Tales
The whistle blasts and the blockers start skating as a pack, slowly gaining momentum. A double whistle blast sets the trembling jammers running down the straightaway of the track, racing to be the first through the pack. As they fold one behind the other around the curve of the track, they meet the pack and fight to get through the scrum and be the first to the other side. A jammer in a metallic gold skirt emerges at the other side of the pack—not ours. Ours is trapped behind a wall of opposing team blockers, setting up to knock the snot out of her. But she finds a path around them, and once clear, she heads back around the track in pursuit of the other jammer.
roller derby in a nutshell A flat track roller derby ‘bout,’ or competition, is played between two teams of five players. Each team consists of four ‘blockers’ (one of which is known as a pivot) and one ‘jammer.’ A bout is an hour long; within a bout as many two minute ‘jams’ take place as possible.
PIVOTS
blockers
jammers
(Starting positions)
I glance back up at the scoreboard. We’re down but we’ve made up some ground. Not bad. Ten minutes left. And once this jam is whistled dead, it’s my time to step back on the track, this time as a blocker.
Blockers line up as a tight group known as the ‘pack.’ A single whistle blast signals the pack to start skating, and a double whistle blast releases the jammers. Blockers work to help their jammer through the pack while blocking the opposing team’s jammer.
Marcie Hahn-Knoff, AKA Ava-Launcher #88, is the proud owner of a growing pile of colorful knee socks. When not obsessing about all things derby, she is usually skiing, climbing, hiking, mountain biking, playing in her whitewater kayak or hula hooping in the backyard. She also handcrafts collapsible hula hoops, which can be found at hooplahulahoops.com.
The jammers’ initial lap determines who the lead jammer is— that player can call off the jam before the two minutes pass. Subsequent laps allow jammers to score points by passing members of the opposing team.
Montana roller derby leagues
Flat track roller derby is one of the fastest growing women’s sports in the nation. There are almost 1,200 leagues worldwide, up from only 50 in 2005. Montana has seven established leagues (Billings (2), Bozeman, Kalispell, Great Falls, Helena and Missoula). Bouts (games) are played between teams on the same league and also between leagues. Derby’s original architect Leo Seltzer was born in Helena in 1903. No longer the televised spectacle sport of the mid 20th century, roller derby has re-emerged as a legitimate sport that’s shed its theatrical undertones. Punching, hair pulling, kicking, throwing elbows and biting are a thing of the past, as is the banked track in most locations, though the derby names and costumes live on. The sport now adheres to strictly enforced rules, governed by the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association. wftda.org Right: Gallatin Roller Girlz’ Tornado Juice #918
Billings Billings Roller Derby Dames billingsrollerderbydames.com Magic City Rollers magiccityrollers.com Bozeman Gallatin Roller Girlz gallatinrollergirlz.webs.com Great Falls Electric City Roller Grrrlz Facebook: electriccityrollergrrrlz Helena Hel’z Belles Roller Girls helzbelles.org Kalispell Flathead Valley Roller Derby fvrollerderby.com Missoula Hellgate Roller Derby hellgaterollergirls.com
Mountain
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