The Mid-State Sisters of Skate started in the summer of 2010 in Stevens Point , WI
They are a non-profit amateur sports league, but they follow all of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association guidelines and regulations. The league was originally started for fun, but they decided it could be more than that. As Lisa Pett, one of the members of Sisters of Skate stated, “Our biggest goal--besides having a lot of fun, is to really foster the sport. To have people take it seriously and us seriously as athletes. We believe that roller derby is good for the community and can benefit it in many ways, especially by supporting the women of the community.”
As written in their mission statement, Mid-State Sisters of Skate “strives to run a safe, fun, professional league that gives women of all ages, shapes, sizes, and skill levels a chance to enjoy the sport of roller derby.” They also “endeavor to empower women by challenging members’ personal growth both on and off the track.” They also strive to not only gain support through their members but also members around the Central Wisconsin community. They help out many local charities and organizations by fundraising and volunteering their time.
Each of the members has a nickname, and expresses their unique styles in the clothes they wear. I think everything the Mid-State Sisters of Skate stands for is amazing. The best part is their goal to empower and celebrate women of all types. This organization gives women a place to express themselves in a safe and nonjudgmental environment while having fun. I love that they chose to do Roller Derby, because it also shows that women can be tough. I have included a picture of some of these women as well as their website. I hope that you will check it out, see what all it has to offer, and spread the word to your friends!
On one hand, I love the idea of roller derby- ladies bein' tough, bein' active, rollin' with a ladies-only posse, bringin' women together. That's all beyond cool by me. But then there are a few questions I see in it- namely the pseudonyms and hot pants... I just wonder what the purpose of those are. Generally, I wonder why women's sports seem to utilize nicknaming more so than men's sports do, as though women's aggressive side on the court/field/track is a different persona than their normal self.
ReplyDeleteI can tell you the names are just really fun--they are a long-standing tradition in the history of derby. There are some in the sport who support skating under their real names in hopes of fostering legitimacy in the professional sporting community but as a skater and a feminist, I don't see the harm in it. I feel that it does give you a lot of latitude when you get out on the track to break free from your "regular" life and be more aggressive. I'm a stay at home mom with two young kids. It's hard to be intimidating. But as Rose Redrum, I can push the envelope and feel like I'm tougher.
ReplyDeleteThe booty shorts were a revelation to me. I'm a plus-sized girl and over 40 to boot. I wasn't exactly keen on the tight clothing until I actually started skating and realized it's a LOT more comfortable when you're skating. You get hot and sweaty and in derby, you've got people tugging on you all the time. It's really just safer to have less for them to tug on.
The sport has given me a lot. It's made me more confident and helped me utilize a lot of valuable skills. We do EVERYTHING in the league--from planning the bouts to laying the tape for the track. We design and buy the merchandise. We write the press releases, we sit in LONG committee meetings to decide the fate of the league and the direction it should take.
There is certainly a fair amount of spectacle in derby--but there is in all sport. That's why professional men's teams have sexy cheerleaders. This goes clear back to gladiator days. I think embracing the sexiness of all women and using it to our advantage isn't a disservice to our gender. At least I hope it's not perceived that way.