Date Posted: June 13, 2011
Print Edition: June 10, 2011
By Joel Smart (The Cascade) – Email
You don’t have to talk to a roller derby player for very long to learn that to them it isn’t just a game, it’s a lifestyle. While Roller Derby might not be synonymous with Abbotsford quite yet, the West Coast of Canada is a true hot spot for the game, and it’s still growing. “Roller derby is the fastest growing ladies sporting activity in North America,” Hella Waits, key player and Bout-Event Planner for the Reign Valley Vixens, said. “Every year we gain new fans and we have a constant influx of women who want to play derby, all year round.”
At the recent Battle For Boobs double-header, announcer “Mack the Mouth” announced to the crowd that the province of British Columbia was a leader in Women’s flat-track Roller Derby, not just in Canada, but in the USA as well. “We have nearly fifty leagues in the Province – more than any other province or state,” said Hootie, who was a referee at the game. “To me, that speaks loudly.” Take into account that Abbotsford has some of the best players in the province, and there is plenty of reason to get excited about this sport. The Vixens are regularly matched up with great teams from BC, but they get to play great teams from elsewhere as well. “Our Inter-League Committee works with teams from around BC, Washington, and Alberta to bring the best derby action to our fans,” Hella explained.
It was in the fall of 2007 that the Reign Valley Vixens formed in Abbotsford, and has remained 100 per cent skater owned and operated through its three seasons of play. Since it started, the team has grown immeasurably, featuring all types of players. “In our league, we have such an amazing and varied group of women,” Hootie said. “There are 19 year-old students, single mothers, business owners, artists, trades workers, educators, and even one grandma!” That is a pretty diverse crowd. Deathtrap Diva, Vixens team captain, explained how the team takes the time to train those interested in playing. “When people ask you what kind of people play, just tell them it is for anyone and everyone,” she said. “Some of the biggest obstacles I hear are, ‘I am too small,’ or ‘I can’t skate, I couldn’t hit,’ etc. Size does not matter by any means, we teach people that have never, ever been on quad skates in their life, and we teach our girls to hit, skate, and play the game, and anyone can do it.”
The appeal of the game is partly that diversity of players all coming together as individuals, but as the Nean of Mean of the Oil City Derby Girls explained, it’s also about showing what women can do. “It’s a tough sport that empowers women by demonstrating our strength and athleticism whilst allowing us to feel beautiful and sexy,” she said. “The women who play this sport are fierce women who express their individuality within a team.” Hootie shared the sentiment, explaining that not only was it an intense workout for the players, it was also a confidence booster and a “come as you are” sport with all of the training provided. Nean of Mean called it her derby family, and both Hootie and Deathtrap Diva referred to the league as a sisterhood.
There really isn’t anything else that has quite the same feel as a roller derby game. It’s fast, it’s tough, it’s sexy, it’s rock and roll. But the game’s resurgence came from a dodgy place. “when roller derby had its rebirth in Texas in 2001, the first events were organised by one man who had dreams of generating big income with gimmick, cleavage, and scripted vulgarity – envision something between TV wresting and a shady circus,” Hootie said. But women quickly reclaimed the sport for themselves, shaping the sport into what they wanted it to be. “Derby quickly became a culture of its own, where women of any shape, size, ethnic group, or sexual orientation is accepted,” she said, “suddenly women were spreading the word around the States that there was a full-contact sport, designed especially for them!”
There is something distinctly female about the atmosphere that you can’t help but love. It is not uncommon to see the players spontaneously break out into dance in between whistles. Unlike most sports, the girls are not obligated to stick to a specific uniform. Besides the team jersey, kneepads, helmet, and a mouth guard, they’ve got free reign to express themselves. The Nean of Mean and Deathtrap Diva both refer to it as an alter ego. Whether they are teachers or construction workers by day, they are roller derby stars by night. While Deathtrap Diva dresses sporty “without fishnets or craziness,” Nean of Mean says she likes her outfit to be “sexy with an edge,” and that as mother with two kids, her alter ego is able to wear fishnets and knee pads. One player during the Battle For Boobs even had her face painted up like a zombie. It is that room for individuality, combined with their own choice of nickname that really gives the sport a personality you won’t find in any other arena. “The entire derby community is wonderful to be a part of,” Nean of Mean said. “The women I’ve had the pleasure to call my derby family are all beautiful and strong. They work hard and play harder. They truly define girl power.”
