Recruits flock to roller derby league
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/01/2011 (5486 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The drive to build a competitive roller derby league keeps rolling along as women continue to sign up for the rough and tumble sport.
The Wheat City Roller Derby League started last May and already has 15 regular members and another seven who take part on a drop-in basis.
"We’re getting more girls all the time," member Sheila Gonty said yesterday as the league hosted an open house at the Keystone Centre.
Women were given a chance to try out the sport — roller skates and pads were supplied and all potential recruits needed to bring was a helmet and a little daring.
The open house started at 3 p.m., and in less than an hour 11 women had signed up to give it a whirl.
One of them was Natalie Majcher, who has been drawn to the sport since watching it on TV as a girl. The 23-year-old university student said she likes the idea of a sport where women can be physically aggressive.
"This is a sport in which they’re not limited, in fact, they’re thrown to the forefront," said Majcher, who just needed one skate to convince her to sign up.
University graduate and mother Chelsea Jaeger, 26, of Alexander has been skating since October and said she especially likes the hitting.
"You feel really kind of empowered," Jaeger said. "You’re not really out to hurt somebody and everybody’s quite nice about it. You can just slam into each other and there’s no hard feelings."
The sport is a great way to get exercise and share some laughs, Gonty added.
In roller derby, two teams of skaters make their way around a track while trailing jammers, one from each team, make their way up from behind to try to lap the pack.
Jammers score a point for each opposing player they pass.
To stop that happening, players can hit opposing skaters.
Knocking an opponent player on their butt is not only allowed, but part of the appeal.
The protective gear includes a helmet, wrist guards and elbow and knee pads. Fishnet stockings or nylons prevent cement burn during falls.
It’s hoped the recently formed league will start competing by May. They’d not only scrimmage here, but travel to Winnipeg and there are also teams in Saskatchewan, including Rocanville, Carnduff Saskatoon and Regina.
Gonty said the league plans to help set up teams in smaller local communities and may eventually establish a junior team.
Currently, it’s recruiting women 18 years and older as skaters and looking for both men and women to volunteer and referee.
Meanwhile, members meet every Sunday and Tuesday to work out or skate. Venues vary as the league is still looking for a home.
Potential skaters can buy equipment for $250 to $300 and pay a $40 per month fee.
The league’s next meeting will be held at the Keystone Centre tomorrow from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The group can also be reached on Facebook.