Why do the skaters use funny, fake names?
Modern derby skaters customarily adopt an alias, or “derby name.” Initially meant to complement the over-the-top spectacle envisioned by the Austin revival’s progenitors, the names have stuck even as modern roller derby quickly evolved toward pure competitive sport. Why? It keeps the whimsy in the activity. It’s a way of not taking oneself too seriously, even while taking the sport seriously. In a nutshell: it’s fun! Really, if you have to ask, you probably aren’t going to get it. A handful of skaters have elected to skate under their legal name, rather than an alias, often out of a desire to further emphasize the modern sport’s legitimacy. That may become a trend; it may not. The young sport of modern roller derby is still very much a work in progress, so only time will tell.
