www. Char l es tonWomenPodcas t . com | www. ReadCW. com | www. I ns tagram. com /Char l es tonWomen BY I SABEL ALVAREZ ARATA Roller derby dates back to the 1930s, but the sport had its heyday in the 1950s and 60s as one of the most-watched events on television. At its origins, roller derby for men and women resembled a marathon more than a tournament. It was solely for entertainment and a spectacle, with much of the interaction between skaters reportedly staged. The sport lost its novelty in the 1970s and was all but extinct until a group of women in Austin, Texas decided to revive roller derby in the early 2000s. The women were looking for a sport they could make their own, a way to celebrate women and strength. Today, roller derby is an international sport known for its intensity, fierce competition and female empowerment. The Lowcountry Highrollers got their start in Charleston in 2008. Current President Traci Doutaz was a skating car-hop at Sonic in 2012 when a friend suggested she try out for roller derby. “I had never seen or heard about it, so I went to my first game to watch,” said Doutaz, also known by her derby name Doutaz Mania, or #859. “I was instantly hooked. I have always loved skating and was involved in competitive sports, so it was perfect for me,” she recounted. Not all members of the Lowcountry Highrollers grew The Lowcountry Highrollers are Ready to Play Photo prov i ded. Photo prov i ded. Photo prov i ded. Photo prov i ded.
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