The “game”, as it were, had not begun more than a minute and already there was a pile of women in a tangled heap at the far end of the track. The clatter and skid of plastic wheels on the hard gym floor and the sickening thud of flesh and bone against the brick wall were enough to make me furrow my brow with concern. I thought I’d been invited along for a simple photo op with a quick Q&A, not a post-mortem examination.

 

As it turns out, I was over reacting. “Things like that happen all the time in Roller Derby,” explained a bemused onlooker. I was still straining to see whether there was any movement from the pile at the end of the track. Sure enough, the girls were reassembling themselves atop their eight wheels and gently gliding back around the track. After all, this wasn’t even a competitive bout, it was practice.

 

 

The intensity of Roller Derby, from the time when Merge was invited out to the rec. centre practice sessions last year, through to the Skate of Origin in Feb this year, has continued to build into this gigantic frenzy of energy which consumes all in its path. The game can’t be summed up in words beyond clatter, bang and bustle. It’s a must-see phenomenon of beautiful ladies with terrible attitudes all fighting to stop two girls from lapping them as they circle the rink on roller skates. The organiser of Roller Derby in SA, Barrelhouse Bessy aka Sarah Stong-Law, says the sport is awesome because it “provides a platform for a woman to be an individual, a team member, and a strong personality… all on quad roller skates.”

 

If this sounds remotely interesting, then congratulations – you’re alive! Roller Derby is the most exciting spectacle of the moment and a sport which is gaining momentum in Adelaide as well as around the world.

 

 

 

So This Saturday (26^th July) when the Salty Dolls head out onto the track to face off against rival Sou-Aussie team the Mile Die Club, there will be no love lost between former team mates as each strive to prove they are Adelaide’s best.

 

The bout will take place at the Jubliee Pavilion of the Royal Show Grounds. Doors open at 6pm – Admission $10.

 

Check out more Adelaide Roller Derby.