Chilliwack Roller Derby - Voodoo Dollz drop first to Sea to Sky Sirens

Feature Story Friday October 7, 2011

We're Jammin'

Dollz drop their first game to Sirens

Craig Hill/Voice photos

The Sea to Sky Sirens (blue) were looking to initiate Chilliwack's Voodoo Dollz in their first game Saturday at the Landing Sports Centre.

orget stair climbers and Pilates, Women's Flat Track Roller Derby is now all the rage. It's fun, fast, frequently hurts and it's the quickest growing community sport in North America.

The game today has been dumbed-down from the wild elbow-to-the-head stuff on banked tracks that was prevalent during the sport's revival in the 70s and 80s.

Last Saturday, in front of 500 pumped fans and curious onlookers, the untested Chilliwack Voodoo Dollz plunged headlong into their first official game called Chilli Chilli Bang Bang at the Landing Sports Centre against the rich girl Sea To Sky Sirens.

The Dollz had game from the whistle and took an early lead but had little lady luck. As the teams neared the halfway mark, the Dollz became mired in penalties and the seasoned Sirens snuck passed the rookies finishing the bout with 116 points to the Dollz 74.

"We came out strong and caught the Sirens off guard, but once the dust settled we lost the lead. We suffered a few major blows due to penalties, and the Sirens were able to rack up points on a couple of "power jams" in the first period (when our Jammer was in the penalty box). Although we couldn't recapture the lead, the bout was hard fought, and evenly matched," said skater and Intra-league Representative Evada Peron in an e-mail to the Voice.

These athletes don't just slap on a pair of quads and jump on the track. They actually go through rigorous training in order to get to a level where they're allowed to play, otherwise they can seriously hurt themselves or someone else.

The players have considerably less padding than hockey players. They travel just as fast, the concrete is just as hard as ice and they get paid nothing. For protection they wear just the basics — a helmet, knee, wrist and elbows pads as well as a mouth guard. For finishing touches to their look, skaters add tribal make-up and zany looking leotards and fishnets and end up looking like a cross between something out of Rocky Horror and Beetlejuice. It's all in good fun and exercise.

Peron describes some of the injuries both teams had.

"Roxie Shocker #10, Kristi Anderson, from the Sirens may have dislocated her shoulder and Ja Moxie #07, Sonja 'Ja Moxie' Sayer-Karkabe, from the Sunshine Coast Roller Girls, but played for the Sirens last night, injured her knee," she said.

Peron said they got through their game in one piece without any major injuries however there were plenty of bumps and bruises resulting from some spectacular crashes.

"Our Spanky Spitfire #8898 had the wind knocked out of her" and Peron said she was a tad sore after being sent for a loop by nemesis Ja Moxie.

"I did a somersault on the concrete on a hit from Ja Moxie and am a bit sore today, but overall, we survived!"

The Landing arena was setup with a beer garden operated as a fundraiser by the Chilliwack Firefighters and Voodoo skater Evada Peron said in an e-mail that because October is Purple Light Nights month, the proceeds from the alcohol sales were going to the Ann Davis Transition Society to assist victims of domestic violence.

"Their goal was to raise funds which in turn would be donated to a local charity in Chilliwack," said Peron. "The total count for the evening was $1000.00."

In addition to that, Peron said the team asked spectators to bring along a non-perishable food item and that two barrels of food were collected for the Salvation Army.

Phatboyz Mobile DJ Services rocked the house all night long and Images Dance Studio put on a show at half-time. Also entertaining the crowd were Chilliwack's favourite mascot apes "Bongo" and "Tongo".

If you've never seen a roller derby first-hand, the Voodoo Dollz next game is November 12 at the Landing Sports Centre vs. the Sunshine Coast Roller girls.

Doors open at 6pm and the bout starts at 7pm. It is $12 at the door or $10 with a canned food donation. Children under 12 are also free with two canned food donations or $5.

On November 20 Scrimmathon with Team Canada Roller Derby happens at the Landing Sports Centre from 10am to 4pm. Tickets are $10 with charitable proceeds going to the Ann Davis Transition Society.

For more information about the Voodoo Derby Dollz Roller Derby Association visit: www.voodooderbydollz.com

See more photos below.