Behind the scenes with Pikes Peak
In all the chaos of South Central regionals last week, I missed this article from the Colorado Springs Gazette when it was first published. It covers a couple of significant months in the Pikes Peak season, including their big loss to Oly in May and their win over Sacred in June, and delivers some impressive sports reportage on some of the factors that may have led to the mid-season departure of Psycho Babble, De Ranged and Echo to Rocky Mountain. I can only assume it came out when it did because of Whip It's release this week, but it sure is convenient background to put some more context into this weekend's Western Regionals.
Much different than the average derby story you'll see in the mainstream media -- treating the game like any other sport while simultaneously avoiding overly romanticizing the players -- this is a really good read, maybe the best derby writing I've seen this year. Check it out here.
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There are videos too
There are a few video components to the article as well including a short documentary and a roller derby 101 tutorial.
http://www.gazette.com/sections/derbydames/
Thanks
Thanks for the kind words on the story, which was written after hanging around with the Pikes Peak Derby Dames for about six months. I've always wanted to do a derby story because I admire the tenacity and sacrifice that is synonymous with playing derby. There's something so fundamentally human about the things that drive derby girls -- the yearning for community, for a world where they are their own superheroes, for the permission to hit and yell and fall and get hurt.
I think they're amazing. And feel privileged to be apart of that world for a while
Thoughts on the story? Email me at tracy.mobleymartinez@gazette.com
Capturing What "Derby" Means
I think you've come the closest to accomplishing that. Derby is far more than a character one plays when not working by day at the Waffle House or taking care of the children, which is (lamentably) how much of the traditional media covers the sport. That's not their fault, as this is a wholly new and unique thing to try to cover (I think).
Your narrative frame evoked so many of the feelings I've witnessed over the years - both good and bad - and you also help tie that into the identities of the performers. You recognize that there's no true wall separating (legal name here) from (skater name here). And you cast derby as a sport where competition and winning are paramount to so many of the athletes.
Most of all, you help frame roller derby as who these people *are* and not something they simply *do*. An outstanding effort. You treat your subject matter with respect and understanding. Thank you.
I fall on the "winning is fun" side... not always a happy place
http://www.gazette.com/articles/through-62742-ricochet-behind.html
Interesting facts about Pikes Peak - but even more interesting to me is how well the author captures the highs and lows of league dynamics, especially getting inside the wins and losses of a truly competitive season. I got a little choked up at parts, even. I think that the juxtaposition of "this is supposed to be fun" vs the "well, winning IS fun" attitudes are present to some degree in most leagues and is a theme - or at least an undercurrent - to our whole sport... maybe because of the nature of it being an all-volunteer community and competitive sport at the same time. This article touches on that that better and more honestly than any I have ever read.
Nice to finally have someone write something more in depth than the usual lifestyle coverage.
Good stuff.
gave me chills several times.
gave me chills several times.
Wow
This whole package was outstanding for all of the reasons already mentioned. I know some people might be cringing at the thought of their league's drama being made public like this, but I think this coverage will only help Pikes Peak in the long run. The bottom line is, people are fascinated by rollergirls and want to know more about us -- why derby is something we want to do, what we're really like on and off the track, what we talk about in the locker room at halftime, etc. -- and now Pikes Peak fans will be able watch their bouts with a whole new perspective and level of interest. I know I didn't give a shit about the Bengals until I started watching "Hard Knocks" on HBO, and now I'm actually interested in what's going on with them.
And definitely watch the accompanying video of the Pikes Peak vs. Oly bout if you have 13 minutes and 45 seconds. I've decided I love derby shot from a low angle like this -- it's so much easier to see what's going on.
Just want to echo the sentiment
Just want to say how much I agree with what people are saying about this article. It really does strike a chord with me because of how it captures the things that go on with the sport. You can change the names, the league, the location, and still your article captures a lot of the feelings and situations that so many different leagues and the skaters have to deal with. Good stuff, and definitely a good read.
OFF TOPIC: DEMOGRAPHIC DATA
With the eyes of the world upon DNN for the next 72 hours, i was wondering if any helpful league sorts reading this would be so kind as to supply me with some rough demographic data about the attendance of your leagues -- i'm looking for a male/female % and also a breakdown by age groups. Obviously this will be largely anecdotal, so your best guess is more than welcome. If you can help me out with this, please email me your findings at revnorb@frozencodebase.com and i will love you forever, in sort of a platonic buddy sort of way.