The Rickshaw Rollers

By+Kirsten+Jacobsen

Twice a week， like clockwork， a crowd slowly gathers around the perimeters of the rink in Beijings Tuanjiehu Park. Inside， skaters lazily lace up boots， pop in mouth guards， and test knee pads. The latest strategies are discussed and benign insults traded—until the clock strikes the hour. Then， like a pack of hellions taking flight， the Rickshaw Rollers hit the rink.

Founded in late February 2013 by two expat workers in Beijing， the Rollers—under the auspices of the Beijing Roller Derby League—are one of the newest teams in the world， and only the second in the Chinese mainland. A femaledominated sport that saw its heyday in the United States in the 1970s and 1980s， following a resurgence in Texas in 2001， roller derby has been making a fierce comeback， from Egypts CaiRollers to Tasmanias South Island Sirens to the Middle Kingdom.

However， it still remains something of an “underground sport.” Full-contact， fastpaced， and free of equipment （save for safety pads and helmets）， the rules can seem mysti- fying to newcomers： During a one-hour bout， in two-minute spurts， two teams each put forth four “blockers” and one “jammer.” At the whistle， the teams begin to skate counterclockwise in a pack， as the two jammers（in back） vie for position， attempting to earn points by breaking through the blockers and lapping the group. This is more easily said than done， as the blockers use their bodies to physically impede the skaters. Thus， team work and all-around athleticism are key， according to Jay Latarche， 22， a co-founder and coach of the Beijing Roller Derby League.

“The most fulfilling part of forming an overseas league has been watching how quickly players who have never skated before pick up the sport，” said Latarche， who skated for Englands Milton Keynes Roller Derby before relocating to Beijing for work. “Expats seem to throw themselves into the sport harder and faster than most players， as they seem to be aware they are on a deadline for how long they might be around.” Though the Rollers average around 15 players at any given time—workers and students come and go—the team has managed to attract a handful of Chinese skaters as well.

“Because of the lack of language skills to fully explain what a bunch of foreigners are doing， falling down and hitting each other， its been hard to attract local players，” Latarche said. Those who see the practices and take an interest， though， make immense efforts to get involved， despite the many difficulties.endprint

“How do you recruit players when most of your target audience has never heard of the sport？” said “Hooten Annie，” who goes by her derby name， a fellow founder and coach of the league. “We have to create new words just to describe it.”

“Ideally， a Chinese website is needed with tutorial videos， articles and explanations all in Chinese，” Latarche continued， “so that there is a go-to for Chinese people who want to start their own leagues or just get involved.”

Picking up pace

Having multiplied from just 135 U.S. teams in late 2006 to more than 1，250 around the world today， roller derby is even under consideration by the International Olympic Committee to be added to the year 2020 Summer Games.

But what kind of person signs up for this sport， knowing whats involved？ For many， a long-held desire to play becomes a reality while in Beijing， despite the high-intensity workout， breaks， bruises， and black eyes.

“I had had derby on my mind for about six years. During the first few practices I was so timid and scared， but by the end I was out there wrecking myself and loving it every practice，”said Kelsey Dekker， a student at Beijings Capital Normal University， who has since graduated and returned to Canada. “Derby helped me get over any kind of embarrassment or fear of falling， and really just helped me find some likeminded friends in Beijing when I needed them most，” Dekker said.

“It completely changed my last six months there.”

For Sarah Ostrach， an English professor at Beijing Normal University， the sport had piqued her interest since the release of 2009s Whip It！， a movie based on derbys rebirth in Texas. “After spending nearly a year in Beijing with little to do outside of work， I decided it was time to find some sort of extracurricular activity，” said Ostrach， “and by chance I Googled ‘Beijing roller derby.” After Ostrachs first practice in February this year， she said， “I was already asking how and when I could buy gear.”

This presents another difficulty for new players， as the vast majority of all pads， skates， and even wheels have to be ordered in from outside China. Commitment to the sport leads many to bring back kits from trips home， or to relocate here with skates and equipment in tow. Thus， for those who relocate to Beijing from overseas teams， the sport is a way to foster a sense of community and continue learning new skills.endprint

“Hooten Annie” first got involved with Texas San Angelo Soul Sisters back in 2009. Upon moving to the Northern Capital for work in 2011， she said， “I couldnt imagine spending four years in Beijing without derby， so we started the league.” According to Annie， the sports not just putting on skates and wearing a cute outfit； playing it takes “passion， persistence， dedication， and openness.”

DIY culture

Having formed a solid team with two-hour practices twice a week， created a logo， and even held a skate-a-thon fundraiser—Over 4，500 laps were skated on June 7 to raise more than 12，770 yuan （$2，044）—it would seem that Beijing Roller Derby is here to stay. All this， despite the obstacles： namely， an outdoor rink exposed to the elements and air pollution， and a lack of familiarity with the sport in Asia.

“Watching a solid community of derby forming in a country that has traditionally been seen as being so out of reach” is the most fulfilling result of her efforts， said Latarche. “Theres a DIY culture forming here， and so far derby hasnt been shut out.” With two leagues established on the Chinese mainland and one in Hong Kong， according to Latarche， it wont be long before more pop up.

As for why expats and Beijingers alike should get involved， Hooten Annie simply said，“Its the best sport theyve never played.”endprint