Maine Roller Derby
Encyclopedia
Maine Roller Derby is Maine
’s first and only women’s flat track roller derby
league, which is a proud member league of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association
(WFTDA) and are one of the hundreds of leagues across the nation that have embraced the quickly-growing sport of roller derby as it is skated on a flat track.
Maine Roller Derby fosters professional, personal and athletic advancement for all the league's members through training for, promoting and playing the sport of roller derby. As a member of WFTDA, the league adheres to the organization's governing philosophy: "“by the skaters, for the skaters." The skaters are primary owners, managers, and operators of the league. Operational tasks include organizing home bouts, organizing fundraising
events to off-shoot the cost for operating the league, promoting the sport of roller derby, recruiting and training skaters and volunteers, among other tasks necessary to run a business.
The league comprises two teams: an all-star team called The Port Authorities, and a junior varsity or B-team called The Calamity Janes. The home season occurs February through June, with bouts occurring at both the Portland Exposition Building
and Happy Wheels Skate Center. Both teams also travel throughout the states and Canada
to bout other leagues and participate in annual tournaments. MRD regularly recruits new skaters and volunteers.
MRD started in March 2006 after two Portland
women were inspired by the A&E
reality show
Rollergirls
. By June 2006 a group of twenty women began holding weekly practices at Roller World in Topsham. Determination and hard work (along with advice and support from skaters within the roller derby community) resulted in the launching of the Sneak Peek, the introduction of modern roller derby to Maine in November of 2006.
A year later MRD played its first home season at the Portland Expo. Since then, the league has hosted a season each year, inviting teams from all over New England
, Canada and as far as Ohio
to play at the Expo. Bouts at the Expo average a crowd of 600-700 fans.
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
’s first and only women’s flat track roller derby
Roller derby
Roller derby is a contact sport played by two teams of five members roller skating in the same direction around a track. Game play consists of a series of short matchups in which both teams designate a scoring player who scores points by lapping members of the opposing team...
league, which is a proud member league of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association
Women's Flat Track Derby Association
The Women's Flat Track Derby Association is an association of women's flat track roller derby leagues in the United States. The organization was founded in April 2004 as the United Leagues Coalition but was renamed in November 2005. It is registered in Raleigh, North Carolina as a 501 business...
(WFTDA) and are one of the hundreds of leagues across the nation that have embraced the quickly-growing sport of roller derby as it is skated on a flat track.
Maine Roller Derby fosters professional, personal and athletic advancement for all the league's members through training for, promoting and playing the sport of roller derby. As a member of WFTDA, the league adheres to the organization's governing philosophy: "“by the skaters, for the skaters." The skaters are primary owners, managers, and operators of the league. Operational tasks include organizing home bouts, organizing fundraising
Fundraising
Fundraising or fund raising is the process of soliciting and gathering voluntary contributions as money or other resources, by requesting donations from individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies...
events to off-shoot the cost for operating the league, promoting the sport of roller derby, recruiting and training skaters and volunteers, among other tasks necessary to run a business.
The league comprises two teams: an all-star team called The Port Authorities, and a junior varsity or B-team called The Calamity Janes. The home season occurs February through June, with bouts occurring at both the Portland Exposition Building
Portland Exposition Building
The Portland Exposition Building was designed by Fredrick A. Thompson and is located in Portland, Maine. It is the second oldest arena in continuous operation in the United States...
and Happy Wheels Skate Center. Both teams also travel throughout the states and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
to bout other leagues and participate in annual tournaments. MRD regularly recruits new skaters and volunteers.
MRD started in March 2006 after two Portland
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
women were inspired by the A&E
A&E Network
The A&E Network is a United States-based cable and satellite television network with headquarters in New York City and offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, London, Los Angeles and Stamford. A&E also airs in Canada and Latin America. Initially named the Arts & Entertainment Network, A&E launched...
reality show
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
Rollergirls
Rollergirls
Rollergirls is a 2006 A&E Network reality show examining the personalities, antics and motivations of the women involved with the Austin, Texas Lonestar Rollergirls roller derby league. According to their website, the league was founded in 2001 and is run as a "skater-owned and operated" company...
. By June 2006 a group of twenty women began holding weekly practices at Roller World in Topsham. Determination and hard work (along with advice and support from skaters within the roller derby community) resulted in the launching of the Sneak Peek, the introduction of modern roller derby to Maine in November of 2006.
A year later MRD played its first home season at the Portland Expo. Since then, the league has hosted a season each year, inviting teams from all over New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, Canada and as far as Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
to play at the Expo. Bouts at the Expo average a crowd of 600-700 fans.
| Season | Q4 ranking | Regionals | Championship WFTDA Championships The WFTDA Championships are the leading competition for roller derby leagues.The Championships are organised by the Women's Flat Track Derby Association . They originated in 2006 as the National WFTDA Championship... |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 5 | N/A | N/A |
| 2009 | 8 | N/A | N/A |
| 2010 | 11 | N/A | N/A |
| 2011 | TBA | 10 | N/A |