What do curling and roller derby have in common?
Well, not much, but in North Bay, the local roller derby team is calling the Granite Club home for the summer.
Crystal Larose established a North Bay area team last summer, with the team originally starting out playing out of West Nipissing until they secured a deal to skate out of the Granite Club shortly after the World Women’s Curling Championships took place early in the spring.
Larose has been involved in the sport since 2009 but decided to start up a North Bay area team last summer.
“I moved to the area 2 years ago. I only knew a few people and after my second child decided I was ready to get back into shape and meet new friends,” said Larose, who played in Sudbury.
“I had a friend who kept pushing me to bring derby here so I put a post out. I had 20 girls come out to a little park. That was in late August, then we found a small hall on Jocko Point and started learning our skills with about 10 girls.
See related: Step aside Skinny Minnie. Hello Pinky N Da Pain, as Roller Derby comes to North Bay
Larose says the sport has been gaining momentum with about 30 girls taking part on a team that is called the Nipissing Bombshell Bobbers.
Roller Derby is making a comeback the past few years with some enthusiasts hoping it will become an Olympic event in 2020.
To explain how it works, Roller Derby is played in two periods of 30 minutes.
The two teams of up to 15 players each field up to five members for episodes called "jams." Jams last two minutes unless called off prematurely.
Each team designates a scoring player - the jammer, while the other four members are blockers.
“This sport is for everyone all body types and all personalities, I teach you everything you need to know,” explained Larose.
“You just got to want to have fun and learn.”
The local team has already played in a couple events, including their first victory in Barrie in May, and they recently played at an event in Timmins.
While they are enjoying playing at the Granite Club, Larose says time is running out at the facility that will be covered again in pebbled ice in the fall.
“We are always looking for a flat surface space,” noted Larose.
“This is one of the biggest challenges in Derby. We can skate on any surface and our skates do not damage the floor. At the moment we are in the curling club but come September we will be homeless because of the ice.
So Larose says right now they are seeking a new venue.
“We need 6000 square feet for a full track but would take anything we can to practice.”
Larose says anyone interested in the team or has any leads on a new venue is asked to contact her via email at [email protected].
