These women take the sport very seriously, as they formed themselves into the first and largest UK league in April 2006. They have twice a week training sessions in an East End leisure centre. There is a lot of shouting not only when the girls are “jamming” as they call the competition, but also during the training, very physical and fast paced. They call each other with skating nicknames like Bambi Manslaughter or Sleazy rider, each has to register on line on an official database, so as not to take anyone else’s name by mistake. It is a very self organised adventure they have all embarked on, team spirit being the main philosophy, hence the feminist links.
Roller derby originates in the US during the 1930s, invented by a business man, Leo Selzer, and was originally played in mixed teams. It reached the height of is popularity in the 1950s and 60s, when games were regularly broadcasted on TV and players were paid professionals. It then fell out of fashion and has recently enjoyed a fast revival as a girl only amateur sport. The Leagues in America are more than 100, and it has been gaining popularity here in Europe in the past 18 months, with four leagues in the UK, one in Sweden and another in Germany.
show gallery
