2008 Woodie Awards
Jammin' the Skate Rink
Colleen Roberts
Issue date: 10/17/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
Roller Derby is the fastest growing sport in the nation, and now Humboldt County has its own team.
Jennifer McMahon, or Jenneral Ms.Chief as she is called in Roller Derby, is the organizer bringing Roller Derby to Humboldt. McMahon says that she was drawn to Roller Derby by, "the Rock 'n' Roll music, short skirts, and girls kicking ass."
In Feb. 2007, McMahon watched the documentary "Derby Girls" on television. Having never played or seen a game in person, she was inspired to bring Roller Derby to Humboldt County. She answered an ad on Craigslist from a derby player in San Diego who wanted to help start a team in Humboldt.
"It got started before I was ready," said McMahon, "but Humboldt was ready."
Sixty women showed up to the first practice last Spring. That number dwindled to 30, then to 14. Now, membership is climbing again and the Humboldt Derby has 35 full-time members. Training sessions are hard work. The players drill and do grueling strengthening exercises in anticipation of their first game, or bout, planned for next May.
Humboldt Roller Derby is one of 47 national teams listed with the Women's Flat Track Derby Association. Each player on a team must chose a nickname and register it with the association. No two players in the league are allowed to have the same nickname.
Humboldt psychology major Dayoni Hisel-Bernard, known as Day-O-Wreckoning, is currently training for the team. She says she really enjoys learning skate skills, but for her, "it's pretty much the camaraderie with the girls."
Sarah Sullivan, known as Guts and Gloria, started roller derby when her baby was three months old. "I was going to do pottery, but this was more fun." Sullivan likes Roller Derby because she gets to exercise without thinking about it.
One of the most difficult aspects of organizing a team in Humboldt County was finding a place to practice. At first, no local skate rinks wanted to take the insurance risk. The Humboldt Derby started renting space at the Eureka Fairgrounds for their Wednesday and Friday night practices.
The Derby players each pay $60 per month in dues to help fund the team and pay for practice space. In addition, all players must buy their own skates and safety equipment. Even low-end gear can be expensive, costing up to $150.
Constance Mitchell, Associated Students Student Affairs Vice President, has been with the Humboldt Roller Derby team since last May. She started off with basic equipment. Now she's so dedicated to Derby she wants to get higher end equipment. Mitchell is trying to save money for skates that cost $400.
"I'm going to have a donation jar in the Associated Students office," Mitchell said.
Roller Derby has come a long way from its beginning in the 1930s when it was created to replace dance marathons. Movie depictions like Raquel Welch's "Kansas City Bomber" or Mickey Rooney and Marilyn Monroe in "The Fireball," emphasized the theatrical aspects of Derby.
The new resurgence in amateur Roller Derby Teams started in 2002 and with it the desire from players to be considered athletes first.
"I want our team to be in the sports pages," said McMahon. "A jam is really fast. It's like watching basketball."
The Official Women's Flat Track Derby Association Rulebook is over 80 pages long. Elbows and slamming into other players is not allowed and can result in a penalty. Each team has five payers on the track at one time: three Blockers, one Jammer and one Pivot. Each bout consists of a number of Jams.
During a Jam, the players all start in a pack skating in the same direction. The two teams' Jammers start 20 feet behind the pack. The Blockers try to prevent the other team's Jammer from passing.
The Jammer, who wears a hat with a star over her helmet, is the one who can score points for the team by passing the opposing team's blockers. During a bout, if the Jammer gets tired, she can pass off her star to the Pivot, who will then become the Jammer for the remainder of the Jam.
If a player is placed in a penalty box for unsports-women-like behavior, the opposing Jammer will earn points each time she passes the penalty box.
Derby is a dangerous sport. Many of the players have suffered injuries. Team member Krista Miller from Blue Lake (Miller Time) is one of the most experienced skaters on the team. She said that as long as you can learn to fall responsibly, Derby is as safe as any other sport.
Humboldt Roller Derby encourages anyone, 21 years and older, who wants to try it out to come to their "Fresh Meat" practices on Wednesdays and Fridays at 6 p.m. The team has recently purchased skates and safety equipment to borrow on a first-come, first-served basis.
"Roller Derby is going to be a wave that hits Humboldt County," said McMahon. "We're a force to be reckoned with."
For more information, visit the Humboldt Roller Derby MySpace at www.myspace.com/humboldtrollerderby
Colleen Roberts can be reached at cr45@humboldt.edu
Jennifer McMahon, or Jenneral Ms.Chief as she is called in Roller Derby, is the organizer bringing Roller Derby to Humboldt. McMahon says that she was drawn to Roller Derby by, "the Rock 'n' Roll music, short skirts, and girls kicking ass."
In Feb. 2007, McMahon watched the documentary "Derby Girls" on television. Having never played or seen a game in person, she was inspired to bring Roller Derby to Humboldt County. She answered an ad on Craigslist from a derby player in San Diego who wanted to help start a team in Humboldt.
"It got started before I was ready," said McMahon, "but Humboldt was ready."
Sixty women showed up to the first practice last Spring. That number dwindled to 30, then to 14. Now, membership is climbing again and the Humboldt Derby has 35 full-time members. Training sessions are hard work. The players drill and do grueling strengthening exercises in anticipation of their first game, or bout, planned for next May.
Humboldt Roller Derby is one of 47 national teams listed with the Women's Flat Track Derby Association. Each player on a team must chose a nickname and register it with the association. No two players in the league are allowed to have the same nickname.
Humboldt psychology major Dayoni Hisel-Bernard, known as Day-O-Wreckoning, is currently training for the team. She says she really enjoys learning skate skills, but for her, "it's pretty much the camaraderie with the girls."
Sarah Sullivan, known as Guts and Gloria, started roller derby when her baby was three months old. "I was going to do pottery, but this was more fun." Sullivan likes Roller Derby because she gets to exercise without thinking about it.
One of the most difficult aspects of organizing a team in Humboldt County was finding a place to practice. At first, no local skate rinks wanted to take the insurance risk. The Humboldt Derby started renting space at the Eureka Fairgrounds for their Wednesday and Friday night practices.
The Derby players each pay $60 per month in dues to help fund the team and pay for practice space. In addition, all players must buy their own skates and safety equipment. Even low-end gear can be expensive, costing up to $150.
Constance Mitchell, Associated Students Student Affairs Vice President, has been with the Humboldt Roller Derby team since last May. She started off with basic equipment. Now she's so dedicated to Derby she wants to get higher end equipment. Mitchell is trying to save money for skates that cost $400.
"I'm going to have a donation jar in the Associated Students office," Mitchell said.
Roller Derby has come a long way from its beginning in the 1930s when it was created to replace dance marathons. Movie depictions like Raquel Welch's "Kansas City Bomber" or Mickey Rooney and Marilyn Monroe in "The Fireball," emphasized the theatrical aspects of Derby.
The new resurgence in amateur Roller Derby Teams started in 2002 and with it the desire from players to be considered athletes first.
"I want our team to be in the sports pages," said McMahon. "A jam is really fast. It's like watching basketball."
The Official Women's Flat Track Derby Association Rulebook is over 80 pages long. Elbows and slamming into other players is not allowed and can result in a penalty. Each team has five payers on the track at one time: three Blockers, one Jammer and one Pivot. Each bout consists of a number of Jams.
During a Jam, the players all start in a pack skating in the same direction. The two teams' Jammers start 20 feet behind the pack. The Blockers try to prevent the other team's Jammer from passing.
The Jammer, who wears a hat with a star over her helmet, is the one who can score points for the team by passing the opposing team's blockers. During a bout, if the Jammer gets tired, she can pass off her star to the Pivot, who will then become the Jammer for the remainder of the Jam.
If a player is placed in a penalty box for unsports-women-like behavior, the opposing Jammer will earn points each time she passes the penalty box.
Derby is a dangerous sport. Many of the players have suffered injuries. Team member Krista Miller from Blue Lake (Miller Time) is one of the most experienced skaters on the team. She said that as long as you can learn to fall responsibly, Derby is as safe as any other sport.
Humboldt Roller Derby encourages anyone, 21 years and older, who wants to try it out to come to their "Fresh Meat" practices on Wednesdays and Fridays at 6 p.m. The team has recently purchased skates and safety equipment to borrow on a first-come, first-served basis.
"Roller Derby is going to be a wave that hits Humboldt County," said McMahon. "We're a force to be reckoned with."
For more information, visit the Humboldt Roller Derby MySpace at www.myspace.com/humboldtrollerderby
Colleen Roberts can be reached at cr45@humboldt.edu
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