It’s sometimes the case that the sports we see on TV (or the ones at the centre of municipal discussion) tend to overshadow other, lesser known pastimes which are every bit as interesting. Enter roller derby—it’s fast paced, close knit, and welcoming to everyone.

For the uninitiated, roller derby is a contact sport played on a flat track with five players on each team consisting of four blockers and one jammer. They skate counterclockwise around the track with blockers grouping together to form “the pack,” the jammer scores points for their team by passing the blockers. 

Each round, or jam, lasts up to two minutes, though can be called off by the lead jammer (the first one through the pack on the first lap) at any time. Blockers do their best to stop the opposing team’s jammer from getting through the pack, and to help their own jammer score. 

Co-president of Peterborough Area Roller Derby Association (PARD), Dijon, puts it more succinctly—“skate hard, hit hard.”

PARD is an organization of about 30 players, officials, and volunteers, who play roller derby in and around Peterborough. There are two teams, a regulation team, that accepts all players, and a newer charter team, which is more competitive and just entered their second season. 

The charter team plays for the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) and are currently ranked 30th in the Northeastern division after their first season. PARD has an intake for new players twice a year and is inclusive to anyone that wants to try out, teaching people from the very basics of being on roller skates for the first time. They also have a youth league for players under 18 that is coached by members of the regular league. 

One thing which sets roller derby apart from other sports is “derby names.” Pretty much every player on the track, including officials, have a punny, fun, mean, (and usually explicit) name that they go by. Derby names are chosen by players after they have been playing for a little bit, under the guidance of more experienced players. They are made to fit the personality of the individual and their play style. Players get the freedom to create the person they want to be on the track through their name, whether that’s super similar to who they are off it or completely different.

Arthur had the chance to sit down with the two co-presidents of PARD, Dijon and Ramona the Pestilence, and their treasurer, Intoxi-Kate. They are all drawn to the sport for a number of different reasons, but all said it is “kind of addictive.”

As a self described adrenaline junkie, Dijon explains roller derby as a “​​sport that challenges you every time you turn a corner—literally—whether it's physically challenging you, mentally challenging you, or just a little bit of comrade competitivity, there's something new to learn every time you literally put skates on.”

Intoxi-Kate in turn, was drawn into the sport through her love of roller skating. She enjoys the underground nature of it. “It's always fun explaining to people what roller derby is because everyone just thinks it's elbows and you know, Skinny Minnie, and knocking people down,” she relayed. While the sport is by no means non-violent, it has also formed a strong community around it, not just in Peterborough but around the world.

“If [other skaters] see a way that you can improve they say ‘hey why don't you try it like this,’ you know it's just incredibly supportive,” Ramona the Pestilence said of the camaraderie on the PARD team. “So it makes for an incredibly positive team experience where everyone is helping each other.” 

Arthur also had the chance to talk to the head referee of the area, Killerwhaletank. He said roller derby “is probably one of the most difficult sports to referee.” This is due to roller derby’s speed, and the fact that all players must be within ten-feet of each other at all times. “It’s like playing rugby, in a telephone booth, on a NASCAR track, on roller skates,” Killerwhaletank explains. 

Everyone who spoke to Arthur discussed the community of roller derby as a big factor that keeps them coming back to the sport. Killerwhaletank described it as “a magnet for people who don’t necessarily fit in—we all fit in here.” The team also often gets together off the track for team bonding activities, such as a recent trip to the Boardwalk Cafe. Despite often spending up to four days a week together they report that they have yet to get sick of each other. 

The other consistent theme across the discussions was inclusivity. Whoever you are there is a way you can fit into sport, whether it’s on or off the track. As Ramona the Pestilence explined it, “If you are a person who's healthy and willing. Basically, all age categories can participate. We have players as young as 10, and we have players that are in their 50s, and everything in between.” Dijon added “There’s a spot for you on that track and you will have a really important role no matter what size or shape or ethnicity or gender you are.”

Intoxi-Kate also stressed the importance of the non-skater volunteers to the league. “It's not only our skaters, but we have coaches and bench staff that also play a huge role as our volunteers,” she said. “Even if you don't want to skate, there's always room and jobs to be done that are off the track, and they're just as important because without our volunteers we literally wouldn't be able to have games or even scrimmages or practices really. So we're very grateful for anyone that volunteers their time.”

Derby is still a rather small sport, and as a consequence PARD is currently struggling to find a practice space for their teams. While the Douro Community Centre they currently practice at is great for their purposes, it is only available from April-August when the ice is not in use. They are looking for a year round space and anyone who has or knows of a potential practice space in the Peterborough area is highly encouraged to reach out to them. 

The roller derby season is only just beginning, with bouts planned throughout the summer. To stay up to date on what’s happening at PARD keep an eye on their Instagram or website.