The Mid-Hudson Misfits gathered at the oval-shaped roller rink at Skate Time in Accord, N.Y. for a night of blocking, slamming, and jamming on April 13.
Dozens of junior and adult skaters took part in a charity roller derby scrimmage to raise funds for the Hudson Valley LGBTQ+ Center in Kingston, amid federal cuts to LGBTQ+ funding. Founded in 2012, the Mid-Hudson Misfits is an all-gender league from members across the Hudson Valley region who want to learn and play flat track roller derby.
“This form of derby looks a lot like a demolition derby with cars,” said Poutine Riot, using their derby name, a nickname skaters choose to reflect their personality.
Riot explains that in Women’s Flat Track Derby Association rules, two sets of five players compete on the track. One player wears a star on their helmet and acts as the ‘jammer.’ The player tries to score points by getting through a pack of ‘blockers’ blocking their way.
Developed by Leo Seltzer in Chicago in the 1930s, roller derby has grown into a beloved pastime and sport by communities traditionally marginalized from mainstream sports, specifically LGBTQ+ communities, women, and Black and Latino communities. During the 1950s and 1960s, roller skating rinks were still segregated. Black Americans could only use the rink one night a week. During the civil rights movement, skaters staged sit-ins at rinks to demand desegregation.
Today, roller derby has become a popular sport that defies traditional gender and racial norms for many athletes. For new competitive skater Fennec Fox who identifies as transmasculine, roller derby has meant finding an inclusive and accepting community.
“I really feel at home in derby,” said Fennec Fox, who is both a scrimmage skater and representative for the Hudson Valley LGBTQ+ Center, the organization the Misfits raised funds for. The Center offers social and support groups, counseling, STD and HIV testing, and other programs for the LGBTQ+ community.
Charlie Solidum, Director of Programs and Services at the Hudson Valley LGBTQ+ Center, said that the organization is seeing the LGBTQ+ community experience increased fear and uncertainty amidst the current political climate.
“They’re looking to us at the community center to really show them that even if the outside world is getting scary, you can always lean into making community with people and creating systems of interdependence… regardless of what the government ends up doing,” said Solidum.
The Mid-Hudson Misfits is also building the next generation of skaters. The league has a juniors team called the Mid-Hudson Mischiefs for all genders ages 9-17. During the scrimmage, junior skater Lela Lugosi shared that roller derby is a sport she plans to do for years to come.
The Mid-Hudson Misfits is currently recruiting for skating and non-skating officials, players, and volunteers.
Image: A skater high-fives a lineup of other skaters at Skate Time in Accord, N.Y. on April 13 (Photo Credit: Les Stone)
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