Gotham Girls Roller Derby

By Elizabeth Molina

Welcome to roller derby, where girls named Fisti Cuffs, B. Zerk, and Dainty Inferno whiz by in old school skates and battle each other on the track to show that women are not afraid of getting their hands dirty. This year marks the seventh season for the Gotham Girls league, whose mission is to “foster athletes for local and international competition” and, naturally, to have a good time.

Over 60 girls compete on borough teams including the Bronx Gridlock, Queens of Pain, Manhattan Mayhem, and Brooklyn Bombshells. The game is upbeat, easy to follow and the players are a hoot. These are not your average ladies. They definitely have that extra spice and special personalities, as their handles attest. The league site lists their positions — blocker, jammer and pivot — along with more witty and mischievous details: Dainty Inferno’s number is 9th Circle, Tip-Her Gore’s is NC-17, while Puss ‘n Glutes’ is 999 Lives. In a match, each team has one jammer and four blockers. The jammer must try to make as many laps around the track as they can, while the blockers on each team tries to stop them from doing so. The pivot leads the team.

Games in New York City are played at four venues: Hunter College, LIU’s Brooklyn campus, City College, and the Aviator Sports and Events Center in Brooklyn. The league also has travel teams that make appearances in cities such as Philadelphia, Boston, and Baltimore.

You can catch the 2011 season on NYC Life (channel 25/22), which will air bouts up to six nights a week. What’s more, the girls can be seen in a new Nintendo Wii game Jam City Rollergirls, which features some Gotham Girls Roller Derby stars.

For more information, you can visit their website at www.gothamgirlsrollerderby.com