Derby Girls

Tonight my pal Ali and I went to observe a Roller Derby practice. Neither of us really knew what we would be watching or what to expect but we went with an excited nervous energy and high hopes.

We walked into the gym and saw all types of women, all shapes and sizes, all with clearly different fitness levels. But they ALL had one thing in common. Little pleated skirts and fishnet stockings. Oh yeah. We were smack dab in the middle of Derby-land.

Turns out the skirts are perfect for flexibility in movement and the stockings save your thighs from serious floor burn. As one woman said,"If you're not wearing stockings or leggings, when you fall, your thighs stick to the floor and the rest of you keeps going".

Anywho. We watched the ladies do a series of drills not unlike the basketball practices I endured from years gone by. They did practice falls and practice drops and drill after timed drill. Yet somehow, it was not intimidating. Then for the last 45 minutes they got into the oval.

This was an oval marked out on the gym floor with stickies and we watched them circle around. Slowly it dawned on me what they were doing and how it all made sense. It was fascinating to watch. The falls were impressive but as hard as you fall and as much as you may want to stay down and writhe in pain, there is a three second rule. Get up or get a penalty. Yikes.

So after much chitty chat and words of encouragement from the girls, we left, excited but unsure, wanting to be a part of the derby world. There was such an old school quality to it. It was honestly like something out of an old movie. And me? Well. I think I'd like a part in that flick.