As the 2021 Adelaide Roller Derby (ADRD) season heads towards the Grand Final (to be staged 31 July), the final bout of the year takes place this weekend.
Wild Hearses will take on Mile Die Club at Adelaide Showground (10 July, 6pm) with plenty of awe-inspiring performances on display from the dedicated skaters.A safe space for the LGBT+ community, Adelaide Roller Derby is a great way to spend an afternoon and evening with a family-friendly atmosphere, alongside the fierce competition on the track. The players as well as the diverse crowd and commentators all contribute to the fun of the event.
"Adelaide Roller Derby was established in 2007 and is Adelaide's oldest and largest roller derby league," ADRD says.
"If there's one thing we love, it's talking derby! Our league is a not-for-profit organisation that is owned and operated by the ADRD skaters and officials.
"We are super-proud of the community we have built for ourselves and are really grateful to all our supportive family and friends who cheer us on from the sidelines.
"We are also very fortunate to have the support of our sponsors, who have been fantastic at helping us get where we are today.
"If you're new to the world of roller derby, never fear, it's heaps of fun to play and just as much fun to watch. Come along to our next bout and find out for yourself."
Here, we profile Mile Dile Club player Evil Stig.
Who is... Evil Stig #182. I play for the Mile Die Club and I've been a member of Adelaide Roller Derby since 2015.
My role... I primarily play as a Jammer.
My first roller derby bout was... I played my first bout eight years ago with Light City Derby.
When did you settle on your roller derby name, and was it a unanimous decision... I already had the nickname Stig as it's in surname. I considered 'Stignition' but ultimately settled on Evil Stig which is also a nod to Seattle band The Gits.
Social media is... Inescapable!
My favourite app at the moment is... It's always Spotify. If I'm not singing along to my favourite bands, I'm binging podcasts. The AFL app also gets a good run around this time of the year.
To date, my most embarrassing moment was the time... Pretty much anytime I've met somebody who I admire because I forget how to converse like a normal person.
What celebrity/ famous person would you love to be the team’s spokesperson... I guess it would have to be Shania Twain because she can really rock the leopard print (see 'That Don't Impress Me Much'). Scary Spice a close second.
Three people you'd like to invite around for a dinner party... Mindy Kaling – I think she's the funniest person in the world. Jake Gyllenhaal – favourite actor and long-time celebrity crush. Juliette Lewis – she's a total badass.
If we were coming over to your place, what would you cook us? I would probably Menulog some curry and pretend that I cooked it.
When it comes to pets are you a lover or hater of our furry friends? I'm a dog person. It doesn't matter what I'm doing, if I see a dog it immediately has my undivided attention. At home I have a beautiful black and tan dachshund called Ringo; he’s turning 10 in August.
The last time I saw the inside of a gym was... I'm there a couple of times a week but I have an awesome trainer to motivate me, I wouldn’t make it there on my own.
What's the one chore you dislike the most? Cleaning the bathroom.
Do you have any phobias? I'm scared of birds because: swooping, pecking and pooping. I also don't like ladders because: falling.
Would you ever partake in a reality show? I love reality shows! I'd do the 'Amazing Race', but I haven't been able to convince anyone to be my teammate.
If you could prank any of your friends, who's your target, and how are you bringing them down? I'm 100 per cent not creative enough to come up with any pranks that wouldn't end up just being mean.
Which fictional character best describes your personality? Britta from 'Community' (early seasons) because people have told me that and yeah I see it. Funnily enough I ended up working in the same field that Annie was studying at Greendale.
Last show you binge-watched? 'Barry'! It's a dark comedy starring Bill Hader as a hitman who decides he wants to be an actor; it's a good mix of comedy and action. The characters are great and so is the pacing of each episode.
