Springside played host to a Provincial roller derby bout this past Saturday as members of Team Saskatchewan's flat track roller derby team took on their eastern rivals from Manitoba in two, 30 minute halves.
And while the result proved positive for Saskatchewan, the host province racked up a convincing 209-131 victory over Manitoba, the real winner was the local roller derby team, the Springside Train Wrecks.
That's because the bout generated more interest from the public in the sport of roller derby, which may just result in more women signing up for the sport in the local area. "The turnout we've had this year was awesome, phenomenal," said Kim 'Kimakazzi' Hyshka, a local roller derby athlete who is hoping to start a team, based out of Springside, as early as this spring. "I noticed just from this game that we drew a lot of people that have never watched roller derby before.
"There was a lot of what we call virgin derby watchers here. It was awesome."
Hyshka also mentioned that having the best roller derby athletes from two provinces meet in Springside was great for drawing in new people who might otherwise not attend an event. "These girls are the top skill level players from their provinces," offered Hyshka. "These girls are picked from all of the players in their province. They have to try out for this team so to have them come here to Springside and compete for the people here, it was great and it definitely helps out the Train Wrecks in trying to draw in new people."
And when Hyshka says new people, she doesn't just mean players. "If anyone needs or wants to learn anything about roller derby, whether they just want to be an NSO (Non Skating Official), a referee or a player, they can contact me, Kimakazzi, at 306-621-7283," mentioned Hyshka, adding that a club can't function without referees and supporters.
But what of the women who want to take part in roller derby, but are worried that their skating abilities might not be up to snuff? According to Hyshka, that's not a problem. "Roller derby is really for anybody," said the president of the Train Wrecks. "I didn't know how to skate at all when I first started. All of these girls here didn't know how to skate when they started.
"Roller skates were how long ago? Most people can't skate in them anymore but I have some old time roller skates for people to come and try out so that they can get a feel for the sport if they want to."
The Springside Train Wrecks practice in the Springside Arena twice a week and will continue to do so until the ice is put in in Springside.
The Train Wrecks hope to start their 2015 season in May and end in October. Anyone interested in roller derby is asked to contact Kim 'Kimakazzi' Hyshka at 1-306-621-7283.
