They come from all walks of life: an elementary school teacher turned independent health coach, a pet store manager, a body piercer, an accountant. From their early 20s to well into their 40s, they are moms and sisters, wives and significant others. And they skate—fast and furious.

They are the Blue Ridge Rollergirls (BRRG) and they are ready to rock the 2011 roller derby season beginning Saturday, March 12, with a doubleheader at the Asheville Civic Center.

BRRG is Asheville's skater-owned and skater-run nonprofit women's flat track roller derby league. Right now, the group is an apprentice league in the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), but team members hope to get their full WFTDA status this year.

"We've come along way from where we began," says Jenn Possick (a.k.a. Liquor Possi). Jenn, 29, has been with the league since it started in 2006. "In our first game, we had maybe 300 people," she says. "Now we've had 3,500 people at a bout."

Jenn, who was an elementary school teacher for eight years before recently becoming a health coach, says the learning curve has been steep and the league is just coming into its own. "We had to learn what to do," she says. "We had to learn to promote ourselves. Most of us actually had to learn the specifics of roller derby."

The BRRG women came to the league for a variety of reasons, but the friendships they make keep them coming back.

"These women are so inspiring," says Emily Sepik, 31, (a.k.a. She-Wrex), who is in her first season with the BRRG. "It's such a great community... I feel really lucky to be part of this."

Emily is anxious about her first bout. "I'm terrified, actually," she says, "but I'm so excited, too. My mom is flying in from Maine. I've been looking forward to this for a long time."

Emily's story is familiar. She has a normal day job. (She is a manager for the Pet Harmony Retail Store, which is part of the Animal Compassion Network in Asheville.) She went to a bout last year and had no idea what was going on or what the rules were. But after witnessing it she knew roller derby was something she had to do. She practiced skating all summer in preparation for tryouts last September.

Emily says, "You have to pass a rules test to be part of the team, and I think I wanted to pass those tests more than my grad school tests. Now I understand the sport and what it takes to be successful in it. I understand the commitment that is necessary."

That commitment is substantial. The team practices three times a week. In addition, team members must make public appearances and serve on committees such as public relations, fund-raising, training, or even serving on the group's board of directors. Oh yeah, then there are the bouts themselves.

Mallory Trasport, 25, (a.k.a. One Hit WoundHer), like Emily, is another newbie. As a tax accountant, she is required to work 55 hours a week during tax season, which is when the BRRG is training and launching its season. In addition, she is also a grad student at the University of North Carolina Asheville.

"Despite my busy schedule, I've found that derby is a great outlet for stress and I actually feel healthier and have more energy," says Mallory. "Plus the camaraderie is amazing."

After years of playing fast-pitch softball, Mallory hoped to form a league in Asheville but it never materialized. After attending her first derby bout last June, she was immediately hooked. Now she is excited about being on the team and looking forward to her first bout.

“I've never been around a group of women like this," says Mallory. "In softball, leagues were determined by age, so I was always on teams with

people roughly my same age. When I came here and found out there were women in their 40s, it was so encouraging. I thought, 'I could do this for 20 years!' That's really inspiring."

Katie Brophy (a.k.a. Caslamity Jane) also hopes to be part of roller derby for a long time. At 25, she's already one of the veteran members of the team. "I just hope my body lasts as long as my will does," Katie says.

She adds that she feels lucky to have started derby as young as she did. "It's changed me for the better," Katie says. "I'm not a natural athlete, so I've had to train my body for the challenges of roller derby. Now I'm running 5k races, and that's derby related. Most of my friends are derby related. I got my job (as a body piercer) at Diamond Thieves because they were a (BRRG) sponsor, so that's derby related. I don't know what I'd do without roller derby."

The Blue Ridge Rollergirls offer a doubleheader extravaganza billed as the St. Patrick's Day Slay March 12 at the Asheville Civic Center. Split into two teams, the BRRG French Broads face the Twin City Derby Girls at 5 p.m. and then the BRRG All Stars take on the Soul City Sirens in a 7 p.m. match. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. (Price includes both bouts.) Kids 12 and under get in free. Tickets are available at the Civic Center Box Office or online.