Lee Short
Crrrsh Crrrsh
Tak tak tak
Sounds of rollerskates gliding and scuffling across wood echo throughout the rink. People armored with knee pads and wrist guards quickly zip around the flat oval track. They talk amongst themselves, flashing colorful mouthguard-protected smiles at one another while trying to master quick twists and turns on wheels.
It’s a Wednesday evening at Fun Galaxy Athens, and the Classic City Rollergirls are in the middle of their boot camp, a six-week-long training period designed to get this batch of rookies in shape and ready to face off in their first roller derby. The organization meets for boot camp nine hours a week, breaking up their meetings into three-hour-long training sessions.
A handful of the team’s coaches and more experienced players are speeding alongside the newest members, offering encouragement and correcting any posture mistakes they see. Cheerful pop music plays through the speakers above them.
Among the instructors are Brianna Cuellar and Michele Conte, who met one another at their own Classic City Rollergirl boot camp back in April 2022. Michele Conte, 30, works a fully remote sales support office job for an electronics company along with a part-time position at Treehouse Kid & Craft. After she moved from New York to Athens, Georgia, in Aug. 2021, she was looking for a way to meet people in the area when she heard of the Classic City Rollergirls. Despite never being anywhere near to take the leap and join the organization. Not only did she find a hobby, but she found a community. “This is the most welcoming group of people I’ve ever experienced,” Conte said.
On the other hand, Brianna Cuellar, 24, is a native Georgian who has been skating since she was 3-years-old. Back in middle school, her father used to drop her off at a local roller rink in Valdosta, Georgia, on Saturdays, where for the small price of $15 she could spend the whole day honing her skills.
It wasn’t until a Christmas parade a few years ago that she saw the Classic City Rollergirls team fly by, and she knew she had to join. During the day, Cuellar works as a Lab Technician in the Molecular Diagnostics Department of the University of Georgia Veterinary Diagnostic Lab. On weekends, she bartends at weddings. In just under two years, the women have worked their way up in the league. Conte positions like refereeing and scorekeeping while Cuellar plays both blocker and pivot positions.
When the skates go on and the helmets get buckled, they tuck away their daily responsibilities and become Miss Hell and Wonder Bread, their derby personas.
The three-hour-long boot camp practice is in session, and the veteran players are reviewing how to safely block and bump others while in motion. Cuellar along with another instructor, known by her alias as Ethel Murderz, complete the drill along with the more experienced members.
“Drop your butt,” Cuellar says to one.
The woman attempts to squat lower but quickly loses her balance and falls backward to the floor.
“Not that far!” Cuellar says, laughing.
The others giggle along with the veteran as she gets back on her feet.
Learning how to safely maneuver on wheels and fall with minimal impact is an essential part of becoming a roller girl. Even after you master all the moves, there’s still a risk of injury in a high-contact sport like this. Conte herself has dislocated a few ribs and has even broken a finger during her time at the Classic City Rollergirls.
Players also can’t shy away from getting up close and physically blocking others. You can’t be afraid to bump into players or to get hit, or you risk losing a match. Sometimes, hesitation can even lead to suffering a more serious injury.
That’s why rookies in bootcamp learn how to do basic and low-impact hits without skates on, usually going over the process at the end of practice. Physical contact eligibility for skaters only comes after they pass their level two assessment, which is one of several tests the skaters must successfully complete to be allowed to play.
“Obviously, we get so close to each other. We’re sweaty, and stinky, and hitting each other and we’re real close,” said Conte. “There’s bonding in that.”
However, despite the “rough and tough” image that roller derby gives, Cuellar and Conte assure that it’s a welcoming and encouraging environment. Having players of all sizes and physical capabilities are
advantageous when the whistle blows and the match begins. Despite the name, the Classic City Rollergirls team isn’t made up of just women. The team welcomes everyone, regardless of gender or skating experience. They have players as young as 18 and others who are well into their 50s, some of whom are students, parents, doctors and more. After more instruction and practice drills, one of the team’s officials known as general reminders while everyone cools down and stretches.
While much has been accomplished within the three hours, the team still has a lot of work to do. Even after the rookies complete their training and are ready to hit the track, the organization still needs to re-establish its community image after a two-year-long forced hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many Athens residents are still under the impression that the Classic City Rollergirls are inactive, or that they fizzled out and disbanded during the pandemic. Back in 2019, they were ranked 78 out of 354 nationally in the North America East region of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association.
Due to the property being for sale, they’ve also had to move events from the spacious Athens Sports Arena to the smaller Fun Galaxy Athens. While they’re grateful to have the space, only a limited amount of tickets can be sold due to capacity restrictions.
To get to where they were, they need sponsorships, funding and support from the Athens community.
“We want to be present in the community and give back to the community that gives to us,” said Cuellar.
Despite these challenges, the Classic City Rollergirls continue to push to get their name back in the spotlight.