These Vintage Photos Prove That Roller Derby Has Always Been Cool

Modern Roller Derby

The contemporary roller derby revival began in 2000, when Daniel Eduardo “Devil Dan” Policapro, a musician from Austin, Texas, recruited women to skate in a new version of roller derby—something he envisioned to be a rowdy, circus-like, rockabilly spectacle. However, Policapro and the women parted ways after a failed fundraiser, and the women self-organized as another group.

BGGW

Bad Girl Good Woman Productions was created in 2001 and ushered in a new generation of roller derby which was open to women only. Founders formed four teams and staged their first public match in Austin, Texas the following year. The BGGW then split in two: the Texas Rollergirls went for flat-track play while the BGGW became the TXRD Lonestar Rollergirls who went on to skate banked-track roller derby.

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Post originally appeared on Upbeat News.