Spokane Roller Girls, a Fast Workout

Most people remember professional roller girls playing roller derby from TV during the 1970’s. Skaters race around an oval track and score points as the jammer laps members of the opposing team. Spokane’s modern roller girls are not paid or on tv but they play because they love the sport. In 2001, long after America forgot about roller derby, a group of fierce women from Texas set about reviving the sport. In 2006, Spokane’s own group of fierce females banded together to create Spokane’s first and only roller derby league. Three years later the Lilac City Roller Girls continue to whip, block, jam and skate women of all ages into shape.

Benefits of skating like a Spokane Roller Girl:

· Skating works every major muscle group on the body

· Great for your core stability and cardio

· Skating moderately will burn 330 calories

· Under the vigorous training of the Lilac City Roller Girls, your body will burn 600 calories in one hour (that’s more than 1 hour running or biking)

What will it take for you to join the roller girls of Spokane?

To play with the roller girls of Spokane, you must first have the right equipment. The Lilac City Roller Girls list quad roller skates, knee and elbow pads, wrist guards, mouth guard and a helmet as your best bet for staying safe. Once your gear is secure, the “fresh meat” coach will take you under her wing to teach you the ropes. There are physical tests you will have to pass to join the ranks of skaters. Spokane’s roller girls are ready and willing to teach you the skills to pass the test necessary for team placement.

· Endurance 20 min of skating to warm up

· Posture and stride

· Speed 5 laps in one minute 20 laps in five minutes, 3 second recovery from falls

· Agility crossovers, stops, hopping from foot to foot, whips and pushed, pacing lines, weaving lines, and one foot gluides

· Falls left and right knees, baseball slides, single knew and turn and four point fall

· Blocking giving and receiving hits

Under the Spokane Lilac City brand, roller girls range in age from 18 to 47 in the adult league.They also have a junior league designed for girls 10-18. Being a roller girl in Spokane is not about age, career or grades, it’s about the love of skating roller derby. These women come together to form a non profit league that is completely run by the athletes. It takes physical dedication, a commitment to the league and your team, a competitive edge and a love for the community that supports them.

I am not ready to skate like a Spokane Roller Girls but think I might want to skate recreationally …

Sin Amen Vengeance, of the Lilac City Roller Girls and a member of Physzique, emphasizes the roll of off-skates training as well as on-skate training. “I started coming to Zach Hunt (owner, Physzique) because I wanted to get serious about my skating. I was overweight and had an injury I was told might take me out of the game permanently. Zach helped me set my goals and made me commit to myself through fitness and proper eating. He helped me see the importance of building muscle to help burn fat. I can’t do that on my skates alone, I need to work in the gym as well. After months of dedication, and motivation through Zach, I have been back on the track and stronger than ever.”

Zach Hunt, personal trainer at Physzique, can help you become ready to strap on the skates. Whether you want to become a Spokane roller girl or you just want to skate recreationally, a proper diet and exercise regime off-skates will add speed to your wheels.

Go to Spokane Fitness Coach Home Page…