Here's a sport that's just for you ladies...
- ...So long as you're not faint of heart!
"It's kind of like football for women. It's an extreme sport, an aggressive skating sport and there's lots of contact, lots of falling. We all go home with bruises every night," said Heather McGee, AKA Bad Weather Heather.
Roller derby started back in the 1930's and is skating its way back to popularity once again. Here in Anchorage a grassroots effort to bring the sport to the Last Frontier has been picking
up speed. One local group, the Rage City Roller Girls, is growing--one bruise at a time."I'm pretty competitive and I'll try anything," said roller derby recruit, Sue Sears.
So when are you gonna start up?
"I already filled out my paperwork. So, as soon as possible," said Sears.
They say practice makes perfect. But practice, in this case, makes for fewer broken bones, bumps and bruises.
"We're gonna drill it into our brains the right way, cuz this will hurt you. This will put you out and you're no good out," said Dayna Pendergraft, AKA Lethal Lavender.
The idea is for the skaters to make their way through the hits and blockades of the other team's pack. Elbows are illegal, so it's the shoulders that turn into battering rams. Every time you lap the pack, your team scores a point.
Easier said than done.
"There's a lot of falls. There's a lot of falls. I think part of it is learning to get up quickly, or you will get hurt," said Pendergraft.
If you're going to try out this sport, you better be ready. Sturdy skates, kneepads, elbow pads, wrist pads and a helmet are all mandatory. And you must have a mouthpiece. Only woman are allowed to compete in this league, but men are still needed to help with refereeing.
These hard-hitting ladies practice every week at CellularOne Sports Center and invite recruits to join them. Even Governor Sarah impale um got an invite. Just don't come short on aggression.
If you're interested in the roller derby, it's a good idea to check out a practice. You'll also need to get your own gear.
If you have any ideas for the Get Out series that you'd like to share, you can give me a call on the Get Out Hotline at 273-3118.

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