Speed, agility, strength and physical contact associate with most sports. Those athletic attributes only arrive through practice and exercise repeatedly for an extended period of time.
Every sport has its unique challenges.
Withstanding body blows into a wall is something hockey players live by. Being slammed down onto concrete? What masculine sport would require an athlete to endure that sort of punishment?
Roller derby is such a sport. Except in this flat-oval-track skating sport, the people on wheels are anything but men. Women dish out crushing blows that sometimes lead to a face full of concrete.
Although roller derby might be more known for films such as Kansas City Bomber, which starred the still ever so lovely Raquel Welch, and the more recent 2009 movie Whip It, featuring Ellen Page and Drew Barrymore, two things are for sure: Roller derby women are tough and roller derby fans are crazy but in a good way.
Participating in an organized activity to be able to let out a little frustration was a major reason the 4Corners Roller Girls began roller derby in Cortez.
The inspiration came from having an outlet to express your alter ego in a small town, said 4Corners Roller Girls co-founder and player Nikki Gillespie. You might own your own business, and have children and do other things. Its kind of a way to express yourself.
Gillespie, with co-founder and player Christie Kantner, saw a roller derby event in Farmington, N.M. The two had a great time and loved what they saw. They immediately began the process of forming a team in Cortez.
Its a good way to get together and stay in shape, and express our dark side, Gillespie said while chuckling. Our goal is to have fun more than anything. The whole culture of roller derby is really team oriented, women empowerment. Cortez is totally roller derby.
Its a team sport
Team oriented may be an understatement, as roller derby is the only sport where athletes play offense and defense simultaneously. Four blockers on each team try to prevent the opposing teams designated scorer, the jammer, from scoring, while blocking to get their own jammer to score at the same time.
There are two start lines on the track. The jammer line lies 30 feet in front of the pivot line, where the team pivots (blockers who can become jammers) stand. The remaining blockers must be behind the pivot line. Each teams blockers and pivots together are called a pack. When the referee blows the whistle, that begins the jam formation, in which players can change position and when the last person of the pack crosses the pivot line, the ref signals the jammers to take off and play or jam begins.
Players wear plenty of protection, and its necessary. Knee, elbow and shoulder pads, and a helmet theres no anticipating when a competitor will kiss the concrete. Its a very physical sport.
A team that competes in a Womens Flat Track Derby Association sanctioned league must carry at least 10 players, but teams typically have 15 players. Right now, the 4Corners Roller Girls fluctuate between eight and 12 players, and have been practicing at the Parque de Vida basketball courts for three months. To be ready for league bouts, the 4Corners Roller Girls plan to practice together for one year.
As weve started skating, it makes total sense that it would take us a whole year of training to get to the point of actually competing, said Sharon Swank King, 42, the 4Corners Roller Girls chief organizer and a player. Our coach, Steve Heath, he has not assigned us a position yet. Were kind of playing all positions right now. Were all just kind of feeling each other out and seeing who plays the positions strongest.
King is leaning toward playing pivot.
I like playing defense, she said. The pivot is the person who kind of controls the speed of the pack and stays out front. I definitely like blocking the other jammer.
Coach Heath has a background in hockey and was asked to help out with some of the practices. It didnt take long for him to become hooked.
I came over and skated with the girls. I was just having so much fun that I needed to become a part of it, Heath said. The energy the girls bring is amazing. Its so fun to be around.
Honing skating and contact skills
Right now, Heath is having the women enhance their skating skills with speed and knee sliding drills. The team has gradually gone into contact drills, which is difficult to coach at first, Heath said.
This is a sport where there is a lot of contact. Its a little difficult for contact to be made (in practice), he said. Theyre getting the hang of it. Once they start bashing into each other, they really get a feel for it. Theyre pretty mean. Theyre a little bit evil. I try to organize these drills, so that we can make contact with each other, find balance on our skates, learn to be a little bit aggressive and still have a good time.
Players range from age 26 to 45 on the 4Corners Roller Girls. They will compete as amateurs and raise money as a nonprofit organization. The team is looking to eventually compete in a 10,000-square-foot indoor track like the Durango Roller Girls play and practice in.
The Durango Roller Girls have helped out the 4Corners Roller Girls with some practices and getting the team organized. The two have a scrimmage tentatively scheduled in Durango in September at Chapman Hill Ice Arena.
They (the Durango Roller Girls) have helped us out a lot, Heath said. Cross Bones Jones is kind of the coach over there, and she has taken me under her wing. Shes starting to teach me the ins and outs of roller derby. Im really thankful for the help of the Durango team.
For more information about how to follow or join the 4Corners Roller Girls, log on to www.facebook.com/pages/Four-Corners-Roller-Girls. People can also contact King at 739-0342, Kantner at 570-0005 or email 4cornersrollergirls@gmail.com.
Reach Bobby Abplanalp at bobbya@cortezjournal.com.
