Three local roller derby teams cruised into Kirby Sports Center this Saturday to skate in two bouts.
“A lot of people, when they look at it, they think that it’s just a brute force sport,” said Kim “Barb Dwyer” Dwyer, the head coach of Lehigh Valley Roller Derby. “But there’s actually a lot of strategy and mental aspects of it which make it really interesting.”
The event was opened with the Big Easy Easton Brass band and in front of an audience of Easton residents and supporters of the skaters. The bouts were hosted by Lehigh Valley Roller Derby, a derby team — or league — of about 40 skaters.
The league divided itself into an A Team and a B Team for the evening to face off against Team Pennsylvania Roller Derby league and Small Wonder Skate Club league, respectively.
“The goal is really just to have fun,” said Beth “Taze” Weaver, who skated for Small Wonder.
During play, each team has four blockers and one jammer on the track. Jammers earn points for their league by passing their competitors’ blockers.
“I love the challenge of it,” Weave said. “It is offense and defense at the same time.”
Team Pennsylvania won the first bout 264 to 117, and Small Wonder won 279 to 47.
The roller derby community has provided support for many of its members.
“Everyone is so supportive, everyone is very encouraging,” Alana “Whipstitch” Danois said about her league. Danois is the vice president of Lehigh Valley Roller Derby’s board of directors and also works at Skillman Library as the circulation and reserves technician.
Skaters use “derby names” during competitions, each with their own backstory.
“A roller derby name provides also an alter ego,” Bailey “Razzle Dazzle” Roussel said.
“Mine is ‘Whipstitch’ and that’s because I like to sew,” Danois said. “And whip is a movement, like an action that’s in roller derby.”
A few skaters were unable to participate on the track due to injuries.
“There’s something very tenacious about roller derby,” said Amanda “Dash Ketchum” Dash, who is part of Team Pennsylvania league leadership. “You get injured, you get back up, you know, it’s very different from other sports.”
One of Team Pennsylvania’s skaters, Stephanie “Bessie” Amengual will be playing for Team Puerto Rico in Worlds.
“I just keep trying things I feel like I have no business trying,” Amengual said about the process of improving. “You learn from better people than you and you start to grow your skills that way. But it’s just putting yourself out there. Being dedicated, showing up to every practice, that’s important.”
Dwyer said Lehigh Valley Roller Derby rents space in the Kirby gym to practice about three times a week. Lehigh Valley Roller Derby will be hosting more home games this summer.
“I tried a lot of different sports as an adult,” Roussel said. “None of them really provided the connection and the sense of community that roller derby provides.”
