Forest City Derby Girls grease their wheels for the start of a new season

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After an intense summer of amassing new recruits otherwise known as “fresh meat” and cross-training seasoned players, the Forest City Derby Girls are fully charged to open a new season on their home track at the Western Fair Canada Building Oct. 1.

According to team captains Lindsay Fleming aka Lin Sanity and Caitlyn Curtis aka Chelsea Swagger, the evening promises to showcase some big hits.

This year marks the sport’s 10th operating year in London and surrounding areas. In its earliest days, practices were hosted in an unheated barn on the outskirts of the city, making it difficult for the initial home teams to organize themselves and flourish.

Today, the league’s current affiliation with the Western Fair enables women from all walks of life to meet at a more centralized location and expand the league, which now includes the Timber Rollers, the Thames Fatales and the Luscious Lunch Ladies. The Forest City Derby Girls also now enjoy their status as official members of the international Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).

Once widely considered an underground activity emphasizing sexy outfits over actual skill, roller derby has recently experienced a surge in mainstream popularity leading to coverage on ESPN. But despite its newfound claim to fame, roller derby retains its punk rock spirit by distinguishing itself as the only sport besides rugby to teach female athletes how to properly take a hit.

“There are absolutely not enough contact sports for women. I couldn’t hold back in other sports before and I was always the only person to ever get a red card,” said Nicki Hynes aka Nancy Drew Blood, who began playing earlier this year. “I like having skates on my feet.”

Despite its tough-girls-only appearance, prospective recruits are encouraged to not be intimidated out of giving roller derby a try for themselves.

“You don’t need to be a certain type,” explained Frank Plancke aka F-Bomb. “We’re all different, but you do need to have some kind of motivation, whether it be personal growth or getting out your aggression.”

Anyone interested in learning more about playing roller derby is welcome to attend an upcoming information night on Oct. 4, 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Western Fair Canada Building. For those who want to attend Saturday’s game, tickets are available for $12 in advance at Renegade clothing store, or for $15 at the door. Parking is free, and there is no admission price for children under 10.

“You don’t have to pay a huge amount of money to have fun, and you’ll get to meet the players before and after the game,” said Fleming. “Come and watch us play.”