(CBS Detroit) – Detroit Roller Derby has been around for nearly 20 years, having been founded in a basement on New Year's Day 2005.
The group is made up of multiple teams like Pistophus, and also has a junior league with players like Pixie Lenny, also known as Ika Vicious. Pixie began her competitive career after years of watching her mother play the sport.
“You can really be yourself,” Pixie Renee said. “The community is very open and accepting.”
Pixie Renee's mother, Marijane Renee, goes by the nickname “Kraken.”
Marijane Rennie retired from roller derby several years ago, but when she returned to the sport with her daughter, she was asked to coach. She is the Executive Director of Community Outreach and Coordinator of Detroit Roller Derby.
“Now I'm teaching [my daughter] “I get to teach all kinds of things and teach all the kids and watch them grow not only as players but as people,” she said.
Marijane Rennie wants to make the sport more accessible to everyone, especially in the Detroit area, and remove certain barriers so that the price of playing is no longer a deterrent.
“We removed the dues barrier,” she said. She said: “We have a library of roller skates, so if you don’t have skates, we have protective gear available. [So] participate. “