Anyway, last weekend I had the opportunity of attending for the first time a Roller Derby. I knew about the sport due to the movie Whip it by the gorgeous Ellen Page.
I don't usually enjoy watching sports, but I have to confess that there was something engaging about it that kept me captivated for the whole afternoon (it was a double match but I stayed until the end).
I don't know if it was the excitement of guessing the rules of the game while watching it and trying to figure out the scores or changes in helmet sleeves or if it was the aggressive yet peaceful game dynamic. There was also a lot of strategy and team effort involved due to the fact that one skater, called the "jammer", has to cross the wall made of other skaters before the "jammer" from the other team.
Nevertheless, what really caught my attention was the fact that two ingredients could be found (mixed together or individually) in the players and spectators of Roller Derby: queerness and grunginess. This hinted me the idea that a new subculture of lesbian skaters has been born. The crowd was formed by the overlap of members of two already established subcultures: lesbians and skaters that were also surrounded by their friends and family.
The whole event was super fun and full of surprises such as having RuPaul's song "Cover girl" during the break or the ritual at the end when the spectators came to the edge of the ring to hi-five both teams after the game.
I, as a full-time member of the gay subculture and a part-time follower of the skate culture (Tony Hawk is the only game on the PS3 that I don't suck at it.... I could actually say that I am a pro at skating by pressing buttons....), have decided to become a groupie of Roller Derby and I would encourage my reader(s) to come along too to the next game.
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