Get ready to roll and rumble!
Wanted: Ladies who are ready to roll! Be part of a group with tons of team spirit and camaraderie. Must be willing to have fun and sustain occasional injuries. No experience required: We’ll teach you how to fall and other necessary skills. -The Lansing Derby Vixens
Roller derby has made its debut in Lansing. The Lansing Derby Vixens, LLC, is Lansing’s first official roller derby league. The Vixen’s founder and president, Laurie Robison, is the director of marketing and PR for the Michigan State University Alumni Association by day and a Vixen, AKA “Lolo Botomizer,” by night and on weekends. “There’s been a huge outpouring of excitement and interest,” says Robison. “We have a diverse group of women and a great sense of community. Some women were involved in youth team sports and want to be a part of a team again; others want to belong to something. Some of us have been skating all our lives; some are just learning. Many were skating recreationally at EDRU [Skate-A-Rama] and are glad for this opportunity to skate on a team.”
The roller derby league consists of about 40 women—moms, professionals, and students—who practice three times a week at the Westside YMCA in Lansing. The league recently participated in their first scrimmage and will soon form two teams to compete with roller derby leagues in other cities such as Detroit, Port Huron, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Jackson, and Flint. Robison runs the league like a business with a philanthropic spirit. “We’re interested in the long-term sustainability of the league,” she says. “We are also committed to the Greater Lansing community. The league stimulates the economy and offers a new form of entertainment. We return a portion of our profits to the community that supports us.” In addition to recruiting skaters, the Vixens are looking for volunteers to help with a variety of tasks, including referees, statisticians and announcers. They are also looking for sponsors and a venue to accommodate their scrimmages and bouts.
The Vixens’ coach, Julie Clifton, AKA “Cotton Fire,” has been involved in roller derby for over two years. Before moving to Michigan, she skated for the Demolition City Roller Derby in Indiana. She’s using that experience to help the Vixens hone their skating skills as they pursue an apprenticeship and full sanctioning through the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), the governing body that sets the rules for inter-league competition among its members. Each skater must pass a skills test before they are able to bout. “As soon as I heard about roller derby, I wanted to try it,” says Clifton. “I was looking for an activity that would get me in shape, but found it to be so much more. I’ve learned a lot, made a lot of friends, and have more confidence—I feel more alive and empowered. Before, I didn’t know what I could achieve mentally and physically. I’ve been out with two major injuries and it took a long time to recover but it made me a stronger person. Roller derby tests you mentally, physically and emotionally. It’s like an addiction: I crave it.”
Elissa Patterson, AKA “Nast E Dogbyte,” found the Vixens on Facebook. She couldn’t believe her luck: She was looking for a contact sport, and because her dad is a race car driver, she was also looking for something to do with wheels. “It’s a welcoming environment,” says Patterson. “There’s a great team dynamic. We learn together—it’s a bonding experience. It opened the door for me to meet new people who allow me to be who I want to be. Now I can wear whatever I want—in a positive way—and feel good about it.”
The women agree that the best part of being a Vixen is the camaraderie. Both Clifton and Patterson have also noticed physical benefits. “My endurance is much better and I’m more toned,” says Patterson. Clifton says she feels more physically fit, however, she doesn’t care about her weight. “It’s a sport for any body type. Often you’re a better player if you’re bigger—you can put on bigger hits and it’s harder for the opposition to move you around.”
Another Vixen, Stephanie Banghart, AKA “Ivana Rollovya,” also learned about the league on Facebook. She was a recreational skater, says her husband Rick Banghart, and liked the idea of joining a team. “She loves getting out on the floor and skating,” he says. “During her first practice with contact, she got knocked down and broke her tailbone. She couldn’t skate for about five weeks but came to every practice to help. Now she knows how to fall: You pick a cheek.” Banghart isn’t overly concerned about the risks of roller derby. “Contact is a part of it, but it’s not the point. It’s a race; it’s not a fight; it’s not hockey. There are rules. It’s tough and aggressive, but it’s not violent. It’s not WWF on skates—it’s not scripted or exploitative. It’s a sport and it’s also spectacular. There are strategies; they run plays. Sometimes that gets lost because of the outfits and the names, but they’re real athletes playing a real sport.”
For more about the Lansing Derby Vixens, visit LansingDerbyVixens.com or contact Laurie Robison: Laurie@RobisonAssociates.com.
Karen Giles-Smith, MS, RD, is a registered dietitian and freelance writer based in Mason, Michigan. Visit her Web site and blog at www.TheWellnessWriter.com
Post a Comment