Roller derby was created in 1935 during the Great Depression by Leo Seltzer, a Chicago promoter. Originally, the derby was a roller skating race where participants circled a track thousands of times to simulate the distance between LA and New York. Inevitably, collisions and crashes occurred as skaters tried to pass those ahead of them. Seltzer realised this was the most exciting part and amended the sport to please the crowd. As a result, it became a full-contact affair with elbows, body-checks and fights galore. In its revived version, the unisex teams of the past have been abandoned for a game that is played by women only, with penalty minutes replaced by bizarre punishments. The London Rollergirls have established the sport in the capital and potential recruits can join these weekly training sessions. Bring skates, protective gear and a mouthguard if you have them – plus plenty of attitude.
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