Unwinding With Roller Derby

Roller derby helps me shrug off the day-to-day disappointment of spending my business days as a muted version of myself. In reality, I am opinionated, tough, aggressive, creative and athletic. I have visions of superstardom set to pop-punk and hoedown twang. Roller derby lets me be myself. More than that, it lets me be whoever I want to be. Besides the actual physical release and competitive fix roller derby provides, there is a showmanship side that also feeds my inner superstar. When I am in derby mode, I feel like I am being true to myself while, at the same time, indulging in a fantasy. When my skates are on, I escape the confines of daily chores, and corporate expectations.

Roller derby is extreme skating. Physically, it is speed and endurance. It is whips, hits, falling, pushing and pulling. It is full contact with flair. The flair is the showmanship, and it comes from the outlandish uniforms, clever and campy names, loud music, and huge personalities. On the track, I am Aurora Gory Alice. Aurora is me on skates. I don't have to think about what I am saying or the tone of voice in which I am saying it when I am skating. I don't have to apologize for hitting someone. I wear the clothes that make me feel good about myself without worrying what anyone else thinks. My short fuse can burn and I don't have to always filter my vocabulary or find the right words to express myself. I am me to the point of exhilarating exhaustion.

The people I skate with are a diverse bunch. We range in age from 21 to 45. There are engineers, teachers, nurses, artists and bartenders. Some have played sports before, while some never have. Body type is a non-issue as is sexual orientation. We are an all-female team, but we have a male coach and several male referees. With such diversity, it is almost impossible to feel like an outcast. And, there is always someone to laugh with, skate with, or have a drink with even on a "non-derby" day. Personally, I find friendship, sarcasm, rowdy behavior, and a whole lot of laughing almost as relaxing as sleeping. In all of these activities I can forget what it is that I am using as an excuse to be high-strung or miserable.

I know roller derby may be somewhat of a non-standard activity to talk about as a means to unwind, but there is something comforting about being exactly who I want to be. And in that comfort, I find relaxation.