Roller derby is a contact sport played by participants on roller skates, with the Dreads training at the Zone Youth Centre in Kwinana several times a week.
Made famous most recently by the Drew Barrymore film Whip It, derby is played by two teams of five members who roller skate in the same direction around a fixed track.
During short ‘jams’ both teams designate a scoring player (the jammer) who scores by lapping members of the opposing team. Teams attempt to assist their own jammer while hindering the opposing jammer.
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READ NOWWhile it seems like a modern phenomenon, roller derby as a contact sport has actually been in existence in some form since around the 1930s.
Fresh Meat co-ordinator Keren Daly, aka Phoenix, said the first official training session was on October 14 and urged any potential derby participants to come along to any session over the next six weeks to see if the sport was right for them.
They train from 6pm to 9pm on Mondays and Wednesdays, but are relaxed about attendance ” even fly-in, fly-out participants are welcome.
‘Derby is for literally anybody, it doesn’t matter what shape or size you are, your age or your fitness, it will work for you,’ Daly said.
‘I’d seen it on TV eons ago and signed up to play because 23 years prior I’d loved roller-skating.
‘I find a lot of people gain a lot of confidence from derby. It’s not a sport as such, it’s a community, a family. And it’s much better than going to a gym.’
Visit www.dreadpirate rollers.com.au/ or email fresh meat@dreadpiraterollers.com for an information package.