LI Roller Rebels: Tough and Together As One

They're sweet and they sweat.  Tattooed, yet tender. They have kids, and have names like Carnage Electra and Breakneck Brie. On the job, they've broken their legs. Off the clock, they break bread — with each other. 

They're the women of the Long Island Roller Rebels. Since 2005, they've competed with and against one another in the tough, fast-paced sport of roller derby, which has made a comeback in recent years on a national level. The Roller Rebels are governed by the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), and are one of many all-female roller derby leagues across the country.

A Sport That's Evolved

Roller derby has been around in one form or another for decades. For a time, bouts were televised in the 70's and 80's. While it's common knowledge that these shows were 'sports entertainment' a la pro wrestling, Roller Rebel competitors insist that WFTDA leagues are legit; that this is a real contact sport full of rules and regulations.

 "The number one question I get asked is 'Is it staged?" said Joy Schultz (aka Cyanide Kisses) of Lynbrook.  "This is a sport. We're very competitive."

The recent film "Whip It" dealt with women's roller derby. Roller Rebels say while the film took Hollywood liberties in depicting the sport, it did a great job of showing the camaraderie of its competitors.

"The actual playing of the game is different then today's play," said former Rockville Centre resident Despina Markidis, who goes by the name "D-Ball." "That's how they used to play back in the day, but the story behind the movie, the sacrifice, the commitment, the loyalty to your teammates and being accepted for who you are is still the same in today's roller derby."

Markidis, who joined the league in 2006, said even though the sports can appear to be violent, it has a unique appeal. "It's not a sport you see often," she said. "This is a sport where you can take the family to and be a part of the action and be involved in it in everyway possible. There's also a fan and skater interaction you don't see in many sports."

The Roller Rebels consist of three teams: the East End Ladies of Laceration, the Wicked Wheelers of the West, and the Mid Island Rolling Thundercats. The teams square off against each other, and the best players from all three squads make up the travel team, which takes on teams from around the country.

Bouts take place on a flat track, as opposed to the banked tracks of years ago. Each bout consists of two, thirty-minute periods, and each period has a series of 'jams.'

Five players per team compete at once: the jammer, who scores points for her team, a pivot, who handles strategy and dictates speed, and three blockers, who try and prevent the opposing jammer from scoring points, while clearing a path for their own jammer to score. Jammers score one point for each opposing team member she passes.

And to win? You have to be physical. You can check your opponent, with your hip, your shoulder, or your rear.  It's rough, yet regulated.  No elbowing, no punching. Break a rule, and you can be tossed out of the game, or the league.

"It's the team work and playing an awesome game while having fun is more important than winning," Markidis said. "Don't get me wrong, it's nice to win, but I don't mind losing knowing my team and myself played their hearts out, and had fun doing it, and knocking a few girls down along the way."

The Thundercats take on the Ladies of Laceration Saturday Aug. 14 at Skate Safe in Old Bethpage at 8pm.  Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door. For more information go to www.longislandrollerrebels.com.