‘Whip It’, Seattle-style

by: Carolyn K. Huynh


SEATTLE, WA – Drew Barrymore may have hyped up roller-derby with her directorial debut, ‘Whip It’ – which came out on Oct. 2 – however, the Northwest calls dibs on cultivating their very own all-girl roller-derby scene first.

They call themselves Rat City Rollergirls – RCRG for short. Founded in 2004, RCRG’s ‘official’ headquarters is located just south of Seattle, in an area known as White Center – which is also nicknamed ‘Rat City’. There are several theories as to how it got its nickname. Some attribute it to the rat problem that once invaded the city – or to the old military relocation and training (RAT) center during WWII.

Rat City Rollergirls consists of 100 member-owners – who are divided among four teams: the Derby Liberation Front, Grave Danger, Sockit Wenches, and the Throttle Rockets. The fifth team, called the All-Stars, represents RCRG in regional and national play. According to RCRG’s official website, RCRG’s resume consists of being ‘the first flat-track, all-female roller derby league in Seattle and the Northwest’. RCRG, LLC was not available for comment.

Roller derby is more than just a roughhousing contact sport – it is actually more intense. According to doubleex.com, "Roller derby is like an alternative-universe version of corporate American sports. It operates on something like the values of a commune—players really do play for love, and the good of the sport really does come first. At less than a decade old, derby has created a full-blooded internal world—and has done so without corporate cash, deep-pocketed owners, or even a shred of attention from mainstream sports media."

The politics of underground roller derby is simple - it's for the players by the players. Everyone is their own boss – but as a collective unit. It’s for love of the game. And yes, it doesn’t hurt that there are bunch of hot girls with tattoos skating around, hurling themselves at each other.

It can also be looked at as a new kind of female empowerment movement.

“When I first moved to Seattle, I experienced what you guys call the ‘Seattle Freeze’,” said, a frequent volunteer for RCRG, Maura Nickums. “Then I decided to join RCRG, and I have to say – if you want to make life-time friends, join a roller-derby team.”

Not only does RCRG parallel Barrymore’s movie in terms of the undeniably strong female friendships that are formed, but it’s just a heck of a lot more fun. Instead of watching the great sport of roller-derby in a movie theater, go check out RCRG at their next game on Oct. 11 against White Bout II at Key Arena.




The Rat City Roller Girls:




Drew Barrymore, Ellen Page - 'Whip It' trailer:



Check out the Rat City Roller Girl's official website.