Burning River Roller Girls

Today, many images portray women as sweet, innocent and totally harmless. The Burning River Roller Girls (BRRG) beg to differ. Members of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) and Cleveland’s first all-female, flat-track roller derby team, the Burning River Roller Girls are tough.

For those whose roller derby knowledge may be lacking, here is what you need to know: Roller derby is a contact sport played by two five-member teams on roller skates. There is one “jammer” on each team and four “blockers.” Points are scored when the jammer breaks through the other team’s blockers. However, to make it interesting, both jammers skate simultaneously, so the blockers have to help their jammer get through while stopping the other team’s jammer.

Roller derby has increased in popularity in the last decade due to a large grassroots and amateur movement, and there are currently 124 teams in the WFTDA. The Burning River Roller Girls are comprised of seven teams, including the Burning River All Stars and The Pyromaniacs.

Headed into their sixth season, the BRRG compete in bouts at the Wolstein Center through June 9. The cost of tickets is $4-$13 and they may be purchased at www.burningriverrollergirls.com.

- Nate Klein 

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