Big Easy Roller Derby (est. 2005) is a women's, flat-track
roller derby league in
, Louisiana. Big Easy is a founding member league of the
Women's Flat Track Derby Association
The Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) is the international governing body for the sport of women's flat track roller derby, and association of leagues around the world. The organization was founded in April 2004 as the United Leagues Co ...
(WFTDA).
History
Big Easy Roller Derby was founded as Big Easy Rollergirls in the spring of 2005, and had planned their first bout during
Mardi Gras 2006. Unfortunately, the league was disrupted by and had to regroup following the events surrounding
Hurricane Katrina, beginning competitive play on September 16, 2006. After a citywide tryout, BERD had two teams and more than 30 active members its first season. The debut bout was won by the Hor-Nots (v the 'Aints) 128–123 in overtime before a sellout crowd.
In their second season, Big Easy Roller Derby doubled their membership with new recruits and was able to field four local teams: Confederacy of Punches, Crescent Wenches, Marigny Antoinettes and StoryVillains, as well as a travel team, the Big Easy Roller Derby Allstars. By the fourth season, Big Easy Roller Derby switched to a two-team structure: The Big Easy Allstars (A team) and the Crescent Wenches (B team). The Marigny Antoinettes are now the incoming year's "Fresh Meat" and the StoryVillains are the recreational team composed of retired Big Easy Roller Derby skaters.
The Big Easy Roller Derby organization has continued to grow and evolve,
[Rollergirls want some aggressive skaters- NOLA.com]
/ref> maintaining a rigorous athletic training regimen (both on skates and off) while regularly contributing to community-service–oriented efforts around New Orleans. Charities and organizations BERD has worked with include the Slaughter, Louisiana
Slaughter is a town in East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 997 at the 2010 U.S. census, down from 1,011 at the 2000 U.S. census. At the 2020 population estimates program, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated 882 peop ...
Volunteer Fire Department, Arabi Wrecking Krewe, New Orleans City Park
City Park, a public park in New Orleans, Louisiana, is the 87th largest and 20th-most-visited urban public park in the United States. City Park is approximately 50% larger than Central Park in New York City, the municipal park recognized by Amer ...
, Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, NO AIDS Task Force, Common Ground Collective, KaBOOM!, KIDsmART and the Louisiana SPCA.
Big Easy Roller Derby are a diverse group of female athletes, ranging in age from the twenty-one to over fifty.Algiers, New Orleans
Algiers is a historic neighborhood of New Orleans and is the only Orleans Parish community located on the West Bank of the Mississippi River. Algiers is known as the 15th Ward, one of the 17 Wards of New Orleans. It was once home to many jazz m ...
. The league currently holds their home bouts before large crowds (400 - 600 attendees) at the University of New Orleans
The University of New Orleans (UNO) is a public research university in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is a member of the University of Louisiana System and the Urban 13 association. It is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High rese ...
Human Performance Center.
Voted “Best Local Sports Team" by local magazine
Where Y’at
' in their first season, the league's mission continues to be to encourage and empower women through the sport of flat-track roller derby. In doing so they provide alternative athletic entertainment while supporting charitable organizations that benefit the community at large.
In 2011, BERD converted from an LLC to a non-profit corporation, but does not have 501(c)(3) status. The league changed their name from Big Easy Rollergirls to Big Easy Roller Derby in 2019.
BERD has a partnership with Crescent City Crushers, the local junior roller derby
Junior roller derby is the sport of roller derby, modified for children and adolescents up to 18 years of age. The sport is played in both modified-contact, known as "positional blocking," and full-contact approaches, to facilitate safety across ...
league, to promote the sport locally.
WFTDA competition
In October 2011, Big Easy were ranked number one by the Derby South organization, which represents leagues from five southern states.October 2011 Rankings
, Derby South
After the 2013 season, they were ranked 93 in the world by the WFTDA. In 2014, Big Easy made their first appearance at WFTDA
Division 2 Playoffs, coming into the Duluth tournament as the third seed, and ultimately finishing in fourth place.
Rankings
References
Bibliography
April 2008 - W Magazine - Bruce Weber spread on New Orleans features the Big Easy RollergirlsNovember 2007 - NOLA.com launches Flat Track FeverMarch 2007 - USA Rollersports Magazine "Frivolity in a Forgotten City"March 2007 - New Orleans Magazine "Easy Rollin'"Feb. 2007 - Times Picayune "Back to Basics"Dec. 2006 - Health & Fitness "Rolling Thunder"Nov. 2006 - UNO Driftwood "Roller Derby Action"Oct. 2006 - Times Picayune "Rocking and Rolling"Oct. 2006 - Times Picayune "Rollergirls Make Algiers Their Rink"Oct. 2006 - The Gambit "A Sport for the Well-Wheeled"Sept. 2006 - The Gambit "Hot Picks"Sept. 2006 - Tulane New Wave "Big Easy Rollergirls Ready for Prime Time"July 2006 - WTUL Community Gumbo "Through Hell and High Water""June 2006 - Where Y'at Magazine "Big Easy Rollergirls named 'Best local sports team'"
Further reading
March 2006 - CNN with Anderson Cooper
*
ttp://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/07/12/america/ODD-Rolling-of-the-Bulls.php July 2008 - ''International Herald Tribune'', "Roller girls give chase in La. version of bull run"
External links
Big Easy Rollergirls web siteBig Easy Rollergirls Myspace pageOfficial website for San Fermin in Nueva OrleansWomen's Flat Track Derby Association web site
{{Louisiana Sports
Roller derby leagues established in 2005
Roller derby leagues in Louisiana
Sports teams in New Orleans
Women's sports in the United States
2005 establishments in Louisiana