You may remember watching roller derby years ago, but this year, the Wausau area saw the birth of the River Valley Rollergirls (RVRG), a nonprofit roller derby league. UWMC has acted as a recruiting ground for some players, with one of our very own academic advisors, Liberty “Hell” Heidmann, being an active player.

Hether Blair-Van Zante, a Wausau native and Derby veteran, decided to start the league after moving from Arizona. Van Zante, known by her teammates as Hether Skelter, was an active member in the Arizona Derby Dames and competed in several competitions. She was a part of an All Star traveling team, where she competed and won in Oklahoma City on the track used in the movie “Whip It,” starting Ellen Page.

In an E-Mail, Van Zante described her reasons for starting the league, “I knew that area women, particularly with so many ‘at risk’ of the alcohol, substance and consumer abuses, and just plain boredom of Midwestern life, could benefit from its introduction.”

RVRG currently has 22 active skaters and three teams, The Dead Girls, The Cherry Bombs and The Riot Dolls. The league is currently in its second month of its initial six month training and evaluation period.

“We strive for safety and quality control. We are determined to put on a good production, and it takes considerable time to learn the sport and develop the necessary skills and abilities,” Van Zante said.

Like other leagues, RVRG require helmets, knee pads, elbow pads, wrist guards and they suggest the use of a mouth guard.

Despite the precautions taken by leagues, derby can have some vicious injuries. Van Zante recalled seeing a girl break her leg in two places, “She didn’t even cry!”

The league will start their debut season in April 2010 with the initial games running as intra-league competitions. Van Zante did say they would be open to playing other renegade challengers.

If you would like to know more or are interested in joining the Rivervalley Rollergirls, be sure to log on to rivervalleyrollergirls.org.

Roller Derby Rules

• Like the River Valley Rollergirls, most derby leagues are independent, grassroots and all-female. A derby match consists of five players from each team: three blockers at the back of the pack (defenders), one pivot at the front (last line of defense) and one jammer (the player who scores).

• The game starts with the six total blockers and two pivots moving counter clockwise in a pack. A referee blows a whistle to signal the start of the jam formation, the six total blockers and two pivots start skating counter clockwise and must stay within 20 feet of the pack. Upon the second whistle the jammers start 20 feet behind the pack and attempt to pass the opposing team’s blockers and pivots.

• The first jammer to pass the blockers and pivots is awarded the status of lead jammer, which carries with it ability to signal the end of the jam by placing their hands on their waist. After the lead jammer title has been established, each time a jammer passes the pack a point is awarded for their team.

• The pivots and blockers slow down the jammers by using body parts above the mid thigh, not including hands, forearms, elbows or head. They also have the role of assisting their own team’s blocker through the pack. If knocked down blockers and pivots are out of play until they catch up with the pack.