Hoboken's Derby Darlings

By day, Melissa Nat and Monika Smyczek are young professional women with full-time jobs. Come nightfall, they lace up their skates and compete in roller derby, the girls-only contact sport with a newfound resurgence.

Smyczek, 27, known as Kitty Von Karnage in the derby world, lived in Hoboken most of her life before recently moving on to Weehawken. But it was while living in the Mile Square and commuting to New York for work that she had her first taste of derby.

"I was taking the PATH and I saw this poster in the station (for Garden State Rollergirls) every day, and after awhile I was just like, 'I should do this!'" said Smyczek, who is now approaching her fourth year with the league and her first as league president.

Nat, 29, is known as J. Cruel when she has her skates on. The Hobokenite was first introduced to the sport with the A&E series, "Rollergirls," about a league in Austin, Texas.

"I didn't know it was still going on, so prompted by that, I went to a Gotham Girls bout (New York City's league)," said Nat, who added that she ultimately followed her own motto: "If not now, when?"

She began practicing with Garden State Rollergirls at the end of 2007, when she says the league was much smaller. After passing a skills test, she was deemed "fresh meat," and was welcomed to the league.

A modern roller derby bout is comprised of five girls skating around a rink with different positions—a jammer, who scores; three blockers who play defense and one pivot. The main object is to get ahead of the pack.

"From January to November we practice," Nat said. "It takes dedication."

"It's been nothing but positive for me," said Smyczek. "And it's safe, as much as any contact sport is safe. If you let your kid play hockey, it's no different."

The league practices at Branch Brook Park in Newark, and recently at the Skating Club of America in Wallington, where they will also be holding bouts. The Garden State girls often go up against leagues in New York and Philadelphia.

"It'll open us up to a different audience," said Nat about the new space.

As for whether the girls' hell-on-wheels alter egos are kept a secret? Not so much anymore, where derby has crept into the mainstream with films like Whip It.

"I initially thought my job would frown on it, but my workplace has been nothing but supportive," said Smyczek . "Some skaters keep it quiet, like if they have a client-facing job, or job out of line with the values of roller derby. Personally, I've had nothing but support."

Nat is very open with her friends and family about her passion for derby, too, but laughed that she "would miss the surprised reactions if I didn't tell them."

"I was scared to tell my dentist, though. I mean, we do wear mouth guards, but I thought he would freak. He thought it was the best, though!" she added.

Smyczek said it is a double-edged sword having derby names, personas and costumes in the sport, exactly the type of glitz and showmanship that makes derby so unique.

"It's definitely what attracted me to the sport in the first place," Smyczek said. On the down side: it's hard to get the recognition the girls deserve.

"If you google a football player, you will get to see all of their athletic accomplishments," Smyczek said. "For me, you have to google my skate name. I'm so proud of the sport, but you start to realize that it might be slightly detrimental," she said, adding, "I can see the value of one day moving away from that and using our regular names."

The girls skate so hard that sometimes there are bound to be injuries, but Smyczek and Nat claim it's no worse than injuries sustained from playing any other sport.

"I had two concussions last season, and my mother is a doctor," Smyczek said. "She definitely went a little overboard with wanting me to quit." 

"I haven't had any injuries," said Nat. "Some falls, some bruises, but it's all good pain. That's a testament to a league run well: everyone knows what they're doing."

The league welcomes any interested women to stop by, watch a bout and try out if they think they can handle the sport. Nat's advice is simply to get back on skates: "The more comfortable you become, the less intimidated you will be when you have to skate in a line and hit."

"I was originally just looking for a team to belong to, to blow off some steam. I found that derby was for everyone, any shape or size," said Smyczek. "I really learned honesty, positive aggression and how to confront people, instead of being passive-aggressive. I got a lot of self-confidence and a sense of accomplishment."

"The rewards will always outweigh the bruises," maintained Nat. "It's just so awesome to say that I skate, to be a part of this."

The Garden State Rollergirls will play their season opener on March 13, 7:30 p.m. at the Inline Skating Club of America, 551 Main Ave., Wallington. Tickets are available at http://www.gardenstaterollergirls.com.