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Rollins Road is a mostly industrial thruway that runs parallel to Highway 101, best known for the always bustling In-N-Out that sits at the Millbrae Avenue intersection. Just a few doors down is the Burlingamer, a facility currently owned by the Burlingame Soccer Club. While it is typically used for indoor youth soccer practice, on Thursday and Sunday nights the space is filled with the sounds of adults laughing, roller skating and occasionally knocking into each other.
Peninsula Roller Derby is a nonprofit organization and competitive member of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association. It strives to be an inclusive and safe community for all as a space where amateur athletes can learn roller derby regardless of socioeconomics, gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, language, culture or abilities. Part of this inclusivity includes being cognizant of those who are still COVID-conscious. While players can remove their masks during the competitive team practice if they test negative, masks are worn for the most part.
The Burlingamer has been home for Peninsula Roller Derby for the past five years and also plays host to the Supernovas, PRD’s higher-level team that is part of the California Derby Galaxy Coalition. Roller derby teams and leagues can be found worldwide, though it is most popular in the United States and has an enthusiastic community in the Bay Area.
For the uninitiated, roller derby is a full-contact sport played on quad roller skates. There are two teams, and each team fields four blockers and one jammer. Each game is two 30-minute periods composed of two-minute rounds called “jams.”
The jammers, who wear a star on their helmet, have to go around the entire track and get through opposing blockers to collect points, and at the end of the game whichever team has the most points wins, according to Peninsula Derby coach Sheridan Ross.
What sounds like a fairly straightforward premise is played out in an extravagant display of strategy, athleticism and brute force. Even if you don’t understand all the rules (which I am admittedly still foggy about), you can’t help but be in awe of the action.
What is even more impressive when attending a Peninsula Roller Derby practice is the sense of community. In between jams there are smiles and high-fives. Before practice teammates catch up on the week, and after practice they exchange gifts including plants, homegrown fruit, animal snacks, clothing and recipes.
To be involved in roller derby is to be committed. The coaches, captains and referees are all volunteers. They arrive early and stay late in order to help lay down and clean up the tape that outlines the track. These amateur athletes devote their time and money to play the sport they love. (Peninsula Roller Derby members have $50 monthly dues that support gear, uniforms and other necessities, but the organization works with individuals who would be impeded by the cost. “We don’t want money to be a barrier not to play,” Ross said.)
Interested in joining the fun? Every quarter Peninsula Roller Derby offers a “learn to skate” session. During these sessions new skaters learn skills to skate safely and confidently before getting into contact and derby drills. Keep an eye out for the next session this summer.
If you want to learn more, email recruiting@peninsularollerderby.com, follow them on Facebook and Instagram @peninsularollerderby and check out their website, peninsularollergirls.org. Peninsula Roller Derby is always looking for more skaters, on-skates officials, off-skates officials and new fans. Their next home game is Sunday, May 26, at the Burlingamer, 1864 Rollins Road in Burlingame.