SPARKS - Taryn Itup, Mz. Vindictive, Skaten Worshiper and Vanastee, might seem like names out of science fiction but they aren't. In fact they're derby names, Roller Derby that is.

No it's not racing but it's a sport played on a very short oval.

While it began in the 1920's, Roller Derby drew national attention during a 1935 endurance event in Chicago. From there it morphed into the first major league team sport where both men and women competed under the same rules.

In its glory days, Roller Derby bouts drew sellout crowds and was one of the first sports featured on television. Then in the early 1970's the sport disappeared only to be reborn with a series of diffuse leagues that sprung up all across the country.

This rough and tumble sport has an allure all of its own and one drawn into this web is Sparks resident Vickey Alvarez, whose derby name is VicGoria. And she got into the sport by accident.

"My sister works for IGT and she heard from a friend of a friend there was Roller Derby in town and we should check it out," she said. "She came with me the first time, never came again and I've been doing it ever since."

That was in August of 2007 and much to her amazement it's become a passion. Quite different for a woman that describes herself as not athletic in any way.

"Now my friends see me at a bout and say, 'oh my God, how did you do that.' They'll see me get knocked down and get right back up," she said. "That's what you do, it's Derby and it'll hurt later."

Her introduction was an experience she's never forgotten.

"I had no idea what it was about, I just knew girls were on skates and they were rough," she said. "When I showed up they thought I was going to have a heart attack, die and they were never going to see me again. It was tough as one of the first times I showed up it was skating around the Marina."

The path around the Marina, due to its length, is one the skaters use for endurance training. And using "cheesy skates" Alvarez didn't have a good time of it but soon learned why endurance is critical.

"When you're in a bout, it's really hard. I mean you're constantly skating as hard as you can," she said.

The Reno Roller Girls is actually a league composed of two teams, the Mafia Mollies and the Deck Em Dolls. Their goal is to recruit enough women so eventually they'll have four teams.

During the practice sessions, the teams are together on the track honing their skills, doing drills and working on their endurance.

Jammer, pivot and blockers are the three positions in Derby.

"On the first whistle the pack takes off, the pivot sets the pace for them and they have to stay with their pivot," she said. "When the second whistle blows the jammers take off then they have to make it through the pack once and the second time they go through the pack they get a point for every blocker they pass."

The jammers first have to make it through a pack, which isn't easy as their teammates want to help them but their opponents want to stop them. Once free of the pack, the jammers then must skate like the devil, catch the pack again and try and work through it.

Describing what goes on, Alvarez said, "They're blocking the other team while trying to make a path for their jammer and still blocking the other team's jammer. Because if you can slow down in front of the opposing team, or their jammer, it stops them in their tracks and they're either going to hit you and cause a penalty or not make it past you."

This makes for some furious action as the skaters rip around the track, all in close quarters to each other.

"If you're the jammer, you have to go faster than everybody. And a lot of girls don't understand and you know practicing doesn't do it, you have to get out there to get ready for it," she said. "The hardest position in my opinion is jamming. You've got to have the best endurance for that.

"One of our best girls is Miss Vindictive, she's a great blocker and an even better jammer. Nothing stops her as she just makes it through that pack and she's one of our fastest girls."

With so much contact, all skaters wear helmets, knee, elbow pads, mouthpieces and other protective gear. Alvarez also wears what she calls a "butt pad" due to landing on her tailbone several times.

As the risk of injury and falling are part of this sport, every skater gets training on how to fall.

"Because if you don't know how to fall properly, you're going to hurt yourself," she said. "The girls practice falling over and over again so when they do actually fall in a bout, their bodies can remember the right way to fall."

Other than bruises, this training has reduced injuries to a minimum. Another necessary skill taught in drills is the art of skating in close quarters at high speed.

"You have to learn how to skate close and not trip people. How to edge when you're in a pack and not take out your own team member," she said. "And then, with your own team, you want to be able to form a wall so you don't let the other jammer through - you have to learn to skate close and wide."

For the most part, Derby is now a woman's sport.

"There are very few co-ed teams out there. We talked about it briefly but I think you would change the dynamic entirely," she said. "We have an awesome sisterhood, we have a great family and to bring guys into that would definitely change things."

The teams compete using one of three sets of rules, Banked Track or Texas, Flat Track and Renegade where anything goes. The Reno Roller Girls use the banked track rules because they have a direct link with the now reconstituted Bay City Bombers, one of the great teams of Derby's golden age.

"We don't own a banked track, Dee Dee Medina owns it and she's the daughter of Ann Calvello, one of the legendary skaters from the 1960's and 70's, who was a Bay City Bomber," she said. "Dee Dee has one of the original tracks that's collecting dust while we raise money to get a warehouse and put it up. And she's the one that got us hooked up with the Bombers."

Now when the Bombers assemble their track in San Francisco, members of the Reno Roller Girls travel there to help and skate on the track.

"Dee Dee got us hooked up with the Bombers and they've been so helpful as they have taken us under their wings," she said. "Skating there lets the girls know why we're working so hard for a banked track. Once they get on that track, they don't want to skate on a flat one ever again as it's entirely different and so fast."

Alvarez added that one of her dreams is one day become a Bomber.

Right now the Roller Girls' home is at Roller Kingdom located at 515 E. 7th Street in Reno, by I-80 and one block west of Wells Avenue. And the league is very appreciative for the hospitality of the facility's owner.

When a person begins to compete in Derby, as Alvarez found out, they have to pick a Derby name. It's usually something a bit campy and hers is VicGoria.

Since one can't use an already chosen name, a newcomer has to consult a master list at a Web site, www.twoevils.org/rollergirls.

"Last time I looked, this was probably a couple of months ago, there was over 12 thousand names registered," Alvarez said. "It also has a list for all the teams and there has to be at least one in every state if not more."

Another thing skaters do is what is known as pick a "Derby Wife." The women pair up and each watches the other's back as well as help their partners.

"They're like your counterpart in Derby, you know you might not be best friends but you're for each other," she said. "My Derby Wife is Grace N Motion. She and I click like peas in a pod and outside of Derby we're awesome friends too."

It's a sisterhood and Alvarez explained that if someone needs something, several members show up and lend a hand.

There is another Derby league in Reno but they use flat track rules, which Alvarez explained is more about athleticism, while the banked track rules used by the Roller Girls is more focused on entertainment.

"We're about having a good time," she said.

At Roller Kingdom, before a bout, a rope is put down to mark the outside edge of the track. Then around 200 seats are put around the track with the closest being about six feet from the rope.

This can involve some fans, as during a bout it's possible for a spectator to have a skater wind up in his or her lap.

Under flat track rules a skater is ejected if they receive a major penalty but the Roller Girls tweak the Texas rules for entertainment. A penalty wheel is spun and some of the things that can come up are tug-of-war, dog pile, arm wrestle and pillow fight.

"It's stuff that gets the crowd involved so everyone has a good time as at our shows," she said. "We want to get the fans involved and feel they're part of us."

Each bout is run in quarters with a halftime break that tries to include their fans. Last year there was even a cake-eating contest with skaters and spectators that was so popular some had to be turned away.

One ongoing effort is recruiting new members and women, over 18 years old, adventurous enough to try are welcome to the Roller Girls open practice every Wednesday evening from 9 to 11 p.m. Extra equipment is on hand for those that want to try Derby style skating.

"People that think it's not for them, well it might not be, but it's worth giving it a shot as it's the greatest group of girls you're going to meet." she said. "It's instant family and we welcome everybody."

Alvarez added that skaters come from all walks of life, from office workers to single moms. She added that it's been a great experience.

"It was something to do for kicks, it was just supposed to be, go check it out, have a good time and that was it," she said. "It wasn't something that was going to all consume and take over my life as it has. It's the best thing that's ever happened to me and there are so many girls that are grateful, myself included, for the family that we have."

Once a bout is over, the league takes a page from rugby as everyone goes to Knuckleheads and parties the night away. Sunday is the day for taking care of aching muscles and resting.

For Alvarez, a lark led her to a passion and gave her life a new direction. It's something she doesn't regret and is looking forward to the new season.

The Reno Roller Girls' first bout this year is Saturday, Feb. 7. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the bout begins at 7:30. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for kids 6 to 12 and those under 5 are free.

Those interested in more information on the league and teams should check out their Web site, www.renorollergirls.com.

*Reporter's Note: Next week the usual racing profile and motor sport news will return.