Gotham Girls Roller Derby

A group of 20 or so dedicated women have been meeting every Thursday night for over six months at a roller rink east of Flatbush that time forgot. Amidst the video games and late 70’s Disco and Soul, these sisters have been honing their roller skating skills. But this ain’t no disco boogie. These dames have other dreams. Roller Derby dreams.
Roller derby was originally concocted in 1935 by promoter Leo Seltzer outta Chicago. Leo had been successful holding dance-a-thons, walk-a-thons and other crazy contests that were wildly popular at the time. Athletics, showmanship and family entertainment were Leo’s vision for his male/female league. After 20 years of roller coaster highs and lows, Leo’s son, Jerry, helped roller derby become as beloved in the 60’s as the WWF is today. But alas, Roller Derby came to a screeching halt and died the mid-to-late 70’s.

Since that time there have been leagues, but none have prospered until recently. An all female league was hatched in Austin about 2 years ago. More for hoots than fame, the Texas Roller Derby Lone Star Roller Girls (www.bggw.com) found a level cement floor, put a keg on ice, asked spectators to bring a folding chair, and staged a bout. Since then roller derby has flourished in Austin. It has spawned two separate leagues, one on a bank track and the other on a flat track.
It sounds Hardcore – and it is. Attitude and spunk, these girls play to win. Bruises are badges of honor. Players have broken limbs and abandoned lifestyles to be part of this rapidly growing craze, with leagues cropping up all over the states and the Camin Islands.

Karin Bruce, AKA Chassis Crass, a knitwear designer by trade, and Lefty Leibowitz, a web designer, have recruited a loyal group of get-up-and-go girls to form NYC’s first all-female league, The Gotham Girls Roller Derby. The players range in age from 21 to 35, all with different reasons for participating in the league. They are a diverse group of birds. Erica, a statuesque 6-foot blonde weather woman confesses, “I have been skating since I was very young. NY has a big roller-skating scene. I heard about the Derby and I just had to join.” Jane Hur, a sultry Japanese production person, aims to improve her butt while front woman Baby Ruthless plans to rocket to “Rock-N-Roll Derby Stardom.”

The Gotham Girls will be presented with all the entertainment trimmings, as the bouts will be billed with bands, Dj’s, an over-the-top announcer, and hokey audience participation antics. Their first bout is slated for early June, but not without a ton of help. The Gotham Girls need players, sponsors, rink time, and much more. If you would like more information and learn how to participate, go to www.gothamrollerderby.com

We look forward to seeing some Bulldoggin’!