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Old Capitol City Roller Girl Roller Derby Review5 out of 5 Light Cycles
The Assassin's shoulder lifted Ophelia Fracture off her skates and she slammed onto the wood floor. Skidding twelve feet on her padded knees. Ophelia planter her hand and popped to her skates and dug for traction. With a determined grimace she latched onto the studded belt of Hitzy Blonde and sling shotted herself between two defenders and into the lead jammer position.
Roller derby is an intoxicating blend of controled violence and reckless skating. Each team consists of five players. Four of the rollers form the pack. The jammer begins the contest twenty feet behind the pack and races around the track. A point is earned for every opposing player they pass after lapping the pack once. Players can only make contact with one another from the mid thigh and up. Swinging elbows and use of hands are a no no. Each match lasts 60 minutes divided into three periods.
Each players uniform consists of the same protective gear; helmet, elbow and knee pads, wrist guards and old school roller skates. The rest is over the top in-your-face individualistic anarchy. Frilled mini-skirts that were pulled up to reveal adjectives across their derriers abound. Skull and crossbone socks, fishnet stockings and team color shirts are par for the course.
Add in cheesy announcers, five dollar drinks and 80-90s rock/rap and you've got yourself one heck of a night out! After the match everyone in the US Cellular Arena was invited to the post-bash bash downtown. The comraderie was palpable in the waning minutes. Even though Iowa City got trounced you could see the teamwork and sweat paying off.
The next bout involves Cedar Rapids and Chicago on July 11th at the Cellular Center again. You should go. Really.
Links
http://oldcapitolcityrollergirls.com/Home.html
http://www.myspace.com/crrollergirls
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roller_derby
Side note- During the first intermission I was surprised at the contrast of entertainment. If you've seen the Keanu vehicle The Replacements cheerleader scenes then you've see the CR Spirit. I'm not going to spoil the act if you haven't!
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