Derby Devils wreak havoc in rink

Photo by Wayne C. Moore
SCAD photography student Alexi Gibson, whose alter ego is Dyslexi, practices with the Savannah Derby Devils Oct. 15 at the Garden City Recreation Center.

By: Jennifer Long

Published: Friday, October 19, 2007

By day, Savannah College of Art and Design graduate students Zelana Davis and Noelle Wedig can be found studying, attending classes and exploring Savannah, like many of their peers. But by night, they transform themselves into larger-than-life characters who skate fast, play hard and sport major attitude as members of the roller derby team the Savannah Derby Devils.

Roller derby has increased in popularity recently, and the newest generation of competitors is known for wearing sassy uniforms and having an edgier attitude than teams in the past. The Derby Devils, formed in January 2006, belong to the U.S. Association of Roller Sports and follow the rules and standards of the Women’s Flat-track Derby Association.

Each rollergirl takes on a unique derby name. The Savannah roster includes art history student Davis as Medussa Sedussa and fibers student Wedig as Jungle Lacy. The team numbers approximately 28 skaters, and several are SCAD students, alumni or faculty members. Alexi Gibson, aka Dyslexi, is a junior photography major, while Katie Faust, aka Eradi­Kate, is a graduate student studying graphic design. Cassie Hart, aka Straight Hate, is a junior illustration major, and Stormy Gunter, aka Amanda HugNKiss, is a computer art alumna and part-time animation faculty member.

The Derby Devils have a rigorous practice schedule, skating three evenings a week at the Garden City Recreation Center. During the fall, they play intra-league bouts, during which the team breaks up into small groups that compete against each other. In the spring, they play regional competitors from Jacksonville, Fla., Athens and Atlanta.

Davis is a Derby Devils “newbie,” having joined in June after hearing about the team from a classmate. When she entered the team’s boot camp this summer, she said she didn’t really know how to skate very well, but she was determined to get through the challenging practices. “Boot camp was very intense,” she said. “It basically acclimated us to the whole idea of derby and the group dynamics. You just have to really love it and want to put yourself through it.”

Davis said she enjoys being involved in something so active and finds it a refreshing break from her academic pursuits.

“When I’m at work, I’m studying. When I’m not at work, I’m studying,” she said. “I wanted to have a peer group that wasn’t just entrenched in academia. That’s what I like the most about it — the community, along with the physical exertion that kind of releases your day.”

Wedig, who has been a Derby Devil for about two years, was recruited after team members spotted her rollerblading. She said that being able to skate every week is what she enjoys the most.

“I have skated since I was a little girl and have never stopped,” she said. “Plus, I have always needed an adrenaline rush. Roller derby is an extreme sport in my mind and supplies plenty of rushes.”

Part of the fun of the Derby Devil bouts is that each team member dresses up and gets into character, according to their derby name. “It’s all about getting into that evil, aggressive mindset,” Davis said. “When you’re dressed in character, you can go ahead and show that aggression that you’re not allowed to show in your everyday life. You’re allowed to portray that because it’s a character and it’s not you.”

And perhaps it isn’t surprising that so many SCAD students and alumni have been drawn to join the Derby Devils. “I think there is an artistry in roller derby itself,” said Davis. “The idea of creating an environment with characters and bringing other people to watch, to be spectators, I think … naturally draws people who are artistically inclined.”

Wedig said that her experience in the roller derby has inspired some of her art. “My work is about building unusual forms or sculptures that fit onto the body,” she explained. “These sculptures … move and enhance some of the body’s actual movements. I have sketched out many plans for building new sportswear specific to roller derby that would be both aesthetically interesting and functional as safety gear.”

The next Derby Devils bout takes place Oct. 20 at Supergoose Sports, 3700 Wallin Road in Savannah. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the action starts at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $10 at www.brownpapertickets.com or $12 at the door. For more information about the Savannah Derby Devils, visit www.savannah­derby.com.


Long is a publications editor.