elbows and body checking a lot, Aker said you can only use your hips and shoulders. Many people think roller derby is still fake because of the popularity of RollerJam, a show that was on TV in the late 90s. Aker insists that was all scripted, but this sport in real life isn’t. There are rules, and you can definitely get hurt if you’re not being careful. “Some people are surprised it has rules, but we can’t just do whatever,” he said with a laugh. Chris York, secretary and co-captain, said a lot of people think derby players get to punch and elbow people like crazy, but he insists there are rules and strategy to the game. “It’s like organized chaos,” Harris added.
‘Everyone’s a teacher and a learner’ York got started in the league when it first formed in 2010. He didn’t know how to skate at all, but he thought it sounded like fun. “I didn’t know what to expect,” he said. “But I’m still here!” He said the competition and camaraderie are what keep him skating and participating in the league. “It’s a hobby I found that took over,” he said. He even loved the sport so much, he coached in the girls’ league until retiring at the end of last season. Eric Harris, treasurer of the Fargo league and vice president of the national Men’s Roller Derby Association, said he enjoys the entrepreneurial spirit of the sport. He said all leagues figure everything out from scratch, and that helps bond them together. Bismarck started a men’s league about a year and a half after Fargo did, and York said the team feels almost like a big brother now.
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