The Badass, No-Holds-Barred Bay Area Derby Girls

Rough-and-tumble rebel girls roll with the punches.

(From left) EXQUISITE CORPSE, 31; LIZA MACHETE, 24; DAKOTA KID, 29; FRISKIE MEOW, 27; LADY KISS OFF, 27. All members of the Bay Area Derby Girls league, shot on location in Chinatown by Anön.

Forget the Olympics—the real action is on the flat track, where roller derby has made a major comeback, thanks to the Bay Area Derby Girls (B.A.D. Girls for short). The Bay Area's all-female flat-track roller-derby league comprises four teams: SF's ShEvil Dead, the Oakland Outlaws, the Richmond Wrecking Belles and the B.A.D. All-Stars, a traveling squad that draws members from all three teams.

In total, there are 80 badass, no-holds-barred players, ranging in age from 20 to 40, with day jobs as disparate as ER nurse and landscaper. Don't let the fishnets, makeup and stage names fool you—unlike the staged World Wrestling Entertainment–like derbies of yore, these bouts are about pure athleticism, strategy and, yes, full-body contact in the form of vicious shoulder and hip checks that send players flying.

They've got a following—their monthly bouts at Fort Mason always sell out—says ShEvil Dead player Robin Savinar, aka Exquisite Corpse, who joined the team as a dink (roller-derby lingo for rookie—as in, rinky-dink) in August 2007. "I'd never experienced 1,000 people cheering me on in my whole life. The first time I was like, Holy smokes!" For the championship bout, held on October 11, they expect to fill the 2,000-seat Festival Pavilion with rowdy fans.

Think you're tough enough to handle the three two-hour practices weekly and a case of rink rash? Tryouts are held each September—if you make the cut, you'll be eligible for the draft.

(On Corpse): Giles teal gown ($6,060) at Barneys New York, 415-268-3500. Aprosio metal gray three-tier flower necklace ($1,490) at Barneys New York. Earrings, stylist's own. (On Machete): Velasco velvet gown ($3,250) at Barneys New York. Antonio Palladino silver filigree snake bracelet ($1,175) at Barneys New York. (On Kid): Lanvin gold gown with bow ($3,880) at Barneys New York, 415-268-3500. Simone Coste large citrine stone ring ($4,275) at Barneys New York. (On Meow): Lanvin green silk gown ($2,270), Jennifer Ouellette feather headband ($85), Anna Ruth Henriques crystal necklace ($3,500), Abraxas Rex gold pyramid ring ($4,400), all at Barneys New York. Skates, model's own. (On Kiss Off): Balenciaga teal gown ($1895) and Olivia Collings silver and gold deco cuff ($1,960) at Barneys New York.



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