Derby queens

It was a cult-like and scrappy sport in the 1970s, defined by raucous fans, bitter rivalries and rough and tumble women.

Roller derby of that bygone era was as much about risky uniforms and overblown egos as it was about athleticism and skilled skaters. Think professional wrestling, with a feminine touch, on wheels.

That was then.

About a decade ago, the colorful sport began to make a resurgence. Roller derby today — though still accented by tough ladies and loud crowds — has a new, not-so-brash image.

Roller derby has made its way to the Inland Northwest with a spirited team that calls Coeur d’Alene home. Aptly named Coeur d’Alene Roller Derby, the club boasts about 30 active members from their 20s to their 40s.

Advocating good “sportswomanship” and athleticism, Coeur d’Alene Roller Derby is an opportunity for local skaters of all skill levels to build camaraderie, sharpen their athletic abilities and entertain their alter ego, says club captain Crystal Owens, aka “Davy Rock-Hit.”

“What I like is that it’s a sport that focuses on women and empowers us,” says Owens.

Club members come from all walks of life and in all shapes and sizes: slender, chunky, muscular, tall, short.

“They’re stay-at-home moms, nurses, servers, whatever,” says Owens, a mental health therapist.

Seeking to legitimize the sport, there has been a movement away from theatrics and showmanship, but fans are still guaranteed to be entertained, Owens says. It remains a full-contact sport with no shortage of aggression.

“People get injured. My first bout, I gave a girl four stiches on her elbow,” she says. “Just like any physical sport there’s going to be collateral damage, but we emphasize safety and sportsmanship. There is no pulling hair, no biting.”

If things get out of hand, there are trained referees. And a penalty box.

Despite their high-energy and competitive drive, Owens, 34, says skaters have mutual respect for each other on and off the track, often getting together after bouts to socialize.

In Coeur d’Alene, there is abundant enthusiasm for roller derby. Nearly 400 fans and curious onlookers showed up for Coeur d’Alene Roller Derby’s season opener against Ellensburg on Feb. 16 at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds.

“It was an amazing night. The bout went back and forth,” Owens says. “But we all had such an incredible time.”

In the end, the Coeur d’Alene club was narrowly defeated.

Coeur d’Alene Roller Derby has a strong social media presence with more than 3,000 people following the group on Facebook. A nonprofit organization, there are membership dues and skaters are responsible for their own uniforms.

Formerly called the Snake Pit Derby Dames, the local club was formed in 2010 and changed its name recently as part of a rebrand that came with “a lot of fresh faces and new energy,” Owens says.

The group practices twice a week at Skate Plaza in northern Coeur d’Alene and has a couple bouts per month competing with teams from across the region, including Ellensburg, Pullman and even into Montana.

Local matches are held at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds on a flat track, not the banked wooden track like those used in the 1970s. Much less costly to skate on, the track can be created simply by taping lanes on the concrete floor.

The flat track creates more slow and deliberate interactions, Owens says. “You won’t see girls flying over the guardrail.”

But there’s still plenty of physical confrontation, which suits Owens just fine.

“There’s this feel-good adrenalin rush that comes from a full-contact sport,” she says. “There’s energy and endorphins. It’s a healthy outlet to let go of some aggression.”

And when her alter ego kicks in, Owens says there is an unrestrained jubilance.

“When I’m Davy Rock-Hit, it’s something special,” she says. “I feel like I’m a whole different person when I’m on the track.”

To join Coeur d’Alene Roller Derby or learn more about the group, visit facebook.com/SnakePitDerbyDames/