Rocky Mountain Rollergirls defend title in championship

Harnessing skillful agility, athleticism and all-around sportsmanship (or should we say ”woman”ship) the Rocky Mountain Rollergirls will battle it out on the track in the 2011 Women’s Flat Track Derby Association Championships. With some of the top female athletes in the country, the Rollergirls are ready to “jam” out and claim another National Championship victory in November as they defend their 2010 champion title.

Roller derby has become the fastest growing women’s sport in the world with more than 117 member leagues and 72 apprentice leagues. The Rocky Mountain Rollergirls are ready to show Colorado what real athleticism looks like in this year’s championship titled “Divide and Conquer.”

In the LGBT community, women are rallying with full support behind the team. It seems that we just can’t get enough of these badass chicks who aren’t afraid to get dirty, sweaty, bloody and bruised.

Jes “Bob Loblaw” Driscoll (#37 – Blocker), an “out” member of the RMRG, spoke with OFC and let us in on what it means to be a Rollergirl and why roller derby is making a comeback.

What do you love about being a part of the Rocky Mountain Rollergirls?
[It] provides an outlet for me to play a sport that I love and be surrounded by a diverse group of smart, strong, independent women. [I also love how it] promotes healthy competition and empowerment for women and girls.

What has being on the team done for you?
I work for a local nonprofit homeless service provider as a database administrator. Being [on the team] has given me confidence to stand up for myself and speak my mind. It’s amazing what being a valued member of a team can do.

Why has roller derby become so popular in the LGBT community?
I think roller derby is an especially great environment for the LGBTQ community. The most recent resurgence of roller derby was built with a bit of early punk rock culture. Those with new, different, or fringe ideas and values are totally celebrated. There is acceptance, appreciation and respect for diverse perspectives … The roller derby community fosters a safe space where people can try something new and be themselves without fear … [it] has really developed a place where people who are often marginalized are encouraged to be themselves in all their unique glory.

What is unique about the sport?
The players are required to play offense and defense often simultaneously. On the track, the spectators and fans will see a lot of hard hits, fast skating and amazing agile movements through the pack of blockers. The sport is full of intense action. There are incredibly strong players who can hit you with enough force to pick you up off the ground and send you into the crowd.

So, it’s physically demanding.
[It] is one of the most demanding physical sports I have ever been involved in. I used to do a lot of long-distance running and a 12-mile long run doesn’t compare to a three hour practice … [it] is aggressive and incredibly rewarding.

Tell me about your derby name “Bob Loblaw”?
Just say it out loud. Say it again, faster this time. (Pronounced roughly as “blah blah blah”). It comes from one of my all-time favorite TV shows, Arrested Development … I just wanted to make people laugh … It’s fun to hear the announcers introduce me!

The championships are Nov. 11-13 at Broomfield’s 1stBank Center. On the Web at http://continentaldivideandconquer.com