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Long Beach Roller Derby Kicks Off 2011 Season
Posted April 28, 2011 By ryan
Gazettes - 4/23/2011
by Ryan Thies
Photos by Stacy Starr
Friday night was the dawn of a new season, and a new era, for Long Beach Roller Derby as the 4th Street Retro Rollers beat the Terminal Island Tootsies handily Friday night.
The Long Beach Roller Derby tries to make you think it’s more of a show than a sport; it seemingly tries to be more of a party than a competition. From having a band “warm up” the crowd, to the team names (go ahead and think about the initials of Terminal Island Tootsies…that’s not a coincidence), to the player names (those names range from the appropriately tongue-in-cheek “Estro Jen” to the, um, more blunt “Punch’r”.) In fact, after the “bout” Estro Jen referred to it as a “production.”
But all those things considered, the derby was still the star of the show. And it was quite a show. Just in case you missed “Whip It” and don’t even understand what roller derby is, essentially it’s a full-contact race on skates. Each team has four blockers that start first, then each team has a scorer that starts slightly later, those two scorers race through friend and foe (at obviously great risk to themselves physically) to become the “lead”, they then race around and try to get through the other team’s blockers again- each blocker they pass is a point.
In previous years the LBRD played on a flat-track but starting this season they will play their matches in the Queen Mary Dome on a banked track (1 of just 12 such tracks in the country.) A banked track is the ‘original’ way derby was done, and it provides more action and a better view for the fans. To put it another way, the new track provides a better show.
And despite limited practice time on the new track, the Retro Rollers took to it right away. Team captain Estro Jen scored five points each of the first two attempts (called “jams”) to give them a 10-nothing lead to start the bout, and by the end of the first quarter 4th Street was up 41-21 and would never look back. When asked about the early-season Championship form, Estro Jen was quick to point out her team lost every game last season. But Friday night not only was Estro Jen scoring at will but Coral Reefer and Punch’r would both have 10-point jams (meaning they lapped the other team twice.) Flame Fatale would also have a very successful night but the team MVP was the Retro Roller with the least tasteful name, Adollf Hitzer.
Estro Jen and (Terminal Island team captain) Diesel helped form the league after teaching recreational skating that took place, according to Estro Jen, in “church parking lots or anywhere with free space.” It took them asking the Queen Mary Dome repeatedly before they finally were able to bring their show to the Dome. Last season they had good attendance, but if the opening night is any indication this season will have similar good attendance (pro-tip: get your tickets in advance, the will call line is a nightmare.)
The newest addition to the league is the Belmont Hot Broads but the league’s next bout will be May 13th when (last season’s champion) the Bixby Rollerettes take on the Championship-caliber 4th Street Retro Rollers. The season is early, but one thing’s for sure- it’s going to be quite a show.
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