“It gives women an opportunity for radical reassessment of their bodies. This opinion is based on seeing a group of really awesome women go from ‘fresh meat’ to seasoned skaters, and how much difference I heard in the way they talked about their bodies during the first few practices as compared to how they talked about their bodies after they’d been skating together for a few months.”

Patton said roller derby helps women turn a perceived negative into a positive. “One of the great things about roller derby is that no matter what your body type is, there is a position that will make your body type an asset. A woman who was self-conscious on the first day about being too skinny realized a few months later that she made a kick-ass jammer because she could zip through blockers so easily. A woman who complained about her hips being too big loved her body more when those hips made her a formidable blocker.”

Easley confirmed Patton’s observation.

“You hear new girls who are so quiet and timid say, ‘I have never been one to stand up for myself’ or ‘I never felt like I was worth anything.’ And after they are skating awhile, they say, ‘I really did take that hit, I took that person out, or accomplished that skill. I’m really cool. I can do more. I can do better. I can get in shape. I really can do this. I am a stronger person.’ And it carries over to their personal life. ‘I am not going to let anybody push me around anymore. I am gonna say what I think.’ It just happens.”

Ebert: “I feel like I am a tough girl but I don’t look like a tough girl. A lot of those girls out there don’t look tough, but they are tough. You can tell. I think you learn to be tough as you learn to play. I don’t think you have to be a super bad ass to play roller derby. A lot of us went out there as newbies and had no idea what we were doing. It just comes naturally.”

So what’s it like to be on the track, deep in the pack or trying to get through it?

“It’s crazy,” said Ebert. “When I get out there and the whistle blows, say I’m a blocker, the only thing I am thinking about is blocking that jammer. Getting in front of her, and not letting her get around me. And not just for my teammates,” she says, pausing, her voice taking on an edge, “but for me, getting in front of her and staying there. If I’m the jammer, I just dip, duck and dive and get through as quick as I can. Really, your adrenaline doesn’t let you do much thinking. You’re in the game.”