When it comes to Roller Derby, the Rock Town team is bringing it on!
By Lana Pierce
We love a good show in Hot Springs, from races and pageants to stagecraft and parades. Add unfettered adrenaline to that spirit of showmanship and voila: Rock Town Roller Derby! It’s bringing a new fatale meets fierce competition, with a modern look to a very retro sport.
In September, the city hosted the 2025 ArkanBrawl tournament, drawing teams from across the country for two speed-filled days of knees, knuckles, knocks, and blocks. Though the look is modernized, the game is the same: Two teams of five players on skates speed around a circular track. Each team sends out one “jammer” who must lap the opposing team, which does its best to block the jammer’s path.
The Rock Town team, a standout already, trains year-round. The team boasts camaraderie and inclusivity, encouraging newcomers and rookies to work together in the common goal of obliterating opponents. When the skates come off, these sexy, scowling players return to jobs including teacher, nurse, and parent.
That many teammates balance family, occupation, and multiple practices is proof of their tenacity and commitment. (There are other important roles in roller derby, and volunteers serve as referees, coaches, and officials.) In fact, teammates often refer to each other as family, where players push each other to be strong, centered, and competitive while reminding one another to have fun.
Whether you are a sports junkie or a curious first-time spectator, Rock Town Roller Derby seems perfect for date-night, family-night, or friends-night. The team’s final game of the season is an upcoming Birthday Bash Doubleheader, Oct 11 at 11:30 am at the Arkansas Skatium in Little Rock.
Lana Pierce is an author and 19-year veteran of the NLR Fire Department who lives in Hot Springs and owns RetroFit.
