Repost: Jammin'

Here's a repost that came about after I read a facebook post from my Kiwi Kuzzin, who is involved in the flat track roller derby community. The original blog story below was from 2013 and it seems that the action is still going strong today, based on the fact that there's Flat Track Fever 2019. 

We had quite a hoot, checking out all the action at the Chinook City Roller Derby today. We were following the action of the Sugar Skulls, an all star team comprised of players from various clubs in and around the Regina area, but also caught some play with a couple of different teams in the derby. 

I thought the days of "Skinny Minnie" Miller and the T-Birds were over and never realized there was still such still an active community of leagues and skaters, including a fairly large one in the west. This Derby expects over 500 skaters with teams from Alberta, B.C. and the North West U.S.. And just as much fun as the action are the player and team names...The Kill Jills, The Glenmore Reservoir Dogs and the Youthanizers ( a junior team) to name a few of the locals.

Good blocking lets the Jammer get by

Gone are the days of the banked track, as well as the scripted violence and WWF antics. It's called Flat Track now and the rules are more or less the same when it comes to the team tactics and scoring. There's a pretty interesting documentary, "This Is Roller Derby", done in 2011, that looks at the phenomena of the growing interest and participation of women in the sport and why it appeals to them, and explains the rules too.  

Lead Jammer "ends the jam" by tapping her hands on her hips

The pack bottles things up on the turn

Don't mess with these gals

After bout comes the traditional celebrations

My buddy Tom with "Beata Bitchdown" from the Sugar Skulls

Behind in the score, the coach talks strategy with Jammer "Janesaw", Piper Peach and T-Bag

View from the bench

TAB-RRR-KNUCKLE

As for the action at "Flat Track Fever", it continues on Sunday so check it out if you want to see something different! And if you're a movie buff and want to see a little roller derby action, check out "Whip It", directed by Drew Barrymore and starring Canadian Ellen Page, or go even further back in time with the somewhat more violent "Rollerball".