JUNE 2 – Calamity in the Corridor at Brennan Park Recreation Centre
Doors 6:30 p.m., bout begins 7:30 p.m

TICKETS

• $10 advance, $15 at door. Kids 6 and under free.
• For VIP tickets $30, including the Whistler Shuttle please call the info line at 604-902-9922
• Tickets are available in Squamish at Agnes Jean Boutique, Diamond Head Fish Market and in Whistler at Hempire and Evolution  Online Here.

Russ Desaulniers Photo

I have to confess. I loved 1970s roller derby. The big hair, the big hits. Skinny Minnie Miller and the L.A. T-Birds kickin’ butt on the Texas Outlaws. Those women were cool, tough and entertaining.

Well, guess what? Roller derby is back in a big way and is one of the fastest growing women’s sports with 1,000 leagues around the world and 30,000 women involved. B.C. has 12 leagues and we’re lucky enough to have two teams in the corridor: the Whistler/Pemberton-based Black Diamond Betties and the Squamish Sirens.

The Black Diamond Betties were launched in 2011 by Kathryn Elder when she placed an ad in the paper asking interested women to meet at Roland’s. Well, there was definitely interest and now over twenty women meet regularly to practice their skills and perfect their moves for the track. They are from all walks of life and many had little or no experience, but a year of training and huge support from the Squamish Sirens has brought the Betties to their debut event.

Russ Desaulniers Photo

So what is it about this sport that keeps the women coming back week after week? As Princess Slayah (a.k.a. Lori O’Hare) tells me, “It’s ridiculous how much fun it is!” This is a full contact sport that is more than many of the women thought they could do. But as their skills improve and confidence builds, it’s a chance to really get into the role and create a roller derby alter ego. That’s where the nicknames come in. It takes a lot of time and feedback from the rest of the team to find just the right name to express their persona on the track. Who would you be?

Princess Slayah, Vixen Stones, Gold D. Blocks, Va Va Voom La Doom and the rest of the team led by Coach Kill Bill Sirota will meet the Squamish Sirens in their first sanctioned bout, “Calamity in the Corridor,” on June 2 at the Brennan Park Recreation Centre in Squamish. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the bout begins at 7:30 p.m.

Russ Desaulniers Photo

The bout is an all ages, licensed event with a concession, beer garden, and music provided by DJ Shawn LaRock. After the bout, bring your ticket stub and join the players for an after party in the Firebread Lounge at the Howe Sound Inn and Brewing Company. DJ Riddim Fernandez and DJ SprouT are providing the entertainment. Get a VIP ticket and hop on the shuttle to get a safe ride from Whistler to Squamish and back. Get your ticket for this hot event – you gotta be there!

How much:  $10 bucks advance, $15 at door. Kids 6 and under free.

For VIP tickets $30, including the Whistler Shuttle Please call the info line at 604-902-9922

Tickets are available in Squamish at Agnes Jean Boutique, Diamond Head Fish Market and in Whistler at Hempire and Evolution. Online Here.

Next events for the Black Diamond Betties:

• July 8 in Abbotsford
• July 21 in Squamish. A co-ed event with the men’s Vancouver Murder team.

For more information about the team, go to www.whistlerrollergirls.com

Russ Desaulniers Photo