Lethbridge’s first ever women’s roller derby team is holding a benefit to help get the team rolling. 

 

The benefit, held at Henotic restaurant and lounge is scheduled for April 17.

Kymberly Allemeersch, president of the Deathbridge Derby Dames says tickets are $10 at the door.

“There will be five bands playing,” she says, adding there will also be a silent auction.

She adds the team will start having practices on April 11.

Trying to explain the roller derby concept, Allemeersch thinks of the movie “Whip It.”

“The only difference with Whip It and ours is we’re on a flat track derby, it’s not the raised floor. The flat track really is more common in Canada.”

However, the team hasn’t been without problems.

“The biggest problem has been getting a practice base,” Allemeersch says. “The Boys and Girls Club has opened their doors to us, so that’s where we’re practising now.”

She says Lethbridge is one of the last cities around to get a derby team.

“Calgary has one; Medicine Hat has one. I think we’re the last.”

The first official derby won’t be for quite awhile though.

“Derby is an extremely physical sport – a full contact sport, so we will probably be practising for about a year before we have our first bout,” she says.

“We’ll just use the first year to get all the kinks out.”

To help get those kinks out there is Justy Bee, the team’s veteran roller.

“I played for the Gas City Rollers for a little while,” Bee says, which is in Medicine Hat.

So why does Bee enjoy the sport?

“I like being a part of a team and I like how it’s just an escape from the everyday nonsense that people have to deal with,” she says. “Instead of focusing on your problems you can just come here and focus on learning a sport.”

Bee also agrees that it is logical to have a team in Lethbridge.

“There is a lot of competition out there for us.”

Amaia Halberg is new to the sport but decided to join the team because of its similarity to another sport.

“It was the closest thing I could find to boardercross,” Halberg says. “I used to race but I don’t anymore.”

Kymberly Allemeersch says the team will be having tryouts in the future and urges any women interested in coming out and trying the unique sport can email them at dethbridgederbydames@yahoo.ca or visit their Facebook page.

“It’s been a lot of fun so far.”