Big Easy Roller Derby (est. 2005)[1] is a women's, flat-track roller derby league in New Orleans, Louisiana. Big Easy is a founding member league of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).[2]
| Metro area | New Orleans |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Teams | AllStars (A team) Second Line (B team) |
| Track type(s) | Flat |
| Venue | Human Performance Center |
| Affiliations | WFTDA |
| Org. type | LLC |
| Website | https://www.bigeasyrollerderby.com/ |
History
editBig Easy Roller Derby was founded as Big Easy Rollergirls in the spring of 2005 and had planned their first bout during Mardi Gras 2006.[3] Unfortunately, the league was disrupted by and had to regroup following the events surrounding Hurricane Katrina, beginning competitive play on September 16, 2006. After a citywide tryout, BERD had two teams and more than 30 active members its first season. The debut bout was won by the Hor-Nots (v the 'Aints) 128–123 in overtime before a sellout crowd.
In their second season, Big Easy Roller Derby doubled their membership with new recruits and was able to field four local teams: Confederacy of Punches, Crescent Wenches, Marigny Antoinettes, and StoryVillains, as well as a travel team, the Big Easy Roller Derby Allstars. By the fourth season, Big Easy Roller Derby switched to a two-team structure: The Big Easy Allstars (A team) and the Crescent Wenches (B team). The Marigny Antoinettes are now the incoming year's "Fresh Meat", and the StoryVillains are the recreational team composed of retired Big Easy Roller Derby skaters.
The Big Easy Roller Derby organization has continued to grow and evolve,[4] maintaining a rigorous athletic training regimen (both on skates and off) while regularly contributing to community-service–oriented efforts around New Orleans.[5] Charities and organizations BERD has worked with include the Slaughter, Louisiana Volunteer Fire Department, Arabi Wrecking Krewe, New Orleans City Park, Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, NO AIDS Task Force, Common Ground Collective, KaBOOM!, KIDsmART and the Louisiana SPCA.
Big Easy Roller Derby are a diverse group of female athletes, ranging in age from the twenty-one to over fifty.[4] By day, they are dental hygienists, community college students, teachers, lawyers, stay-at-home-mothers, and waitresses.
For their first two seasons, home bouts were held at Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World in Algiers, New Orleans.[6] The league currently holds their home bouts before large crowds (400 - 600 attendees) at the University of New Orleans Human Performance Center.
Voted “Best Local Sports Team" by local magazine Where Y’at in their first season,[7] the league's mission continues to be to encourage and empower women through the sport of flat-track roller derby. In doing so they provide alternative athletic entertainment while supporting charitable organizations that benefit the community at large.
In 2011, BERD converted from an LLC to a non-profit corporation, but does not have 501(c)(3) status. The league changed their name from Big Easy Rollergirls to Big Easy Roller Derby in 2019.[8]
BERD has a partnership with Crescent City Crushers, the local junior roller derby league, to promote the sport locally.[9]
WFTDA competition
editIn October 2011, Big Easy were ranked number one by the Derby South organization, which represents leagues from five southern states.[10]
After the 2013 season, they were ranked 93 in the world by the WFTDA. In 2014, Big Easy made their first appearance at WFTDA Division 2 Playoffs, coming into the Duluth tournament as the third seed, and ultimately finishing in fourth place.[11]
Rankings
edit| Season | Final ranking[12] | Playoffs | Championship |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 28 WFTDA[13] | — | N/A |
| 2007 | 30 WFTDA[14] | DNQ | DNQ |
| 2008 | 9 SC[15] | DNQ | DNQ |
| 2009 | 17 SC[16] | DNQ | DNQ |
| 2010 | 17 SC[17] | DNQ | DNQ |
| 2011 | 18 SC[18] | DNQ | DNQ |
| 2012 | 24 SC[19] | DNQ | DNQ |
| 2013 | 97 WFTDA[20] | DNQ | DNQ |
| 2014 | 67 WFTDA[21] | 4 D2[11] | DNQ |
| 2015 | 79 WFTDA[22] | DNQ | DNQ |
| 2016 | 142 WFTDA[23] | DNQ | DNQ |
| 2017 | 162 WFTDA[24] | DNQ | DNQ |
References
edit- ^ Tulane University Magazine – News Archived 2007-06-22 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Joulwan, Melissa (6 April 2007). Rollergirl: Totally True Tales from the Track. Simon and Schuster. p. 267. ISBN 9781416538554. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
- ^ Bynum, Chris (December 16, 2005), "Spin Sisters", Times Picayune
- ^ a b Rollergirls want some aggressive skaters- NOLA.com
- ^ Barkoff, Eva Jacob (May 2006), "On a Roll", Times Picayune
- ^ "The Big Easy Roller Girls: Through Hell and High Water, pt. 1 : NOLA Indymedia". neworleans.indymedia.org. Retrieved 2022-07-13.
- ^ [1] Archived October 10, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Big Easy Rollergirls Announce Rebranding to Big Easy Roller Derby, to Host First Official Game Since 2019". Big Easy Roller Derby. 2022-06-12. Retrieved 2022-07-13.
- ^ "Crescent City Crushers". Big Easy Roller Derby. Retrieved 2022-07-13.
- ^ "October 2011 Rankings", Derby South
- ^ a b "August 15-17, 2014: Duluth, Minnesota, USA - Women's Flat Track Derby Association". wftda.org. WFTDA. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
- ^ "Current Rankings Archived 2012-01-25 at the Wayback Machine", WFTDA
- ^ "12/8/2006 WFTDA National Rankings". WFTDA. 23 February 2007. Archived from the original on February 23, 2007. Retrieved February 23, 2007.
- ^ "Current WFTDA Rankings", Derby News Network, October 2007
- ^ "Rankings – WFTDA". www.wftda.com. WFTDA. Archived from the original on 14 February 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
- ^ "Current Rankings". WFTDA. Archived from the original on 30 April 2010. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
- ^ "Current Rankings". WFTDA. Archived from the original on 2 March 2011. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
- ^ "Current Rankings". WFTDA. Archived from the original on 25 January 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
- ^ "Current Rankings". WFTDA. Archived from the original on 20 March 2013. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
- ^ "Rankings: December 31, 2013". WFTDA. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
- ^ "Rankings: December 31, 2014 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
- ^ "Rankings: December 31, 2015 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
- ^ "Rankings: December 31, 2016 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
- ^ "Rankings: December 31, 2017 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
Bibliography
edit- April 2008 - W Magazine - Bruce Weber spread on New Orleans features the Big Easy Rollergirls
- November 2007 - NOLA.com launches Flat Track Fever
- March 2007 - USA Rollersports Magazine "Frivolity in a Forgotten City"
- March 2007 - New Orleans Magazine "Easy Rollin'"
- Feb. 2007 - Times Picayune "Back to Basics"
- Dec. 2006 - Health & Fitness "Rolling Thunder"
- Nov. 2006 - UNO Driftwood "Roller Derby Action"
- Nov. 2006 - NolaFugees.com "Warriors of the Flat Rink"
- Oct. 2006 - Times Picayune "Rocking and Rolling"
- Oct. 2006 - Times Picayune "Rollergirls Make Algiers Their Rink"
- Oct. 2006 - The Gambit "A Sport for the Well-Wheeled"
- Sept. 2006 - The Gambit "Hot Picks"
- Sept. 2006 - New Orleans Magazine "People to Watch"
- Sept. 2006 - Tulane New Wave "Big Easy Rollergirls Ready for Prime Time"
- July 2006 - WTUL Community Gumbo "Through Hell and High Water""
- June 2006 - Where Y'at Magazine "Big Easy Rollergirls named 'Best local sports team'"