On roller skates, that is. Did you know Wallingford is home to the first brick-and-mortar womens roller derby equipment store in the world?
Roller derby? Yes, since 2001 in Austin, TX roller derby has made a big resurgence, according to Fast Girl Skates employee Fighty Almighty (that’s her “derby name”). She and the store’s owners, Le Petite Mort (or Jenny as she’s known outside the rink) and Wile E. Peyote (aka, Sarah) all skate for Seattle’s Rat City Roller Girls.
Morty and Wile E. opened the store in 2007 out of frustration at not being able to find proper, correctly-fitting equipment catered to women. It is located in an interesting block of unusual shops next door to Comics Dungeon. 
If you want to check out roller derby for yourself, they are currently selling tickets to the final Rat City Roller Girls championship bout this Saturday June 5th from 5:30 at Key Arena. Tickets are $15 each General Admission, cash only (call first, though – they are closed over the long weekend).
Girls can start roller derby as young as age 8 with groups such as the Seattle Derby Brats and I-5 Rollergirls and there are several other local adult leagues as well.
Aside from specialized roller derby gear, they also carry recreational skates but be aware this is no trip to Target. It’s all high-end, state-of-the art because these girls are tough, mean and very fast.
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You did not give an address for these gals. Give them a break.
Good point! If you check their website their contact information is: 252 NE 45th Street, 206-274-8250.
Rat City Roller Girls bouts are a lot of fun. Championship bout is this Saturday, the 5th, at Key Arena (the Colosseum to us old residents).
http://ratcityrollergirls.com/
“You win some, you bruise some”
A trip to Fast Girl can be like a trip to the old neighborhood record shop. You know the one, where the staff knew all the latest upcoming bands, and once you earned their respect, they’d stop treating you like you’re clueless and finally start to clue you into the good stuff? That’s what it feels like here.
Sometimes they’ll guide you toward finding the right skates for your level, give advice about what you should be looking for in wheels and bearings, and make sure you have what you need. Other times, it feels like if you don’t already know exactly what you want, and dare to ask a question, then you’re not worthy of being in the store and should feel honored they’re taking the time to sell you whatever it is you’re buying when they could be doing something for one of their fellow league skaters.