Roller Derby Match 2

Posted on by Thor

Since I was sketching a double header, I decided to do a second sketch during the roller derby. Game 2 at Orange County Barnett Park (4801 W Colonial Dr, Orlando, Florida 32808) was between the Orlando Sun Blockers and Rockin City. In the second match the Orlando Sun Blockers lost with a score of 87 to Rockin City from Texas’s 175.

Besides the action on the truck I was also fascinated by the half time action which consisted of kids making paper airplanes. The plane that flew the furthest would win. It was a fun as a minor league baseball game mid inning stretch. Planes spiraled and did loop de loops. Over in front of the bleachers a woman dressed in a sun costume danced in front of the crowd.

The huddle in my sketch occurs often in a match as one team tries to roadblock the other team from lapping them. If there is no opening then the roller derby athlete wearing the star on her helmet would have to try and press her way through he crowd. Living in a big city like New York would be the best place to develop these tight squeeze tactics. 

Orlando Sun Blockers vs Savannah Hostess City Hellions

Posted on by Thor

The second match of the Orlando Roller Derby Double
Header was just as exciting as the first match if not more so. The Orange County
Parks and Recreation Center
(Barnett Park 4801 W Colonial Dr,
Orlando, Florida
32808) had crowded
bleachers and standing room around the edges of the court. In front of the
bleachers a mascot was dressed in a sun burst costume dancing for the crowd.
The announcers were at a folding table under the score board.

Roller Derby takes some time to get used to how
scoring works. A single skater has a star on her helmet and she is charged with
breaking away from the two team pack and lapping them if possible. A referee wold follow her while pointing to make it easier to keep track of the score. Her
supporting team blocks and shoves the opposing team in an effort to help her
roll by.

For some reason the ending moments of any
match are the most exciting. As the match nears a close, the two teams ramp up
their energy and this is when women really start knocking each other over.

Double Header! Orlando Roller Derby vs. Savannah Derby Devils

Posted on by Thor

I have become addicted to sketching Roller Derby. It is a thrill to sketch women competing all out with no holds barred. This double header was held at Barnett Park (4801 W Colonial Dr, Orlando, Florida 32808), the Orange County Parks and Recreation Center.

 Roller derby began in the early 1900s as a form of banked track racing. It then morphed into Transcontinental Roller Derby where two teams of women skater would travel 3000 miles around the oval track. Briefly the sport waned during WWII but then returned with a vengeance and was televised through the 1970s. in 2006, the Women’s Flat track Derby Association was formed and Contemporary roller derby was born. Orlando Roller Derby has been around since 2009. There are 65 active skaters and 12 referees.

There were two matches in this double header. I will share a sketch from the second match tomorrow.
Game 1 – Orlando Ozone Slayers vs Savannah Derby Devils

Game 2 – Orlando Sun Blockers vs Savannah Hostess City Hellions 

Orlando was in the lead 90 to 52 when I sketched the score board, but
the action heated up at the end with Savannah catching up. Ultimately
Orlando was victorious.

Doors opened at 3:45pm, and the first whistle was at 4:00pm.
There was also a 50/50 raffle. The money collected benefited High School High Tech, a program that exposes children with disabilities to careers in the STEM fields.

If you are interested in joining roller derby in Orlando, stop on out to the 2019 Recruitment Info Session at Semoran Skateway (2670 Cassel Creek Blvd, Casselberry, Florida 32707). They will be providing information about how to get involved with Orlando Roller Derby in 2019! If
you’ve ever dreamed of being a derby girl, referee, or are interested
in volunteering for one of the fastest growing, exciting, and fun sports
in the world – please come!  NO SKATING EXPERIENCE REQUIRED!

Find out why so many people say “Derby saved my life”. The ‘fresh meat’ program will teach you everything you need to know about roller skating and playing the sport of roller derby!