Sin City Rollers return to action as they prepare for West Coast Invitational

The last bastion of regional roller derby returns to action this weekend as the Sin City Rollers prepare for the West Coast Invitational this Saturday.

The West Coast Invitational will involve clubs from across WA meeting at the rise in Maylands for a day full of hard and fast action.

“It’s been described as playing chess while bricks are being thrown at you,” said club president Roxanne Grant.

“It’s a full contact sport but is also very strategic, a great workout for the mind and body.”

While roller derby has become more professional as a sport over time there is still a strong sub-culture edge left over from its early days with a strong sense of community skaters taking on on-track personas.

“The whole reason you have a derby name is that you can take on another persona,” she said.

“You can go to anywhere in the world and ring up and train with any club, whether that be over east or in the USA.”

“It attracts all sorts of people and we welcome people of all ages over 18 and of different shapes and sizes.”

Covid was tough on regional roller derby clubs as Geraldton is the only regional club left after all others folded, forcing players to scatter and join metro teams should they wish to compete again.

“Covid really affected us, we are the only regional team that is going as a group,” she said.

“We’re taking North West competitors, getting some girls from Port Hedland and it will be difficult having not trained with them to get in sync for the competition.”

There is hope to rebuild the strong contingent of regional skaters.

“We’re always trying to recruit new members, we’ll be going for 10 years next year and we encourage anyone to come down and give it a go.”

Anyone interesting in joining the squad should email rollerderbygeraldton@gmail.com