among some local network affiliates in several states of televising the entire playoff bout.
Gaudet believes that within the next two years, there will be sponsored teams on a national level, with national television exposure. Like before, there will be skaters who rise to stardom because they are good, or vicious, or have an outrageous personality.
As the artistic contest shows fade and the sports contest shows take their place, there will come a day when few will know who is the current American Idol, but fans everywhere will know who is America's top Roller Derby skater.