Some have likened the sport to a cult-like following, others refer to it as a combination of athleticism and entertainment (much like wrestling), but the bottom line is roller derby is mayhem on wheels and the 2017 Eves of Destruction (EOD) season is ready to roll.
The five-team association, which is now an apprentice league for the Women鈥檚 Flat Track Derby Association, launches its new campaign tonight at Archie Browning Sports Centre.
鈥淚 would say yes and no,鈥� EOD vice-president Esther Beauregard, who competes under the derby name of C-3Ph0, said of the cult comparison. 鈥淚 think we get a lot of new fans who still associate it to the 鈥�70s underground punk theme, which is great because we still pay homage with our names and stuff like that.
鈥淏ut the Eves have also been working really hard over the last few years to attract sports fans in general, and I think that鈥檚 paying off as well because more and more people are coming out because people are realizing it鈥檚 a legitimate athletic pursuit, which is also fun to watch.鈥�
The EOD, which was formed in 2006, features five teams: The A Team (an all-star crew); Margarita Villains and Belles of the Brawl (two house teams); The Hard Cores (developmental rookie team); and the Rotten Apples (gender inclusive junior team between ages 10-18 years, which does not compete against the adults).
The season opens with a doubleheader with the Belles of the Brawl vs. the Brickhouse Betties from Comox Valley and Margarita Villains vs. the Heartless Heathers of Oregon. The 2017 schedule includes one evening of competition per month through September, but local teams also venture outside Victoria, up Island, to Vancouver, the Sunshine Coast, Oregon and Washington State.
Tickets here are $10 in advance or $15 at door, with a capacity of 800 in the Esquimalt Curling Club facility and a beer garden on site. Season passes are $45 and kids under 10 are free. They can be purchased online through evesofdestruction.com or at Logan鈥檚 Pub, Hive Hair or the Esquimalt Recreation Centre.
Each team can carry 20 skaters, with 14 allowed on a game roster.
鈥淥ur fans are really great and we have a beer garden, so it鈥檚 a fun time,鈥� said Beauregard. 鈥淚t鈥檚 fun to play and watch, in my opinion.鈥�
The derby names are worth the price of admission in themselves.
Try Lady MacDeath for example, or teammate Peanut Butter n鈥� Slam. SaberTush, Hot Piece-A-Sass and Haul Ass Hanna like to push the envelope with their monikers. Then there鈥檚 Hudson Smack, a play off former TV anchor Hudson Mack.
鈥淚t鈥檚 all different,鈥� said Beauregard. 鈥淪ometimes it鈥檚 from a fictional character or a historical figure that plays a big role in your life. You adapt a name from that. Sometimes it鈥檚 a play on your legal name and sometimes it鈥檚 a name that your league-mates start calling you.
鈥淪ometimes they are chosen for you,鈥� laughed Beauregard, who skates for both the A-Team and Margarita Villians. 鈥淗udson Mack was out to blow the first whistle at our 2016 finale. It was a good photo op with Hudson Smack 鈥� it was pretty fun.鈥�
Doors to the facility open at 5 p.m. with the first whistle at 5:40 p.m. and the second game of the doubleheader is set for 7:30 p.m.
The facility does get loud so complimentary earplugs are available at the merchandise table, if required.
Roller derby is also a full contact sport. Knee pads, elbow pads, wrist-guards, helmets and mouth-guards are all mandatory. Old style quad skates 鈥� with two wheels in front and two in back 鈥� are used.
鈥淲e take concussions seriously and we have concussion protocol in place,鈥� said Beauregard, who started competing in January of 2012 and is entering her sixth season.
