The John Bucyk Arena will see some intense action on Aug. 18, when members of the east and west Kootenay roller derby leagues take part in two exhibition bouts during A Black Eye Affair.
They will be joined by members of Creston’s fledgling team, the Black Eyed Cherries, which was started after exhibition bouts played here in April.
“It’s our goal to recruit more players after this event,” said Creston team member Amanda “Kerrazy” Kerr.
With their arena time sponsored by local Regional District of Central Kootenay directors, the nine Cherries practice twice a week. Four of their players have been “benchmarked” — they meet the minimum skills for game play — and five others are well on their way.
One more member is needed to create a full team to compete in the East Kootenay league next year, in a season that runs from March to September; the East Kootenay Roller derby League’s playoffs run Sept. 15 in Marysville. Without travelling, this is the last chance for local women to see what it’s all about.
“You don’t have to be in the best shape of your life,” said Kerr, who also plays with Kimberley’s Bavarian Barbarians. “And you don’t have to know what you’re doing — it can be learned.”
“Roller derby is a contact sport played by two teams of five members roller skating in the same direction around a track,” explains the Wikipedia.org entry. “Game play consists of a series of short matchups (‘jams’) in which both teams designate a scoring player (the ‘jammer’) who scores points by lapping members of the opposing team. The teams attempt to assist their own jammer while hindering the opposing jammer — in effect, playing both offense and defense simultaneously.”
For Kerr, it was an opportunity to make new friends, get in shape and challenge herself.
“You can put yourself into another personality,” she said. “It’s pretty awesome.”
For more information or to learn how to volunteer (men can take part as referees or officials), contact Amanda Kerr at 250-402-6532 or contact@blackeyedcherries.com, or visit www.eastkootenayrollerderby.com or the Black Eyed Cherries’ Facebook page.
Tickets to the Aug. 18 bouts are $10 in advance at the Chad Smoke Shop or Black Bear Books or $15 at the door, ages six to12 are $5, and children five and under are free. The doors open at 5 p.m., and the first whistle is at 6.
