Sports
South Coast Roller Derby Women Pump Up The Jam
The all-female skating team brings sports entertainment and more to Orange County.
Like a scene out of the film Whip It, about 100 fans cheered as two dozen women on roller skates battled it out at the Laguna Hills Sports Complex on Saturday evening.
South Coast Roller Derby is hot and getting hotter. Not only does the non-profit sports organization provide entertainment for the community, it supports charitable causes for women and children. Also, it's fun for the women who participate.
Sunnie Chick (aka Miss Anthropy) got hooked as soon as she saw the game in action.
Find out what's happening in Aliso Viejofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"I came out and watched them play," said Chick. "I thought, 'Girls wearing fishnet [stockings] and hitting each other?' This is for me."
Chick shared that she is in the best shape of her life and that roller derby is a sport of both physical and mental endurance. She also feels that her teammates are an incredible group of women.
Find out what's happening in Aliso Viejofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"They are the sisters that I never had," said Chick. "They're my best friends. They are there for me at the drop of a hat. And they're beautiful."
She explained that even though these women are "vamped out," wearing fun make-up and tattooed, they are professionals by day. One teammate is a pre-school teacher and another is a chemist for the Federal Drug Administration. Chick is a medical transcriptionist and a mother.
The physical contact in these games is real. A "jammer" on the team tries to lap the opposing team while blockers try to keep the jammer from doing so. There are plenty of spills and thrills.
Presale tickets cost $8 while tickets at the door cost $10. For less than the price of a movie, audience members can enjoy an evening of campy fun hosted by "Sir Loin" and "Ms. Communication." Families with children are welcome. Kids have to sit two rows back for safety reasons.
The team travels as far as northern California and Las Vegas. Selena Relyea (aka Winona Ridya) suggested that women interested in playing should participate in a "boot camp." Once they pass camp, they are accepted onto the league. Then players are placed on teams according to skill levels.
"It's a life changing sport. It's like being in a big family of girls who love each other," Relyea said.
For more information about South Coast Roller Derby, CLICK HERE.