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Fourteen women clad in short skirts, shorts, fishnet stockings, tank tops and roller skates gathered in the center of Independence Skateway's rink Thursday night, laughing and talking as their coach paced nearby.
"Everybody wants to be 'Chatty Cathy' tonight," barked the man, known only as Full Metal Coach. "That's five minutes we could have been skating!"
That was enough to get the ladies' attention. Because if there's one thing the Northern Kentucky Black-n-Bluegrass Rollergirls love to do, it's skate.
"It has become a huge part in my life," said Hellaina Havoc, otherwise known as Alaina Ruehl, 26, from Over-the-Rhine. "I'd move if I had to, just to be part of something like this."
Roller derby - women-only, heavy-contact competitive skating - has undergone a national revival for the first time since the 1970s, and the Black-n-Bluegrass Rollergirls are among several flat-track leagues that have emerged in the area. The Black-n-Bluegrass group is believed to be the first of its kind in Northern Kentucky.
The Bluegrass league, still in its infancy, emphasizes recruiting, training and practicing, with plans to compete in its first bout this spring. About 30 women aged 20 to 40 have signed on for twice-weekly practices.
Some, like Doris Danger, were a little skeptical at first.
Danger, whose real name is J-me Thomas, was approached by a "mean group of girls with tattoos" one day on a Covington street. They asked her one question: "So, do you skate?"
The surprised 33-year-old hairstylist and mother soon learned they were Black-n-Bluegrass reps looking for rollergirls. Danger agreed to check out a practice. She hasn't regretted her decision.
"I'd never been in a sports league before. I've made so many friends and lost so much weight," said Danger, who has shed 95 pounds since beginning practices in May.
Tattoos and piercings are common among athletes, with Full Metal Coach leading the way. His appearance may seem a little intimidating at first (11 piercings on his face, camouflage pants tucked into black boots, and a thin braided ponytail that tapers off at the small of his back), but don't be fooled, Danger said.
"He's just a big teddy bear," Danger said. "A big, scary teddy bear."
Full Metal Coach and his wife, Andrea Moore, aka Cyn Vicious, left a Dayton, Ohio, club to help build Northern Kentucky's league.
The biggest misconception in this sport, Full Metal Coach said, is that it's "sex on wheels." Apparel is chosen as an ode to the sport's punk element as much as comfort, and Full Metal Coach wants spectators to know bouts are about competition, athleticism and strategy.
Moore said it's also a chance for women to take on alter egos (hence the rink names), exercise, build camaraderie, release aggression and have fun.
"There's not a lot of sports out there that just anybody can do. This is a real do-it-yourself sport," said Vicious, 26. "As long as you can afford your skates and time to practice, you can do this."
Jessica Gilbert, 20, an assistant manager at Starbucks in Crestview Hills, doubted her ability to thrive in roller derby because of asthma and skating inexperience.
"I learned to keep up," said Gilbert, or Rollin* J. "You just have to build up endurance."
The sport isn't as violent as she thought it would be. True, there's an entire photo gallery on the Black-n-Bluegrass Rollergirls' Web site dedicated to "Owies," or injuries, but Rollin* J has yet to suffer a serious wound.
Candy Kick Ass (Lauren Kaplan, 22, culinary school student), Hellaina Havoc and Cyn Vicious can vouch for the sport's injury potential - which is one of the reasons they like it. They recited a litany of injuries they'd seen or experienced, from broken wrists and bruised tailbones to ripped ears.
Hellaina Havoc recently whacked her nose on the concrete after accidentally locking wheels with another skater. But, when it comes to getting hurt, most rollergirls don't harbor grudges, she said.
"We'll kick each other's (rears) and go have a beer afterward," Havoc said.
From professionals and mothers to those who have athletic talent (and those who don't), the Black-n-Bluegrass Rollergirls encompass a vast spectrum of individuals. Mental Casey (Carrie Esposito, 26, artist) came to the area after Hurricane Katrina destroyed her New Orleans home. Hot T. Molly (Dora Rice, 24, cosmetology student) is a mother of two.
The league seeks interested rollergirls. Newcomers are welcome to stop by practice, Full Metal Coach said, if only to watch. For information, e-mail recruit@black-n-bluegrass.com.
"I feel younger now than I did when I was 18," Doris Danger said. "It's very freeing and very empowering. It gives you a purpose."
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What: Northern Kentucky Black-n-Bluegrass Rollergirls, a flat-track roller derby league |