The Humboldt Roller Derby league kicked off their first practice of the season on Sunday at the curling rink and though members were few, emotions were still optimistic.
鈥淚 love the workout, I love the people, they鈥檙e great, and I love the freedom,鈥� said Racheal Marsh, one of the members returning for her second year in the league. 鈥淚 love the feeling of the wind through my helmet. I can鈥檛 explain it until you strap on a pair of skates.鈥�
The league has only been in Humboldt since 2012, but it began with a full 14-member team for the first two years. This year, however, seems to have only five to six members, including the two that showed up to the first practice on Sunday.
鈥淟ast year was our roughest year. We had most of our players move away for school and jobs, so this year is kind of a rebuilding year for us,鈥� said Barb Spuzak, the leader and member of the Humboldt league.
Aside from people not knowing too much about the league, much of what they do know might be filled with myths from movies like Whip It. According to Spuzak, a lot of people are afraid of getting hurt, but she says it鈥檚 not like in the movie; it鈥檚 mostly about strategy.
鈥淔or the most part, it鈥檚 not that dangerous. That鈥檚 the main part of all our practice,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 learning how to fall properly and learning how to take hits while you鈥檙e in the game. It鈥檚 all shoulder hits or hits with your hips, so no elbows or flying fists.鈥�
The goal of the sport is to get your 鈥渏ammer鈥� past the other team鈥檚 鈥渂lockers鈥� without letting their jammer get through yours. For every opposing blocker the jammer passes, that team gets a point. Each 鈥渏am鈥� is two minutes long, so whichever team has the most points by the end of the game wins.
鈥淭he hardest part is probably being the jammer because you鈥檙e skating at full speed pretty much most of the time and trying to get through the pack,鈥� said Spuzak. 鈥淪o you鈥檙e weaving in and out between people and people are trying to stop you, so it takes a lot of endurance.鈥�
Currently, the league is accepting of anyone over the age of 16. Spuzak said that they used to have members around the age of 40. Members can pay a monthly fee, an annual fee, or purchase a punch card with 10 practices if a person isn鈥檛 sure if they want to commit to the team yet. The gear is provided by
Spuzak and she says they do fundraising throughout the year to help keep costs low.
