VICTORIA RENARD

The non-wheeled masses want to know: Can Lilly Warner roller-skate backwards?

"I can now!" she says, proudly. "I've been skating since I was a kid, but I've never been that good technically until now."

Her timing couldn't be better. Warner is one of the driving forces behind Seattle's hottest new startup, the Rat City Rollergirls, a Roller Derby league. Yes, you read that right. With the help of friends Rahel Cook and Katie Merrell, Warner — a photographer by trade — is actively recruiting for and organizing a Roller Derby league. Forget the Koolhaas library; this is the real cultural high-water mark of 2004.

While it's still only in the practice-and-fundraising stage — Rat City's first matches are months away — the mere idea of a Roller Derby league in Seattle has stirred would-be skaters, soon-to-be-rabid fans and Roller Derby spouses (full disclosure: I'm one of the latter) into a frenzy. Skates are being tuned and adjusted, teams are being created and conjecture is rife about what a Roller Derby league will do to this previously sleepy town, and a few brave souls are even asking the hard questions like "What exactly is Roller Derby, anyway?" and "My girlfriend won't really get hurt, will she? Promise me she won't get hurt."

Fortunately, Lilly Warner's not the kind to back down from a challenge. The longtime "rink rat" ("I went to Skate King in Bellevue every Friday when I was in middle school") graciously took some time away from fundraising, vital public appearances (the RCRs will be guest-bartending at Hattie's Hat June 21, and rolling with the Pride Parade June 27) and the exhaustive training to talk about the simple rules of the game and why the game simply rules.

Roller Derby is a full-contact race of sorts. ... Competitions are called "bouts" and divided into four periods, with each period lasting 14 minutes. Within each period are a series of jams, (which are) a couple of minutes in length and consist of two teams on the (oval) track with five players each.

There are three positions: a pivot, a blocker and a jammer. ... The pivot is the pace setter, the blocker tries to keep the (opposing team's) jammer from breaking through the pack and the jammer is the sprint skater. The jammer has to push her way through the pack to the front, then speed-skate to the back of the pack again and score points for each member of the opposing team she passes.

Here's where it gets down and dirty: The blockers don't want the opposing team's jammer to get past. ... From what I've seen, there are all kinds of methods for blocking (legal and illegal) and for breaking through the pack. I've also seen some nasty fights between jammers.

Primarily it was the Texas Rollergirls in Austin, Texas. I discovered them two years ago when I attended the SXSW music conference in Austin. I went last March as well and it only further fueled my lust for the Derby.

When I got home I had dinner with my two close friends Rahel Cook and Katie Merrell, who also have an obsession with roller-skating and Roller Derby. Together, we decided to quit talking about it and see if we could assemble our own league.

It basically just snowballed after that. Since then we've added 40 talented, self-motivated and enthusiastic girls who all have something to bring to the table. I credit our speedy start to the efforts of all the girls in our league, and also the help of the other leagues, such as the Texas Rollergirls and the Arizona Roller Derby league.

One of our top priorities right now is securing a regular venue so we can increase practices and have our first bout. We have been doing some shopping around and have some good prospects. Our season is scheduled to begin in January of 2005.

A United Flat Track League, with representatives from all of the leagues nationwide, has been formed to standardize rules and rosters in preparation for future inter-league play. In other words, the long-term plan for the Rat City Rollergirls, along with many other all-girl flat track leagues across the country, is to be able to compete nationally.

My derby name is Hurricane Lilly. Some other names are Rae's Hell, Daphne Danger, Tash-ya Round, Lady Die, Darcy Rant, Viva Vendetta, Ruby Attitudie, Ida Slapter and Patty Hurts. My personal favorite is Lil' Hateful. My favorite Texas Rollergirl names are Rolletta Lynn and Patsy Crime.

At this point, you don't have to be that polished of a skater. That's what our coach is for, but you do need to have a high tolerance for falling on your tush and a strong will to get back up and keep skating.

Okay — and maybe a small thirst for blood, too.

My newest favorite restaurant is the Pig Iron Bar-B-Q on First Avenue in Georgetown. Everything there is super good, but the spinach jalapeño casserole is not to be missed. I kept scraping at the cool aluminum serving dish, just to make sure I hadn't missed a bite! I have been bragging about this place to everyone I know, so it won't be a secret for long...