The social forces behind the resurgence of roller derby across the country may be hard to explain, but the urges driving the trend in Orange County seem simple enough: “I have always liked skating and sports in general,” Jennifer “Hurt in a Skirt” Scruggs- Carrillo says. “There are not many organized women’s sports, [so] when I found out about derby, I knew it was for me. [It] gives me the opportunity to be tough but sassy at the same time. Also, the relationships that I’ve built with the girls is what keeps me hanging on.”

The OC Roller Girls represent as one of 53 leagues affiliated with the national Women’s Flat Track Derby Association. Founded two years ago by Opera Pacific executive assistant Heather Shelton, the league consists of about 80 local women skating for six teams—Anaheim Aces, Back Bay Bombshells, Huntington Heartbreakers, OC Grommies, Psycho Ex-Girlfriends—and the Orange County Crushers travel team. In order to roll, you must be at least 21, have health insurance, pay monthly dues, and buy USA Roller Sports insurance.

For this, you get a legal outlet for your aggression, and the chance to revel in an alter ego. Says Mary Marie Auterson: “ ‘Street Cred’ was a name given to me by my teammates. … Mostly because I have none.”

Derby’s charm knows no bounds—it’s caught hold of Hollywood, again. Drew Barrymore, Marcia Gay Harden, Juliette Lewis, and Ellen Page were scheduled to begin filming “Whip It!” last month. It’s set for release next year.

If you think you’re tough enough, join the likes of Brik Wall, Dirty Deborah Harry, and Betty Ven Detta—spiritual heirs to Orange County’s grande dame of roller derby, the late Joannie “Blonde Bomber” Weston of Huntington Beach.

	BRIK WALL AKA Keyanus Kiki Price of Fullerton #00, Back Bay Bombshells and Orange County Crushers Day job Executive administrator at Trend Offset Printing, Los Alamitos Derby position All Can be heard hollering “Outta my way!”
	HURT IN A SKIRT Aka Jennifer Scruggs-Carrillo of Huntington Beach #273, Psycho Ex-Girlfriends Day job Senior customer service account specialist for First American Core Logic, Santa Ana Derby position Pivot Can be heard hollering “Watch the [colorful modifier deleted] elbows!”
	DIRTY DEBORAH HARRY Aka Deborah Monterrosa of Fountain Valley #44, Captain, Psycho Ex-Girlfriends Day job Real estate development project manager for Cove Communities Inc., Cypress Derby position Blocker Can be heard hollering “Who me? Again?”
	DISCO DERVISH Aka Heather Shelton of Irvine #70, Anaheim Aces and OC Roller Girls president and founder Day job Executive assistant to the president, and board liaison, for Opera Pacific, Santa Ana Derby positions Pivot and blocker Can be heard hollering “Get moving!”
	ON THE ROXY Aka Jamie Shelton of Huntington Beach #53, Back Bay Bombshells Day jobs Receptionist, substitute teacher, student Derby position Jammer Can be heard hollering “Unhitch the trailer!”
	KINA WAHINE Aka Gina Gardea of Rancho Santa Margarita #10, Captain, Huntington Heartbreakers and Orange County Crushers Day jobs Hairstylist; studying to be a chemical dependency and addiction counselor Derby positions Jammer and blocker Can be heard hollering “Goooo! Yeah!”
	KELKAT Aka Kelli Bristol of Mission Viejo #8, Psycho Ex-Girlfriends Day jobs Founder of Rink Rash Skatewear clothing company, Mission Viejo; business manager for Cyprexx Services, Florida. Derby position Blocker Can be heard hollering “Hit her!” or “Look behind you!”
	STREET CRED Aka Mary Marie Auterson of Anaheim #16, Back Bay Bombshells and Orange County Crushers Day job Registration and admitting department trainer at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian, Newport Beach Derby position Blocker Can be heard hollering “Hit somebody!”
	BETTY VEN DETTA Aka Chas Marguerite Kidder of Anaheim #25, Huntington Heartbreakers Day job Underwriting officer at First American Title Insurance Co., Santa Ana Derby position Blocker Can be heard hollering “Hit her!”

CHRIS CROSS Aka Christy Wilson of San Clemente #23, Back Bay Bombshells and Orange County Crushers Day job Assistant teacher at a preschool in South County Derby position All Can be heard hollering “[Energetic profanity deleted] hit someone!”

Roller Lingo
Five players—a pivot, three blockers, and one jammer—from each team are on the track during a bout, which consists of two 30-minute periods. As many jams as possible are packed into those 30 minutes, with each jam lasting up to two minutes. Each team’s jammer tries to score points by lapping opposing players during a jam. At the end of a jam, new players can be subbed into the game.

Block Any move on the track designed to impede or dislocate an opponent; needs not include contact.

Blocker A defensive role that determines the position of the pack and keeps the pack formed; attempts to hinder the opposing jammer.

Bout A 60-minute game between two teams, split into periods of 30 minutes.

Captain/co-captain The skater(s) identified to speak for the team; the only skaters that may talk to the referees, unless otherwise designated.

Contact zones Areas of the body that may be used to give or receive a hit.

Down A fallen skater is considered down until she is in a controlled position and skating in the proper direction.

Grand slam A jammer scores an additional point each time she laps the other team’s jammer.

Fall small Falling with the arms and legs controlled, tucked into the body and not flailing.

Jammer A player who makes her way through the pack, laps the pack, and passes through the pack as many times as she chooses in a jam to score points.

Jams Races between the two teams to score points. A period is divided into multiple jams.

Pack The largest group of blockers skating in proximity, containing members from both teams; jammers are independent of this definition.

Passing the star When a jammer (whose helmet cover features a star) passes her position to her team’s pivot as a strategic move, allowing pivot to become the point-scoring skater for her team for remainder of the jam.

Periods A series of jams begun by the designated official.

Pivot blocker A special subset of blocker, with the extra ability to receive a star pass; plays a key role in determining the pace of the pack.

Shorted skater The skater serving a penalty in the penalty box.

Unhitch the trailer Skate faster.

Sources: Women’s Flat Track Derby Association, and interviews

Watch a Bout
Sept. 20 Huntington Heartbreakers vs. Psycho Ex-Girlfriends Home (either OC Fair & Event Center, Costa Mesa, or 949 Hockey Center, Irvine)

Nov. 8 OC Roller Girls vs. Bakersfield Home (either OC Fair & Event Center, Costa Mesa, or 949 Hockey Center, Irvine)

For the teams’ fall bout schedule, and the latest stats, visit www.ocrollergirls.com