Roller derby is more than pushing, shoving and racing around the rink in attempt to get the most points; there is a deeper connection between empowered females in a dynamic atmosphere.
The Naughty Pines Derby Dames, who have been around since January 2009, are Wyoming’s first all female flat track roller derby team.
“We are Wyoming’s first derby team and are loved in the community,” said Macki Snyder, also known as Vaga Bondage on the NPDD, “we just participated in the Homecoming Parade and we heard, ‘There’s the roller derby team. We love you!’ very frequently.”
The Naughty Pines Derby Dames take pride in being a skater-owned and operated team. There are currently seventeen members of the team.
Snyder mentioned that there is rarely ever a consistent atmosphere, due to all of the different ways the team prepares for bouts. The team can be busy warming up and stretching before a bout, setting up merchandise tables, or even having positivity circles.
“We share one good thing related to derby or just our lives in general,” said Snyder. All of these attributes bring the Naughty Pines Derby Dames together as a strong team of empowered women.
According to the Naughty Pines Derby Dames’ website, the team does not just focus on roller derby; they are also involved with helping other non-profit organizations in the local Laramie community. In 2011 the Naughty Pines Derby Dames were able to donate $150 to Operation Warm in order to help buy coats for elementary school students in Laramie, Centennial, Rock River and Harmony, Wyoming. In 2009 the team was able to donate $1,000 to Laramie Reproductive Health that they raised from an event called “Little Bout on The Prairie.”
Snyder said changes are happening in the world of the Naughty Pines Derby Dames.
“We’ll be a really new and fresh team this year,” Snyder said. “We lost several phenomenal vets to graduation and life changes at the end of the season. However, I think this is really exciting!”
The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) is responsible for governing the sport of flat track roller derby internationally and was established in 2004. According to the WFTDA website, the organization also acts as a membership organization that allows leagues to collaborate and network with one another all over the world. The WFTDA is also responsible for setting standards, rules, seasons, safety, and determining guidelines for competitions. As of right now, there are 273 WFTDA member leagues and 102 leagues in the WFTDA Apprentice program. These leagues come from all over the world. There are leagues from Switzerland to Laramie’s very own roller derby team, and everywhere in between.
The Naughty Pines Derby Dames can be found blocking, jamming and taking names at their bouts this season.
