RTRG Celebrating Roller Derby with Burgers and Beer
By Contributor
Supporting local roller derby has never been so easy or delicious.
The Rossland Trail Roller Girls present RTRG’s Burger and Beer Fundraiser this Thursday at the team’s clubhouse, the Arlington Bar and Grill.
A $20 ticket includes a burger, fries and a draft beer any time that day from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. The event will also give ticketholders a chance to win great prizes through 50/50 draws held throughout the dinner rush and raffles for great prizes that can be purchased anytime that day with winning tickets drawn at the end of the evening. A toonie toss is also planned that night at approximately 7 p.m.
“We have had a tremendous amount of love from local business people who have graciously donated some amazing raffle prizes,” said Kirsten Stevenson, who goes by Lady Darkette on the track and when acting as RTRG’s fundraising representative.
Top prizes range from adult day passes to Red Mountain to gift certificates to Ainsworth Hotsprings, with a lot of other locally produced or distributed goods up for grabs.
“There really is something for everyone,” said Stevenson. “We will have 50/50 draws every hour after 5 p.m. and a toonie toss with a twist: it involves a skate and a prize you don’t want to miss!”
All money raised at the fundraiser will help cover the cost of the team’s 2016 season, which includes away games and one local bout.
Tickets are available through RTRG captain Christin Davis (Roll N Loki) at Bay Avenue Music in Trail or by connecting to the team via Facebook. RTRG will also be set up at Ferraro Foods in Trail Wednesday to sell tickets starting at 11 a.m., and last minute purchases can be made at the Arlington on the day of the event.
RTRG is an amateur roller derby team made up of about 20 local women, some who are veteran skaters, and others who are new to the game. The team represents the Trail and Rossland area on home turf and also strives to travel throughout Western Canada and even south of the border.
The team was formerly part of the West Kootenay Roller Derby League, which dissolved this year after numbers waned and some sister teams folded after six great seasons. RTRG now rolls independently but still works with the remaining teams in the region – the Castlegar Dam City Rollers and the Nelson Killjoys.
Roller derby is a contact sport played by two teams of five roller skating in the same direction around an oval track. 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.
The fast-paced sport offers a great physical outlet for women but also a community of support both on and off the track.
After having children, Stevenson was looking to get back to a team sport that challenged her to push herself out of her comfort zone. Roller derby offered just that, the new recruit says.
“Being relatively new to the Koots I wanted to meet more wonderful people from the area, especially women” she added. “What better way to make friends then getting sweaty and up close and personal on roller skates! So far, it has fulfilled the expectations I had for the sport, and I’m so glad I took the leap and joined.”
The team is always looking for new skaters and or volunteers. For more information on getting involved, check out the team’s Facebook page or email rtrg.redarmy@gmail.com
