| Roller derby in Germany |
|---|
By September 2011, there were more than 1,000 amateur leagues on every inhabited continent, [1] in countries such as Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Germany, Belgium, Finland, Sweden [2] and Singapore [3]
The Stuttgart Valley Rollergirlz were the first roller derby league to be formed in Germany, and the second in Europe, being set up in April 2006. In 2008, they assisted Bear City Roller Derby in establishing itself in Berlin, and by the end of 2009, there were seven leagues in the country. [4] In October 2010, Bear City was accepted as the first German apprentice member of the WFTDA. [5]
The first German Championship was held in 2010, Stuttgart beating Bear City Roller Derby 128–124 in the final. [6]
Germany sent a team to the first Roller Derby World Cup, held in 2011, with skaters from Stuttgart, Bear City, Barock City Roller Derby, Harbor Girls Hamburg, Philly Rollergirls and Ruhrpott Roller Girls. [7]
Rat City Roller Derby is a women's flat-track roller derby league in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 2004 as Rat City Rollergirls, LLC, the league has incorporated alternative cultural influences, and has inspired and mentored other leagues. Rat City is a founding member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), and has achieved success on the WFTDA stage, qualifying for WFTDA Playoffs every season, including a second-place finish in the 2007 WFTDA Championships.
Texas Rollergirls is a women's flat track roller derby league based in Austin, Texas. Founded in early 2003 and widely credited as the league that started the modern roller derby movement, the Texas Rollergirls were the first flat-track league in the nation to play a version of roller derby using new standardized rules and a track design based on the dimensions of the old banked tracks. As flat-track derby caught on in other American cities, the Texas Rollergirls' rulebook and track design eventually evolved into the specifications that were adopted and ratified upon formation of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) in 2005, of which Texas is a founding member.
London Roller Derby is a women's flat track roller derby league and a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA). London Roller Derby are founding members of the United Kingdom's national governing body of roller derby, United Kingdom Roller Derby Association (UKRDA), alongside other leagues within the UK. The league has four active travel teams which play competitive roller derby across the UK and the world: London Brawling (A), Brawl Saints (B), Batter C Power (C) and Dream Team (D).
London Rockin' Rollers (LRR) is a WFTDA aligned flat-track roller derby league based in London, England. Founded in 2007, the league is a member of both the United Kingdom Roller Derby Association (UKRDA) and the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), and plays by WFTDA rules.
Middlesbrough Roller Derby is a women's flat track roller derby league and not-for-profit organisation based in Middlesbrough, England. Founded as Middlesbrough Milk Rollers in September 2007, Middlesbrough is a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).
The WFTDA's East Region was formed in 2006. In 2009, teams from the western part of the region were moved into the North Central and South Central Regions.
The Women's Flat Track Derby Association's (WFTDA) West Region was formed in 2006. In 2009, teams from the eastern part of the region were moved into the North Central and South Central Regions.
The Paris Rollergirls is a women's flat track roller derby league based in Paris, France. Founded in February 2010, the league currently consists of a single team which competes against teams from other leagues, and is a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).
Bear City Roller Derby (BCRD) is a flat track roller derby league based in Berlin. Founded in 2008, Bear City is a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).
The growing popularity of roller skating in the United States led to the formation of organized multi-day endurance races for cash prizes as early as the mid-1880s. Speed and endurance races continued to be held on both flat and banked tracks in the century's first three decades and spectators enjoyed the spills and falls of the skaters. The term "roller derby" was used to refer to such races by 1922.
By September 2011, there were more than 1,000 amateur roller derby leagues, covering every inhabited continent, with teams in countries such as Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Germany, Belgium, Finland, Sweden and Singapore In the UK, the sport is mostly played by women.
By September 2011, there were more than 1,000 amateur leagues on every inhabited continent, in countries such as Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Germany, Belgium, Finland, Sweden and Singapore. Canadian roller derby leagues may join the Canadian Women's Flat Track Roller Derby Association (CWRDA), which in January 2012 will rename itself the Roller Derby Association of Canada (RDAC).
Stuttgart Valley Roller Derby is a women's flat track roller derby league based in Stuttgart. Founded in 2006, the league currently consists of two teams which compete against teams from other leagues. Stuttgart is a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).
Stockholm Roller Derby (STRD) is a women's flat track roller derby league based in Stockholm, Sweden. Founded in 2007, the league currently consists of four teams which compete against teams from other leagues and the league also has their own group of officials.
The Cincinnati Rollergirls is a women's flat track roller derby league based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 2005, the league currently consists of two teams which compete against teams from other leagues, and is a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).
GO-GO Gent Roller Derby is a women's flat track roller derby league based in Ghent, Belgium. Founded in 2008, the league currently consists of an All-star travel team and a B-team which compete against teams from other leagues. GO-GO Gent is a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).
The Columbia QuadSquad (CQS) is a roller derby league based in Columbia, South Carolina. Founded in 2007, the league consists of the Allstars, who represent the league in WFTDA interleague competitions around the country, the Miss B-havers, the b-level travel team, and three home teams: the Belles on Wheels, Capitol City Vixens and Spawn of Skatin'. The league also has a junior derby team, the Columbia QuadSquad Minis. Columbia is a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).
Copenhagen Roller Derby (CRD) is a women's flat track roller derby league based in Copenhagen, Denmark. Founded in 2009, the league consists of two teams, which compete against teams from other leagues. Copenhagen Roller Derby is a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).
The Ruhrpott Roller Girls (RPRG) is a women's flat track roller derby league based in Essen, Germany. Founded in 2009, the league consists of two teams, which compete against teams from other leagues. Ruhrpott is a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).
