Pepper Near became empty-nested at 41 years old. She wondered what to do in this next stage of life. Then she saw a Facebook post recruiting new members to the
Central Michigan Mayhem Roller Derby team. She was curious.
Near decided to check it out. She’d only been on roller skates a few times as a kid, but she was interested in the challenge. Putting on skates and getting out on the track, she was unsteady. She refused to let the skates and the floor get the best of her.
“I was terrible. I could hardly stand up,” recalled Near. “Tiny wins along the way kept me going.”
Curiosity drew her in, the encouragement from team members and genuine inclusivity among players kept her going. Since joining the team in 2018 Near progressed quickly, learning the necessary skills to become a rostered player in just a few months. Today, Near is the second oldest member on Central Michigan Mayhem’s roster.
Flat track women’s roller derby team rosters vary throughout the state. The Lansing league boasts 120 players. Central Michigan Mayhem’s 13 players come from around the mid-Michigan region, from north of Lansing up to Gaylord. The team started in 2010 as Mt. Town Mayhem in Mt. Pleasant. Now, the team’s home rink is
Pins Bar and Grill in Ithaca, where they’re working to rebuild team numbers to pre-COVID days when 28 players were rostered.
Players gain derby names once they get to rosterable status, which involves mastering skating skills and learning proper falling techniques, among other requirements. At the track players are exclusively referred to by their chosen derby names. Near’s player name is Cayenne Calamity. Most names are puns based on the player's nicknames.
Sarah Vandemark’s skater name, Savage Squirrel, includes her high school nickname Squirrel. Vandemark is starting her fifth season with Mayhem. She joined after a client mentioned that she’d done something “really stupid.” She didn’t expect her to say she’d joined a roller derby team. Vandemark was intrigued. She decided to check it out for herself.
“I had no prior experience but I jumped in,” said Vandemark. “I borrowed some gear but could barely stand on my two feet in skates.”
She joined the team in August 2019 and earned roster-ability by December. Currently, Vandemark runs the scoreboard during Bout competitions.
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Courtesy Sarah VandemarkSarah Vandemark (center) is with other Central Michigan Mayhem roller derby team members keeping score at a Bout.
Having participated in school sports since seventh grade, Vandemark missed the camaraderie of team sports. She recalls watching a mixed-gender scrimmage early on where a female skater knocked a male player out of bounds.
“I thought he’d be mad but he gave quick thumbs up and complimented the player for a good hit,” explained Vandemark. “That’s the level of camaraderie that’s kept me involved and why I love the team so much.”
Learning to skate is a critical aspect of the game. Learning how to fall is equally important. Most injuries happen from improper falling, says Near. Practicing falling techniques helps reduce the chance of injuries.
‘We practice specific ways to fall. One technique we call ‘pick a cheek’ helps take the impact off the tailbone,” said Near. “The ability to fall properly helps alleviate fears and injuries.”
Players are outfitted in protective gear when competing on the track. Knee, elbow, and wrist pads are required along with a mouth guard and helmet. Skaters provide their own equipment. Most teams have a supply new players can borrow as they start out.
Sponsorships from local businesses help offset some of the costs associated with running the non-profit leagues. Hosting a Bout requires 12 people off skates to run the competition, in addition to the 10 players from each team. Most of Mayhem’s sponsorship funds pay for renting time at the track and league membership fees.
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Courtesy Pepper Near
Flat track roller derby has evolved since the 1980s when the sport had a similar vibe to the hard hitting World Wrestling Federation. In 2001 the Texas Roller Girls league helped establish it as an athletic sport, which led to the creation of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association.
Since opening its doors in 2006, the WFTDA represents more than 400 member leagues on six continents. The non-profit organization promotes the sport and has revolutionized the role of women players and re-imaged roller derby as a modern sport.
Getting started in roller derby, new players advance through a three-tiered training program. As skaters master skills they progress from level one, referred to “red” level, then move up to yellow and green once ready to join the team roster.
In the world of high-intensity sports, women's flat track roller derby stands out as a fast-paced, full-contact competition that challenges both the mind and body. Played on an oval track by two teams of five skaters each, the sport blends strategy, speed, and agility.
The game is divided into short, two-minute matches known as "jams," where each team sends four blockers and one jammer onto the track. The jammers' task is to score points by lapping opponents, while blockers simultaneously work to impede the rival jammer and assist their own.
Points are accumulated with every successful pass of an opposing blocker. Teams employ a variety of tactical maneuvers, from forming defensive "walls" to halt the jammer, to performing whip moves that give their own jammer a speed boost. With a strong emphasis on teamwork and coordination, roller derby has gained a reputation for its combination of athleticism and strategic depth. Each player plays a vital role in the pursuit of victory.
Near describes the sport as “sanctioned aggression.” She says it’s physical in a different way than other sports like running or weight lifting.
“It provides a release for players,” Near says. As a college instructor teaching early childhood education, Near teaches how to get preschoolers to be nice to each other by day and women how to hit each other at night.
Encouraging others to join the team, players hear similar responses. People most often say they can’t skate. Vandemark tells them she couldn’t either when she started.
“I show them a video of me when I first started and could barely stand up,” said Vandemark. “Then I show another video of me skating a few months later. There’s a big difference and it proves you don’t have to know how to skate to start.”
Near says the first step to getting involved is the hardest. It’s scary and you don’t know what you're doing. She encourages women to do it anyway.
“The Roller Derby Verse is very welcoming,” said Near. “We will provide extra encouragement until you can encourage yourself.”
Central Michigan Mayhem kicked off its new season in early September. They are hosting their
12th Annual Zombies vs. Vampires Scrim on Saturday, Oct. 26 at Pins Bar and Grill in Ithaca. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for the double-header scrimmage. Tickets are $12 presale or $15 at the door. Kids under 12 are free with a paid adult ticket. Spectators are welcomed to dress in costume to show their support.
If you’re interested in giving roller derby a try, reach out to the team on
Facebook.