麻豆社区

After a three-year hiatus, roller derby is returning to Whitehorse.

The Yukon Roller Girls will host a B.C. team at Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre Saturday night.

On a rainy Wednesday, just over a week out from the bout, the Yukon鈥圧oller Girls were skating at the Canada Games Centre, running drills on an improvised pylon-marked track in the flexihall.

Lindsay 鈥淏onanza Babe鈥� Agar, is excited for the bout.

鈥淲e get to bring back roller derby,鈥� she said, taking a break from skating and sticking her mouth guard in a hole on top of her helmet, 鈥渁nd showcase what we鈥檝e been doing for the last three years behind the scenes and actually play.鈥�

The Yukon Roller Girls began in 2010 and hosted their first home bout in September 2011. More than 500 people came out to the game at Takhini Arena.

They won the Klondike Klash against visiting team, Fairbanks Roller Girls 159-104 in front of a rousing home crowd.

The club continued to grow and host home games, even starting a junior league for younger skaters.

In 2013 it hosted its last home bout and has been relatively quiet the last few years.

Agar cited injuries and pregnancies for the club鈥檚 quiet years. Women were still skating, but in lower numbers.

This season, they鈥檝e been on a rebuilding mission.

In June, the Roller Girls competed in their first official bout since 2013, travelling by chartered plane to Sitka, Alaska.

They lost the bout there, but were heartened by their low penalties and learned some new strategies from the more experienced team.

This summer they鈥檝e been working on improving their fitness and logging more hours on their skates.

A fresh meat (beginner) intake took place in late June, and the Roller Girls have been working on teaching the new skaters the basics.

鈥淭he women are energetic and positive,鈥� said Agar of the new recruits.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e very gung-ho to play derby and to contribute to the community of derby, so we love that.鈥�

The Roller Girls are planning to have another fresh meat intake after this weekend鈥檚 bout.

Skaters all have to pass a skills test to compete in official bouts. The test involves manoeuvres like jumping and skating forwards and backwards and is in place as a safety standard.

Any of the skaters not competing Saturday night due to injury or being fresh meat, will likely be who you see manning the merch table and selling tickets.

鈥淚f you鈥檝e never seen derby before, get ready for a fun, fast, exciting, heavy-hitting game,鈥� said Agar.

The event is family-friendly too.

鈥淚f you have kids, this is a great way to show them empowered, strong women,鈥� she said.

The halftime show will also feature some local talent as the Company of the White Wolf, fresh off their Labour Day weekend tournament in Dawson City,鈥坋ntertains the crowd.

The Roller Girls are hosting the Sea to Sky Sirens, who are visiting from Squamish, B.C.

The Sirens will be sharing some of their team with the Roller Girls, including the Fighting Mongoose, who was a 麻豆社区jammer (point scorer) in the Yukon Roller Girls鈥� heyday.

Some players will be competing in their first-ever bout, including Martha Blackout. Queen D will be skating in their second bout, while returning vet Pilot will be competing for the first time this season.

鈥淲e鈥檙e pretty excited to see them out there,鈥� said Agar.

Tickets are available for $20 from Molotov and Bricks Tattoo on Wood Street or Well-Read Books on Fourth Avenue. Kids 10 and under get in free with a donation to the food bank.

Doors will open at 6 p.m. with the whistle blowing at 7 p.m.