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Roller Derby Fan Becomes Flat Track Rookie at Age 51
My Story by #1955 Rollin’ Redshirt, David W. Ketchum
I don't remember how I discovered Roller Derby because it was so long ago. I believe that it was 1968. My instant favorites were Ken Monte, Annis Jensen, Ann Calvello and my home team New England Braves. I realized that everyone was expected to like the All-American home team, the Bay Bombers. I decided to buck the system and like the bad guys. Soon I was cheering for any team that skated against the Bombers. I had become such a redshirt fan, that even when the expansion happened and my region got a true home team, the New York Chiefs, I couldn't help but continue to cheer for the redshirt visiting teams. My favorite team of that period was the Red Devils.
I discovered Rollergames on a distant Central MA independent TV station a year or two later. They showed Warrior home games. I must admit I loved the Warriors. They had an incredible lineup. I also loved the redshirt teams as well. The NY Bombers were probably my favorites. I had big hopes for the ISC as it seemed to be a super league with so much potential. Things did not turn out that way and we soon lost both live Derby and TV games in our area.
I thought banked track skating had ended. Remember these were the days before the internet. I saw the IRSL when it was on ESPN and was thrilled. That too was short lived on television. I watched anything that popped up if it was the only thing available. Rockin Rollergames was a bit of a stretch but I watched it’s entire run. The Roller Games shown on Classic Sports were not the best NSD had to offer but it was nice to see some of the old-timers. Like most banked track fans, I also hoped the Rollerjam would bring back the sport. It seemed like they didn't know what direction they wanted to take the show in, and just lost direction.
When I first got my computer, the first thing that I did was a web search on Roller Derby. Wow! I was able to connect the dots and see what still existed and what had happened over the years. I have made many online friends with old fans and old skaters alike. A big thrill was being invited to Gary Power’s home to meet Ann Calvello for her birthday. I met another old favorite that day in Pete Boyd.
I was not much of a rollergirl fan when it first hit the airwaves. It seemed that there was a lot of pushing, pulling and falling. The show seemed to focus on their partying lifestyle. The longer the show was on; it seemed to improve as far as quality of skating segments shown. Most of what I knew about the various Rollergirl leagues was second hand and came from online buddies. It seemed as if most of old school fans disliked this product due to the new style and new rules, as well as the lack of men and lack of a banked track.
I was shocked about six months ago when the front page of the Springfield, MA newspaper had a picture of flat track skaters and an article about Pioneer Valley Roller Derby. Our area of Western MA is called the Pioneer Valley. The article stated that they were currently skating at the open skate night at the local rink. I decided that I would go and check them out. I didn't know what to expect from them or myself. I figured I could skate at the open skate.
I skated often as a teen and occasionally throughout the years. I never was a good skater. I used to go because I loved Roller Derby and in my mind I was passing everyone at the rink for points when I was young. I could skate in circles and got to the point where I could do crossovers, but I couldn't skate backwards and didn't even know how to stop except to grab the railing.
My wife urged me to go and check out this flat track league. I figured maybe they would need a ref, or timekeeper or something like that. I met a few at the open skate night and learned that they had secured the rink for their own private use. I went to the practice. We skated 10 laps counterclockwise and then 10 laps clockwise to warm up. So far, so good, but then we did about 15 minutes of stretching. This 51-year-old body had not stretched for years. At first this was the hardest part for me. I'm old and many pounds overweight. Then came the skill lessons. We worked on one-knee drops, T-stops, skating backwards, giving whips properly . . . you name it. It was apparent to me that I was out of shape and not a good skater, but I have heart. One thing I quickly learned was that these young skaters wanted to offer a quality product and skate a legit style game. Oh yes, an important fact about Pioneer Valley Roller Derby . . . we have rollergirls, but we also have men. We are a coed group. This does not mean we will skate against each other but will have a separate male division and female division. But a fun fact is that we practice together and even have scrimmage games that are totally mixed.
I have been practicing with this great group of skaters for about six months. They are a wonderful bunch of folks. I enjoy skating with them as well as being with them at Taco Bell, a fundraiser or a field trip to see another league. Not many people my age can say that they hang out with tattooed, pierced guys and gals that are half my age, but I love them all and have been accepted by them as well. I am honestly having the best time of my life. I am getting better. I still work up a sweat doing the pushups and sit-ups. I have passed my level one and two skills by WFTDA standards. I am also ready to pass level three. If only I can turn around well enough to do backward toe stops. Now at practice we are ready to have one night just to scrimmage. I love blocking and hope that I am getting pretty good at it.
Our men’s squad is pretty controversial by flat track standards. We were invited to go to Baltimore a few weeks ago to skate against the male refs there during the halftime of their women’s league championships. We scrimmaged against our gals to get ready. We skated a few times outdoors on a basketball court. I still have the black and blue from that day. The day of the game finally arrived and ten guys and a few female teammates went down for the 6-hour drive. It seemed surreal to this Derby fan to step out in front of an audience at age 51. The Baltimore gals skated an intense game. When it was our turn, the male refs skated an equally intense game. I got knocked into someone’s lap in the audience on the first jam. I went back out for the third jam. I got knocked down again but caught up to the pack. I tried to block their jammer but made myself a little too wide, too low and was trying to look over my shoulder; all this while going around a corner. Honestly, I just lost my balance and fell on my face. My right leg went out from under me and the jammer tripped over it. The jammer recovered but I not only got a penalty but got thrown out of the game as well. The refs were skating against us so some gal skaters and managers were reffing. It was a learning experience for us all. It was not my most shining moment but I had fun. My most embarrassing moment even got sent around on the web as a film clip.
At 51 I don't envision I'll skate long, but hey Calvello lasted into her 50’s! I'm having fun, getting exercise and skating Derby. It’s been interesting to sometimes get negative comments from fellow flat trackers about men skating and getting negative comments from my fellow old school fans because I've joined the ranks of the flat trackers. Most of what old fans think is based on conjecture rather than fact. It may not be our old style game but the spirit of Derby is definitely alive and well in this latest resurrection. Sure I'd love to see a national league of coed banked track skaters come back. I support our old heroes who are keeping Derby and Games alive in LA and SF. But I am also supporting flat track efforts because what I have seen has been athletic, legit, and entertaining. I saw a tremendous game in Providence against the Gotham gals. Our team hopes to be ready to skate a game here by late fall, or at least have our gals skate against another northeastern team.
My name is Rollin’ Redshirt. Can you believe that even that has gotten me a hassle. I wanted a name that gave reference to the old game and my favorite skaters. I'm not a bad guy but my favorite skaters were! Although I did get kicked out of the first game I ever skated for intentionally tripping. Maybe I am a redshirt after all. Well, at least the shirt I wear to practice is red! Special thanks go to Loretta Behrens, Buddy Atkinson Jr., Skip Schoen, and Bob Bigbird Pancioli. And very, very special thanks go to the guys and gals of Pioneer Valley Roller Derby. Love ya!
David W. Ketchum
Rollin’ Redshirt, #1955
Pioneer Valley Roller Derby