Derby 101 at Green Bean Cafe

By Kenneth Pastushyn

 

The Border City Brawlers are looking for some “fresh meat.”

 

That’s what new recruits are called for Windsor’s first and only female roller derby team.

 

The Brawlers were at the Green Bean Café on Oct. 12 for coffee and questions during their first Roller

Derby 101 information session of the  2018-19 season.

 

After completing the 20-week training program, new recruits can train regularly with veterans with

punny-sounding monikers like Lula Mae-hem, Lei-thal Weapon, Pain Eyre and Rage Charles.

 

Are there any staged fights like in the 1972 movie the Kansas City Bomber starring Raquel Welch or the

2009 movie Whip It starring Drew Barrymore? That’s the number one question the Brawlers get at

Derby 101.

 

“It’s not theatrical like women’s professional wrestling,” said Alora Hebert, 23, whose alter ego is

Gnarlie Chaplin. “Roller derby is a full-contact sport and there are so few contact sports opportunities

for women in Windsor.”

 

It is so important new recruits learn how to properly roller skate, know the rules and learn the game

before participating in any of the full-contact bouts. The Brawlers make sure that all recruits are

comfortable and ready for the flat-track so everyone participating will be safe.

 

“We hit the same way hockey players hit,” said Julia Valeriani, 28, whose alter ego is Boom. “We do hip-

checking and shoulder-checking.”  

 

Before any recruit joins the Brawlers, she is equipped with protective gear which includes a helmet,

kneepads, elbow pads, wrist guards and a mouth guard. A first aid representative is also available at

every practice and there are up to seven referees watching the skaters during the bouts.

 

Attendance throughout the 20-week training period is necessary because the Brawlers gradually prepare

the recruits for game play.

 

“I want them to consider this a gym membership,” said Karlene Nielsen, 34, whose alter ego is Trackula.

“There will be endurance kills because this is a cardio workout.”

 

This training and probationary period is difficult because it requires effort from everybody involved. But

recruits will be ready to compete with others with less than a year of roller derby experience during a

regional tournament called The Fresh and the Furious (a pun on the movie The Fast and the Furious).

 

“There will be a lot of bumps and bruises,” said Hebert. “Sometimes it’s a badge of honour and we  

compare them after every game.”