When I was a kid I watched roller derby on TV. It must have been a big thing, to be televised and have a special place to play with a banked oval arena, etc. It seemed to go away for a long time; the last few years it has been coming back, and now the Ohio Roller Girls have been around for ten years. I started hearing about them a couple of years ago, and finally went to my first game last night. It's in the Ohio Building on the fairgrounds, that weird round building in the center. Since this is flat track derby they basically taped out an oval on the floor. Seating was bleachers, a few folding chairs, and just sitting on the floor like you did in grade school. I definitely recommend coming early to grab a seat of some kind; 2-3 hours of sitting on concrete doesn't work for me anymore. It looked to be cash only; we got our tickets online, but had to pay for fairground parking and concessions so I blew through most of what I had. T-shirts, etc., were available and they did take cards for that. There's a flyer with brief rule explanations, and info on the players, teams, etc. It was hard to figure out what was going on at first, but watch a bit, read the flyer, and maybe search online for some guidelines. Once you have some idea what is going on it looks less like chaos. Basically, one skater tries to push past the other team and go all the way around the rink. The other players try to make a path for her, and block the other team. So. The game. Fan-freaking-tastic. Women skating around- and they can skate well- shoving and twisting and falling. They have pads, but jeez, you have to be sore after all that. We played a team from Toronto, and while both were good the Ohio Roller Girls were way better. Watching them pivot and slip by a wall of players while flying around on skates was impressive. One especially, The Smacktivist, seemed able to magically avoid or slip through any blocking. The announcer was good (though sound quality was iffy so I couldn't always tell what he was saying.) The fans were enthusiastic. The players were competitive. It was a blast to watch. I tried to talk Sweetie into trying out, but she passed. We had a great time. read more

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We attended a double header for the first time as we've always wanted to see one. We were hoping for some action, yet the first game was pretty stale. The players would just stop and wait for the player to come back around... We rarely say the players make if 3/4 of the way around the track, which is where we were sitting. The second game was much more engaging! The players seemed to be more advanced and seemed to play the entire track. Overall, we may not go back unless there's is a reason to be there. read more

I had never been to a roller derby before and this was pretty interesting and neat to watch. i didn't know what was going on a lot of the time but then started to catch on and it was very exciting. I think if anyone is around they should check it out and these girls are tough and fun to watch so you wont be disappointed! the match lasted about an hour and a half with a 30 min halftime i think it was. time flew by though because it was fast and fun to watch. the score can go up and down so fast that when they were down about 19- 50 they ended up coming back and loosing only 113-120 and it got even closer than that. these girls give there heart, and play hard for their fans and are AWESOME! read more

Ohio Roller Girls - Amateur Sports Teams Near Me

If you live in Columbus, I highly recommend that you get thee to a Roller Girl bout because it was awesome. Oh, you have something else going on? Cancel it, this is better. Roller derby itself is amazing to see. The flat track, the outfits (there's a uniform, but there's definitely some individual personality in them including tutus and shamrock covered bun huggers. It's very evident that this team has been around for awhile-they kicked all kinds of butt in the season opener this past Saturday. The way these girls skated, it almost looked like an art form. Being able to run into someone, go flying, and stay on your feet? More than I usually can do when I roller skate. That's the other thing. Watching these women make it look so easy makes you convinced you should strap on a pair of skates and get out there yourself. At least until someone goes down and you remember these women are able to make it look good. Just about the time you think these women are way too tough to want to be friends with you, they walk around the venue and sign autographs, pose for pictures, and just talk with their fans. These girls are your sister, your best friend, maybe even your mom (your very cool mom). And they love their fans. After the double header, the DJ spinning tunes for the event announced a couple times where the girls would be after the game if you didn't get enough of them at the game. One thing's for sure. I'll definitely be back. For $15 a seat (including one of the front row "suicide seats", where the action could end up in your lap), seeing the Ohio Roller Girls is a heck of a deal! read more

Hands down my favorite spectator sport. I made it to yesterday's season-opening triple-header for the first bouts I've seen in a few years. Though there have been a lot of changes (not the least of which was going from a self-contained league to a local team that plays against other regional cities), the fun and competition, the excitement of the game, never get old. In OHRG's early years, they had themed team names and uniforms, and there was more of a camp atmosphere. The uniforms were more costumey, and the skaters' derby names pointed more to what seemed from the front row like fleshed-out stage personalities. A lot of that performance side has been shed, and though a part of me misses it, the trade has favored a more professional side of the sport. Now they're a unified group, which lets Columbus fans root for them against Cleveland, Bloomington, or wherever else. A dude in a bright green body stocking hypes the crowd up in lieu of that old campiness. The uniforms are more straightforward, though there's room for personal accessorizing. But anyone looking for center ring circus-like hijinks as you'd find in media like "Rollergirls" (the A&E reality series about the banked-track Lonestar Rollergirls of Texas) might be disappointed. But those who are more into watching and supporting a great group of amateur athletes kick some visiting team ass will come out entirely satisfied. Can I guarantee that ass-kicking every time they play? I can't say. But they swept yesterday's triple-header with triple-digit (or near it) point margins, so I'm somewhat confident, at least for the current season. What you can expect at a derby bout: If you've never been before, grab a program. There's an explanation of the basics of play in there. You'll catch on to the details while you watch, but the main idea is easy to pick up. That's one of the reasons it's such a great spectator sport -- it's simple in principle, but you gain more of an eye for its nuance the more you watch. Sit in the bleachers or on the floor -- it's all pretty informal. The game is fast-paced. While you're getting used to it, keep an eye on the jammers (the point-scoring skaters, they're the ones with the stars on their helmets). And get used to the fact that there's a lot going on in the pack on the whole and there will always be something you miss. (Too many times, a skater gets sent to the penalty box while I'm looking somewhere else.) I do have one complaint, and that's with the tech. The sound system in particular, but come to think of it there may have been only one scoreboard, and I'm not sure it was very visible to fans at one end of the track. The announcers are really, really good... when you can hear them. They narrate the game play and offer additional info on the players, the season's progress, and game strategy. The music during the bouts sets a mood... when you can make out more than a thumping bassline. Being an amateur club, they may not have the funds for a better setup, so my hope is that ticket and merchandise sales can help them out with that. Other items of note: They don't allow outside food or drinks, but there are concessions sold there, including beer. Yesterday there was an ATM on-site, which I think is a new addition. The Expo Center charges $5 for parking. And bring a cushion or a folding chair. About halfway through the afternoon-of-derby, the bleacher was vigorously biting back at my buttocks. It would be good for kids, but little ones might get bored. Excellent for preteens on up. Closer seats can make a big difference in keeping you and the pipsqueaks focused on the game, but you can also get hit with catapulting skaters down there, so be careful. read more

Have you been to an Ohio Roller Girls bout yet? You haven't?! Well, WHY THE HELL NOT?! Seriously. Imagine the most fun you could ever have at a sporting event. Mix in fun people. Add a dash of craziness. Throw in a heavy-handed sprinkling of sexy, ass-kicking girls. That's the recipe for the Ohio Roller Girls. Flat track roller derby is a fun, fast paced sport full of funk, attitude, and exceptional skill. The girls all wear a uniform, but they customize it to match their individual personalities - and boy do they have personality! read more

If for no other reason, I love these girls for their ingenious derby name: Kitty Liquorbottom, Sandra Day O'Clobber. C'mon! It's hysterical. They put on a good show, and they have enormous hearts. I have worked many charity events with the Roller Girls. They volunteer for anything and everything, and they're great volunteers. They work their butts off. In the rink, they're terrifying. I wouldn't want to go up against any one of them. The Roller Girls come in all shapes and sizes, from petite to big Bertha. But you can be sure each female in this variety pack packs a wallop. These are tough, compassionate chicks with good attitudes. They're excellent role models. If you get a chance, go out and support them. Chances are, they've probably supported you in one way or another. read more

Beer, Mexican street food, and women flinging themselves at each other at full speed while going around in a circle with wheels on their feet?! What's not to like? I had a lot of fun when I came to watch the Roller Girls take on (and absolutely wreck) the other team, Burning River. 200 to 89... whatever those points mean. Half of the fun was trying to figure out the rules and different positions as the game went on. That being said, I'm a little less ecstatic than my fellow yelpers as the competition seemed to get a little redundant after halftime. That could easily be because I didn't understand the intricacies of the game very well or possibly because our team was absolutely mauling the opposition. So for $20 ($15 for the ticket and $5 for parking at the Expo building) it was a little pricey. I would urge everyone to check this out, though, as it really was a fun and unique experience while it lasted. Some pointers: - Bring cash! When I was here they either didn't have a way to take credit cards or it wasn't working at the time. I think the concessions were cash only as well - It's $5 to park at the Expo, so don't forget to figure that into your evening. read more

I got to see their scrimmage last night and it was awesome. As someone not keen on sports it was fun and audience members were always happy to explain to others that weren't as knowledgeable. read more

Everyone who lives in Columbus needs to check out the Rollergirls. They are always sponsoring local events to help the city, they may have a better record than the Blue Jackets, and lastly they kick ass! The Rollergirls are everything you think they should be and more. Games are at the Ohio Expo Center and feature two matches for the price of one! The games are a sport I can actually enjoy. It is empowering to watch these girls skate around and take names. Speaking of names, the Rollergirls have some of the coolest around. My favorite is Portia De Bossy and Elise Brutality. Martha StewHurt of the Take-Outs is a close third, followed by Girlzilla. The Rollergirls dress up in tough versions of a cross between Halloween and Adidas. Its fun to watch the cute pigtailed girl slam into the massive force that is some of the players. The Fall Brawl has already passed, but the girls will be back in the spring. For ten dollars this is a show worth watching. You will be surprised at much you will get into the matches.I ts pretty fun to scream out "Go Revulva Go"; in a public place. Come and see for yourself, you will not be disappointed. read more

This was my first time watching roller girls. I had a great time! Beer and girls pushin' n' shovin' - what more could you ask for?