Do You Know Your Rollergirls?

It's interesting how many fans of the fine art of Roller Derby actually live in Panama City Beach, in fact the only thing more interesting then that is how FEW of them know our little town has its very own all-girl, flat-track Roller Derby team. Well consider yourself enlightened as we take a look at our Panama City Roller Derby league, right after a brief rundown explaining what this Roller Derby thing is all about.



YES, ROLLER DERBY IS A REAL SPORT:



NO, nothing about it is fake. Roller derby is a contact sport played by two teams of five members roller skating in the same direction around a track. Game play consists of a series of short matchups ("jams") in which both teams designate a scoring player (the "jammer") who scores points by lapping members of the opposing team. The teams attempt to assist their own jammer while hindering the opposing jammer —in effect playing both offense and defense simultaneously. Roller derby is played by more than 1,000 amateur leagues on every inhabited continent. -Wikipedia

ROLLER DERBY ORIGINS:



While the sport has its origins in the banked-track roller skating marathons of the 1930s, Leo Seltzer and Damon Runyon are credited with the basic evolution of the sport to its initial competitive form. Professional roller derby quickly became popular; in 1940 more than 5 million spectators watched bouts in 50 US cities. In the ensuing decades, however, it predominantly became a form of sports entertainment where the theatrical elements overshadowed the athleticism. This gratuitous showmanship largely ended with the sport's contemporary grassroots revival in the first decade of the 21st century. Although some sports entertainment qualities such as player pseudonyms and colorful uniforms were retained, scripted bouts with predetermined winners were abandoned. - Wikipedia

ROLLER DERBY REVIVAL:
photo credit | ddbdoesaustin.com

Modern roller derby is an international sport dominated by all-female amateur teams,  beginning its modern revival in the early 2000s initially in Austin, Texas. By August 2006 there were over 135 similar leagues. Leagues outside the U.S. also began forming in 2006 and international competition soon followed. By September 2011, there were more than 1,000 amateur leagues on every inhabited continent, in countries such as Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Germany, Belgium, Finland, Sweden and Singapore


FORGET BELGIUM!
MEET PANAMA CITY ROLLER DERBY:

photo credit |The News Herald
  • Panama City's Rollergirls meet all the above standards complete with a localized DIY spirit and the full-contact bruises to prove it.  Dedicated Vixens with hefty *hip-checks (it's a blocking technique) these girls are Panama  City's ONLY full-contact, flat-track Derby league, single-handedly creating an alt-subculture in an otherwise conventional town. However,  don't let their track personalities fool you, these girls have dedicated countless hours giving back to the community. Actively involved with local charities through volunteering and promoting worthy causes has earned  the team an impressive list of charitable contributions from proceeds donated through raffles, bouts and organized efforts.

If you've never experienced the Derby movement, the community or the unique women drawn to this sport, then by Quad it's time. Their next home bout takes place on February 25, against Tampa Bay Bruise Crew at The Skate Factory 333 W 14th St in Panama City. Events are always family-friendly. 

Check out Panama City Roller Derby's website for extended bout schedule, locations and tickets.

For more information about the author, Rya Holloway Phillips, please visit their profile page.