Thunder Kittens Roller Derby Team Prep For Battle and Recruitment

For far too many decades, stereotypically, the media and social expectations have all too often pressured women to look, speak, sit, stand, walk, and act in a certain way. According to the "norm," women maintain certain "roles" in life: mother, housewife, occasional median wage earner, chauffeur for the kids, nurse, counselor, housekeeper and "dutiful" mate. However, women in today's society are so much more.

For those women interested in something different and cutting edge, there is a group of San Angelo women who tackle all of these tasks, mostly coloring within the lines, but with some bold colors. With members ranging from 18 years of age to 52, the San Angelo Roller Girls team, The Thunder Kittens, epitomize the Nouveau Millennial Female. Like Rosie the Riveter, they are the ultimate "go getters." While maintaining work and family, their off time is spent doing what they love for relaxation, roller derby. Rapidly rising in popularity, roller derby may soon be added as an official "Olympic sport."

Many people may reflect back to the days when there were only two or three channels on the television, and they watched while skaters whizzed around a roller derby track at lightening-fast speeds, occasionally "bumping" into a rival opponent, then getting up, dusting themselves off and going again. This sport brings the same exhilaration for these women.

Established locally in 2011, these roller derby enthusiasts come from a variety of backgrounds, but as local founders, Kendra "Jeep StrangleHer 4 X 4" Burleson and Lanie "Jack'd Daniels no7" Rogers agree, "It's a sisterhood that is so much more than putting on a little outfit and going out there skating; it's a real sport."

 
Burleson, a middle school teacher, said, "I've always loved contact sports; after I saw saw the movie Whip it, I told myself, 'I've got to do this.' It's one of the first things I tell my students. If they know their teacher likes to beat women up for fun, they treat me nicer."

With a grin, Burleson said it all goes back to what is and isn't staged, for there's an element of theatrics involved as well. She stressed the team "always wear safety gear in competitions, including elbow, wrist, mouth and head protection." She added that when she shows her students photos and videos, it encourages them to dream big, have no fear, and it's okay to do something out of the ordinary.

Rogers explained, "In roller derby, there are two kinds of tracks, banked and flat."  

Wednesday evening, members practiced at the Angelo Skate & Fun Center (The Rink), at 34 Buick Street, with painted lines on the floor for their flat track work. Last year, the team debuted their banked track, making history in San Angelo at an event held at the Foster Communications Coliseum.

Rogers explained, "There are thousands of leagues in Texas with flat tracks, but only five with bank tracks."

An estimated 600-1000 spectators attended last year's Coliseum event, and although the women are extremely grateful for their fan base, they have raised their achievable goals for the near future and are asking for the public's help. To afford another event at the Coliseum in late summer/early fall, the women have been doing countless fundraisers, including offering sponsorship packages and starting a GoFundMe page. Overall, the team hopes to surpass their goal of $3,000. Burleson said, "These funds will cover the mandatory insurance fees, tickets, ticket takers, the actual venue, security and required medics on hand." So far, the women have raised $470 of the $3,000 goal, and their deadline is May 31 in order to place a deposit and secure the venue.  

Rogers added, "It would also be amazing for someone to donate building space for practice," for the women have been told they "bring in more people to San Angelo with their events than any other sport."  

In regards to their mission, Burleson added, "We're founded on the principle of the working woman. We all come from such different backgrounds; some grew up playing sports their whole life. Others came from strict family backgrounds, and some even from less fortunate situations, yet we come together on the track in one big cohesive unit." On her Facebook page, Burleson explained, "A lot of women find roller derby during a time of turmoil in their lives."

She also reflected back, prior to her association in the sport, and said she was somewhat of an "introvert," but with the camaraderie and sisterhood, she has found a fulfillment in life, not just athletic, but a newfound confidence in herself. "It's just an open inclusive acceptance of everyone in this sport," said Burleson.

Rogers added, "It's amazing to watch transformations too. I mean we've met girls who, in the beginning, really weren't sure of themselves, holding onto the wall, waiting, not knowing what to do, and then, over time, became these beautiful skaters who have a glow to them. They stand up a little bit taller; their voice projects a little bit more; it's just an overall confidence builder."

In regards to giving back to the community through partial proceeds of their events, Burleson said she is especially passionate about helping with "feeding the kids."

"As a teacher, I see it all the time in school--kids every day who don't have lunch," she said. She added that sometimes she'll give up her own lunch. "I see some of the struggles some of these kids go through a little bit more than the other girls as I am right there, and my heart goes out to the kids." 

The team also does a lot of community service, working closely with the City of San Angelo, making appearances, and they are oftentimes seen skating downtown. The women also have an "Adopt A Spot" on 29th street, which is one of their ways to contribute in community efforts to keep San Angelo beautiful. They pick up litter around the park.

According to a post on Angelo Skates' Facebook page, skating one hour per week burns 600 calories, builds strength by increasing muscle endurance by working glutes, quads, abs, calves and arms, and also causes 50 percent less stress to joints than running.

Burleson added, for anyone interested in joining, "We are constantly recruiting and working on a second team (and possibly even some co-ed activities). Both teams will skate under SARG, but, at the appropriate time, we will be naming the second team. I mean this is a college and military town, and ours is a mission of empowering women, building self esteem and confidence, while strengthening the family unit."  

The team will be in Killeen today, and will participate in a "Round Robin Tournament" in June at The Rink here in San Angelo.

To make a donation, the team has a "GoFundMe" page here. If you are interested in joining, the team considers every skill level and age, and the more the merrier. Contact [email protected]. Also, for more information, visit their Facebook page at "San Angelo Roller Girls (SARG)."