Madison Roller Derby

Looking for something out-of-the-ordinary to do?

The Madison Roller Derby--aka the Mad Rollin' Dolls (http://madrollindolls.com)--held Saturday nights at Fast Forward Skate Center (4649 Verona Rd.), is definitely worth a visit. But before the review, a little background:

The four-team league competes in six-regular season bouts from January to May, and it holds a championship at the end of the season (this year it's June 10). All four teams compete on each competition date, so fans get to watch two bouts with one admission.

Tickets are $10 in advance (they always sell out the advance tix) and $12 at the door. Seating is limited, but you are allowed to bring your own folding chairs. Many fans sit ring-side, where they can get in on the action (more on this later).

For sports fans, roller derby is quite an entertaining sport (especially initially). Teams of five have a jammer who tries get past the pack and score by doing laps around the track. Three blockers try to make room for their jammer while trying to prevent the other team's jammer from getting past. Meanwhile, the pivot sets the pace of the pack.

The blocking is what is the most entertaining. Just like in hockey, checks are legal (from the side, not the back). You'll often see competitors getting knocked down, often into the fans since there is no wall (oddly, there's no warning to fans that they could get hurt like in hockey or baseball). But these women are tough! They always get up immediately and skate right back into action.

After the first half of the first bout (16 minutes each period), the other two teams arrive and compete in their first half. That's followed by a overly lengthy halftime competition (more than 30 minutes) by the teams' mascots. Ten minutes would have been plenty for this unamusing performance, which completely deflated the crowd energy. [Note: halftime entertainment changes from date to date. For example, in the past they've had a bellydancer.]

The final two halves are then held. Total time is about 2.5 hours or more (which is long considering the bouts have a mostly running clock).

The sound system is horrible, making it difficult to understand the M.C. or the interviewees.

There are concessions available, including $3.50 16-oz. cans of PBR. Some fans even tailgate in the parking lot, which fills up quite quickly (you may have to park down the hill at Walgreen's).

The Mad Rollin' Dolls boast a large number of sponsors. Four Star Video offers a free non-new release rental with your ticket stub, so hold onto it! Also, after every competition, the teams have an after-party (check out the pictures online, especially of the underwear party). These parties, which cost $7 to get in or free with your stub, also feature live bands. Wait at least an hour after the competition to show up, though, since it's a late-arriving crowd.

Finally, the debate on whether the roller derby is a family affair. The competitors are dressed rather skimpily, but there isn't any swearing or violence beyond the checking. So yeah, bring your kids.