The London Rockin’ Rollers are powered by big queer energy on wheels.
There’s never been a better time to join the team and create a fearsome new alias…
A full-contact sport on roller skates may sound intimidating, but for many queer Londoners, it has become something far more: a vibrant home for joy, belonging, and chosen family.
Roller derby has long cultivated queer community, and the London Rockin’ Rollers (LRR) continue that tradition with fierce dedication. Trans rights and inclusivity sit firmly at the centre of their ethos, where community is — quite literally — built on eight wheels.
As the league launches its next beginners’ course, Rookie Rollers, they’re welcoming anyone ready to discover strength, expression, and joyful chaos on track.
A unique tradition awaits every new skater: choosing a “derby name”. Much like crafting a drag persona, it’s a chance to build an alter ego brimming with attitude or humour — you can catch Kiss and Hell, Winona Ride-Her, or beginner’s coach, Tart, on the track. Many skaters joke that they don’t even know each other’s real names.
Smashochist, Captain of the B team, sums up derby’s spirit: “It’s for everyone, and all body types have valuable skills. It’s a place where any alter ego can shine, and I like that people assume you’re queer rather than assume you’re straight!” Skater Hayley Killiams adds, “knowing I can turn up and just be my queer self… is really refreshing.”
This playful creativity sits alongside a deeper sense of safety. Themperor’s experience reflects what many find within LRR: “As a trans non-binary person, I often feel excluded and anxious in many spaces, but joining LRR gave me a safe space and inclusive community to express myself.”
Some skaters discovered derby during moments of transition. Insydious recalls moving from rural Wales to London: “It took me a long time to find an inclusive community I felt comfortable in. LRR has breathed life into me.” And while game days are fierce, they are equally joyful. Wins and losses are celebrated with triumphant after-parties, moments of queer joy where skaters are loud, proud, and thoroughly themselves.
LRR’s spirit also travels. More than 20 members recently journeyed to the Roller Derby World Cup in Austria to support their teammates competing for various national teams.
Now, the league is preparing for its next wave of recruits. Taster sessions run on 22nd February and 1st March, with the Rookie Rollers course starting on 8th March. Open to anyone aged 18+, it’s a chance to build confidence, learn new skills, and join a gloriously queer family. For Malitia, joining Rookies became a lifechanging leap: “We spent 10 weeks learning the basics of roller derby, and I spent 10 weeks trying to woo my now partner, also on the Rookies course! Fast forward to 2025 and I’m now on the B team, bruised like a peach, and still loving this wild sport.”
As former Rookie Violent Violet says: “The Rookies course was one of the most fun and empowering experiences I’ve ever had… Roller Derby is all about being loud and taking up space.”
For more information on how to join the team, head to @rockin_rollers or londonrockinrollers.co.uk
