Sin City Rollergirls Take on The Riviera in Las Vegas
They’re fast, furious and tough as nails. Well, maybe not furious, but the fabulous Sin City Rollergirls do have an impressive sense of skill when it comes to the sport of skating.
“It’s what we live, eat, and breath. It’s a group of empowered women getting together on skates,” said Lisa Carr, team captain of the Notorious VIPs. “It’s a great display of power, intelligence and emotion. It’s just something that you have to see.”
Carr, 36, has been doing derby for 5 years. Originally from Washington State, she was drawn to roller derby in Vegas because of the camaraderie and the skill of the players.
“There’s so much passion and so much empowerment,” said Carr. “I just can’t imagine my life without it.”
If you’re not too sure as to how derby works, don’t worry, there are scorekeepers that will help you understand what’s happening. For those that need a little derby 101, though, here’s how it breaks down:
- There are four blockers from each team on the track and there are two jammers – one from each team.
- A jammer (they wear stars on their helmet) is the one who scores points for the team.
- The jammer must pass through the blockers once, race around the track and then for each blocker they pass they score a point.
- The lead jammer (the one in front) must score points without letting the opposing teams jammer score any points.
- The team that has the most points by the end of the bout wins the game.
If you think that sounds easy, think again, these girls have to practice a minimum three times a week and they must do off-skate workouts several times a week as well.
“Regardless if you win or lose, you have to feel good about having the guts to put on skates, put on your helmet, put on your gear and get out there taking chances in front of a large crowd,” explained Carr. “Sometimes getting your butt kicked, but getting up and doing it again and again.”
The players, by day, have professional careers such as bookkeepers, school counselors and even doctors. The women range in age from 18 to 51 and you’d never know by looking at them the fierceness that lies within.
Hauling Go Lightly, for example, who is 26-years-old and doesn’t quite weigh in at 100 pounds, is a jammer for the Notorious VIPs. She encourages people to check out the sport for the awe-inspiring action.
“It’s a very exciting game,” said Lightly. “It’s a contact sport and you get the ‘feel goodness’ of a sport with the camaraderie.”
Jackie Reaper, 28, who works as an administrative assistant by day and plays as a blocker – sometimes jammer – for the Notorious VIPs by night also believes this sport isn’t like anything you’ve ever seen before.
“It’s addicting,” she said. “It’s an awesome display of athleticism while on skates.”
You can catch the girls at a bout this Saturday, April 12 for a double header at 6 p.m. at the Riviera Hotel & Casino.
“The Riviera is a fabulous venue, you’re right in the casino. You can sit trackside so you might actually have a derby girl fly into you depending on where you’re sitting,” joked Carr.
What: Sin City Rollergirls Bout
When: Saturday, April 12 at 6 p.m.
Where: Riviera Hotel & Casino Convention Center
Cost: $12 presale online until Saturday
at 3 p.m. or $17 cash at the door
Terms to Help You Get Your Derby On
Bout: An actual game that includes two halves at 30 minutes each
Jammer: The point scorer for a team
Blocker: Players that prevent the jammer from passing and scoring
Pack: Four blockers from one team
Pivot: The head blocker with a stripe on their helmet
