Photo by Tristan King
The Most Open Sport on Wheels
By Eric Fujimori, Editorial Intern
Roller derby is by no means a mainstream sport, but it’s well on its way to becoming a relevant force in the South Bay and Long Beach areas.
Since its inception four years ago, Beach Cities Roller Derby has been recruiting more members and attracting a bigger fan base each season. The growth in popularity comes from the organization’s commitment to its unaltered mission statement of being a diverse and welcoming community.
This concept is driven by Beach Cities Roller Derby’s founder and leader, Shayna Meikle.
“People in my league are scrawny, fat, short, tall, black and white,” Meikle said. “Anyone can do it. Any body style, any body type, any sort of career. Unemployed to freakin’ lawyers, we got ‘em all.”
Before starting the organization, Meikle spent her days teaching biology at a middle school in South Central Los Angeles. She cared about her students and had a passion for teaching, but felt she wasn’t living up to her full potential.
“I made a big impact on the kids that I taught, but I think I’m able to make more of an impact on adults, especially in the aspect of sports,” Meikle said.
Following a path more tailored to her interests, Meikle traded in her teaching supplies for roller skates and started Beach Cities Roller Derby in April 2012.
“I guess I was like a punk rock jock growing up,” Meikle said. “I played all sorts of sports, but I also skateboarded and stuff too. So being in a roller derby league allows you to get the best of all those worlds – a little bit of extreme sport, a little bit of team sport and definitely a lot of personal and physical growth.”
One of her main goals is to offer adults a way to spend their free time away from work and parenting. Instead of typical activities like golf or book club, Meikle wants to accommodate those looking for something with a little more of an edge.
Playing roller derby is also a great way to socialize. Meikle, better known in the derby community as “Pigeon,” said that many members join the league because they’re new to the area and are having trouble making new friends.
“You sign up, skate for a few practices and instantly you have like 85 home girls,” Meikle said. “We’re all family.”
Another part of the appeal is female empowerment. Roller derby has long been the only contact sport with women at the forefront. This continues to be a source of inspiration and pride for female skaters at Beach City Roller Derby.
“They’re doing it for themselves to feel more empowered, stronger and more connected to the society of women around them,” Meikle said.
Although mostly comprised of women, Beach City Roller Derby does have some male skaters. Jacob Anderson, Meikle’s boyfriend and a member of the league, thinks self-image is a big reason for the imbalance.
“It seems like more guys are embarrassed to be taught something, especially something athletic,” Anderson said. “The fact that there are girls around makes it harder for them to put down their pride.”
Despite its male minority, Beach Cities Roller derby is an extremely diverse community. Ranging in age from 18 to 55, there are skaters of all shapes, sizes and backgrounds. This shatters the common misconception of derby girls only being big and burly.
As Beach Cities Roller Derby continues to expand and progress, it’s garnering a lot of attention from the Southern California derby community. The league’s all-star team, the Riptide Rollers, is undefeated thus far and on the way to its strongest season yet.
Although tempted to keep pushing and take their competitive play to the next level, Meikle recently made the decision to keep the league fun and friendly.
“That’s what makes us special,” Meikle said. “We’re not all about the competition. We’re all about having fun, being all-inclusive and being a supportive community for people to become strong athletes.”
Another important focus of Beach Cities Roller Derby is giving back to the community. Throughout the year, league members spend time volunteering around the Long Beach area. They also have skate-a-thons to raise money for local charities and individuals in need of financial support.
“Since we started in 2012, I could probably estimate that we’ve given over 2,000 hours up to volunteering and probably at least $15,000 to charities,” Meikle said.
Beach City Roller Derby will resume action at 7 p.m. April 25, as the Riptide Rollers take on San Diego Roller Derby at Wilson Park Arena in Torrance. Tickets are available online and at Moxi Roller Skate Shop in Long Beach for $10. All longshoremen with a union card receive 50 percent off. Children 12 and younger get in free. All proceeds will go to the Ronald McDonald Charity House.