Rat City Rollergirls plan to bruise and cruise in their final bout

Ten skaters whiz by in front of us, and we keep our eyes on the two with stars on their helmets: Rae's Hell and Kim Reaper.

They're the jammers, and on this lavender plastic floor in mammoth Hangar 27 at Magnuson Park, they are lapping other skaters, picking up points for their respective teams and fighting off a battery of elbows, shoulders and knees that occasionally send them spinning out of bounds.

The pace is quick, the skating demanding — and this is only a practice. Come Saturday, the action will be faster, the outfits skimpier, the lights blazing and the hangar roaring with the enthusiasm of more than 1,500 fans.

The Rat City Rollergirls, Seattle's all-female incarnation of the sport that drew nationwide TV audiences decades ago, are ending their first year on a high note, laying plans for a second season, fielding new recruits and exploring the creation of a traveling team to compete around the country.

"Women don't usually have a chance to work out this kind of aggression," said Darth Skater, captain of the Throttle Rockets, which will vie for the league championship against the rival Derby Liberation Front, while Saturday's undercard pits the Sockit Wenches against Grave Danger.

Skater, who in her other life is public-relations account executive Sue Schmitz, 35, says the opportunity to take on a tough-girl persona and try out a demanding sport is a natural draw for many women in their 20s and 30s.

"Sports in general is very male-dominated, and this is something we can call our own. We skate hard and we hit hard and we can be very aggressive, but at the same time we can still be sexy and we can be flirty and we can have fun."

Competitors sail around the oval track in tight minidresses, skating under names such as Drew Blood, Punchin' Judy, Lady Die, Pia Mess and Ida Slapter. Flagrant rule-breakers spend time in a penalty area holding a sign reading, "I've been a bad girl."

The sinister image may be hyped, but the contact is real. Through the seven-bout season, skaters have suffered a variety of sprains and strains, even the occasional broken bone or concussion.

The Sockit Wenches' captain, Drew Blood, who battled back from a knee injury, calls the sport "a great way to meet people and get in shape. The exercise is the best part." Away from the track, she's Britta Lyle, 29, who works in fashion merchandising. Skaters also include computer programmers, artists, waitresses, "soccer moms," an accountant and a chemist.

When a Rollergirls bout is in full stride, even the spectators aren't completely safe. Unlike the banked track of its TV predecessor, this game has a flat track, with only a low cushion separating skaters from audience. No children are allowed in the first three rows as a precaution against close encounters with flying rollergirls.

Creation of the league was inspired by the Texas Rollergirls, formed in Austin, Texas, in 2003. Since then, about 25 similar leagues have started around the country and representatives are talking about a format and rules that could be accepted nationally.

The Seattle group's name pays homage to its birthplace, Southgate Roller Rink in White Center, a neighborhood that carries the longtime, if not totally appreciated, nickname of "Rat City."

Through much of last year, skaters held fund-raisers to scrape together insurance and arena-rental fees, and gathered for countless practices to learn the sport and build their endurance.

"We did a lot of drills where you got knocked over and had to get up and keep going. You just have to train your body to ignore the shock," said Darcy Rant, real name Darcy Felthouse, 37, an editorial assistant.

A recreational skater in her younger days, Rant said, "I've always gone to the gym and tried to stay in shape, and it was it like I was in training, but I didn't know what for. This kind of gave it a purpose."

Rollergirls bouts are raucous events combining the chemistry of a rock concert and pro-wrestling match.

"It's so awesome to watch the athleticism and the hits these girls take and get up over and over again," said Mad Madge, the league's head referee, also known as Terri Lindow, 46, a Seattle paralegal.

The Rat City Rollergirls collectively own their league, but aren't paid. On the contrary, they pay $25 monthly dues and buy their own skates — they use four-wheelers with a certain retro charm — helmets, mouth guards and pads for their knees, wrists and elbows, equipment that can total several hundred dollars.

Despite the demands, the league has four 15-member teams and about 45 candidates on a waiting list.

Although Saturday's event ends this season, the Rollergirls are looking ahead, not back. When a traveling team is formed, its first match may be against the newly organized Rose City Rollergirls in Portland.

"This is not a flash-in-the-pan," said Darth Skater. "Next year is going to be bigger, better and badder. I'm sure of that."

Jack Broom: 206-464-2222 or jbroom@seattletimes.com