Roller derby skates into Douglas County

Tara Randall is a woman of many roles. A mother of three, wife of former quarterback of the Umpqua Valley Knights and working woman to name just a few of her personas. However, Randall’s newest role has a little more roll in it. While by day you may find Randall in the country club, at night she skates on an oval track as a member of the new Umpqua Valley Roller Vixens.

Randall traded in her husband’s cleats, after his career-ending knee surgery, for a pair of skates and a jersey which reads Randall Von Ruthless. “Maybe I could be the one who can take up the full contact sport,” says Randall “now that my husband is done.”

On April 16, Randall performed for the Vixens in her first match against the Sis-Q Rollers of Medford.

Randall skates in both the pivot and jammer position. As a pivot, she is the lead of the four blocker team and sets the pace for the other blockers. The pivot can be identified by a single stripe down her helmet. The blocker’s purpose is to both clear the way for the jammer and impede the opposing jammer by anything short of throwing a punch.

The jammer’s job is to lap the other team’s blockers; for each opposing member she passes, she scores a point. The jammer wears a single star on her helmet.

The Vixen’s match, dubbed “The Inaugural Brawl,” was held at the Roseburg Fairgrounds in front of a standing room only crowd. During the first few minutes of the match, the Vixens seemed nervous. Medford really flexed their muscles and pushed the Vixens around. Between jams, the Medford women were dancing and seemingly enjoying themselves.

As the match went on, the hits picked up, and the Vixens started asserting themselves. After the break at the half, the Vixens, who at that point were already down 43-94, came out determined to make Medford work for the win. Although the Vixens took a loss in their first match, the final score of 89-173, there were many positives to take going forward.

Roller Derby of the past may have been more about the show than the sport; this is not the case anymore. “The hits are real,” says Tabatha Burton (aka “Hurtin’ Burton”), a blocker for the Vixens and a current UCC student studying art. “It’s a sport just like any other sport . . . . I want to be recognized as an athlete.” Burton was unable to skate in the match due to a leg injury known as compartment syndrome, a serious condition that involves increased pressure in a muscle compartment.

While this may not be your mother’s, all show no sport Roller Derby; it has retained some of the showmanship. Everything from the uniforms to the pseudonyms of the derby dolls is part of the show. ”When you are on the track, that is who you are . . . . It is like an alter-ego,” says Burton. “With derby I get to go way out there. It’s brought me out of my shell.”

Vixens player Chelsea Gorthy (aka “Black Eyed Beauty”) says, “We are always looking for more girls; anyone can come try out,” Practices are held at the Roseburg Armory every Monday and Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Those interested in volunteering or trying out can email the team at umpquavalleyrollervixens@hotmail.com.

The Mainstream is a student publication of Umpqua Community College.