The Poetry of Derby

Posted by skip on October 2, 2008 in History

I’m posting a copy of a poem that Candy Jones, ex- pro Derby skater, has written about derby. also two posts made by 2 other ex-pro
skaters about derby. These are taken from another web group. Hope you enjoy them:

Skip

ROLLER DERBY

Brightly colored uniforms are blended into one continuous flash of color as
the pack whirls by Roaring of the crowd seems to be distant, only the
jostling for position is paramount

At the sound of the whistle, jammers fight to be free,
the race to the back of the pack begins
Off whips, staggering on one leg, ducking under the
pivot’s block, the jammers seem to come from nowhere
Jockeying for position, the frenetic dance begins as
skaters block and stagger against each other

By now, everything is a blur of skates, sounds,
colors, blocks, falls and rails
Leaning into the turn, the pack looms ahead, the lead
blocker standing at the ready
Like a clash of titans, the action explodes to include
body blocks, spins, jumps and sidesteps
On the whistle, you look around to assess the damage,
your heart racing as you come to a rest on the rail
No two jams are the same, no two games are the same,
and that’s the lure that keeps you in the sport

Candy Jones

TOM COELHO, skated on the Mid West Pioneers among other teams in
Roller Derby:

-WOW!!!!! Candy that was GREAT. As I read it I was out on the track
again. If I may,I’d like to share my experience as a 5′4″ 130 lbs
jammer also. How about some of the other skaters here.
Janet,Cathie,you both jammed and blocked.As a jammer I really never
did much pack work. What was that like during a jam. Remember Gill
Orasco use to talk in the pack and when he was blocking at the
back.He said some pretty things while he was knocking the crap out of you or
should I say me.

Well here goes…..It’s my turn to jam,I set up at the back of the
pack. I usually wanted to stay in the middle of the track alittle
back to give me some room to accelurate. When the whistle blew acouple of
crosses and up to speed and then as you said Candy the “Blurring”
happens. It’s funny how you don’t really look at everything clearly,
but yet you seem to see everything all at once. For me,I didn’t look
so much at people’s backs as much as I watched their legs,and which
way their knee’s were pointing.(many years skating crowed puplic
sessions) If their knee’s suddenly turned up the track I know they
saw me coming and try and dive down quickly,if they went for it,a quick
step up and out(sometimes)or in some cases,a slam in the chest and
hope not into the rail.I wasn’t afraid to go into the pack,cause my
team mate jammer,if he went high would open a lane in the middle.
He’d take the hit and that would leave an opening in front of the person
blocking him on the high side.NOW…understand,as Candy put so well
this is all happening in a fame of just afew seconds. The jam was
only 60sec. so we didn’t have alot of time to fool around playing “dodge
block” in the pack. For me getting out of the pack was like being
shot out of cannon. Suddenly OPEN TRACK ahead. Down into the turn and
accelurate out.It was like flying.I loved the click,click of my
wheels on the track.Then a jersey next to you and a body coming at you then
slam,a shoulder,a hip,an elbow and the chase was on. God I loved
that…Sorry of this so long,but so many pictures are flashing in my
mind right now…..And then…#40 appears looking over his right
shoulder and I cut the speed down and think OH S…!! Here “IT”
comes. I could go on like this for along time.. Like who I hated to be
blocked by, or getting “nailed” on my way out,The “side step” that
almost got me killed. I’ll stop now.

OK..come on skaters, put youselves back on the track..I really want
to feel you skating again..This makes me feel so alive. ROLLER
DERBY….I skated really ROLLER DERBY..it wasn’t just a dream,it was a dream
come true…TC

Janet Earp, ex Derby skater. Pivot/Jammer on nurmerous Derby teams

Boy we are back on the track huh Tom? I also can hear the noise the
wheels made. The roar of the crowd, the popcorn and hot dogs whiffing
into the arena. I was always nervous until the whistle blew and then
it all goes away. The game has started and I am at the front of the
pack trying to get my jammer out. Exchanging blocks with the other
blockers and pivot. I can feel my jammer right behind me or perhaps
they tapped my back to let me know they are right there following me
out of the pack. I break clear and reach back to give a whip and send
my jammer flying out of the pack. At the same time I try to stop the
opposite jammers if I can while trading blocks with the opposite
blockers and pivot. Blocking continues back and forth as the jammer
or jammers make their way to the back of the pack. If my jammer has
the lead or is the only one out there, then I try to slow the pack
down. If the other jammer has the lead or is alone, I try to pull the
pack so they have to skate faster and longer to get to the back; that
way maybe they will be a little bit fatigued. If we are out numbered
on the jam and behind in points, this is where you might see a pull-
away. Next the jammer comes into the back of the pack to score and
elbows are flying everywhere. Hip blocks, leg blocks and whatever
else you needed to do so your jammer scores. The pivot is at the back
and also you as a blocker. You have the whole pack minus the jammers
in front of you and you have to try not to skate up their backside at
the same time you are blocking the jammer. So your head is on a
swivel looking ahead and back, ahead and back. I also watched the
jammers feet to try to see if they were going to come in high or low.
Hopefully you have assisted your jammer and they score. The whistle
blows and we do it all over again but never the same so it is always
different and exciting. ROLLER DERBY. WE LOVED IT, WE LIVED IT. We
cherish the memories and thank the fans for remembering us especially
after all these years. I like all the other skaters would not trade
the experience for the world. I have lifetime friends that I consider
family and love each and everyone of them. Thanks for the memories
Candy and Tom. Janet