HOUSTON – Roller derby made a big resurgence following the release of the popular movie “Whip It” back in 2009, but not many people know what it’s all about. The Houston Roller Derby league is hoping to change that and put the high-contact sport back on the mainstream map. Long time derby skater Tori Elmore helped Houston Life viewers get up to speed on the rules of roller derby.
“There’s five people on each team at a time on a track. You have a line of four blockers on each team as well as a jammer on each team, and the blockers are all trying to open holes for their jammer to get through while also simultaneously stopping the other jammer.”
The jammer, who is noted by the prominent star on their helmet, scores points for every blocker from the other team that they pass on the track. According to Elmore, it’s the formula for a great show.
“I would describe roller derby as a perpetual kickoff return in football,” said Elmore. “It can get a little chaotic as we’re trying to play both offense and defense at the same time.”
Another unique aspect of the sport is the derby names. Elmore, who goes by the derby name “Arra-Kiss,” explained how the names play into the game.
“It’s a great way to go all in on this persona on the track. You get to be someone completely different out here skating, and there’s a certain freedom in that,” said Elmore.
Julie Ramos, a.k.a. Dread Velvet, another member of the Houston Roller Derby league, shared that in addition to all the edge-of-your-seat action, there’s also a strong sense of kinship formed between teammates.
“The camaraderie is something you don’t really see in other spaces as a female,” said Ramos. “Normally, women are competitive, and we’re competitive with other teams, but with one another there’s this mentorship that happens with the people that are veteran skaters, and they build other people up.”
For the full story, watch the video above. For more information, visit the Houston Roller Derby website here.