Rollin' With the Homegirls
L.A.’s own Derby Dolls skate and rate the local rinks
As we walk out, we overhear someone telling Xian that it was a “bad idea” for him to come. “I haven’t been on skates since 1980,” he groans. She smiles. “That’s the point!” The next Wumpskate is a Valentine’s Massacre on February 13. World on Wheels, 4645½ Venice Blvd., L.A.; (323) 933-5170,www.wowsk8.com?.
Venice Beach
“Are you really Derby Dolls?” Tyrone, an 11-year-old hip-hop skater at the city-built Skate Dance Plaza in Venice, gazes at the six pink-and-black-clad Dolls who have come out for a Sunday “beach skate.” The fancy footwork on display in the plaza is in stark contrast to the skateboarders practicing at the adjacent mini–skate park. It’s not really their scene, but the girls are open to anything — even an impromptu lesson in dance skating from Jimmy, who gets them stepping and turning in no time to rap hits pumped out by DJ Pamela. “Why do that when we have all these people to dodge?” says Emma Geddon, looking at the crowded boardwalk. The next move is unanimous. “Let’s go dodge some tourists!” says Kaboom, and off we go. Usually they head straight for the commercial boardwalk (which they prefer to the sandy stretch near the beach), where dodging the crowds makes good practice for roller derby. In a groovy local moment, we pass Lords of Dogtown director Catherine Hardwicke on her bike. “She’s like the grand Betty of the scene!” says Hettie Banger. And the Dolls are well on their way to legendary status themselves; they attract attention everywhere they go, from a geeky older man with a backpack who calls out “Jam it! Jam it!” as they whiz by to a teenager who whines to his friend, “Why are they skating in a liiine?” Bobbo, an employee of Boardwalk Skates, has an answer: “Because that is the L.A. women’s roller-derby league, you dumbass!”
Skate Dance Plaza, Market St. & Ocean Front Walk, Venice; weekends, 10 a.m. until sunset.?
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