Right on track and rolling through life
When feeling a little bored, I excitedly peruse The Herald for fun ideas. My 66-year-old power plant was missing a few kilowatts so I needed to charge myself up.
My husband fears the look I get in my eyes when I seek adventure. That very same day I saw a poster at The Cannery Brewing Company. Saying ever so innocently, “Oh look, honey, roller derby, I love roller derby. I wanted to join roller derby as a teenager but my father threatened to disown me.”
Saint Jack calmly and quietly noted that we had sold our roller skates in a garage sale 30 years ago. I love that he thought I was considering actually participating, which had not crossed my mind.
Penticton has a female roller derby team named the Pistoleras. Tickets were available at various locations. While getting keys cut at LockWorks I met one of the women from the team working there. She was funny, enthusiastic and slightly formidable.
I inquired if anyone my age goes to roller derby. She said they could have a couple of hundred people out to a competition. She said it is a family event, reassuring me that it was appropriate for the elderly and children alike.
I talked our neighbours into going and to bring their grandchildren along. We were a bit nervous when signs taped on the floor warned that the front row of chairs were the “suicide seats” and then were told that children had to be in the second or third row.
This is flat-track skating, not the banked track I was familiar with. Being a bit of a daredevil I wanted to sit in the front row on a corner figuring that the best crashes would be at the curves. I was thinking of it like NASCAR on smaller wheels. Everyone goes to see the wrecks not to watch people or cars going in circles. I was not disappointed. These women are truly athletes. They are agile and powerful skaters. It is fastpaced and they are tough as nails. The team is made up of all sizes and ages. I admit that there did not appear to be anyone my age out there. I mean, why not since most people my age already have aftermarket joints, knees, hips, etc.? We semi-bionic senior citizens don’t break that easy.
Having said that I am pretty sure these ladies should have an orthopedic surgeon on speed dial.
If you want to show your children powerful women in a true team sport this is it. Roller derby takes skill and strategy along with the ability to take a hit, dust yourself off, get up off of the floor and do it again. This is the ultimate Princess Syndrome cure.
The makeup they wear is not pink unicorns and purple rainbows; it is dark and intended to intimidate the other team. Their outfits are as funky as their nicknames.
All in all it was a fun evening even if I did not get to skate.
The next and last bout of the season is this Saturday, June 16 at the Penticton Curling Club. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and things get rolling at 7.
Jan Hickenlooper Aboussafy is happily test driving retirement in Penticton after 42 years in Alberta. Positive thinking, humour and insights are passions she likes to share. She can be reached by email at sandpilemissives@gmail.com