Bumps, grinds, falls, spills, speed and all out gusto!
For quite a while now, I have wanted to attend a Roller Derby bout. For whatever reason, the planets have never quite aligned so I have always missed out when the Victorian Roller Derby League held it’s matches… or bouts as they are called.
Not this time. I bought a couple of tickets for my gal and me a week in advance as I was determined I was not going to miss the opening of the 2010 season. Lucky for me I did get the tickets early, because within days the event had well and truly sold out.
Held at Puckhandler’s Stadium in Reservoir, this South of the Yarra boy had to acquaint himself with the iPhone GPS to get to the venue. Sure enough, the place was packed and a lengthy motley crew of a queue had stretched around the venue as the fans were being led into the arena.
Wow! This is more popular than I thought.
With trusty camera in tow, I found a suitable spot and waited for the fun and mayhem to begin!
Initially, I didn’t know what the hell was going on but once I got into the rhythm and could understand the concept, it all made perfect sense and was freaking magnificent to watch!
Tonight’s opening game featured the Toxic Avengers Vs the Dolls Au-Go-Go. A prettier bunch of gals you are not likely to see but don’t let the Suicide Girls look fool you, they could bump and smash you from here to eternity before you even know what hit you.
The bumps and bruises are plentiful but it also takes an incredible amount of finesse and skill to be able to speed around the arena whilst avoiding contact and your bum hitting the floor hard. And man oh man did they come crashing down at various times during the night. One only had to listen to the sighs and groans from the gathered throng to know when a skater had hit the floor hard!
Roller Derby was hugely popular in the United States in the 50’s and 60’s and it reached WWF-like popularity in the ’80’s where the entire thing evolved into a caricature of itself. You know, flying chairs, fake blood, wrestling-like story-lines et al.
With movies like 2009’s ‘Whip It‘ directed and starring Drew Barrymore, one can be excused into thinking the Victorian league is all flash-in-the-pan. Not so. The league has been in existence for several years and if last Saturday night is any indication, these gals could chop it up with the best of them!
Founded in 2007 the VRDL is a Melbourne based, not for profit, women’s Flat Track Roller Derby League.
Seriously, this was the most fun I have had at a sporting event since following my beloved Magpies each week. Sure the AFL boys bump and smash each other like there is no tomorrow, but I bet they couldn’t even contemplate doing that with skates on their feet!
The next bout is on April 17 featuring the Dead Ringer Rosies Vs the Toxic Avengers. Tickets go on sale April 1.
See you there!
