Roller derby is a basic game played with a million rules, Liz Domeris from the Rolling Hills Derby Dames said. Her alter-ego for roller derby is “Lesley Crusher.”
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Morgan Sherwood, nicknamed Heck No Techno, participates in an exercise at roller derby practice on Monday night at the Palouse Ice Rink. The team Rolling Hills Derby Dames is preparing for their upcoming bout next week.
A jam, or a play, can last up to two minutes, but the “jammer” who makes it through the pack first, can call it off.
The “jammer” wears something called a “star panty” on her head. She is the player trying to lap the players of the opposing team, scoring points.
One “blocker”, called a pivot, serves as the communicator on the track, Domeris said. She loves the sport itself and skating fast.
“That’s what I really like to do,” she said. “The camaraderie that we have between the girls on our team and even other girls on different teams. It’s pretty hard to top that.”
She said people come from all different walks of life. There are people on her team she never expected to be hanging out with and caring about so much.
She said it’s a sport that brings everybody together.
Morgan Sherwood, also known as “Heck No Techno”and Domeris are “derby wives.”
“For us it just has to do with the fact that we connect well on the track,” Sherwood said. “We started on the same day. We passed fresh meat together. We had our first bout together and so we sort of have like an unconditional love for each other that has everything to do with roller derby.”
Sherwood said one of the best parts about roller derby is the “boutfit”, which is the outfit women choose to wear at a bout.
“So much of roller derby is the theatrical spectacle part of it and dressing up in ways that you don’t usually get to do,” Sherwood said. “The girls will plan weeks to months in advance to coordinate with their partners or team. That’s always a very exciting part of a bout.”
“Derby love” is another term that means a team can play a bout with another team they do not know and the two teams can completely cream each other on the track.
“But then at the after party you’re all drinking together, you’re all best friends — it’s like you’ve known each other for years,” Sherwood said.
The next bout for the Rolling Hills Derby Dames, the Fall Brawl, will be on Sept. 21 in Washington State’s Beasley Coliseum. Doors open at 6 pm and the bout starts at 7 pm. Donations are accepted, including non-perishable food items.
Molly Spencer can be reached at [email protected]