The blue track in Montesilvano is empty. A few days ago, it was still carrying the weight of the inline skaters who were racing around in the speed event. Lap after lap, Colombian and Italian speed skaters, among others, were speeding up the bends. But now the 200-meter long track is watching. No skates on its back. The grey center field is now taking the beating. And those are serious beatings: the floor is for roller derby. A full-contact sport that is eagerly looking for countries that can participate in international tournaments.
It is pushing, pulling, tugging, falling and getting up again in roller derby. Skaters are almost constantly bumping into each other to be able to pass the opponent. Not that it is hostile at the World Championships in Italy, which is part of the World Skate Games: the players are handing out blows with a smile and taking them in the same way. Roller derby consists of a close-knit community. “On track it’s all about business,” says Misty Nicolet Greer, aka Pia Mess. “But off the track we’re all friends, we keep in touch all over the world.” Greer is a 53 year old player of the US women’s team and coach of the men’s national team. She’s been playing roller derby for 21 years.
The idea of roller derby is that the jammer, the one with a star on the helmet, scores points by smashing through a pack of blockers and overtaking opponents. All of this in two halves of 30 minutes, each jam lasting a maximum of two minutes. But there are about four different sets of rules. The races are held on a small flat oval, although there are also – certainly in the United States – competitions on banked tracks, where there is a small elevation difference in the corners.
Greer: “We like to joke around and say it’s better than anger management. Even though we’re all friends, it’s a tough, physical, contact game, that’s what we love about it. But if you’re not used to it or do not know the sport at all, I can imagine it’s very intimidating.” The United States won the world championship in both the men’s and women’s divisions. No surprise there, as the sport was born in the States in the 1920s and is popular there.
“In my home state alone, Arizona, we have about 16 leagues,” says Greer. “From top level to brand new beginners on skates.” Interstate competitions are serious. The youth competitions are less intense. “Our little kids can start at the age of eight. We’ll get them comfortable on skates, we’ll get them conditioned. After that, we’ll start teaching strategies and plays.”
At the World Championships, skaters have their own name on the back of their jersey, but normally that’s the spot where their alter ego’s name is. Once in that jersey, the players change personality. Greer transforms into Pia Mess on the track. “The way it’s spelled, it looks like a pretty name right? But it refers to PMS, the cycle that women go through every month. And my number is 247… People say I don’t look like a derby player. I mean, I like to dress up. Wear my heels, do my nails and lashes and all the things, but when I come out here, I’m gonna kick some ass!”
Only four countries participate in the world championship. Besides the United States, these are China, India and Australia. “We are 3rd time world champions right now, which of course is great, but we need more countries in the tournament. Spain and Japan were there a couple of years ago, but we have been told by World Skate that if the sport can’t come with at least eight competitors at the next games, they’ll probably don’t have us anymore.”
That’s why it is important to promote the sport and perhaps train players and trainers. “Definitely,” says Greer. “We are actively recruiting. We want to travel, we’ll have boot camps, we’ll come to coach you. We only have two years! You’re from the Netherlands? Ok, we’ll be there!”