Roller Derby season kicks off Saturday at Selkirk in Castlegar
By The Nelson Daily Sports
The new 2014 West Kootenay Roller Derby season kicks off Saturday with doubleheader action at the at Selkirk College gymnasium in Castlegar.
The Nelson Killjoys are out to prove last season’s title was no fluke as the Heritage City squad takes on rival Rossland Trail Roller Girls (RTRG) at 7 p.m. in the feature match.
Kicking off the season is host Dam City Rollers meeetinga yet-unseen Valley Brutality at 5 p.m.
The Killjoys won the Golden Boot last season and this year have helmets to match – and they intend on keeping the complete set.
RTRG, however, have been working hard at developing their new skaters this off-season, and if league scrimmages are any indication then there is some new talent that the rest of the league had best watch out for.
From hard-hitting new skaters to fleet-footed veterans, the Rossland Trail team has been building momentum since last season and are eager to show the Kootenays what they’ve been working on up the mountain for all these weeks.
The Killjoys may have finished 2013 on a win, but it means there is a target on their helmets coming into the new season and RTRG are only too happy to take the first shots.
During the 2013 off season, as so often happens in roller derby, player retirement and relocation led to two of the five teams suffering low numbers, and low numbers at practice impedes the opportunity to hone skills and develop team cohesiveness.
But roller derby athletes never say die, and the Valley Vendettas and Babes of Brutality agreed that for the 2014 season they would join forces to bolster their strength, creating a new team that combines the Valley’s teamwork and energy with Salmo’s fabled brutal hits and experience.
Meanwhile, the Dams have been breaking free of their party-team reputation and are cross training and skating like never before, and are determined to win the Golden Boot this season.
Pitting Dam City’s consistency and determination against Valley Brutality’s refreshed take on the meaning of teamwork, this game is sure to be one of the most ferocious of the season and will set a tone for the rest of 2014.
Tickets can be purchased at Selkirk College Book Store and Central City Shoes in Castlegar, or online at www.kootenayrollerderby.com
