New Jersey’s hardest working women are taking the track by storm and proudly bringing home the newest incarnation of the Roller Derby revolution. The Garden State Rollergirls are mothers, sisters, professionals and working-class heroes that proudly represent the farthest reaches of New Jersey. Shrinking violets they are NOT, and they’re ready to show you that the Garden State Rollergirls are a force to be reckoned with.

At its inception in spring ’06, GSR had little formal training and served mainly as a way for strong women to come together and do something positive and athletic. Currently in preparation for becoming a member of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), the women are conditioning their bodies, enhancing their skating skills and competing against challengers from all over the country. The skaters of GSR would love nothing more than to represent the good state of New Jersey as official WFTDA members.

And their hard work is paying off…the inaugural bout of the season boasted nearly sold out attendance, much to the delight of the League’s two home teams: Bridge & Pummel and The Northern Nightmares. Filling out the Garden State Rollergirls' roster is the league's travel team, the Ironbound Maidens, who proudly skate for the city of Newark, site of the GSR home rink -- the Branch Brook Roller Skating Center. The Maidens performances against competing leagues will go towards bolstering the Garden State Rollergirls’ chances at attaining national ranking.

Despite the rigors of training, out-of-pocket expenses and risk of injury, the ladies of the Garden State Rollergirls are hell-bent on introducing New Jersey to the resurgence in Roller Derby’s popularity. After all, it’s not just the intoxicating competition, athleticism, or excitement that keeps the crowds coming: there’s also the attitude. Anyone even remotely associated with derby knows that half the fun is the pageantry. Aggressive and wanton alter-egos (names include Lady Vengeance, Sorority Slaughter and Belle N. Somebashin’) and eye-catching uniforms lend themselves to the captivating experience that is a derby bout.

What started as a way to spice up dance parties in the late 1930s has re-birthed itself once again into an estrogen-fueled phenomenon and GSR are glad to be in the thick of it. Always looking for new skaters and aiming to add a third team by next season, the league has high hopes for itself in the future.

“I see this as the beginning of a smooth-running and living machine,” says Layla Smackdown, captain of B&P, “with people excited to come to events and girls excited about participating in it … and lining up for try-outs.”