The Highway 14 Roller Derby Association held a recruitment practice at the Vermilion Arena on August 26. “This facility has been awesome, and we’re hoping to split practices between the surrounding area. We are looking for more people to play the sport we love,” said co-president, Amber Howg (AK Demented). Roller Derby uses a marked flat track with four blockers per team, a jammer, and a pivot playing offense and defence at the same time. The Highway 14 Roller Derby Association has three junior teams (Speedbumps), a female team (Steamrollers), and a co-ed team (Bulldozers). Both existing members and new recruits liked that it was something they could do as a family. “It’s so much fun! I don’t do sports, but I love this. Anyone can do it; even if you’ve never skated before. The comradery of roller derby is second to none,” said Heather Russell. Members will be attending a boot camp in Edmonton where some world class Team Canada players will be coaching on September 8. The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association’s top two teams (Calgary and Edmonton) currently have members who are currently playing in Omaha. “Roller Derby has been compared to playing chess with bricks being thrown at you. The lead jammer has to use a lot of strategy; you have to be thinking,” said Howg. New players had a lot of fun and improved quickly throughout their first practice, attempting stride skating, sticky skating, plow stops, T-stops, and various safe falls. For more information, you can visit www.wftda.com, email president.hwy14rda@gmail.com, or call/text co-president Cassie Hillier-Sjoquist (Vintage Vixen) at 780-806-1715.
