Renaissance Roller Girl

This heroic scene isn't what you'd expect on the wall of a neighborhood Irish pub. Usually, those spots are reserved for patriots martyred in the Easter Rebellion. But the full length wall mural in Dougherty’s of Mt. Vernon (223 Chase Street) pays homage to another team of warriors engaged in full combat – the Charm City Roller Girls.

Even more stunning than the visual impact is that the artist, Leah Koltko, is a roller girl who graduated from Maryland Institute.

This sport becomes more and more intriguing as its popularity grows. For those who think the last roller queen was the Kansas City Bomber, take note --a new generation of skaters has found an audience for their competitive, entertaining and fun sport.

Charm City Roller Girls was formed in 2005 as an outgrowth of recreational skating at Skateland rink. It quickly developed into an organized all-woman, flat-track roller derby league made up of local women from all walks of life –from moms to artists.



With success (and fans) came the move to the Du Burns Arena in Canton, where their season began in May.

Before summer is over, I’ll catch a game (match?) and blog about it. For now, check out their website and learn about these community-based competitors. There’s even information about team tryouts for aspiring roller girls.

It sounds like too much fun. Can’t help but wonder what other talents lurk in the lineup.

http://www.charmcityrollergirls.com/