Durango's Roller Girls building mean machine

by Garrett Andrews
Herald Staff Writer

Article Last Updated; Tuesday, November 03, 2009 11:57AM

Photo by STEVE LEWIS/Herald

From left, Durango Roller Girls Monica Colvig, Katy Wagner, Linda Teater, Megan Johnson, Kalisha Crossland and Kate Jones do crossovers during practice Monday evening at the National Guard Armory.

Click image to enlarge

Photo by STEVE LEWIS/Herald

Wendy Haugen practices jumping a downed skater.

If you're interested

The Durango Roller Girls will hold an informational session, called a Derby-Q , from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at 468 East Third Ave.

Katie Chicklinski-Cahill, team director, said “all fresh meat” interested in roller derby are encouraged to show up. Summer George, the team’s coach, said all members have to pass a skills assessment before being cleared to compete in a bout.

Setting it straight

A previous version of this article stated that the informational session would be held Saturday. It is scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at 468 East Third Ave.

A 2-inch-thick cell-foam mat doesn't deaden a fall onto cold concrete as well as one might think. In fact, even in full pads and a skirt, running and jumping onto and rattling off an unyielding blue practice mat - with zero chance of coming away the better for it - hurts.

This week, 22 local women - social workers, students, nurses, nonprofit directors, a mental-health worker, an attorney, an office manager, a stay-at-home mom, a journalist, a phlebotomist, and two of their young daughters - gave up their bodies and their Monday evenings for roller derby practice at a sterile auxiliary garage at the National Guard Armory in Bodo Park.

Roller derby is a competitive, women-only contact sport, experiencing a revival of sorts in the U.S.

In Durango, the Durango Roller Girls won't compete in their first bout until early May, but they've been getting ready, getting better, practicing three times a week, for the last four months.

Their first test will come against a Denver team, the Wreckin' Roller Rebels, at Chapman Hill, but no date is currently set.

Director Katie Chicklinski-Cahill (aka Claws Von Bulow), a Herald copy editor and page designer with three young daughters when she's not on skates, has been impressed with the sudden camaraderie she and her "girls" have enjoyed. But, good feelings aside, the question of the evening was why?

"It's a form of anger management," said Eve Presler, 38, aka Eva la Rage.

There is that. The girls get together in part to commune with their masculine sides. The tough talk, the hitting, the aggressive-sounding nicknames, the shouted commands echoing off the brick walls.

Kati Iudice, 38, said the derby was a chance to let her alter ego, the "A-Cup Killa" out.

"It's all about meeting these crazy, strong, weird women I didn't know before," Iudice said.

Roller derby leagues have caught on lately in most major cities. The nonprofit Denver Roller Dolls, founded in 2005, now has three home teams and one traveling team, the Mile-High Club, with home bouts hosted at the Denver Coliseum and Filmore Auditorium.

Roller derby is played with two teams, five players to a side. The teams sprint around an oval track attempting to squeeze a designated "jammer" through their ranks, until she eventually laps the competition, to earn points.

The elbows stay down, but players insist the hits (think stiff shoulders) are real. To drive this point home, Chicklinski-Cahill insisted all male reporters covering the team suit up and take in a full practice.

The hits are real.

One thing the Durango Roller Girls have going for them is Summer George, a former pro speed skater, who's serving as the team's coach. George, the foster coordinator at the La Plata County Humane Society, said that with so many newcomers to skating and roller derby in her ranks, she needs to take a bottom-up approach.

"The number one thing is that you get comfortable on your skates," she told the team before practice.

Nearly every member said she was competing because it's fun, but it's obvious this is serious business to George. Her head snaps to one side so she can yell "Hands up!" or "Keep your skates down!" over punk music as she stands in the center of the gym and her skaters roll around her. With the hectic nature of competitive roller derby, obstacle training is big at practice; George laid out foam bumpers on the ground for jumping practice.

All players should be able to jump 3 inches off the ground.

"Just imagine it's a body," she told the team. "Stay low and lean forward." Chicklinski-Cahill said that along with being a steam release valve and a total-body workout, the derby is a community, as well.

"As women get older, it seems like we have a harder time making friends," said Chicklinski-Cahill. "Men are better at just hanging out. It's really cool to watch everyone get along at practice and have fun." gandrews@durangoherald.com

Tuesday, November 10, 2009
at 8:54:26 AM

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Lory Shepherd says...

I am interested...years since I been on skates....can we at least come watch? I missed the info meeting. THANKS!!!!!!!!

My contact is loryshepherd@gmail.com
Monday, November 09, 2009
at 3:35:47 PM

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Sjheila Carey says...

Go girls give it your best shot!!! My best friend Linda Teater is playing on this team, so all I can say is you better watch out she can be mean and very tough. Girls trust me she will be watching your back and give you all she has got. Good Luck and have a great time. I live in Texas, I wish I could be there to play it would be a blast. Hey girl we might be older but we are hard to keep down. I been hearing "Grandma's gonna get hurt." I don't believe it, so no crying till you get home. LOL
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
at 2:51:49 PM

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Hope says...

I am in awe...Any chance of starting a sister team over in Mancos?
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
at 10:48:34 PM

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Heather Leavitt says...

Finally! My sister (Dirty Britches #2) started the KC Roller Warriors in 2004 and within 3 years they were the National Champs! It was great to see it form from a few dozen girls to now over 80 girls and 4 teams in the league. Roller Derby is a great camaraderie builder among women, great entertainment and sport. These women will inspire and lead our community in many ways.

I will be one of your fans, a cheerleader if you will, sign maker, promoter, etc.

Good luck and keep your helmets on!
Heather Leavitt
Arts Perspective Magazine
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
at 2:01:13 PM

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Bailey Ellingsen says...

Roller-girl Wendy Haugen is an animal. Taking her moves from the WWF to Rollergirl land. Just watch out for her signature move, The Flying Knee Drop. I think its been outlawed in some states!

Bailey Ellingsen
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
at 9:04:55 AM

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Sunshine says...

I am considering trying out for this team. Now reading this really gets me motivated.

Sunshine
Going to Try Out
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
at 9:03:05 AM

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Crossbones Jones says...

CORRECTION: Derby-Q is on SUNDAY from 2-4 (not Sat.) Free food and beer!!! Come meet these amazing women and see if you'd like to join!!!
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
at 7:55:12 AM

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Punky Brewzrrr says...

Without our sponsors this wouldn't be possible. Thank you to Wagon Wheel, Ska, Moe's Starlight, Wiked Skatewear and all those future sponsors for believing in us. If anyone wants to donate a 5000 square foot warehouse, we really need our own space!
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
at 7:16:32 AM

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Kendra Blood (Andrea Hill) says...

Congrats to all the athletes for getting involved in this amazing sport!
Roller derby is definitely experiencing a resurgence: the Denver Roller Dolls actually had to introduce a second travel team,"Bruising Altitude", in 2009 because we had so many skaters interested in playing against teams from other leagues and regions.

It's a rough sport, to be sure, but it IS a sport: not the theatrics many people remember from the 70s. I'd recommend to anyone who's even remotely interested in an aggressive, fun, team sport to check it out. Many of our current skaters simply came to watch once, and knew immediately they "had to do this".

Congrats to the Durango Roller Girls for establishing the league. Maybe one day we'll see you on the track!

Kendra Blood
Denver Roller Dolls