Bay Area Derby Girls - Saturday 15th July
Alcatraz Escapees Vs Treasure Island Gold Diggers
Check out the official Bay Area Derby Girls website. It's just been re-launched. It has really good pictures, information and press articles (which describe the experience better than I do). Seriously, take a look!
This is how the program introduced it:
"Part sport, part spectacle, and just a touch of burlesque, the B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls (B.A.D. Girls) are an all-female, rock'n'roll, full-contact roller derby league consisting of four teams: The S.F.ShEvil Dead; The Oakland Outlaws; The Alcatraz Escapees; and the Treasure Island Gold Diggers."
BAD Girls were founded in 2004 and currently have over 50 skaters. In the first national all-girls derby tournament last February BAD placed 9th out of over 20 leagues.
This game was held in Oakland, at 'Dry Ice', which was a concrete hockey pitch in a big warehouse. The pitch had a fence and a massive perspex barrier all round the outside, (just like an ice hockey pitch). We stood right at the edge so we could bang our fists on the perspex when it got exciting!
It was impossible to take good photos because it was quite dark, they moved fast and any flash would reflect off the perspex. However, I was able to use my digital camera to take some video. They're a bit shaky, but I think they give you a good idea what it was like (see below).
So, how does roller derby work? Well, 5 players from each team play at a time. They go round a track together, in the same direction. Each team has a 'Jammer', (the player with a star on her helmet), who starts after the other four. The aim is for the Jammers to catch up to the other players (who are called blockers) and get past as many blockers as possible. The blockers have to help their Jammer get past, while trying to stop the opposing Jammer. This goes on for 2 minutes, after which a whistle is blown, the scores are awarded and another 5 players from each team line up. These 2 minutes periods are called 'jams'. Points are scored for each opposing player that the jammer gets past. Its a full contact sport, so blocking is encouraged. Grabbing, tripping and hitting are not allowed (but they do happen) so players get sent to spend a jam in the penalty box.
Several players fall over.
During the first half the Treasure Island Gold Diggers (in yellow) built up a big lead. But in the second half the Alcataz Escapees, (who we were cheering for, in blue) had a come back. In the end it was very close and became incredibly exciting! We were shouting, screaming, wooping and banging out fists. It came down the the very last jam! Unfortunately the Escapees couldn't quite do it so victory went to the Gold Diggers, but we were all glad it had been so exciting!
You can hear us shouting 'come on' towards the end and shrieking with joy when some players fall over right in front of us!
This is one of the last jams. You can hear us banging on the perspex at one point.
The players are all tattooed rock chicks with sequined underwear, bruises and attitude! They all have funny names, the Escapees were: Mo Maggots, Trixxy B. Damned, Diva Negativa, Pandamonium, Messy Jessy, Genghis Blonde, Motley Cruz, Haley Combat, Iva Vendetta, Frida Kahlocaust, Sgt. Bashin' Butter and Evil Red. The Gold Diggers were: Captain Rollita, Ponyboy, Lil Thrill Kill, Tex Hitter, Janesaw Massacre, DislorKate, Annie Agony, Hurricane Skatrina, Injure Rogers, Diane Rott and Lemmy Chokeya. The best Jammers were Pandamonium and Injure Rogers. At the after party they were all there, dancing on the tables!
Half Time - Ultra Gypsy
The half time entertainment was provided by Ultra Gypsy. They're urban belly dancers! I thought they were really good.
Here are 3 ultra gypsies! I'm afraid the camera is very shaky to begin with but it gets better about half way through. I think they're cool! They made me want to take up belly dancing as a hobby!