Thrills, Spills and Roller Derby Skills Girls on wheels competing for glory! Just over 10 years ago there was a group of 15-20 women that would skate together at the Golden Skate roller rink in San Ramon, no rules or anything, just skating. Today they are known as the B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls (B.A.D.), the first women’s flat-track roller derby league in California. They’ve attained nonprofit status and have four teams in the Bay Area spanning the cities of Richmond, Berkeley, Oakland and San Francisco, and are now known as one of the top flat-track roller derby leagues in the world. by Matt Larson “It has grown leaps and bounds in the 10 years that we’ve been a league,” said Melissa Chamberlain, aka “Miss Moxxxie,” former B.A.D. All-Star team player, league Announcer Manager and current coach for the San Francisco ShEvil Dead. Chamberlain was in love with roller derby as soon as she first saw a game in 2003. “I was totally blown away,” she said. “I had to do this. It was the coolest thing I’d ever seen!” To try and give you an understanding of what to expect at a roller derby game, Chamberlain said, “It is like rugby combined with NASCAR, but then, there’s no ball!” she laughed. “There really isn’t a sport like roller derby.” The reigning B.A.D. champions from 2014 are the Richmond Wrecking Belles. Fitting, as most games Photos by Michael Dunn michaeldunnphoto.com
Contra Costa Marketplace - July 2015
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