THE Westside Derby Dollz will make roller derby history this weekend when they hit the track for their first home bout.
The Derby Dollz’ travel team, Westside Glory, will take on Diamond Valley’s Rough Cut Rollers in a match bound to be full of thrills, spills and sparkles.
Keen to get rolling in the first roller derby bout held in Melbourne’s western suburbs is Barb Whitehurst, known on the track as Bambam Ali.
The personal trainer joined the Dollz at the beginning of the year after wanting to get into a team sport.
“I’ve always wanted to be part of a team and roller derby was definitely something I considered, but I was only aware of leagues that were too far away to travel to for training.”
Roller derby is a full-contact sport played between two teams of five players, with a designated point-scorer trying to score by lapping the other team.
“I was a huge roller skater when I was younger,” Whitehurst (pictured, centre) said. “Roller derby not only allows me to get my skates on again but I get to play a team sport with a fantastic bunch of people, learn awesome skills, make friends and, most of all, have fun.”
Made up of women from across the western suburbs, the Derby Dollz will this year compete in an inaugural Victoria-Tasmanian tournament, involving the top 16 teams from both states. They will also battle for the Ballarat Roller Derby League title.
Whitehurst chose roller derby because it was physically challenging, fast-paced and exciting. Although the sport can be rough, she doesn’t believe it’s dangerous.
“There are so many other contact sports that have similar levels of intensity and endurance but are much more rough,” she said.
“There are very strict rules in roller derby that are enforced for blocking areas and target zones on the track.”
The Derby Dollz’ Westside Glory take on the Rough Cut Rollers at RecWest, Lily Street, Braybrook, from 6.30pm, Saturday. Doors open 6pm. Tickets: $12.50 pre-sale (kids under 12 free) or $15 at the door until sold out. More details: westsidederbydollz.org.au.
