Quizzo with the Roller Derby

Photo by Christopher Boetticher (a.k.a. King Taco)

The Penn Jersey Roller Derby gals (and guys) are hosting an evening of Quizzo at the Dive (947 East Passyunk) in South Philly tonight (9 p.m.-12 a.m.). With the holidays being officially over, G Philly thought it might be a good time to sit down with one of the roller girls and talk about what it takes to be a derby queen and Quizzo champ.

We also wanted to find out why so many lesbians love these chicks on skates.

Elizabeth DiFebo (a.k.a. Absolutely Stabulous), a Penn Jersey Roller Derby team member and one of the organizers of the event, gave us the scoop – knee pads and all.

How long have you been skating with the Roller Derby, Liz?

I started with the team’s rookie program last March, so I’ve been with the team almost 10 months. Anyone who’s interested in joining – we welcome all skill levels – starts out in our rookie program, which lasts three months, and then graduates to the regular team practices. I should also point out that we’re technically the Penn Jersey Roller Derby, not just roller girls. We’re a co-ed team, so we’ve got guys on our team who are awesome.

The ladies specifically have a fierce following among plenty of lesbians. I know your team is gender diverse (and both homo- and hetero-friendly), but what do you think attracts the gay gals to roller derby in general?

Derby is a really warm environment full of friendly people, and I think that attracts so many people. Plus, there are cute chicks who are true athletes putting the hurt on one another while wearing short skirts. That’s just universally appealing. Two girls from our most recent rookie group got engaged at the end of our last game in December. We had a huge crowd and they went happy-nuts. It was really great.

Do you ever see gay guys (or bears) at your games?

Definitely. Our fan base is incredibly diverse. We’re also a co-ed team, so anyone who’s got a pair of skates and is willing to work hard is welcome to join us. And if that’s not your thing, we’d just love your support.

What can we expect from Quizzo tonight with a bunch of roller derby fiends?

It’s going to be a fun time. We’re going to do a couple of rounds of questions – maybe themed, maybe not -with prizes at the end of the night. And team members will be there running the game, as well as part of the crowd.

If one of us gets the answer wrong should we worry about being body checked?

Nope! But there might be a spontaneous dance-off or two. That tends to happen a lot at our after parties.

What inspired you to become a roller girl in the first place?

I’ve been athletic for years, but everything I’ve done has been a solo venture (running, yoga, snowboarding, mountain biking). I really wanted to do a team sport. I went to see a game last winter and instantly knew this was something I wanted to be a part of. It’s the perfect mix of fun and is challenging.

For folks who are new to Quizzo (and roller derby), what advice would you give them about tonight?

Be kind to me and Pixxie Stix! We’re hosting the event and we’ve never done it before.

Where can we see you ladies and gents compete this season?

Almost all of our games are played at the International Sports Centre in Mount Laurel, N.J. Our schedule is available online.