A respectable-sized crowd filled about one third of Key Arena’s 15,000-plus seats to witness Season-5, Bout 1, between two pairs of teams belonging to the Rat City Rollergirls, the Seattle-based all-female roller derby league that originated in White Center. The Rollergirls have four teams, Grave Danger, Sockit Wenches, Derby Liberation Front, and Throttle Rockets. Each team has about 20 players. There is also a fifth, traveling team. Ballard and Greenwood were well represented during the league’s Feb. 7 debut at Key Arena with players, a mascot, and many enthusiastic volunteers.

“ I volunteer so that I get to hang out with all the kick-ass ladies,” said Jasmine McKenzie, of Ballard, who was stationed at the season pass-holder check-in table.

The skaters, who do not get paid and actually shell out some expense money and provide their own equipment, are rough and tumble. They exhibit athleticism and stamina with two, 30-minute periods per game on the oval track. Most sport a “bad-girl” persona, and some are clad with foreboding tattoos. Their monikers are clever puns, like “Meg Myday,” “Darth Skater,” “Ann R. Kissed,” and “Sassy Chassie,”
 one of the Socket Wenches, who owns the popular Gordito’s Healthy Mexican Food restaurant in Greenwood, and another across from the City of Everett Events Center.

“My number is 29. I’m 29 and holding,” said Ms. Chassie, whose non-skating name is Marlene Hall. “I’m the oldest on the league, 46,” she added proudly. After beating the team Grave Danger, Sassy Chassie enthused, “It felt really good being in the Key Arena. I got my own chair, locker, and the floor felt fantastic!”

Perhaps the victory was due in part to Ballard resident and Grave Danger member, number 666, “Selma Soul,” who was in the audience and did not compete. Selma, or Monique Heinman, was nursing a rib injury, but should be back for the next competition.

Throttle Rockets’ team mascot, “Rocketman Houllahan,” is a Greenwood resident. “Domination is what we’re about,” said Houllahan, sporting a medley of “silver” bling around his neck. He is a property manager and real estate agent when he trades his skates in for his walking shoes. “This is my scepter of domination,” he said, waving a wand rapped in “leopard skin” topped off with a doorknob-like crystal. “I killed the leopard myself.”

The Throttle Rockets may have had the killer instinct, but were still beaten by the Derby Liberation Front, or DLF.

To the uninitiated, the exhibition, which participants say is unrehearsed, seems chaotic, with whistles blowing, penalties called, elbows, and sometimes bodies, flying, and points somehow adding up on the overhead scoreboard. Luckily, a program is issued to each ticket holder with explanations of the rules and regulations. The fundamental idea is that the “jammer” scores points lapping the “opponents’ “blockers.” The jammers seem to be a bit lighter on their skates, like a football wide receiver quick on his cleats. The blockers tend to be more physically formidable, shall we say. 



“I like to do unusual things,” said audience member Claire Anderson of Ballard, who was seated close to the action with her guide dog, Davida, 3, an inquisitive Labrador retriever. “I am seeing-impaired but I can see large objects.”

And with 40 skaters on the track at one time, she seemed untroubled following the action.

Their next bout is March 7 at the Key Arena, which limits its seating to 5,500 for this event. For more information of the Rat City Rollergirls, go to: www.ratcityrollergirls.com