Roller Derby

7 Reasons to Watch the Rose City Rollers All Stars

March 3, 2014 by Kelley Gardiner No Comments

What do you think of when you think of roller derby? Feisty ladies in fishnets, elbowing each other out of the way? The Bay City Bombers duking it out on a banked track? World-class athletes competing on an international level? Well, any one of these is right. Roller derby is a sport, albeit a colorful sport that’s gone through a few incarnations and waves of popularity. These days, most gameplay is on a flat track, and it’s completely 100% real. Fishnets are rare. Elbows get you sent to the penalty box.

We’re lucky enough to have some of the best roller derby in the world right here in town, of the world-class variety.

In fact, this Friday, March 6th, the Rose City Rollers’ All Star team, the Wheels of Justice, will be putting on a public scrimmage to get their fans ready for the season. The best of the best skaters will go head-to-head to knock off the rust, show off their skills, and raise some money for travel.

Portland’s top-level roller derby team is ranked #2 out of 226 in the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA). Just in case this wasn’t enough reason to get you out to Oaks Park to see a game, we have six more reasons why.

All-World Skaters. Three members of the All Stars (Scald Eagle, Jes Rivas, and Shaina Serelson) represented Team USA at the roller derby world cup in December . Two members (Elicia Nesbit-Smith and Hannah Jennings) represented Team New Zealand.

Our Very Valuable Player. Loren Mutch was named MVP of the 2014 WFTDA Championships, after receiving the same honor at the divisional playoff. This former junior skater scores plenty of points with her powerful, yet graceful jamming style.

Intimate Atmosphere. The Hangar at Oaks Park embodies a great atmosphere for sports. You’re close enough to the action to hear hard falls and yelling coaches. Fans gather at the edge of the track after the game to slap five with the skaters. The building is a bit grimy, and the restrooms leave a lot to be desired – it’s a boat hangar, after all – but something about stripping away the glitz and flash makes the experience feel more immediate.

It’s Family-Friendly. Yes, you can get a beer or two and make your opinions known, but keep it PG! Parents should feel just as good about bringing their little ones here as they are to a basketball game, if not more so. The crowd is friendly, volunteer ushers patrol frequently, and skaters are happy to take pictures and autograph programs for their little fans after the game. Kids six and under get in for free.

Feel Good About Spending Your Money. These skaters don’t get paid. The Rose City Rollers are a non-profit, and money raised goes back into the league for development. Besides, it’s fairly affordable. Parking is free, and concessions are reasonable.

Support Women’s Sports in Portland. If you think it’s cool that world-class female athletes are out there duking it out on the track, go check it out. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better way to spend an evening in early Spring.