Terminal City Rollergirls

Yesterday John and I ventured over to the convention centre for that show that’s been going on for the last four days… you know the one.

I signed up for all kinds of vacation contests and prizes at various booths so I know I’m probably going to have a ton of bacn in the coming months. I also entered the draw for a pair of blue suede rollerskates at the Terminal City Rollergirls booth. I stuck around long enough to gather that they a) had really great stickers that I was able to pick up after making a donation to the team b) they’re currently looking for players.

The Terminal City Rollergirls are Vancouver’s first female roller derby league. Created in January 2006, the team is composed of local women who have discovered a great new way to combine athleticism and creativity. We are a new brand of sports team in Vancouver; one that is fun, fast, fierce, and entertaining!

But just what is a roller derby aside from old school skates, pigtails and knee pads?

Roller derbies take place on a circuit track. The two teams playing send five players each onto the track — three blockers (defense), one pivot (last line of defense) and one jammer (scorer). Helmet covers are used to display the players’ positions: a striped cover is used for pivots, a cover with two stars is used for jammers, and no cover is used for blockers. [wiki]

Photo credit: Nicolas Charest

Once you can figure out just how a roller derby works, it seems pretty neat especially seeing the camaraderie between the girls. Not only can you see them competing at a local arena or curling club, but they’re also out in the community – from Canada Day to the Pride Parade and taking part in various events around Vancouver.

The Terminal City Rollergirls play by rules set by the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association. For more information about upcoming bouts, check out their site or MySpace.