It’s a lesser-known sport that’s all about hitting hard while manoeuvring on an unstable medium - quad skates - and the New Zealand game attracts players from all walks of life.
Photographer BRADEN FASTIER went along to some bouts, and found the one thing the players have in common is how crazily they love their sport.
Tiffinee Luke, 22, works in admin, and chose the derby name Tiff’A’Vicious. The name came from the song Fergalicious “and the fact that I put it all out there on the track”, she says. “My number is also the length of the song 4:52.”
What do people think you do at roller derby, and what do you actually do?
“They think I just roll around on skates hitting people. What I actually do is roll around on skates strategically hitting people and scoring points.”
Roller derby is “like rugby and bullrush on skates”, she says. You have five people per team (four blockers and one jammer who is the point scorer). Blockers block the opposing jammer, and jammers push through the pack to score points.
Tiff’A’Vicious’ own preferred position is jamming. “For this you need okay stamina, to be aware of where everyone is on the track, to be fast, controlled, and know how to hit, and how to push with your legs.”
Imogen Burton, derby name Cherry Bomb, plays for Nelson Bays Roller Derby. By day, the 31-year-old homeschools her two children.
She says the sport is as rough as it looks, “but not in the way most people perceive it to be”.
“It’s not a free for all. There’s a whole tonne of ever-changing rules that skaters must abide by while training and playing games. People think we’re out there throwing elbows at each other but really we’re just having a great time, laughing and enjoying ourselves.”
She would recommend roller derby to anyone who wanted to try an “interesting and challenging” sport as an adult.
“I didn’t know how to skate before joining but I loved the challenge of learning and meeting new people with a shared interest. As much fun as playing the game is, it’s the pub chats and carpooling to practices that make me feel like I belong to a team.”
Julz Robinson, 35, is a gardener/landscaper by day and referees roller derby under the name ArseSoul. When she plays for her league, she goes by Soul Steeler.
Perception v reality of what you do at roller derby?
“People outside of derby think I roll around casually on skates. People in derby generally think I do everything and they are correct.
“I am fairly often involved in every aspect of a game, from organisation and set-up to running crews on the day. When I play, I prefer to be a mix of blocking and jamming. It keeps my head in derby better.“
Have you been injured?
“Dislocated knee cap (mutual pressure with a teamie), dislocated shoulder (hit my coach during a training) and a fair few concussions (multiple occasions and not all just at derby).”
Is roller derby women-only? Open to any gender? Trans-inclusive?
“Even with being a full contact sport, I think gender is irrelevant to derby as a whole. It doesn't change the rules, it doesn't change how things should be managed and it doesn't affect whether you will get injured or not. My major injuries have been with cis females even though I've played co-ed.
“Despite the sport being built on feminism and inclusivity, it is unfortunately not immune to the disinformation that is being spread to try to remove more marginalised genders from women’s sports so it has recently become increasingly unsafe for trans and non-binary people as a result.
“Why, after all these years fighting the patriarchy would we want to become like them? We are better and we do better.“
What does roller derby mean to you?
“I found my soul in derby. I had three kids, young, and never had a me. Now I very much have a me and we're all happier for it. I also have two of the three helping being non-skating officials, of which up to 10 are needed for a game.
“For now, derby is kinda life. And life is more fun with more good people.“
Lena Pullan has the derby name Bombaloo (from a children’s book about a child who loses her temper), but usually goes by Bomb.
“[That] is what my parents called me whenever I lost my temper when I was a child.”
Pullan, 21, a sex worker, says she spends a lot of time training for roller derby.
“I usually have two trainings per week, and several games over the year. Games are very fun and social off the track, with a lot of camaraderie between the teams.
“On the track, there's still a lot of fun, but there's definitely also a more serious and competitive feel.
“I play as a blocker and jammer, though jamming is definitely what I prefer doing. Good skills to have as a jammer are speed, agility, strength, and track awareness.“
Noriyo Epps is a 47-year-old business owner whose derby name is Bionic Ninja - a nod to both her Japanese heritage and the fact she has a titanium rod in her leg. That injury was from park skating (in a bowl), “trying to be a cool kid”, she says.
“I’ve never had serious injuries from roller derby, just minor bruises and other small injuries. A lot of people think that roller derby is a rough sport and think of what it was portrayed as in the 70s in America, however the game has evolved a lot over the years. The modern game is much more about skills, teamwork and strategies.”
Epps typically plays as a blocker in the brace position, which is a role facing and supporting the rest of the pack. “It takes strong communication, awareness, and the agility to work with the team.”
She recommends the sport to others. “It’s a fantastic way to build confidence, teamwork, fitness, new skills and resilience while having lots of fun. It’s a great way to meet new friends, travel together, share highs and lows, and support each other. I have gained so many friends and life skills through roller derby.“
Gina Holland, 39, runs her own outdoor wellness business and plays derby as a blocker, with the derby name Eager Beaver, “because when I was progressing through the stages of our Derby 101 programme, I was super eager and determined”.
“I’m a blocker, which means it's my job to stop the opposing jammer gaining points. This can be done by holding them and preventing them from going forward, or hitting them off the track. You need to be strong and able to take the impact of a jammer skating towards you at top speed.”
One memorable moment
“Our team captain asked us all to anonymously write something encouraging for each of our team-mates in the days before my first competitive game. On the day of the game I was very nervous. Then in the changing room right before the game, personalised cards were handed out with our photos on them. On the back were all the positive words written by our peers. It was so heart-warming to receive this right before the game - and that's what derby is all about.
“We may hit each other on the track, but we are all the best of friends afterwards.”
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