In the small town of Dakota City, Iowa there is a rundown old
skating rink. Inside the Roller Country rink is a musty smell, a wooden floor,
green shaggy carpeted walls, and a group of women who love to play roller derby.
The team is called the Dakota City Demolition Crew. The women on the team range
from ages eighteen to forty-five. The team has seven official skaters, exactly
half of a full roster for a bout; a bout is what a game is called. Other young
girls fewer than eighteen years old practice with the team so they will be ready
to skate in bouts when they are older. Practices are three days a week lasting
around two and one half hours. Each skater wears a uniform with required protective gear. This includes
helmets, wrist guards, mouth guards, elbow pads, and knee pads. The team colors
are green, silver, and black. Each teammate chooses a derby name and number;
some of the names are Gunboats, Havoc, McNothing, and Livid Red Girl. The girls spice up their looks
with fishnets, colorful knee-high socks, and bandanas. Derby girls do it on quad
skates. This means they can only use roller skates; roller blades are not
allowed. This is a fast-paced and aggressive sport. At practice on December
11th, 2012 the sounds of skates crashing together, loud thuds from
falling, girls screaming different plays, and encouragement fills the air. One
girl comes around the corner and slams her hip into the other teammate making
her crash to the ground. Within three seconds she’s up and rolling full force
again. The coach screams out different drills and plays using his loud whistle
to help everyone know when to start and stop. Excitement is all over their faces
as they laugh, socialize, and work their butts off to be the best they can.
With all the skating noises the music in the back ground is almost not
heard. The intense work out on the skates leaves the girls sweaty and thirsty
constantly drinking cold refreshing water. After scrimmaging, the stinky smell
of body odor fills the air telling visitors they worked hard.
A day later a team meeting was held with a potluck; everyone was asked to bring a dish or dessert. The taste of meaty barbecue ribs, cheesy potatoes, chocolate
cookies, and other goodies fill their bellies. President Katie goes over all the
new changes in the bylaws for 2013. Then
she informs the team that their 2013 captain and respected player will no longer
be with the team. The news shocks everyone and sadness rolls over their faces.
Katie goes around and hands everyone a piece of paper which there forever missed
player wrote different passages for each person on. Tears fill their eyes and
laughter sporadically pours out as they take turns reading their own passages out loud. Some of the
girls decide to let others read because they are too heart broken. Captain Pale
Burnhardt will forever be loved and the time she played with the Dakota City
Demolition Crew will always be remembered
On December 15th, 2012 the Dakota City Demolition Crew traveled to Rock Island, Illinois to play the Farm
Fresh girls. Traveling in four cars the caravan makes several stops for bathroom
and food breaks. Livid Red Girl reveals a new tattoo of Pale Burnhardt. The
girls gossip and joke around while traveling. Once in town they check into their
hotels and spend an hour getting ready. They arrive at the QCCA Expo Center and
skate up. After warm ups and stretches all the skaters’ line up to get their
gear inspected. With the sound of a whistle the game begins. The two packs
slowly push forward continually keeping an eye on the opposing jammer. Staying
as tight together as they can the girls move side to side trying to keep the
jammers behind their wall. Finally, a jammer breaks through skating as fast as
she can; passing the packs earning more points with every pass. With only seven
girls against twelve the Dakota City Demolition Crew wins scoring 202 points. The Farm Fresh Girls
lost scoring 161 points. Both teams played an amazing game
These girls love this sport and how it gives back to the community. Jessica points
out, “Our team is nonprofit so any extra money our home bouts bring in or money
we raise goes to charitable causes” (Schade). These women are like a family and
their not afraid of physical pain. The majority of the players are mothers who
work full time. The love for the game shows on their faces as they skate week
after week. The dedication shows every time they fall down and jump back up.
Jessica happily shares, “Yes, I would like people to know that my derby family
is closer to me than my real family” (Schade). No matter what’s thrown at this
team whether it’s being thin on players, to practicing in a stinky run down
skating rink, or an injury, they never quit. Their derby family is ready for any
challenge so watch out other teams these girls mean
business.
skating rink. Inside the Roller Country rink is a musty smell, a wooden floor,
green shaggy carpeted walls, and a group of women who love to play roller derby.
The team is called the Dakota City Demolition Crew. The women on the team range
from ages eighteen to forty-five. The team has seven official skaters, exactly
half of a full roster for a bout; a bout is what a game is called. Other young
girls fewer than eighteen years old practice with the team so they will be ready
to skate in bouts when they are older. Practices are three days a week lasting
around two and one half hours. Each skater wears a uniform with required protective gear. This includes
helmets, wrist guards, mouth guards, elbow pads, and knee pads. The team colors
are green, silver, and black. Each teammate chooses a derby name and number;
some of the names are Gunboats, Havoc, McNothing, and Livid Red Girl. The girls spice up their looks
with fishnets, colorful knee-high socks, and bandanas. Derby girls do it on quad
skates. This means they can only use roller skates; roller blades are not
allowed. This is a fast-paced and aggressive sport. At practice on December
11th, 2012 the sounds of skates crashing together, loud thuds from
falling, girls screaming different plays, and encouragement fills the air. One
girl comes around the corner and slams her hip into the other teammate making
her crash to the ground. Within three seconds she’s up and rolling full force
again. The coach screams out different drills and plays using his loud whistle
to help everyone know when to start and stop. Excitement is all over their faces
as they laugh, socialize, and work their butts off to be the best they can.
With all the skating noises the music in the back ground is almost not
heard. The intense work out on the skates leaves the girls sweaty and thirsty
constantly drinking cold refreshing water. After scrimmaging, the stinky smell
of body odor fills the air telling visitors they worked hard.
A day later a team meeting was held with a potluck; everyone was asked to bring a dish or dessert. The taste of meaty barbecue ribs, cheesy potatoes, chocolate
cookies, and other goodies fill their bellies. President Katie goes over all the
new changes in the bylaws for 2013. Then
she informs the team that their 2013 captain and respected player will no longer
be with the team. The news shocks everyone and sadness rolls over their faces.
Katie goes around and hands everyone a piece of paper which there forever missed
player wrote different passages for each person on. Tears fill their eyes and
laughter sporadically pours out as they take turns reading their own passages out loud. Some of the
girls decide to let others read because they are too heart broken. Captain Pale
Burnhardt will forever be loved and the time she played with the Dakota City
Demolition Crew will always be remembered
On December 15th, 2012 the Dakota City Demolition Crew traveled to Rock Island, Illinois to play the Farm
Fresh girls. Traveling in four cars the caravan makes several stops for bathroom
and food breaks. Livid Red Girl reveals a new tattoo of Pale Burnhardt. The
girls gossip and joke around while traveling. Once in town they check into their
hotels and spend an hour getting ready. They arrive at the QCCA Expo Center and
skate up. After warm ups and stretches all the skaters’ line up to get their
gear inspected. With the sound of a whistle the game begins. The two packs
slowly push forward continually keeping an eye on the opposing jammer. Staying
as tight together as they can the girls move side to side trying to keep the
jammers behind their wall. Finally, a jammer breaks through skating as fast as
she can; passing the packs earning more points with every pass. With only seven
girls against twelve the Dakota City Demolition Crew wins scoring 202 points. The Farm Fresh Girls
lost scoring 161 points. Both teams played an amazing game
These girls love this sport and how it gives back to the community. Jessica points
out, “Our team is nonprofit so any extra money our home bouts bring in or money
we raise goes to charitable causes” (Schade). These women are like a family and
their not afraid of physical pain. The majority of the players are mothers who
work full time. The love for the game shows on their faces as they skate week
after week. The dedication shows every time they fall down and jump back up.
Jessica happily shares, “Yes, I would like people to know that my derby family
is closer to me than my real family” (Schade). No matter what’s thrown at this
team whether it’s being thin on players, to practicing in a stinky run down
skating rink, or an injury, they never quit. Their derby family is ready for any
challenge so watch out other teams these girls mean
business.