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Who are the ManchVegas Roller Girls?
The ManchVegas Roller Girls, often referenced as MVRG, is a flat-track roller derby league located in Manchester, New Hampshire. We play according to WFTDA rules, but are not affiliated with any specific sanctioning body. We practice in our own training facility located in a warehouse in Manchester. MVRG currently consists of a women’s league in Manchester, a women’s league in Peterborough, and a ‘forming’ men’s league in Manchester. One of the key challenges for MVRG is that New Hampshire is ice skating country and there are no roller rinks anywhere near Manchester, so the availability of roller skaters is somewhat limited.
What makes the ManchVegas Roller Girls unique from other derby leagues?
We have no mandatory criteria for joining MVRG such as the “right look”, skating ability or age. All are welcome, trained and made part of the MVRG family. We have a zero tolerance policy on drama and those that bring it to us are quickly sent elsewhere. Membership consist of volunteers, referees, skaters and coaches. All members are equal within the league, all members have a voice and the ability to change how the league operates. We are willing to play any team from anywhere, no matter what organization they may (or may not) belong to. We support and utilize small, local area businesses before all others. Our charity work consists of working events and promotions for any small business in New Hampshire for free as a community service as well as the large charitable organizations. We created and support the “Chick Anery Fight Club against PNH” to help with the further research on Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH).
History of the ManchVegas Roller Girls
Back in 2005, Phil & Victoria Gailinas (aka Flyin Phil and Wicked Evil Step Mom) owned and operated an online store selling roller skates and roller skating accessories, aptly named Flyin Phil’s Place. Though most of their customers were ‘artistic’, ‘jam’ and ‘dance’ skaters, a small number of their customers were skaters with newly-formed women-only roller derby leagues around the country. And when the series ROLLERGIRLS started being telecast on the Arts & Entertainment Network (A&E) in the spring of 2006, it became obvious that this ‘new’ sport might be something to keep an eye on. Now, right around Saint Patty’s Day of that same year, Victoria heard that the recently-formed Boston Derby Dames were having their first public bout at the Mass College of Art in Beantown. So she loaded up the Jeep with herself, Flyin Phil and their daughter Brenna and headed down to the event in Boston… only to be turned away from the door when the event sold out in less than a half hour.
Right around this same time, the closest roller rink to Manchester (Good Times in Merrimack) closed its doors due to lack of patrons. Anticipating the rise in popularity of this next iteration of roller derby, WESM started negotiating for the rights to use Good Times as a local center for derby. Unfortunately, the cost for mandatory upgrades to the facility was prohibitive and New Hampshire was to lose yet another roller skating venue. That left only Great View Roller Skating in Enfield (on the Vermont border) and Roller Skate Newington (near the coastline). Neither location provided the local opportunity desired.
New Hampshire’s FIRST Roller Derby League
But this didn’t sway WESM. She kept working toward creating New Hampshire’s First Roller Derby and, after many, many discussion with people from all over the country, the state and the local area, WESM decide to take real action and registered the ManchVegas Roller Girls as a legal entity on October 1, 2007, making it the FIRST ROLLER DERBY EVER REGISTERED IN THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. Other New Hampshire-based leagues registered after that date include Skate Free Or Die (now known as NH Roller Derby) out of Nashua and the Elm City Derby Damez located in Keene. Also, the Monadnock Mad Knockers were formed in Peterborough in the Fall of 2008 as a satellite team for MVRG.
Initially, recruiting events at local bars, skating in local parades, and practicing at the local Boys and Girls Club were all confined to Manchester (also lovingly known as ManchVegas). But as the words got out, more and more members and volunteers started participating from other area towns. From the start, MVRG has had an open-door policy with respect to participation of women with no restrictions as to personality, height, weight, skating history, etc. We have always trained our own skaters, regardless of prior skill level.
The MVRG Mission Statement
The ManchVegas Roller Girls are dedicated to several areas: First and foremost our objective is the empowerment of men, women and young adults in an athletic environment; in the way of allowing the opportunity to participate in a unique sport regardless of current physical or athletic ability. Secondly, to provide a competitive sport environment that improves member’s individual athletic ability, self-discipline and character while promoting the sport of roller derby.
Our goal is to run a safe, fun, professional league that gives New Hampshire adults of all ages, shapes, sizes and skill level a chance to enjoy the sport of roller derby. Our program provides regular supervised training and instruction to prepare our members to represent New Hampshire at National competitions. We will also train and guide all our members to provide community outreach through events, activities, and charity sponsorship. ManchVegas Roller Girls will promote and create goodwill by doing business locally with owner operated enterprises within southern New Hampshire.
Our primary focus within the community is to promote small, local area business within New Hampshire by creating and attending events that provide new business to existing companies.
Finally, we encourage and promote the sport of roller derby with the idea of making New Hampshire a hub for all forms of quad roller skating.
Reference
State Of New Hampshire Corporate Division
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