Claremont, NH — The industrial fans in the second-story warehouse worked hard against the steamy, summer air, but they didn’t work as hard as the Twin State Derby skaters who came out that night to practice.
Two rings dominated the giant, open space. About a dozen people learning the sport rolled around one ring, while ten or so veterans ran blocking drills on the other. A pair of intermediate skaters darted in and around lines painted on the floor, testing their footwork. Even at practice, the Upper Valley’s roller derby team showed their athleticism, skill, and strategy.
Roller derby isn’t as well known as football, baseball or hockey. You might have seen it in movies or TV shows that featured banked tracks and showy violence. But as team captain Kristi Clemens explains, roller derby is a real sport—and definitely not WWE on skates.
"They think there's fighting, they think that we're throwing elbows and pulling hair, and that's not it at all,” Clemens said.
Upper Valley residents can see the eight-wheel action for themselves at the Twin State Vixens' next home game this Saturday, August 23, in Woodstock’s Union Arena. Tickets are available online or at the door.
Clemens has been with Twin State Derby (Twin State Derby is the organization’s league designation, while the Vixens are their ‘A’ team) since their first practice in 2010. She grew up skating but never thought of herself as a sports person. A few years after moving to the Upper Valley, Clemens—whose derby nickname, “Ivory Tower,” reflects her Dartmouth College day job—saw signs for a roller derby group starting up. She’s been skating with the team ever since.
She likes how roller derby pushes back against women being told to be quiet, or not to build up muscles. “Here was a sport that really celebrated women’s sports, celebrated their strength, but also wasn't afraid to be a little silly,” Clemens said.
Roller derby is played on an oval track with two teams of five skaters each. Four members of each team are blockers, and the one with the starred helmet is the jammer. Teams score points every time their jammer passes the other team’s pack of blockers. The blockers’ job is to stop the other team’s jammer, but blockers who use their hands, feet, or elbows on other players can end up in the penalty box.
These ‘jams’ last up to two minutes, though the lead jammer can stop the jam early if they want to lock in a points lead. A game runs over two 30-minute periods.
Clemens is a blocker—being a jammer, the 46-year-old says, is a young person’s game—and enjoys keeping an eye on the track and calling out strategic blocks.
“I love putting jammers in the sad place, when they're just stuck behind me and another blocker or two as a wall,” she said. “They're trying everything, and we're just shutting down every trick that they try to blow in there. It’s a really great feeling.”
Kristi Clemens (right) practices elevator doors, where two blockers close up together to stop an opposing player from passing through. All photos © Matt Golec. At top: Advanced trainer Kelly Beerman (derby name: “Blazes”) leads the Twin State Vixens in practice.
Roller derby has historically been a women’s sport, but they welcome those who identify as female or non-binary. “We're proud that we're able to provide a welcoming space for that in our sport,” Clemens said.
TSD is ranked about 50th (https://stats.wftda.com/team/twin-state-derby) out of 150 teams in the Northeast region, which stretches from Quebec down to Washington, DC, and out as far as Chicago. While the Vixens mostly play closer to home, they do take occasional road trips to get in enough sanctioned games to maintain their league standing.
John Grandi, bench coach for the Vixens, believes the team is on the cusp of breaking into the next level of competitive play. Grandi’s role during games is to keep players on the bench cool, focused, and collected, and to set the skater lineup for the next jam.
“I spend most of my time looking at the bench rather than watching the game, because that's where my focus is,” he said, while other coaches pay attention to skaters on the track
Grandi’s coaching philosophy is to help players improve, and one way he accomplishes this is by ensuring everyone participates in games. “If you're on the bench, you're going to play in the game, and you're going to get a decent amount of playing time,” he said.
“It's this amazing community that you build through this sport” — Kristi Clemens
Back in 2012, Grandi didn’t know much about roller derby. He’d made friends with people in a band after moving to the Upper Valley, and in 2012 he helped those friends set up for a Vixens halftime show. He thought the game looked cool, so next time he volunteered as a non-skating official, working the penalty box. He had such a good time he agreed to keep volunteering, and it snowballed from there to becoming bench coach.
“Roller derby is just so unique in the way it's played and the culture around it,” Grandi said. “It's such a welcoming environment. It does such a good job of building people up.”
Kristi Clemens (center left) and advanced trainer Kelly Beerman discuss proper blocking techniques.
Grandi encourages people to come out if they’re interested in the sport, even if, like him, they’re not expert skaters. “There are plenty of other ways that you can be a part of the league, even if you don't want to strap on pads and skates,” he said.
The best way to get involved, Grandi and other team officials say, is through Derby 101, a special course (open to all genders) to learn about roller derby. TSD runs Derby 101 for potential skaters and officials throughout the year; check their website (https://twinstatederby.com/) or social media for timing.
Sharon Thibeau of Springfield, VT, is part of the new Derby 101 crew. Roller derby has been on her bucket list for a long time, and despite some initial anxiety—she said it took her a few tries to actually show up—Thibeau was happy with how welcoming and inclusive people have been.
She reported quickly reclaiming skills she’d learned as a kid, such as skating backwards, crediting muscle memory. And though she’s had to endure hot temperatures for her first two sessions, “I had so much fun, I didn’t really notice it,” she said.
Lorianna Vandenberg moved to Vermont about three years ago from Houston, where she skated with another team. When Vandenberg joined TSD, the plan was to move fully into officiating, but she still gets pulled back onto the track when the Vixens need an experienced player.
“It’s kind of a post-retirement gig,” she said.
Lorianna Vandenberg (left) works on a blocking drill.
Vandenberg (derby name: “Dutch Destroyer”) says that officiating has shown her the game in a new dimension. It’s more mental than physical, and you have to concentrate to keep up with what everyone on the track is doing. “It’s a very dynamic thing,” she said.
Vandenberg found a community of friends and teammates with TSD, which is a common theme among participants. Roller derby has a reputation of being supportive and welcoming.
Team captain Clemens agrees, noting that the Vixens will have post-game dinners with visiting teams, and despite getting physical on the track, the competition remains friendly.
That camaraderie is important to Clemens. While she appreciates her Dartmouth career, she isn’t sure she would have stayed in the Upper Valley as long as she has without the strong connections she’s made with her team and the sport of roller derby.
“These are people who threw me a baby shower, who brought me meals when we've been sick, who have helped me move,” Clemens said. “It's this amazing community that you build through this sport that transcends what we're doing on the track and has really given me some of the most rewarding and fulfilling friendships of my adult life.”
Matt Golec has been a longtime Upper Valley writer, teacher, and board game designer. He’s moving shortly to the Midwest. You can learn more at mattgolec.com.