Skip to content

Castlegar roller derby boot camp set for November

Roller derby players from near and far are packing up for a high-level boot camp.
9081064_web1_copy_171023-CAN-M-Dams-in-Portland-in-2016
The Dam City Rollers competed in Portland, Ore., for some hard-hitting derby last season. The team is headed across the line again this season with a trip to Leavenworth, Wash. on Jan. 13 and 14 next year to take part in Apple City Roller Derby’s 4th annual Bavarian Bruisefe. (Submitted)

CASTLEGAR — Roller derby players from near and far are packing up for a high-level boot camp, hosted by the Dam City Rollers next month.

The Dams present CRDA All Stars Bootcamp in Castlegar Nov. 4 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Selkirk College Gym.

The camp costs $40 per participant; skaters are asked to reserve their spot by emailing damcityrollers@hotmail.ca as soon as possible as there are only 40 spots available for this highly sought after coaching session.

The boot camp will focus on strategy and technique delivered by national-level coach Mack the Mouth and top Canadian skater Lever.

Lever (Abby Lever) comes from a hockey background and didn’t put her first pair of quad skates on until six years ago.

“Since then, I’ve constantly been challenging myself by playing at the highest level possible and working my way up the ranks,” says Lever, who plays for Team Alberta, acts as captain of the Calgary Roller Derby Association (CRDA) All-Stars and is a member of Team Canada 2017/2018.

Mack the Mouth (Ian McKenzie) has been a fixture in Canadian roller derby since 2006 when he began announcing for Vancouver’s Terminal City Rollergirls. In 2009, he started coaching at every level imaginable — notably being part of the coaching staff for Team Canada, which won silver at World Cup 2011 and a fourth-place finish in 2014. He recently worked with the CRDA All-Stars in their 2016 Division 2 championship run and was at their side in the team’s first-ever Division 1 appearance this September in Malmo, Sweden.

“We’re excited to have Mack and Lever coming to do a local derby boot camp,” says Dam City’s captain Kitty Carnage (Kristina Kruchkowski Conroy). “It comes at a great time for the Dams, as our season is just getting underway.”

The Dams are rolling into their eighth season with a strong showing of returning players and new talent.

The travel team heads to Chilliwack this weekend to compete in NWO’s Daze of Derby, a fun one-day tournament that gives teams plenty of play with seven guaranteed mini bouts. The Dams have a busy and exciting upcoming schedule, which includes a trip to Leavenworth, Wash. on Jan. 13 and 14 next year to take part in Apple City Roller Derby’s 4th annual Bavarian Bruisefest. The team is also gearing up to host Avalanche City Roller Derby (Fernie) and Hellgate Roller Derby from Missoula, Mont. in early April.

For more information on the boot camp, check out CRDA All Stars Bootcamp in Castlegar on Facebook. To stay connected to the Dams, ‘like’ the Dam City Rollers on Facebook and stay tuned for details on local games, volunteer opportunities, and info on the fun and mischief this rock-solid group of women gets up to all season.

9081064_web1_171023-CAN-M-Cheyanna-Shypitka-good-game-high-five
There’s nothing quite like post-game high fives. Jammer star Cheyanna Shypitka of the Dam City Rollers can attest to that. (Lee Orr/Special to Rossland News)