Is This Roller Derby?

I'm a derby baby, there's no getting around that.

Before 2010, I didn't even know this thing existed, and I only started skating with my league at the beginning of this year.

Despite being pretty new on the scene, even I can tell that derby is, and has changed. There's a lot of discussion about how it's changing, whether it's a good thing or a bad thing, and what, if anything, should be done.

Like the majority of the derby community, I spent the majority of my weekend watching the DNN live stream of the World Cup. Some people prefer to watch full screen in silence, but I have to abuse the chat with my joy and woe, depending on how the game goes.

Just before the England V Australia game came on, the stream ran a selection of adverts, one of which was the somewhat viral 'This Is Roller Derby' trailer that most are familiar with.

I watched that video at the beginning of 2011, and thought the fights, drama and attitude was over the top when compared to the UK derby scene, but now it just seems ridiculous. More than one viewer commented that 'that is not roller derby', and I think they're right.

Derby has transformed into a sport played by athletes that take it and themselves seriously.

This much is apparent by the fact that there was a world cup at all, and evident in the standard zebra shirts all the ref's sported, and the subdued, streamlined uniforms that the players were using. (Violet Attack's hot pants not withstanding.)

A lot of people would lament this 'normalisation' of derby, but I welcome it, because derby remains a place where women can be whoever they want to be.

In the World Cup, some people skated under their real name others used their derby name. Some skaters wore face paint, some didn't. There were a few surprises, like Finland hiding the jammer pantie under their shirts, and every single team seemed to take delays after they'd lined up as an opportunity to do a little dance or conduct the cheers of their fans.

Derby might be changing its face, but it's not losing any of its spirit. Thank goodness for that.