ROSSLAND – The largest roller derby league in Canada is skating into its first official season with a doubleheader in Rossland April 16.
The West Kootenay Women’s Roller Derby League presents “The Quads Must Be Crazy,” featuring a bout between Salmo’s Babes of Brutality and Rossland’s Gnarlie’s Angels.
The derby girls fought hard last summer in the league’s first sellout bout in Rossland, but the Babes managed to come out on top.
After killing it in Lethbridge this winter against the Deathbridge Derby Dames, Rossland’s dedicated women have tightened up their hits, blocks and skating in preparation to take on Salmo’s hardcore team once again.
But the Babes don’t intend to let their guard down, one that has continued to build up over the winter with steady practicing and an-out-of-area bout in Enderby, where they annihilated the River Town Rollergirls
The entertainment in the West Kootenay will once again be turned up during the fan-favourite tilt, which will be accompanied by a first-time appearance for a pair of Nelson squads – the Killsjoys versus Lumber Jackies.
“Women haven’t had an empowering sport in a very long time,” said Shelly Grice-Gold from the Babes of Brutality. “Full contact sport is usually made for men and then adjusted for women to play. Roller derby was made for women and mountain women are strong, we can handle it.”
Shannon Marion of Gnarlie’s Angles says it’s never difficult to fill a roster “because as sweet as us Kootenay women are, there’s a little bit of agro in all of us!”
Roller derby has caught on fast in the region, which now has seven teams.
The West Kootenay Women’s Roller Derby League is made up of Salmo’s Babes of Brutality, the Gnarlie’s Angels from Rossland, Castlegar’s Dam City Rollers, Nelson’s Killjoys and Lumber Jackies, Slocan’s Valley Vandettas and the region’s travel team, the Kootenay Cannibelles.
The sport has even appealed to the younger set, with the newly formed West Kootenay Junior Roller Derby.
Doors open at 6 p.m. at the Rossland arena, with bout time at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door and $2 for kids 10-years-old or under.
Beer and coolers will be available at the arena, along with snacks. For those looking to support the West Kootenay league, fan merchandise will also be up for grabs.
And after the exciting doubleheader wraps up, an after-party will be held at the Flying Steamshovel in Rossland.
Tickets can be picked up in advance at RossVegas in Rossland, Gerick Cycle and Sports in Trail, HTR in Castlegar, Skyway Hardware in Salmo, The Goods in Ymir and Phat Angel in Nelson.
The league has four doubleheaders scheduled for the season, plus playoffs and finally a championship showdown on Sept. 11.
For more information on the upcoming bouts or to volunteer, contact the league at wkwrollerderby@yahoo.ca.
Those 19 years and older are also invited to check out the league’s first fundraiser at Trail’s Royal Theatre on Friday.
“Derby Does Dallas” will show two amazing derby films. The party hosted by West Kootenay teams, will include a licensed bar and door prizes.
Doors open at 7:30 p.m. with the first film starting at 8 p.m.
