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They’re tough, fast and ready to stop anyone that tries to sneak past them – but they’re also librarians, insurance agents, figure skaters and artists. They’re 18 and 50, athletic and not-so-athletic, and with a pair of four-wheeled skates, these women have found a home.
West Yellowhead Roller Derby (WYRD) has finally strapped on the skates and practices are now going strong at the Dr. Duncan Murray Recreation Centre in the Bill Thompson Arena. Roller derby has attracted an interesting group of women, with so many different backgrounds and stories.
Jeni Pergentile, or DD Gunnz as she is known at derby practice, is one of two founding members, the other being her friend Erin Foster who is the only member with previous derby experience.
“I’ve always sort of been intrigued with derby myself,” Jeni says.
That intrigue led her to a fortuitous meeting with Foster at last summer’s Mad Props Bike Jam that Jeni and her husband organized. The two women decided to combine their interest and start up the league.
The early formation of WYRD began in September when Jeni created a Facebook page to generate interest in Hinton and the Yellowhead region. Over one weekend, 80 members joined the group. The interest continued to climb, and the team began skating in December at the old Green House building. The space wasn’t exactly fit to house the team, however, and the WYRD girls have found a new home at the Bill Thompson Arena for the summer. Now, they have more room and have their track painted on the floor. They can hold skate races and get up some real speed in the new space.
“We can sort of do everything properly,” Jeni said.
Jeni says they hope to have a permanent home someday, but are happy with the hockey rink while they have it.
The women are learning quickly, under the direction of Jeni. Right now they have 13 skaters and a few men that act as referees.
Roller derby is a simple sport, really, but the tough part is learning how to stay on your skates with a group of fierce women breathing down your neck as the pack loops around a track. The contact sport is played with the women skating in a pack formation. The women wear four-wheeled roller skates rather than rollerblades. Jeni says the roller skates provide a bit more stability. To score points, one team member, called the jammer, tries to get through the pack and lap around the track. The women usually use pseudonyms and wear bright, often punk-style outfits. The WYRD women who attended the April 18 practice had already chosen their derby names. Besides Jeni as DD Gunnz, Foster is Atomic Toaster;
Deb Foster is Fool Tracks; Stephanie Kvill is CanUsa; Jodi Thompson is Jo Justice; Rosie Kelly is Daizy Dukes’er Out; Kelly Watters is Chase Guevera; Linzee Ogle is Rollin’ Mizfit and Andrea Sommerfeld is The Punish-her. Another member, Leah Begon, has recently joined and is working on her derby name.
WYRD has yet to have a bout with another team, as the women are getting used to their skates and learning how to tackle. Right now they are practising skating drills, learning how to fall and stop, and ending each practice with a scrimmage. Attending a practice is fast-paced and cringe-inspiring, as you watch the girls fall to the floor of the arena. They wear their bruises like badges of honour, though, and anyone who hits the floor tends to take a breather and get back on the track.
“It’s a contact sport. We can’t guarantee people won’t get hurt,” Jeni says.
They take every precaution to limit injuries – the women wear mouth guards, knee pads, elbow pads and helmets. The first thing the girls learn is how to skate properly, and how to take a tumble. They do skating drills involving slides on their knee pads and rolls. Most important is learning to take – and give – a hit.
“There are big hits,” Jeni said. “You are going to fall.”
The contact element has attracted an eclectic group of women of all ages who colour outside the lines a bit. Roller derby has addressed a gap in sporting opportunities for women who don’t enjoy traditional sports, or want something a bit more unique. Jeni says they have a woman who is over 50 who skates with them every week.
“We have a 56-year-old – we’ve got girls all over the map,” she says. “It attracts women that like something that’s not traditional.”
The women enjoy the hits and being able to throw their weight around. Some of the ladies play hockey in the winter and need something to fill the gap in the off season, but previous experience such as hockey isn’t necessary.
“It’s quite an empowering sport,” Jeni says. “Women of all sizes can play.”
There’s no shortage of opponents for the colourful ladies. There are two leagues in Grand Prairie and Edmonton, and interest on either side of the Hinton team in Jasper and Edson to make a full league in the Yellowhead. Calgary and Wetaskawin also have a team each, and a league with multiple teams is just starting up in the East Kootenay.
“We have a lot of people who want to play us,” Jeni said.
Right now the Hinton team has one woman who travels twice a week for practice, but Jeni hopes she can can soon stop racking up the miles on her car. The hope is that the Hinton team will expand into two, and that Jasper and Edson will eventually have their own teams.
“That’s sort of a pipe dream at this point,” Jeni admits.
With 13 skaters, the Hinton team already has enough members to scrimmage. The ideal formation is five on a team – four blockers and a jammer. Sometimes they cut it down to four on four if members are unable to attend practices.
To help ramp up the interest, WYRD is hosting two events in May. The first is a fundraiser on May 7 called the Super Awesome Derby Party. Party-goers are encouraged to dress up in ‘70s roller disco attire and enjoy a DJ, dancing, games, prizes for the best dressed and more.
On May 9, WYRD is hosting a Fresh Meat Night, where the girls will give up their equipment for the night to anyone who wants to try it out. That includes the skates, elbow and knee pads, and helmets. Guests must bring their own mouthguard to participate.
“This particular night is for anyone who’s really interested,” Jeni said.
Spectators are more than welcome to attend practice on Wednesdays from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., but the Fresh Meat Night will provide a chance to interact with the derby girls and try out a pair of skates for yourself. Anyone interested can also email Jeni at yellowheadrollerderby@gmail.com
Jeni says she’d like to host a practice in Jasper soon, to give women an idea of what they’ll be in for if they get a team of their own off the ground. WYRD is just beginning to take shape, and it seems the sky is the limit.
“We’re hopefully going to grow pretty big here,” Jeni said.
More information on WYRD and their upcoming events can be found on their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/WYRD.Girls |
