HISTORY:

The Skee Town Skirtz embody the face of modern Roller Derby. We are athletes; not actors, who focus on the sport and not the spectacle of roller derby. We train hard weekly to prepare ourselves for the demands of a full contact sport. We foster sportswomanship, integrity, athleticism and we are taken seriously as athletes playing one of the only all-female, full contact sports in existence.

Founded in 2009 the Skee Town Skirtz are gearing up for our second season beginning January 2011. The Skee Town Skirtz are Muskegon’s only independently owned all-female flat track roller derby league. Roller derby is an American-invented contact sport based on formation roller skating around an oval track.

Nearly all contemporary roller derby leagues are all-female and self organized. Our diverse league includes women from a wide variety of backgrounds. Our skaters are business owners, artists, developers, welders, therapists, nurses, mothers, volunteers, public servants and teachers who have come together by way of this full contact, high-energy sport. In addition we are pleased to provide opportunity to a group of young athletes the Skee Town Mini Skirtz.

The Skirtz work hard to provide Muskegon with exciting, family-friendly, all ages, action packed sporting events while maintaining a close-knit network of athletes. In our first season the Skirtz took the Lakeshore by storm and traveled as far away as LaCrosse, Wisconsin boasting an incredible first season record of 9 wins and 3 losses - two of our losses were against well established teams that had been in existence in excess of 4 years! We hosted 6 home games often to sold out crowds! Due to our overwhelmingly successful first year, many new and even established surrounding leagues have come to our league leaders for guidance.

As a community based organization, one of our primary core values is to focus our time, energy and talent into giving back to the community that supports our league. In addition to entertaining fans, the Skirtz embrace opportunities to volunteer in the community and help charitable causes. We give of our time and we donate a portion of our ticket sales. The Skee Town Skirtz is an organization providing opportunities to young female athletes. We encourage teamwork, confidence, sportswomanship, leadership and fun. We teach skating skills, strategy and encourage a love for flat track roller derby.

The Miniz are our Jr. League comprised of young ladies ages 9 – 17. The Mini Skirtz Junior Roller Derby program is designed to develop character, confidence, leadership and social interaction through the sport of roller derby. To skate the Miniz must maintain a grade of “C” or better in each of their classes and we are proud that many of our Miniz have made the honor rolls at their respective schools. Our Miniz enjoyed an outstanding first season and are quickly growing in strength and numbers. Parents of our junior league regularly comment on the positive effects of the Skirtz on their daughters’ attitudes, grades and self confidence both on and off the track. Our Jr. League also affords opportunity for mothers and daughters, aunts and nieces and even sisters to play a fun sport together. The Skirtz currently have both mothers/daughters and aunts/nieces and sisters playing on our league. Roller derby has been called “The fastest growing sport in America” we cannot bring this exciting fast-paced sport to Muskegon without the generous support of our families, friends, support staff, sponsors, fans, and the Muskegon community as a whole.