Roller Derby: What Comes Around, Goes Around
Five years ago a published roller derby story was unheard of. Now, it's the norm. Every week there's a new article on women's roller derby in the local papers and every week it's the same article as the previous one. Each article impresses the new, revamped style of women's roller derby and expounds upon roller derby as an outlet for repressed women of all ages. The articles interview women who tell of how their life is elevated because they are a member of the roller girl sorority. The articles also point out the increase in leagues all over the country. Each one is a feel good story that becomes a just a little more banal with each rehashed publication. Even ESPN has run a feature or two on it. Luckily, there's so much more to roller derby than just that simple feel-good piece.
While it is growing in popularity thanks to the novelty of all-female leagues, roller derby's popularity is far from it's highest: a point set in the post-WWII 1940's, and again in the early '70's. An odd thirty-year cyclical pattern thus begins to emerge as a new generation or two are skipped before strapping on the skates becomes vogue again. Ironically, one of the killers of the roller derby movement in the '70's was the 1973 oil crisis which limited the amount of traveling teams could afford. And thus, as gas prices reach an all-time high in 2008, the sport seems somewhat unaffected, even with a slowing American economy.
While roller derby popularity is increasing, it has it's own niche. But growing beyond that will be difficult. All of the novel ideas that have reintroduced roller derby to the mainstream again may ultimately relegate the sport to second-class status when compared to other sports and sporting events. The campiness that helped reinvigorate the sport damns the fact that there really is a serious competition on the floor. Most critics can not see past that campiness and the silly costumes. The question is, is it now necessary? Instead of pushing "Tina Kill Spree" and her haunted house makeup and short shorts, the game should be pushing her athleticism and skating prowess. Until roller derby moves from this segment, it will always have a hard time finding acceptance and people will continue to classify it one step below WWE wrestling regardless of whether it is staged or not.
One lesser-known point about roller derby leagues is that many roller derby leagues do not make a profit. The participants actually spend money to play. They do it because they love the sport, just like any person would play in a recreational sport. Many pay monthly dues as there are few locales in which to practice. This is a real indicator of how much these skaters care about their sport. They risk life and limb to do something they enjoy which is much different than a basketball or soccer rec league. Most leagues are supported by sponsors and they often
Gender politics also plays a large role in the future of roller derby. Opening leagues to men is a dual-eged sword in the mind of many female roller derby leagues. They want male fans. They want male volunteers but when it's time for the men to organize the same leagues that asked for their help run the other way, upset that the men may take the spotlight or take advantage of the ground work they have lain. Some people feel that the exoticness of female roller derby would be lost were they to skate with men or if male leagues co-existed with the female leagues. One only has to look back on the roots of roller derby to realize that this is a myth as men and women co-existed for years prior to this recent, modern-day roller derby craze. The only active league that has both mens and womens leagues is the Pioneer Valley Roller Derby league in Northampton, Massachusetts.
Why? Because the majority of intraleague roller derby matches have smaller crowds, consisting of local supporters and friends and family of the skaters. By adding a men's league, and subsequent matches, the roller derby leagues increase participation and the family and friends fan base without adding much overhead. Of course there are dangers of promoting and pushing men's leagues concurrently. Just look at the difference in attendance between the NBA and WNBA. But if both leagues are integrated together, intermixed, then there would never be a "surge" or disparity between the talent levels or interests in watching both mens and womens roller derby leagues. The biggest obstacle is the competition for skate time. Many skating rinks already have extended hours specifically for derby and hockey practice and by adding another league the commodity of pInstead of excluding the men, women's roller derby would be well advised to openly accept and recruit men's programs.
While it is growing in popularity thanks to the novelty of all-female leagues, roller derby's popularity is far from it's highest: a point set in the post-WWII 1940's, and again in the early '70's. An odd thirty-year cyclical pattern thus begins to emerge as a new generation or two are skipped before strapping on the skates becomes vogue again. Ironically, one of the killers of the roller derby movement in the '70's was the 1973 oil crisis which limited the amount of traveling teams could afford. And thus, as gas prices reach an all-time high in 2008, the sport seems somewhat unaffected, even with a slowing American economy.
While roller derby popularity is increasing, it has it's own niche. But growing beyond that will be difficult. All of the novel ideas that have reintroduced roller derby to the mainstream again may ultimately relegate the sport to second-class status when compared to other sports and sporting events. The campiness that helped reinvigorate the sport damns the fact that there really is a serious competition on the floor. Most critics can not see past that campiness and the silly costumes. The question is, is it now necessary? Instead of pushing "Tina Kill Spree" and her haunted house makeup and short shorts, the game should be pushing her athleticism and skating prowess. Until roller derby moves from this segment, it will always have a hard time finding acceptance and people will continue to classify it one step below WWE wrestling regardless of whether it is staged or not.
One lesser-known point about roller derby leagues is that many roller derby leagues do not make a profit. The participants actually spend money to play. They do it because they love the sport, just like any person would play in a recreational sport. Many pay monthly dues as there are few locales in which to practice. This is a real indicator of how much these skaters care about their sport. They risk life and limb to do something they enjoy which is much different than a basketball or soccer rec league. Most leagues are supported by sponsors and they often
Gender politics also plays a large role in the future of roller derby. Opening leagues to men is a dual-eged sword in the mind of many female roller derby leagues. They want male fans. They want male volunteers but when it's time for the men to organize the same leagues that asked for their help run the other way, upset that the men may take the spotlight or take advantage of the ground work they have lain. Some people feel that the exoticness of female roller derby would be lost were they to skate with men or if male leagues co-existed with the female leagues. One only has to look back on the roots of roller derby to realize that this is a myth as men and women co-existed for years prior to this recent, modern-day roller derby craze. The only active league that has both mens and womens leagues is the Pioneer Valley Roller Derby league in Northampton, Massachusetts.
Why? Because the majority of intraleague roller derby matches have smaller crowds, consisting of local supporters and friends and family of the skaters. By adding a men's league, and subsequent matches, the roller derby leagues increase participation and the family and friends fan base without adding much overhead. Of course there are dangers of promoting and pushing men's leagues concurrently. Just look at the difference in attendance between the NBA and WNBA. But if both leagues are integrated together, intermixed, then there would never be a "surge" or disparity between the talent levels or interests in watching both mens and womens roller derby leagues. The biggest obstacle is the competition for skate time. Many skating rinks already have extended hours specifically for derby and hockey practice and by adding another league the commodity of pInstead of excluding the men, women's roller derby would be well advised to openly accept and recruit men's programs.