By CASEY NEILL
SOUTH Sea Roller Derby will skate back to the 1940s in Keysborough this month.
The Blackheart Breakers and The Dolly Rogers will battle it out during the themed Boogie Woogie Bash at Springers Leisure Centre on 12 October.
The Breakers are hungry for their first win of the season and the Dollys are not about to make it easy for them.
Dance students from Swing Patrol will perform at half time and money raised from the bout will go to cancer fund-raiser Relay for Life.
South Sea Roller Derby (SSRD) media co-ordinator Dora the Abhorrer said roller derby was the fastest up-and-coming women’s sport in the world.
The fast-paced, full contact sport on roller skates started its modern revival in the US in the early 2000s as an all-female, women-organised amateur sport.
South Sea Roller Derby (SSRD) is a non-profit community sporting organisation that’s been rolling since 2009 and has more than 90 members.
“We encourage all women 18 and over to strap on a pair of skates, learn a new sport, get fit and make new friends,” Dora said.
“There are varying levels of difficulty and contact, starting from freshmeat working up to bouting level, so people aren’t thrown in the deep end!”
“Freshie” training for aspiring derby players and referees is offered twice a week and opens for new members every six weeks.
It’s held in Dandenong from 6.30pm to 8.30pm Fridays and 1pm to 3pm Sundays.
SSRD also needs non-skating officials to help make the bouts run smoothly. Anyone aged over 18 can get involved.
Doors for the Boogie Woogie Bash will open at 6pm, with skates down at 7pm. Entry is $10 for adults, $5 for kids and free for under-5s.
Springers Leisure Centre is at 400 Cheltenham Road, Keysborough. Tickets are available from southsearollerderby.com and on the door.
