If you’ve seen Whip It!, starring Drew Barrymore, you know that ROLLER DERBY— that popular flat-track sport played in short skirts and on four wheels — is making a sensational comeback. With hundreds of amateur and professional teams for both genders popping up across the nation, there’s a slim chance your town doesn’t already host a league of its own. Support the sport by checking out a local roller derby team in your city today!
I skated as Kerosene Irene #23 on the Circle City Socialites roller derby team, volunteered to run the merch booth during bouts, and served on their PR/marketing committee from 2009-2010. It was an experience I’ll certainly never forget, but I must say I’m glad I didn’t break my ankle while skating!
Circle City Socialites, USA Roller Sports, Indianapolis, Indiana, 2009 – 2010
Responsibilities:
– Oversaw media and public relations for the Circle City Socialites (now the Circle City Derby Girls), members of USA Roller Sports, during their second season
– Wrote news releases on behalf of the team and distributed them to the media
– Skated as Kerosene Irene, No. 23
– Helped run the merch booth during roller derby bouts
Accomplishments:
– My press releases on the Circle City Socialites’ cookbook launch and fundraising event were published in The Indianapolis Star and Nuvo Newsweekly
News Releases:
“CCS Launches ‘Roller Derby Guide to the Good Life,” PDF, 2009
“The Circle City Socialites Bring Roller Derby to Hamilton County,” 2009, PDF
Learn more about roller derby: Click here
Here’s my skater bio from 2009:
Position: I’m returning to the Circle City Socialites as a born-again newbie, but I’m aspiring to become a permanent Blocker and a part-time Jammer.
Skating since: I was inducted into the derby life in April 2009, but I’ve been a roller skating fiend since I wore pigtails in elementary school.
How I got started skating: The infamous Peyton Slamming turned me onto the opportunity.
Hometown: The Gem City, but now The Circle City
Trademarks: Random injections of dry, sarcastic humor; always carrying an extra lighter
Pre-bout rituals: Spontaneous combustion
Books: “American Gods” by Neil Gaiman; Beatnik classics by Kerouac, Ginsberg and Burroughs
Best thing about roller derby: I love making “debu-taunt” friends and collecting colorful knee-high socks.
Guilty Pleasures: Bad horror flicks; British comedy; karaoke; “Dancing Queen” by ABBA and black eyeliner on guys
Drink of choice: Buttery Nipples; Chocolate Cake shots and Jägermeister
Best song to skate to: Any anthem from the cult film classic, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and any Depeche Mode single
Interests off the rink: Doubling as a singer-songwriter
Loves: My family, friends and ferrets
Hates: Apathy
How roller derby is played (according to the CCS website):
“Roller derby has evolved from Depression-era curiosity to ’60s/’70s televised cheesefest to modern-day sports phenomenon. In the 2000s, roller derby has been reborn as a serious sport that isn’t afraid to show its playful side, with hundreds of leagues springing up around the world since. Most are amateur and all-girl. It’s definitely not just fighting on wheels—there are rules and rigor along with the fishnets. Roller derby is kind of like a race between two skaters, each with four girls helping her – and four trying to hurt her. Two teams have five skaters on the track at a time. The one who scores the points is the Jammer – her goal is to pass the opposing skaters as many times as possible. The four other skaters on her team – the Blockers, led by a Pivot – play offense and defense at the same time. They try to block the opposing Jammer and clear a path for their own Jammer. Much as we derby sisters love slamming into each other, there are rules. Tripping, kicking, punching, and elbow-throwing will all get you penalties. But you can use your shoulders, hips, and other areas to deliver the hurt.”
‘Nuff said. … Okay, now feel free to watch me sing during the Circle City Socialites’ July 3, 2010, roller derby bout, “Scars and Stripes Forever.” Click to watch video via MySpace: Kerosene Irene sings the National Anthem.
Cheers, boys and grrrls!
The Art of Storytelling by Leslie I. Benson 