This first-ever coed roller derby bout in Michigan history will benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Flint and the Whaley's Children's Home.
The Derby Girls have been in practice with coaches Jim Howard and former Olympic speed skating alternate Shawn Skipper. They have also been "buffing up" to take on the guys; receiving strength training from local rugby team, the Flint Rogues.
Mentally, the girls are up to the challenge of taking on the boys. "We never set out to empower women, it just happened that we were empowered by roller derby," league founder Kymm Clark said.
"We found we gained confidence in our work lives. We have actually lost members because they began performing better at work, got promoted and had to move to another state. You pick alternate egos when you join roller derby, but the alter ego bleeds over into your real life, and then your alter ego becomes who you are," Clark continued. "Some of the girls have even ended toxic relationships as a result of the assertiveness and independence they gained from league involvement."
The league, now pushing 50 members strong, is preparing to join the national Woman's Flat Track Derby Association at the end of the season. They will also leave Rollhaven in September for their new home at Flint's Perani Arena.
Race City Rebel Jeremy Dexter is impressed with the girl's level of motivation. "I'm not sure that a female team has ever offered to play a men's team before," he said. "In roller derby, there seems to be a greater desire for it to be coed. There is a greater openness for men and women to play together on teams and men's and women's teams playing each other."
Dexter's involvement with roller derby came from after refereeing a woman's league in Indianapolis for three years.
The Rebels formed in the fall of 2009 in a league with their sister roller derby team, the Circle City Socialites. Sunday will be the first official bout for Rebels, but Dexter doesn't consider the lack of track time a liability. "One of our guys is a speed skater who competes nationally. We have an ice and roller hockey player. We definitely have some seasoned skaters on our team." On hand to help coordinate the benefit for will be the group 611, a non-profit organization that exists only to serve and assist other Michigan non-profit organizations.
The founder of 611, Greg Martin, is enthused about the event. "I've worked with a lot of non-profits. I see so many that are doing great work, but they seem to have tunnel vision.
I'm glad to see the Boys and Girls Club, which is focused on the development of at-risk teens and preteens, and the Whaley's home, which also is focused on the welfare of children, working together to have the biggest impact on the community. It's pretty awesome to have roller derby bring them together."
He said he's equally impressed with the achievements and motivation of the Derby Girls. "I really applaud the girls for looking at the community and finding a way to make a difference. They found a way to make people's lives better with roller derby and we commend them for that."
Advanced tickets are available for $5 online at www.brownpapertickets.com or at Play it Again Sports on Miller Road in Flint
Tickets are also available at the door for $7.
