As the 2018 roller derby season skates to a close, the Adelaide Roller Derby league (ADRD) is on the hunt for new skaters looking to get in on the action.
ADRD skater Mel Rymill, who skates under the moniker of Jetfire, says there are few sports as welcoming and inclusive as roller derby.
“I think people should join roller derby because it doesn't matter what your ability is, what your body type or personality is.
“The community that comes out of building such an empowering space for women is more a way of life than just a sport.”
"There's a place for everyone in roller derby because different positions have different roles and different skills bring different things to the track, so there is a place for anyone as far as a sporting thing goes,” Mel says.
“And also there's a saying that goes around: 'derby saved my soul' and that comes back to the community where people can fit in and find a place where they belong no matter who they are or what their background is.”
Mel started with ADRD nearly ten years ago and skates as a member of Mile Die Club. For Mel, it's less about skating than it is about being part of a tight-knit community that looks out for their own.
“Like everyone who has been around as long as I have, you have odd years here and there where you're just tired and want to give up on it and have a normal life.
“But then it's always the community and camaraderie that comes out of building such an empowering space for women that it really is more a way of life than just a sport, and they become your family,” she says.
“All the teams train together and we've all got mates who are on other teams, and we all play together when we get the chance to represent the league in travel teams.
"The only time we really have our different team colours on is bout day, the rest of the time we're one league. Our ethos is 'league first, team second, individual third'.”
More than a local club, becoming part of the league means joining a worldwide sorority of skaters. “If you play roller derby and go travelling around the world, you'd be guaranteed to find a place to stay on somebody's couch, ” Mel says.
“Or if you want to go play a derby while you're over there you just contact a league and people are always more than willing to pick you up from the airport, put you up for the night, get you to come to training with them, even if they've never met you. It's really open and accepting.”
ADRD is again running their Raw Meat and Fresh Meat intakes for new skaters to join their ranks.
No experience with derby or even skating is required as the league and its friendly members guide newbies through a five-week, learn-to-skate workshop (Raw Meat) followed by another five weeks of Fresh Meat where all the necessary derby skills are taught.
“As far as falling over, the ground is your friend,” Mel reminds those worried about the inevitable scrapes and bruises.
“This isn't the most eloquent way to put it, but learn to eat sh*t because you're going to be spending a lot of time on the ground,” she laughs.
“As soon as you see that even people who have been skating for years would always stack it you realise falling over is not bad.
“You're not judged by how often you fall over, you're judged by how often you get back up.”
