Derby girls embrace their femininity in the form of funky outfits. Costumes are often inspired by rockabilly
or burlesque fashions highlighting their sex appeal. These women are undeniably strong and fierce.
The culture that surrounds roller derby is what attracts most women. It’s more than just a sport or fitness;
its a lifestyle where women can be themselves in a safe and creative environment. ‘Roller derby’ is its own genre label.
Roller Derby is the fastest growing women’s sport in the world with over 30,000 skaters. In Australia alone there
are over
1,000 registered skaters with 21 leagues spread out over all seven states.
Roller Derby has attracted vast amounts of media attention in just a short amount of time with its skaters having
become like ‘pseudo celebrities’, attracting die hard fans and sell out crowds each week.
The spirit of community is amazing and whatever happens on the rink stays on the rink. Teams often go out for drinks after
bouts or practices and friendships are easily forged. There’s a common sisterhood between all the leagues and its skaters.
Roller Derby began in depression era America in the 1930’s and progressed through the century where it reached it’s height
in popularity in the 1970’s with sell out crowds and televised bouts before dying out a decade later.
Known as ‘B Town’ or ‘The Rat’, Ballarat is a large rural town outside of Melbourne. It tends to be conservative with old fashioned values like many regional towns in Australia. Establishing a roller derby league in Ballarat was always going to be a challenge but one that a group of women have accepted and tackled head on. Read more
Adelaide Roller Derby, or ‘Adeladies’ as they’re known, was founded in 2007 by Barrelhouse Bessy who emigrated from the birthplace of modern roller derby - Austin. Her goal was to create a ‘daggy and endearing league’ that’s strong on community and support. In February 2008, ADRD hosted the very first interstate roller derby bout in Australia, Skate of Origin. Read more
The fastest growing league in Australia, Canberra Roller Derby was founded in 2008 by Bullseye Bettie, Roulette Rouge, Peachy Keen and Dr Hell. The league has advanced greatly in the last year, the skaters confident with their rate of progress. Their emphasis is on the sport and NOT the spectacle. Read more
Based in Austin Texas, The TXRD Lonestar Rollergirls are a unique derby league that combines amazing athleticism with on track entertainment. In 2003, TXRD purchased an original roller derby banked track, making them the first all-girl league to ever skate on a banked track. Read more
Geelong Roller Derby League was founded by May Hemridge in 2007. GRDL have already completed one season in 2009 and are fast becoming one of the best leagues in the country. Geelong command a heavy rockabilly punk aesthetic with many skaters tattooed and pierced but have moulded the sub cultural side of the sport with a very serious athletic side. Read more
Formed in 2003 as the only sports league of its kind, Texas Rollergirls Rock-n-Rollerderby® started today's Flat Track Derby movement. The Texas Rollergirls, Austin born and bred, is 100% skater-owned and managed. The league is composed of four home teams: Hell Marys, Hotrod Honeys, Honky Tonk Heartbreakers, and Hustlers. Read more
Filmed over 12 months, This Is Roller Derby is a colourful and action packed documentary examining the cultural phenomenon of modern roller derby; a full contact sport played by women on roller skates. From its roots in Austin, Texas, it has become the fastest growing women’s sport in the world. Nowhere is this more evident than here in Australia - not only for its dynamic appeal but also its subcultural influences and community spirit.
