Whack, Thump, Bump with Twister City 

On the outside, Edmond’s Arctic Ice Edge arena appears calm. But inside, it is a high-energy combination of “athletic excellence and hard-hitting action” – at least during derby season. That’s just how Twister City Roller Derby rolls. 

The Oklahoma City league offers competitive and recreational teams. While the three recreational teams play against each other, the competitive teams are pitted against teams from across the region, nation, and – if they succeed at those levels – the world. Currently, Twister City ranks seventh of 70 teams in the region. 

The fast-paced, full-contact sport is played on roller skates, where two teams of five players each battle it out on an oval track. The game is broken into short, intense rounds called jams. Each team has one jammer — the player with a star on their helmet — who scores points by lapping opposing team members. The other four players, known as blockers, form a pack, working to clear paths for their jammer while blocking the opposing jammer. 

If the structure of the sport doesn’t click on paper, a few minutes of watching the high-powered action will solve that. And for the even more adventurous in spirit, tryouts are around the corner, says Twister City Roller Derby President, Cheyenne Riggs (known as “Professor Flex” on the track). 

The league holds tryouts at the start of each year. Over a three-month process, candidates are trained in the essential skills of the sport: elements like skating (obviously), stamina, and strategy. By the end of that period, a skills assessment determines whether players are added to a team or invited to spend more time in training. The goal, Cheyenne says, is to ensure players are equipped to play safely. 

“Learning to skate is the biggest challenge,” said Cheyenne, who came into the sport via the Austin, Texas roller derby scene. “Then, it comes down to core strength and stamina. We do a lot of conditioning because the play is non-stop. And you take a lot of hits.” 

While the sports’ bad-girl persona is warranted (they are tough), Cheyenne says a more inclusive group would be hard to find (they are kind). “The sport has some very punk-feminist origins,” she said, “and today it’s really a very inclusive place where people who struggle to find belonging can fit in.” 

In addition to offering an outlet for physicality and competition, Cheyenne says there’s something about the game that changes you. “In life we so often find ourselves needing to be smaller or take up less space, but on the track, it’s the opposite. You have to take up space and not concede.” 

Find the Twister City schedule and 2025 recruit class at twistercityderby.com. Or, follow them on Facebook or Instagram at @TwisterCityRollerDerby. The recreational league is open to all genders.