Roller Derby
More than tattoos, fishnets and big hits By CaroleAnn Leishman, aka "Blonde Slambition"
T
weet! The whistle blasts once and eight blockers start rolling forward in heightened anticipation as two players wearing stars on their helmets balance with muscles tense awaiting the dual whistle blast that will release them from their boundary. Tweet Tweet! And the race begins! This is roller derby, and it has come to Powell River. I am Blonde Slambition, number #343. At least that’s my roller derby name. I’m one of the organizers of POW! TOWN Roller Derby and I’m here to give you the goods on the sport I love. On July 14, the arena at the Recreation Complex will be transformed into a roller derby venue complete with a flat track, food vendors, entertainment and merchandise tables ready to host players from Vancouver Island in POW!TOWN Roller Derby’s first ever bout “River Town Riot!” But is it still all fishnets, tattoos and throwing the big hits you ask? For some it is. But the culture of roller derby is changing and evolving as quickly as it is growing. What started out as more of a tough girl culture, a place where the more tattoos you had the better, it is now shifting into more of an athletic, strategic and skills-oriented sport. In the one short year since POW! TOWN Roller Derby formed, the sport has grown exponentially. This time last year there were 700 leagues in the world. Now, according to Roller Derby Worldwide, there are currently 1,244 leagues in 37 countries from Buenos Aires Roller Derby in Argentina to Jyväskylä Roller Derby in Finland and Chilli Padi Derby Grrrls in Singapore to Mother City Mayhem in Cape Town South Africa. If you want to watch or play roller derby, chances are there is roller derby near you.
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In the blocks: Rhinoceref (Matt Lister) of Coastal Call Monitors officiates as Mia Tushslappa (Melissa Call) and Blonde Slambition (CaroleAnn Leishman) prepare for POW! TOWN's first bout against the Brick House Betties in "RIVER TOWN RIOT!" [Inset: Blonde Slambition in fine form.] Photo by Jennifer Dodd aka "Coach Rocky"
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Powell River Living • july 2012 •
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