FEMALE ROLLER DERBY RENEGADE STYLE

Hard hitting any surface female roller derby has been resurging across the nation. The latest incarnation is the Renegade League. This group of women athletes splintered from a league that follows the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) rules. They formed a league that does not restrict play in the way WFTDA rules do. The Renegade league play is full contact – no holds barred on any style track including the street!

The scoring is done by the skater called the lead jammer (marked with a star on her helmet) each time the lead jammer laps the pack 3 points are given, as opposed to the rules of the WFTDA where a single point per skater lapped is given. Renegade skaters can use tripping, slide tackles, upper and lower body checks. The use of these moves makes for a more exciting bout.

This sport, started in 2004 by skaters in Arizona and is quickly capturing the minds of women and men everywhere. San Diego Renegade Rollergirls Player # 976 Sonny Black, borrowed her name from the character in the movie Donny Brasco. “I look up to all Derby girls, but always felt like something was missing and that I wasn’t achieving full satisfaction in Derby,” stated Black.

Black gained some skills by practicing on and off with WFTDA teams for about three years. “When I attended my first Renegade game and saw the hands-on action – the falls, the thrill of each player’s face when the whistle blew and the reaction of the fans – was a total eye opener for me. I went to the after party and told the girls ‘I think I found my new family.”

Two weeks later Black went to her first practice. “I loved it,” Black said. “I can't imagine myself playing by the rules again! I love my team and I love learning new skills from ALL derby girls!”
This amateur league is skater owned and operated, and teams often give back to their communities through participating in fundraisers and volunteering. The Oregon Renegade Rollergirls regularly support breast cancer awareness events. The SoCal Renegades support The Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County.

By Mike Caro

To learn more about the teams, visit their websites:

Arizona Renegade Rollergirls- Phoenix, AZ

Los Angeles Renegade Rollergirls- Covina, CA  

Oregon Renegade Rollergirls- Bend, OR 

Outlaw Renegade Rollergirls- Orange, CA

San Diego Renegade Rollergirls- National City, CA  

So Cal Renegade Rollergirls- Garden Grove, CA 

Tuscon Renegade Rollergirls- Tuscon, AZ