ROLLING THUNDER: IT’S DERBY SEASON!

The newly rebranded Yukon Roller Derby Association (YRDA) is back with a host of events taking place at the Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre (Whitehorse Curling Club) from June 23–25

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Before Covid hit, the Yukon Roller Derby Association (YRDA) had built up its team and was preparing to participate in several tournaments. When the pandemic took hold, the league, then called the Yukon Roller Girls, was not able to meet or practice and was temporarily placed on hold.

“Once the measures lifted, we found ourselves back at square one of needing to rebuild the league as we had lost a few members due to life events, such as moving out of territory or having children, and we found that we had an interest from many folks of diverse gender identities,” said YRDA president Christy “CrackHer” Huey. “We felt that we wanted to be inclusive to anyone interested in roller derby and decided best to move forward with that in mind, which also meant we needed to rebrand ourselves under a more inclusive name and logo to support that.”

The league’s new logo was created by tattoo artist Dan Bush- nell from Molotov & Bricks, and Huey said the new design “reflects the Yukon and where our league is at now, much better.” The YRDA has three different events going on at Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre (Whitehorse Curling Club) over the course of the weekend of June 23–25.

On June 23, the weekend kicks off with the Roller Disco from 7–10 p.m. It is a public and allages event. Admission is $10 at the door, with children aged five and under getting in for free.

“We will have a DJ spinning sweet disco tunes, and both roller and inline skates are welcome,” said Huey. “We have a limited inventory of roller skates we will be renting at a small cost, with a first-come, first-served basis.”

June 24 is the YRDA’s Double Header Roller Derby Bout. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and members of the public are welcome to spectate. Two games will be hosted: Flower Power Roller Derby (Alberta) vs. Midnight Stunners (a mashup of B.C., Yukon & Alaskan skaters), and Yukon Roller Derby

Association vs. Ptarmageddon (Alaska). Tickets are $25 online at Eventbrite, with a limited number being sold at the door.

Additionally, on June 24 and 25, the YRDA will present the Roller Derby Bootcamp, with professional player Miracle Whips. “We are hosting four sessions (two on each day) on specific derby skills [that will be] coached by Miracle Whips for any and all levels of derby players meeting minimum skill requirements,” said Huey. “There are passes for players or for observers, for a smaller rate. The sessions include core concepts for control and power, jamming techniques and tactics, current strategies of defence (individuals and formations); and offence techniques, tactics and team strategies. We are excited; we have a ton of derby skaters travelling to attend from all over western Canada and Alaska!”

To learn more and to keep up with the YRDA, visit the league’s Facebook page at www.facebook. com/YukonRollerDerby/. n