About Us

Pioneer Valley Roller Derby isn't just an amateur derby club - we're a family.

We have both women's and men's divisions. As you'd expect from the Valley, we support gender equality. We've been working to change the derby world by promoting equality while focusing on athleticism and sporting competition.

 

 

In the beginning...

During the summer of 2005, co-founders Pink Panzer and Bazooka Joe went to Providence to watch a friend play roller derby. They loved it so much that they decided to start their own league in the Northampton, Holyoke, Springfield area.

There was only one problem: neither of them knew how to skate or play roller derby!

After rounding up a bunch of friends and interested parties, Pioneer Valley Roller Derby was born. Early members took skating lessons from a local artistic skating teacher at Interskate 91 in Wilbraham.

Within a couple months, the league began to take shape and leaders began to emerge within the league. Pink Panzer, Nora Morse, and Dr. Spankenstein took the reigns as the league's head coaches.

Early Competition 

PVRD had a rocky start on the derby circuit. Having a men's team made it difficult for PVRD's ladies to compete with other ladies teams that were vying for ranking within the Women's Flat Track Roller Derby Association (WFTDA). The men, being the only guys team in the world, had no known opponents! But with hard work, and perseverance, PVRD uncovered opportunities and took them.

The Dirty Dozen

The Men's Division first competed as "Guys in Red From Massachusetts" before naming themselves The Dirty Dozen. In October 2006, Baltimore's Justice Feel Good Marshall and The Charm City Roller Girls invited PVRD's men to play an exhibition scrimmage against CCRG's co-ed Referee staff. The refs put up a great fight, and ultimately sent PVRD packing. Our first loss stung, but skating in front of an audience for the first time was sweet.

Western Mass Destruction

In February 2007, Western Mass Destruction skated in their first bout against Maine Roller Derby's Vacationland Vixens. The bout was held at Totman Gym at UMass Amherst. The bout sold out its 700 seat capacity, and the league had to turn away another 200 people at the door. The WMDs were outmatched by the fierce ladies of Maine, but the crowd was hooked.

Doubleheaders

In April 2007, WMD and the Dozen competed alongside each other in the world's first full-length men and women's flat track roller double header. (Say that 10 times fast!). The New Jersey Dirty Dames invited the WMDs to skate against their Hub City Hellrazors. The Dozen would go head to head against a new team from NYC called the New York Shock Exchange.

The Dozen (who were actually only skating with 7) would fall to the much larger NYSE. This battle would go down in history as not only the first full length men's bout - but also the fiercest. Guys from both teams still have physical and emotional scars from the battle! Read the recap.

The Western Mass went on to overtake the Hellrazors, and avenge their boys in green. Many PVRD skaters warmly recall how battling alongside each other made the league more of a family than just a amateur sports club.

Inaugural PVRD Double Header

Amidst a year long stint of venue-finding-trouble, PVRD squeaked out a second home bout at AIC's Butova Gym in Springfield. This would be our first home double-header.

The guys played against the newly formed Harm City Homicide from Baltimore - led by Justice Feelgood Marshall and Virginia Slim.

The ladies' opponent backed out last minute. But, in an amazing show of derby love, a skater from Connecticut Roller Girls organized a mixed team so the WMDs could give our fans some ladies action. The Tri-Skate Derby Coalition (as they called themselves) were comprised of skaters from CT Rollergirls, Gotham Girls Roller Derby, Charm City Roller Girls and Suburbia Roller Derby.

WMD put up a good fight against the more experienced Tri-Skate Derby Coalition, losing by a very respectable 59-74. The Dozen pulled out their first win against Harm City: 100-67. Read the recap.

Our Legacy

Not only was the PVRD the first league in the country to have a men's and women's team. Contrary to early 2006 belief - PVRD's men didn't ruin roller derby. We've enhanced it.

• Men's Roller Derby Association - (formerly Men's Derby Coalition) along with members of NYSE and Harm City Homicide, PVRD founded an organization to help other men's teams organize, and work with their local women's league to co-promote and advance the sport in their area.
• Central Mass Roller Derby - Hellen Bed, a former WMD skater, took PVRD's values east to Worcester and founded CMRD who incorporates both men's and women's teams and hosts regular double header bouts.
• Male & Female Doubleheaders - Many leagues throughout the country have begun incorporating men's expos and full length bouts into their regular season bouts. As much as guys like watching women hit each other - women enjoy watching guys go at it. The audience loves it!