March 4, 2012 
Technically this thing to do was accomplished back in 2008 when I attended my first Roller Derby game. But I had so much fun that when a LivingSocial deal came up a couple of weeks ago, I grabbed it ($10 for 2 tix when it’s usually $28? Hell yeah.)
It’s fun way to spend a Saturday night. The first time I attended, I didn’t know the rules and if you don’t know the rules, then you can get really lost. But, once you figure out the (easy) rules, it’s pretty enjoyable. The fans that get really into are almost as fun to see as the derby girls as they get all dressed up in outrageous outfits, replete with wigs, boas, neon stockings, etc. All in all, a chill evening to grab a couple of beers and watch women knock each other around.
The local team, the Carolina Rollergirls, are part of a flat track league, which I was disappointed by. In the movies, roller derby is always on a banked track and honestly, I mostly really want to attend a banked track derby bout now. So if anyone knows of one in the Southeast, point me in that direction.
I mentioned my personal (and not so positive) encounter with a Carolina Rollergirl in my “Full Contact Easter Egg Hunt” post. But truly, the local team is VERY involved in the community. They even usually have a few girls do the Over the Edge event.
Each year they have a “bootcamp” for girls that are interested in trying out for the team. While I’m not interested in actually being on the team (it’s a crazy time commitment that I just don’t have), I AM interested in just getting out there and seeing what its like, first hand. I thought about going to this past year’s bootcamp, but that’s the kind of thing you do with someone else and I couldn’t convince any of my girlfriends to go. I wonder why?
So have you attended a roller derby bout? Should I be super jealous of you seeing a banked track bout?
Photo Credit: http://infinitejustice.wordpress.com/category/carolina-roller-girls/
That’s awesome! I’ve actually been friends with roller derby girls but I’ve never actually gone to the event. Maybe I should add this to my bucket list as well! Keep it up!
Your fellow bucket lister,
Mike Hoang
If you’ve been friends with Roller Derby girls, how have you NOT gone to a bout!?
I’ve only been to one Roller Derby bout, but it was a lot of fun. In fact when I was home there apparently is a league starting in my hometown. We were at a St. Pats parade and they were rocking the roller skates there and made it a point to come find us. Hopefully I’ll get to check out a bout there next time I’m home.
I’m in NC and would love to try it too. If you get it set up where we both could make it, I’d love to give out a try. I’ve always lived football, so why not, lol.
Are you talking about trying out for the team? Hell yeah – let’s do this! Next year baby!
Let me know, we probably need to plan out a little, so I can get in shape, lol. Don’t want to get my butt kicked right out the gate
You know, roller derbies just seem like one of those things that aren’t real to me. My brother used to love watching roller derby matches on TV when we were kids (I don’t know what in the world they were doing on TV) and for a while, claimed he wanted to be a roller derby man when he grew up. So I recently discovered that there is a roller derby team in Cincinnati. I’m getting him tickets for his birthday. I’ll let you know if the track is banked.