The Minnesota RollerGirls are founding members of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), the preeminent governing body for female, skater-owned, flat-track roller derby leagues. All participants are unpaid amateurs and the league provides insurance coverage for practices and bouts.
We have four home teams, the Atomic Bombshells, Dagger Dolls, Garda Belts, and Rockits, that do battle every season to win the coveted Golden Skate trophy (and bragging rights, natch).
Beyond our four amazing home teams, the Minnesota RollerGirls All-Stars have been competing against the best in the world, competing in the World Championships in 2006, 2010, 2011, and 2012!
Where we come from
The Minnesota RollerGirls league was founded by the Donnelly sisters in August 2004 and was one of the first modern roller derby leagues to host a public bout. After our first season in a roller rink in the northern suburbs, we moved down to the capital city of the great state of Minnesota!
Where we play
The Minnesota RollerGirls were the first league in the country to have a professional arena for practices and bouts. The Legendary Roy Wilkins Auditorium in downtown Saint Paul is where we call home and we couldn't be happier!
Once a year, we head down the hall to the Xcel Energy Center (home of the NHL's Minnesota Wild) and play a doubleheader with the Minnesota Swarm professional lacrosse team.
Photo by Ryan Starr
So, What Kind of League Are You, Then?
Good question! Well, we're all unpaid, amateur skaters who not only practice and bout, but do all the work to keep the league running. All of our volunteers (refs, announcers, and production staff) are also unpaid and they help us out for the love of the sport and our league. Like many of the all-female, skater-owned leagues around the country, we donate a portion of our bout proceeds to local charities, and spend time volunteering at events and fundraisers.
In addition to attending meeting practice requirements (in order to remain eligible for bouting), all members in the league are responsible for helping on one of the many committees that keeps the league running.
As far as our demographics, we're all 21+ but there's no upper age limit, and we have several skaters in their 50s. Quite a few members have children. Professionally, we range from usability consultants and web developers to hairdressers and fashion designers to students and medical professionals. In other words, we're a cross-section of the modern, successful, strong female population.
We're a Charitable Bunch
We like to spread the love and hold events for different causes. The Minnesota RollerGirls are dedicated to our local communities and charities and we invest our time, effort, and a portion of our event proceeds to local, and sometimes national, charities.
Are the Minnesota RollerGirls Kid-Friendly?
We project a positive, strong, athletic image because that's the kind of women we are! This could be a great influence for your young girls, and boys too. We love to see kids at our bouts and occasionally invite the local junior roller derby league to play on the track before our bouts.
This is a sport where all body types are an asset and it's not just for thin or for burly women. It's a good way to show kids that everyone can be involved in sports and be physically active, as long as you find the right sport to participate in!
This is a sporting event and people get pretty riled up, including us. There's a chance there might be strong language spoken in the heat of the moment. But unless you happen to be right near the incident, you won't be able to hear it. Fights are FAR rarer than in hockey and generally much less violent.
It all comes down to your decision, but we hope that information helps you in deciding. And we hope to see your family at one of our bouts!
