Pre-season roller derby

ROCK pleasantly stimulates new roller derby beat writer

By G. Jordan Johnson

Editor’s Note: With the retirement of ROCK beat writer Troy Lyle, G. Jordan Johnson has assumed the role. We’re still looking for people to cover disc golf bike polo, and any other sport you can convince us needs covering. No prior knowledge of the sport is necessary—just a willingness to learn, cover and write about it. Photographers needed, too.

My only experience with flat track roller derby prior to last Sunday was six years ago when I still had access to a cable television and a weekly show, the name of which I have forgotten, covered team bouts on the air. In the time since, I had not crossed paths with the rough but glamorous sport until getting a recent North of Center assignment.

The Rollergirls of Central Kentucky (ROCK) were closing in on their season opener, scheduled for Saturday, April 23 at the Lexington Convention Center. The paper needed the coverage. I wanted the work. I could not protest.

Through reaching out to ROCK’s own Rainbow Smite, I found myself invited to watch a Sunday training and scrimmage session. The excitement was pleasantly stimulating. I was anxious to begin my tutoring in derby lingo and the Rollergirls greeted my green nature openly.

At practice, twenty plus of Kentucky’s finest materialized, donning their skates and gear. Rainbow gave me the standard tour and introduced me to a number of team members. Still recovering from an injury she sustained last season, bench coach Meracle Whip was the first to give me a quick earful of what to expect. The enthusiasm was more than apparent and an obvious fervor emanated from each girl, displaying the unrelenting desire to skate.

Practice commenced with Meracle gliding to the center of the track and calling aloud for stretching and warm up to begin. Along with team captain Ruby Ragdoll, Rainbow led the exercises from the front of a fluid line. All three called out instructions and went through a range of different warm up exercises and motions. Team Coach James Whitley sputtered and shuffled about the room, in an obvious sprint to fasten last minute loose ends. His fists clutched scoring sheets for the impending scrimmage, white shirts versus black.

For fifteen minutes I watched as the team circled in unison and continued what had clearly become a choreographed routine, judging by the fluid nature of their movements, until Meracle called for a break prior to beginning the scrimmage.

My excitement grew. The track had repopulated with Rollergirls, the whole now separated into halves and redefined with white and black shirts. A few moments of frenzy passed before Coach Whitley passed out the Jammer panties and the scrimmage began, leaving me fumbling to balance a notebook in one hand, a camera in the other, and a pen clutched in my teeth. I began documenting my first courses in flat track derby. Taking notes became redundant when it occurred to me that the only way to capture derby is to experience it. I tritely flicked my pen in nervous circles, idling it as if to jot something relevant but only to remain fixated on the intensity brooding in the track.

“WHITE JAMMER!” echoed, testifying to the excitement between competing teammates, detested by “SIT ON HER!” The commotion was too much for a pen and nearly too much for my ailing camera. I gave way to my eyes, relying on memory to recount the experience. An occasional penalty spoke for fairness and instructional shouts and shrieks blasted from the benches provided support. Aggressiveness was encouraged as the team competed but it’s likely that the reminders were more of a convention than necessary. The waivers I had to sign prior to viewing were indicative enough of the coming aggression, but I welcomed it.

On the scrimmage carried, littered with moments of laughter and fun but characterized by effective teammate-to-teammate competition. The enthralling nature of seeing my first bout in person had left me without an idea of time. Before I was able to discern who had took the match, Coach Whitley called a score of 60-64, White winning. Two and a half hours had came and went, leaving me gratified that I had taken the offer to stand in and view the action.

As the group shed their gear and packed their belongings, I made my commitments to return consistently and gave my thanks for their generosity. The experience left me exhilarated, satisfied, and already prepared for more. If you’re interested in catching the action, too, R.O.C.K. will host their season opener at the Lexington Convention Center on April 23. Doors open at 6 P.M. and the bout begins at 7 P.M.

If you’re interested in speaking with ROCK about volunteering, joining the team, or refereeing, email them at rockandrollergirls@gmail.com. Season passes are available now at www.rockandrollergirls.com or admission for home bouts is $10. View the website for a full bout schedule and other information.