THESE GIRLS ARE ON A ROLL!

By Trey Childs
Adversiting Manager

Publisher's Note: Trey Childs recently visited the Charlotte Roller Girls while they were training in Gastonia. Trey not only learned about the sport of Roller Derby but got an inside look at the ladies that make up the team.

My Experience
It was my distinct pleasure to spend some time with the Charlotte Roller Girls. They are skating club within the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association or WFTDA. They are based out of Charlotte NC and practice in Gastonia NC. They are non-profit, non-sectarian and open to new members.

They are headed up by a spit-fire of a woman who skates under the name Lucy Kwipment (Cress Barnes) and wears the number 29.

Cress is not just your ordinary woman though. She is a super hero to her kids on and off the track. She owns and operates The Common Market, teaches pre-school, raises 3 boys and still has time for derby. I would say that makes her a super person and a super mom.

Besides her commitment to her family and her business, Barnes finds the time to run the organization she started nearly two years ago.

She is not alone in all this craziness. I observed nearly 40 women at the practice session.

They were yelling and screaming encouragement to there team mates, jumping up and down with excitement and sometimes frustration. These girls love what they do and there is a bond between them that is indescribable. Whether they are doing it for the exercise or as a way to meet new friends it is clear these ladies are having fun.

These are not your typical roller girls, not the ones your mom remembers and certainly not the girls next door in any sense. They are the new breed of girl next door. They are the empowered, strong, self confident girls next door. Monday through Friday they are mothers, bankers, nurses or even dog walkers; but two nights a week they don fishnets, short shorts and crazy t-shirts, transforming themselves into the living, breathing, fun-loving epitome of girl power. For a few short hours no one calls them boss, mommy or expects anything of them. They just do what they love and spend time with the girls. I spent time with these girls and I walked away knowing I had been a part of something great.

In addition to being a great group of gals they do great things for our community. They are involved with many charities and fund raising activities in the charlotte area. This year Cress and some of the girls will skate in the Susan G. Coleman breast cancer walk. It was indeed an experience to remember getting to know some of these crazy, wonderful, life loving people.


The Skaters

LUCY KWIPMENT, NO. 29
NAME: Cress Barnes, 35
OCCUPATION: Mother of three, co-owner of Common Market and preschool teacher.
FROM: Norfolk, Va. (in Charlotte 13 years)
WHY DERBY? "I love skating. It's great exercise and for a few hours no one calls me Mommy."

AMY FISTER, NO. 617
NAME: Haley Blaska, 28
OCCUPATION: Assistant vice president at Bank of America
FROM: California originally, but moved to Charlotte from Boston, where she skated, in July.
WHY DERBY? "Derby gives me great exercise, a great and challenging team sport, a new set of strong female friends and some guys, too."

POLLYANNARCHY, NO. 9MM
NAME: Melissa Hickock, 27
OCCUPATION: Art, ceramics and photography teacher at Vance High School
FROM: Charlotte
WHY DERBY? "I always loved roller-skating as a girl. We have fun, play hard and we love our bumps and bruises."

OVA THROWER, NO. 38
NAME: Stephanie Thrower, 33
FROM: Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (in Charlotte nine years)
OCCUPATION: Internet tech specialist and new mom.
WHY DERBY? "I just thought it would be fun exercise and a way to get frustrations out."

How They Jam
There are 10 skaters on the track during each jam. Each team has a jammer, a pivot and three blockers.
It is the jammers job to break through the pack and score points for her team. The pivot leads the pack, sets the pace and assists her jammer out of the pack. The blockers are there to impede the imposing teams jammer and assist there own jammer.

The pivot is designated by a stripe on her helmet. While the jammer wears a star on her helmet.
The jammer is the only one who can score points for her team or call off the jam.

Speaking Derby
Bout: A 60 minute game divides into 20 or 30 minute periods.

Jam: multiple two minute races to score points. That makes up a bout.

Pack: The largest group of skaters that is on the track. This group consists of pivots and blockers from both teams.

To learn more about women’s derby and the Charlotte roller girls please visit www.charlotterollergirls.com

Trey Childs is the Advertising Manager for The Carolina Scoop. For more information on advertising rates, call 704-240-9263.