Latest news with #RollerDerby
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
A roller derby renaissance in Fresno? Meet the team bringing the sport back
Uniquely is a Fresno Bee series that covers the moments, landmarks and personalities that define what makes living in the Fresno area so special. It's Tuesday night and Jodie Mettler is playing referee, calling out faux penalties to a dozen or so women as they skate close circles around the roller hockey rink at Fresno's Cary Park. It's the last practice for Ash City Roller Derby before a weekend scrimmage in Los Angeles and the skaters are working on team skills like position, blocking and formations. A tripod of players throw hip blocks in one direction, then shifts the other direction and clips a skater as she tries to take a wide roll around the group. Mettler forgot her whistle, so she yells out a quick 'tweet,' forcing a skater off to the side of the rink to do 10 squats. This is a practice, after all. After a few minutes of this work, the team huddles up to discuss the drill, then sets off to run it again. 'It's all game play tonight,' says Mettler, a founding member of Ash City Roller Derby who skates under the moniker Bae-Phomet. She's number 666, obviously. Since July, Ash City Roller Derby has been working to revive the full-contact sport in Fresno. The league's name is a double play on words: Ash, as in the tree, which in Spanish is Fresno; and also ash, as in the metaphorical remains from which the phoenix was reborn. There was time when Fresno was a roller-derby town. At one point, there were three teams in two separate leagues. Crowds were consistent, if not huge. Up to 1,000 people came out to watch matches at The Fresno Convention Center, and later the fairgrounds in the late 2000s and early 2010s. In 2008, The Fresno Bee ran a week's worth of profiles of Smog City Roller Grrls in advance of a home match at the Fresno Convention Center. Columnist Mike Osegueda called the team's resident speedster, Betty Rocker, a 'certified roller derby star ... who might actually be the top sports star in Fresno right now.' That team ended in 2008, but spawned a pair of others: NoTown Roller Derby and Valley Fever, the later of which morphed into the Central California Area Derby. Mettler joined the NoTown team the week after she moved to Fresno in 2010. She skated under the name Cherry Pie (number 3.142). Finding the team was one of the first things she did in town. 'That was a priority.' Roller Derby goes back nearly 100 years to days of banked-track endurance racing, but early versions of the sport as it's known now became popular in the 1950s and '60s first on radio and later on TV, where it evolved into a kind of professional wrestling on wheels. A story in The Bee in 1956 announced a run of National Roller Derby League matches at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. There would be bouts three nights a week for 13 weeks. League founder Leo Seltzer said he expected crowds of 9,000 a night. When the league came to Fresno's Kearney Bowl in 1960 (the Bay Bombers faced off against the Los Angles Braves), an announcement ran in The Bee alongside a story on the Indy 500. Eventually, the sport fell out of favor and by the 1980s was forgotten or only remembered with fond nostalgia. That was until the 2000s, when it saw an underground revival, thanks to slew of documentaries and at least one major studio film, the Elliot Page feature 'Whip-It.' That was Jessica Meredith's entry into the sport. She'd skated before, the way kids do, but she wasn't an athlete. As a 20-year-old queer person of color, she was mostly looking for a community. She found that in a derby team in Merced, where she was living at the time. It was immediate, says Meredith, who skates under the name Afrodisiac. 'I, to this day, have not found an experience anything like that.' That community and camaraderie is what led her to reach out on social media last summer. The sport had all but disappeared in Fresno during the pandemic and she wondered if anyone else wanted it back. 'We had no idea that other people felt the same way.' Now, roller derby is by no means a mainstream sport. The only way to really watch it live is in person (at scrimmages and more official matches set up by leagues across the country) or on Twitch. 'The joke is that ESPN will pick up fake horse riding before they'll pick up roller derby,' Mettler says. For the uninitiated: This isn't the dystopian battle sport depicted in sci-fi films. There's no ball. Points are scored as one skater laps around a pack of defenders in a series of two-minute 'jams.' Bouts are run in two, 30-minute periods. It isn't played on a banked-wood track (at least per the set of rules that Ash City plays under) and there isn't any fighting (staged or otherwise). It is still full-contact. Hip and body checks are allowed. And things are less DIY then they were in the 2000s, when the majority of the sport was centered out of Texas (where it was insanely popular), Mettler says. Nowadays, there's an international world cup and the skaters look to be seen as the athletes they are. So, it's not the speed competition that people might remember. 'It's a slower game,' Mettler says. 'It's strategic, right from the whistle.' Ash City is still a new team with a mix of veterans and newbies. Its matches are sanctioned by the The Women's Flat Track Derby Association, though Ash City is not yet an official member. That requires the organization to go through an apprenticeship program. The team runs on $10 monthly dues, with no coaching staff and no official home rink (someplace with a roof and air conditioning where Ash City could schedule matches without concern for heat or rain). The club would love to get back inside the Fresno Fairgrounds, at least for match days, but there's an expense that makes that difficult, Mettler says. So, the team (15 skaters, per its Instagram page) meets at Cary Park twice a week for practice. Some of the woman skate more. Meredith travels to Visalia twice a week to skate with the V Town Roller Derby team. They also host boot camps to recruit and train new members. The last one ran six weeks and had 30 skaters. On May 31, the team is hosting its first mixed-level hometown scrimmage. It start at 10 a.m. with a $5 suggested donation for spectators ($10 for those looking to compete). Mostly, the skaters are out here just making it work, Meredith says, because none of them want to see the sport die again. 'We're here to stick around,' she says. 'When people think of roller derby in Fresno, I don't want it to ever be a question.'
The Courier
16-05-2025
- Sport
- The Courier
Fair City Rollers slam 'shameful' unheated plan for Bell's Sports Centre in Perth
Perth's roller derby team has slammed proposals to turn Bell's Sports Centre into an unheated facility as 'shameful'. Fair City Rollers are demanding the iconic complex is reopened after its closure from flooding severely impacted their club. A spokesperson for the club said: 'We think that Bell's Sports Centre should be rebuilt as a venue that fully supports its former patrons – not just activities and sports suited to astroturf. 'There is nothing in Perth and Kinross that has the same facilities that Bell's had. 'The alternative venues don't have the same capacity and quality. 'To lose such a sports asset is shameful. 'The value it brings to the community completely outweighs the cost to repair the damage caused by flooding.' The club say the effect of closing Bell's after it was flooded has been devastating for the team. They were left unable to train for months and have seen their club shrink substantially. The team claim the alternative venues they have found at Perth Grammar School and Perth High School have come with issues. 'Before Bell's was closed due to flooding, we were a thriving club with nearly 50 members,' said the spokesperson. 'After Bell's was flooded we were unable to train for nearly four months due to the difficulty finding a suitable hall in Perth that allowed skating. 'Due to the length of time that we were unable to train and without access to Bell's large and well maintained floor space, we have been reduced to fewer than 10 regular attendees. 'This is making it very difficult for us to continue as a club.' Fair City Rollers has joined a growing number of voices from Perth's sports community calling for Bell's to be returned to its former glory as an indoor sports complex. A petition to save the venue has reached over 3,700 signatures. The council propose turning it into an unheated arena with artificial pitches. The future of the facility touches on the wider plans for a new leisure centre which has been near-universally criticised by residents and sports teams alike. The spokesperson said: 'Our situation, alongside the general negative effects to other sports that were based at Bell's, highlights the critical need for a versatile, accessible space that serves the diverse sporting community Bell's once supported. 'This need can only be met by repairing and reopening Bell's as soon as possible.' The club also pointed to their inclusive nature as a benefit they bring to the city's sporting community. Perth and Kinross Council chief executive Thomas Glen has been questioned on how the proposed unheated facility will impact the elderly, women and players with disabilities. It's the second time that equality concerns have been raised in 12 months regarding the council and Live Active Leisure and their leisure plans. 'Roller Derby is an inclusive sport, welcoming individuals of all backgrounds and abilities,' said the club spokesperson. 'Our club actively encourages people to return to sport later in life, with most of our members aged between 30 and 55.' 'Perth and Kinross Council should be fighting for the future of Bell's not allowing this amazing asset to be lost.' The plan, alongside the PH2O project, is set to come back before councillors in June. A council spokesperson said: 'Almost 2,000 people responded to the consultation on the future of Bell's Sports Centre. 'A summary of responses has been provided to councillors and will be used to inform our proposals for the sports centre when they are presented to council in June.'
West Australian
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
What's On: Your guide to events around Albany and the Great Southern, May 1-7
From live music to Taste Great Southern events, here's your guide to the week ahead in the Great Southern. THURSDAY Karlee Bertola: A Celebration of Pollination Exhibition Opening , Vancouver Arts Centre, 10am Giniversity Gin Blending Class , Limeburners and Giniversity, 1pm The Art of Sharing: An Iberian Feast , Sotao, 6.30pm Learn to Play Roller Derby , Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre, 6.30pm FRIDAY Wander with the Wild Sunrise Breakfast Hike , Albany Visitor Centre, 6.15am You Are a Doughnut , Albany Entertainment Centre, 10am David Rastrick , Wilson's Brewery Bar, 5pm Green Day v Blink 182 Tribute Night , Eve Late Night Bar, 8pm SATURDAY Albany Pottery Group Mother's Day Market , St John's Anglican Parish Hall, 8am Viewpoint Mother's Day Sale of Work , King River Hall, 10am Majuba Bistro x Shepherds Hut Long Luncheon , Majuba Bistro, 10am Memoir by Jo Wassell Artist Talk , Vancouver Arts Centre, 10.30am Hybla Tavern x Plantagenet Long Table Lunch , Hybla Tavern, 11.30am Festival of Dusk , Albany Town Hall, 4.30pm SUNDAY Seafood, Sparkling, Sauvignon and Shiraz Masterclass , Kirby's Atelier de Cuisine, 11am Albany Rock Oyster Sunday Sundowner , Due South, 4pm Deon Utber , Wilson's Brewery Bar, 5pm Elite Pie Party , Pettersson's Arcade Laneway, 5.30pm MONDAY Calming Crafts , Southern Aboriginal Corporation, 10am TUESDAY Albany Shantymen , Six Degrees, 7.30pm WEDNESDAY Social Craft Night , The Empty Bobbin, 5pm Family and Domestic Violence Candelight Vigil , Alison Hartman Gardens, 5.45pm Planning something? Let us know! Send details of your event to greatsouthern@
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The best roller skates of 2025, tested and reviewed
The best roller skates aren't just about looking cool (though that's definitely a bonus); they're your ticket to endless good times. Whether you're rolling through the neighborhood chasing your kids, living out your retro dreams at the roller rink or aspiring to be the next big Roller Derby star, you'll need the right set of wheels to support your skating journey. And while it might be tempting to grab the first cute pair you see online, picking the right skates matters more than you'd think. "If you've never skated before, you could get a very inexpensive pair of skates, but that may hinder you from actually learning to skate," says roller skating instructor Dirty Deborah Harry, founder of Dirty School of Skate. "If you spend a little bit more money and get a fully functioning skate, you'll have a much better chance at having a good skating experience." Does that mean you need to buy the fanciest, priciest roller skates around? No. Instead, carefully consider what kind of skating you'll be doing — and where you'll be skating. After all, skates that are perfect for Roller Derby are not ideal for learning how to jam skate. And if you're planning on skating outdoors, "the region you live in matters too," says Jamison Fort, founder of Skate N Learn. Before making your choice, talk to people in your local skating community, especially professionals, to get recommendations. Taking a class? Your instructor can offer valuable insights on which skates fit your needs. Once you're ready to try some on, check out a specialty shop that'll offer a wide selection or a nearby roller rink, which may sell high-quality brands. But remember: Function over style! As award-winning skater and SAG stuntman Joshua Batsmoke Smith puts it, "When new skaters get into lessons, they wonder why they're not able to do certain movements. It's because the boot is not allowing them to." Ready to explore some beginner-friendly options? Let's roll into our top picks for the best roller skates. Just like choosing the right dance shoes or running sneakers, picking the best roller skate is all about matching them to your style. "Every part of the skate means something and helps you in different ways," says Smith. "There are pros and cons to every detail of the boot." Your skating dreams and community play a big role too. Smith explains that skaters need to consider both their goals and their local skating culture — the boots you'll see in Chicago's skating scene, for example, often differ from what's popular in California. Ready to explore your options? Here's what you need to know about different types of skates: High-top boots: These supportive skates cradle your ankles and feature a raised heel that helps keep you centered. Perfect for beginners, they offer the stability you need while learning the basics. Low-top boots: More like your favorite sneakers, these boots give your ankles room to move. While they offer less support than high-tops, experienced skaters love them for the extra mobility and freedom of movement. Roller Derby skates: Similar to speed skates, Roller Derby skates typically come in a sneaker-style design. However, if you're just starting your derby journey, Harry suggests high-tops first. They'll help protect your ankles while you master the basics. Inline skates: Unlike quad skates that have four wheels in a square pattern, inline skates place their wheels in a single row. Common types include fitness skates for exercise, aggressive skates for tricks, racing skates for speed and urban skates for city navigation. Like quad skates, each style uses specific wheels and bearings to match its purpose. Dance skates: These skates vary depending on the dance style. Potential skating styles include figure skating, rhythm skating, jam skating, JB-style skating and more. Speed skates: Made for velocity, these low-cut boots help you zoom around the track. You'll see them frequently in Roller Derby, and they're available in both traditional quad and inline styles. Artistic skates: Artistic skates are often heeled high-top boots. The wheels are typically more narrow to allow for more maneuverability. They traditionally come in black for men and white for women. Jam skates: There are two main skate styles for jam skating, a mix of dance and skating. Fort explains that traditionalists often prefer the classic high-top Riedell boots, while skaters who incorporate more breakdancing moves tend to gravitate toward low-top, speed-style skates. In addition to the brands mentioned, VNLA skates offers both styles and comes highly recommended by jam skating experts. Your skating experience, foot shape and skating style all help to determine which roller skates work best for you. Here's what to consider: Skill level: For beginners, Fort recommends skates with more support and stiffer trucks (the metal components that connect the wheels to the frame) for added stability. While looser trucks offer more maneuverability, they can be less stable, making it harder to build essential skills. Intended use: Will you be skating indoors at a rink or outdoors on rougher terrain? Your intended use impacts the type of skates and setup that will work best for you. If you'll be skating outside, you're likely going to want larger, softer wheels that can roll over rocks, sticks and uneven surfaces more easily. Foot type and fit: Getting the right fit is crucial, especially if you have narrow or wide feet. "Sizing is definitely one of the things people struggle with," says Croysdill. Your best bet? Check sizing charts carefully and buy from skate shops where staff can share real customer experiences. Budget: While budget matters, very cheap skates can be dangerous and slow your learning progress. Low-end skates focus on looks over function, Harry notes. For beginners, she recommends spending $150 to $175 to get skates that are both safe and comfortable. Personal style: Roller skates are highly customizable. "You can put your own personal style all over your skates," says Croysdill, from boot height to plates (the metal or nylon frame that attaches the boots to the trucks and wheels), trucks, wheels and laces. Choose parts that match both your skating style and personal taste. What matters most is feeling confident in your setup. Wheel diameter, shape and hardness: Wheel diameter, measured in millimeters, shape (narrow or wide) and hardness all play a role in the type of skating you're doing. Smaller wheels are geared to indoor skating, dancing and racing, while larger wheels tend to be better for outdoor skating and stability. Likewise, harder wheels lend themselves to speed and maneuverability, while softer wheels can take rough surfaces and debris in stride. Wheel durometer (hardness) is rated on a scale of 0-102A, with most skates falling between 68A and 102A. Outdoor wheels typically fall on the lower side of the scale, and indoor wheels usually range between 88A and 102A. Plate material: Plates — the skate platform that connects the boot to the wheels and trucks — typically come in nylon or metal. Nylon is less durable but more affordable, while metal plates are more durable but tend to cost more. Beginners who are skating recreationally can likely opt for nylon plates, but if you're taking your skating more seriously, metal plates are the better option. Bearings and bearing ratings: Your skate's wheels turn on their bearings, and the quality of the bearings makes a difference in overall performance. Most manufacturers (though not all) use bearings rated on the Annular Bearing Engineering Committee (ABEC) ratings scale. The higher the rating, the higher the bearings' tolerance and performance. The scale ranges from 1 to 9 using only odd numbers. ABEC-5 is a typical rating for recreational skaters, while those who skate more competitively may prefer a higher rating. We evaluated each pair of roller skates against rigorous standards, focusing on these essential factors to come up with a list of the best roller skates: Experts: We interviewed five professional skaters across different styles and regions, learning which roller skates they recommend and avoid. For customer insights, we consulted Val Selvaggio, owner of Xanadu Skate Boutique in Santa Barbara, Calif., and manager of Skating Plus Roller Rink, who shared real-world feedback about skate performance. Quality and materials: We selected skates from established brands known for safety and reliability. Each model was evaluated for durability and performance, from boot materials and lining to wheels, bearings, plates and toe stops. Testing: We tested eight skate models through a combination of outdoor sessions and rink time. The Riedell Crew and Moxi Beach Bunnies were tested outdoors in multiple 30-minute sessions. The Angel skates underwent both home testing and rink trials. We also evaluated the Moxi Lolly, Sure-Grip Boardwalk Plus, Sure-Grip GT-50 and Riedell R3 at the rink, while the Impalas were tested in several hourlong outdoor sessions. Experienced skaters Kaycee Krieg Wysaski and Bryson Myers provided additional testing feedback, with Wysaski evaluating the Sure-Grip Stardust, Moxi Beach Bunnies and Impalas, and Myers assessing the Riedell 120 Juice. Reviews: We factored in reviews from various sources, including retailer websites, YouTube and Reddit, to gather more comprehensive feedback. Most brands use men's sizing, so women typically need to go down one to two sizes. For the best fit, try on skates in person at roller rinks or specialty skate shops, where experts can measure your feet properly. Specialty stores can also customize your skates, letting you mix and match components like plates, wheels and toe stops to create your perfect setup. While online shopping is convenient, always check the manufacturer's sizing guide and return policy. Wheel selection depends on your skill level, skating style and skating surface. "For beginners, wider and larger wheels provide better stability," says Gold. Wheel hardness (durometer) ranges from 78A to 101A — softer wheels (78A) work best outdoors, hybrid wheels (85A) offer versatility, and harder wheels (89A to 101A) are ideal for indoor skating, speed skating, park skating and derby. Match your wheel hardness to your skating surface for optimal performance. "If you're skating outside, you'll need to do a little bit more skate maintenance than if you're skating indoors," says Gold. Regular cleaning and maintenance practices include: Cleaning bearings every few months with mineral spirits. Wiping dirt off with a dry cloth only — avoid water. Removing hair and debris from axles. Regularly checking for loose or damaged parts. Keeping your adjustment tools handy. Never skating through water or leaving skates in hot cars. Newbies who are skating outdoors should always wear a helmet and wrist guards, says Harry, noting that knee pads are never a bad idea, either. "Falling is inevitable," reminds Fort, so it's smart to consider including elbow pads and padded shorts. Beginner or not, Croysdill requires everyone to wear a helmet, wrist guards and knee pads for their first class at Rolla Skate Club. "And that's whatever age you are," she says. Impala Quad Skate Black: While Impala offers affordable ($80 to $100), stylish skates with comfortable support, their budget models have limitations. Most notably, many lower-end models lack adjustable toe stops. These skates prioritize aesthetics and affordability over advanced features. Chicago Women's Roller Skates: Though affordable, experts advise against skates under $100 due to quality concerns. (These ring up at around $80.) For better quality from the same brand, consider the Chicago Skates Premium Lifestyle Leather and Suede Lined Quad Rink Roller Derby Skate ($400). Sure-Grip GT 50: These entry-level derby skates offer a solid alternative to the Riedell R3 ($165). Both are reliable beginner options, with the GT-50 coming in at a slightly lower price point (starting at $155). Your choice between the two may simply come down to personal preference. Sure-Grip Stardust: Unfortunately, these skates have a significant comfort issue. Our tester reported that the blunt back edge consistently rubbed against her ankle, making them uncomfortable for regular skating sessions. Basics of Happy: These glitter high-top entry-level skates earned high praise from our tester, who ranked them as the most comfortable skates she's ever worn. While they offer exceptional comfort at an accessible price point (on sale for $69), their limited availability makes them harder to find. Riedell Juice: Our tester put these skates ($379) through intense testing, performing handstands, cartwheels and flips. "These skates enabled me to do anything and everything I could imagine," he reports. Only the bearings showed wear from hard landings, while all other components held up well under aggressive use. That said, they're expensive and may be more skate than needed for most beginners. Dirty Deborah Harry, a roller skating instructor and founder of Dirty School of Skate Francesca Gold, a world-class level competitive figure skater and roller skate teacher Jamison Fort, founder of Skate N Learn, an educational platform for roller skating and one-fourth of It's My Skate Night, a skate comedy and merchandise company Joshua Batsmoke Smith, an award-winning elite roller skater, performer, trainer and SAG stuntman Lucy Croysdill, a roller skating instructor, co-founder of Rolla Skate Club and founding board member of the Girls On Track Foundation Our health content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional on questions about your health.
