This is not your parent's roller derby, and the Lakeland Ladykillers want to prove it to you.
Before their season gets into full-swing, the Lakeland Ladykillers Roller Derby League are hosting a series of open houses to recruit new members, otherwise known as fresh meat, give residents an opportunity to ask questions, and maybe even strap-on some skates.
Tracy Wasylow, also known as T-Dot Racey, is president of the Lakeland Ladykillers. She is heading into her fourth season with the roller derby team, and encourages everyone to give it a try.
“It's an equalizer, anyone can play it. It doesn't matter if you have any athletic ability, it doesn't matter if you can't stand on your own two feet… If you put in the time, learn the game, and dedicate some blood, sweat, and tears, anyone can play,” Wasylow emphasized.
In order to play, there are a few recommendations from the veteran derby skater. First, Wasylow said, you need to be adventurous and you have to have “a willingness to get out of your comfort zone and meet new people.”
Prior to signing up, recruits must first meet the qualifications of the Ladykillers' overseeing body, the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).
“They have minimal skills that you have to pass in order to play, they're called benchmarks,” noted Wasylow. “You have to know all of the rules that are involved as well, there is a test that shows if you know what the rules of the game are and how it's played.”
She continued, “You need to be able to skate around 27 laps of our track in five minutes, you have to show that you can balance on your skates, that you are not going to be harmful to anyone else on the track, and that you are in control of yourself and your skates.”
In case you lose control, the Ladykillers have your back and will teach newcomers how to properly fall.
Wasylow said, “Falling is actually one of the first things we teach, because you need to know how to do that properly in order to not get injured.”
“It's not our parents roller derby. It's not wrestling or WWE on skates. This version of roller derby is very athletic, and we like to say it's like chess on skates; it's very strategic… how you can work around the other team in order to score the most points,” she added.
The game involves teams of five; four blockers and one jammer. The game is played on an oval-shaped track, and consists of two 30-minute periods.
The sport is full-contact, so proper equipment such as quad skates; kneepads, elbow pads, wrist guards, mouth guards, and a helmet are required.
Roller derby veteran Lulu Level'em, more commonly known as Lisa Folliott, vice-president and co-founder of the Ladykillers, said she never expected to fall in the love with the sport eight years ago.
After a derby member moved to the area from Medicine Hat, she decided to start a roller derby team locally. In order to recruit members, the newcomer hosted a meeting where Folliott was first introduced to the sport.
“It was a friend of mine that lived in Ardmore that wanted to go to this meeting, but she didn't want to go alone so I went for support,” said Folliott.
She added, the reason she enjoys the sport is because of the camaraderie amongst the all-female team.
“It's a great team, a great bunch of ladies. We get to travel, and it's something fun to do with a group of people with like-minds,” Folliott noted.
This season, because of numbers, the Ladykillers are focusing on recruitment, so they won't be able to take part in any formal games. Veterans of the team will instead play with other teams until next year.
Becoming a Ladykiller means you must meet all of your benchmarks for the WFTDA, own your own gear, and show-up for the two training sessions per week.
Anyone even slightly interested is encouraged by Folliott and Wasylow to come to one of their open houses to learn more.
“Just come out and see what it's all about, there is usually a stigma around it that we're just a bunch of rowdy people, but actually it's great exercise. It's just great all around to have a sport for women to do. There is always lots for your kids to do, but not so much for yourself,” said Folliott.
The first open house takes place on Tuesday, April 25 followed by the second event on Thursday, April 27, both events run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Cold Lake Golf and Winter Club located on 4 Wing.
