If you’ve got serious Adelaide Roller Derby FOMO, fear not.
The next ADRD double header bout is this weekend (17 June) and features the following matches: Road Train Rollers vs Wild Hearses; and The Good Ship Salty vs Mile Die Club.
It’ll be the first time players lace up their skates since late April when The Good Ship Salty took on the Mile Die Club in the first closed bouts of the 2023 season.
It was a tight contest from the first whistle. The Dies took the early lead but the Salties held fast, closing the gap to make for an intense second half. In the end, Mile Die Club took the win 197 to 168.
Next up, Wild Hearses faced Road Train Rollers and it was a fierce match-up from start to finish.
Energy and tensions were high as the Roadies looked to chalk up their first win of the season, but ultimately purple and orange came out on top with the Hearsies victorious 218 to 188.
“Roller derby is not just a sport, it’s a community. It’s about inclusivity, strength, and empowerment, and this year is only just getting started,” shares the team at Adelaide Roller Derby.
“So don’t miss the next bout, and we promise to keep you updated on all the exciting things we’re doing until then.”
If you’re a roller derby newbie, but keen to check out the on-track action, here are five reasons to get off the couch and be trackside when Adelaide Roller Derby resumes this weekend
1: Watch roller derby
The first reason is obvious. . . to see some roller derby! Roller derby is a fast paced, full-contact sport played entirely on roller skates (even the referees).
Two teams field five players at a time. One of them – the jammer – wears a star on their head and can score points by getting past the other skaters: the blockers.
If you’re a sports nerd, there’s heaps of rules to deep dive into, but if you just want to watch people hit each other on skates, you’re in the right place.
2: See everything else
If the derby isn’t enticing enough, there’s everything else that makes a roller derby bout such a magical event. We’ve got a live band, local makers market, and the all-important food and drinks available at the bar. Pack in a whole evening of culture for less than the price of going to the movies.
3: Family friendly
We might be hitting each other, but that doesn’t mean we’re not family friendly! Bring the kids along to make it a family affair. You can sit together on the grandstands, bring your own chairs, or get comfy on the floor (rug and pillows recommended – the concrete floor gets cold!).
4: Support local
Roller derby is a DIY sport – by the skaters, for the skaters. ADRD in particular has always embraced a local ethos. All our fantastic sponsors are local, our bands are local, stallholders in our market are all local. Show up to support your local community.
5: Celebrate the end of an era
ADRD started up in 2007. That makes us 16 years old and still rolling. For those 16 years we have called the Adelaide Showground home.
Sadly, from 2024 we will be holding our bouts somewhere new and saying goodbye to Wayville. Don’t miss one of your last opportunities to see us play in the OG venue.
Adelaide Roller Derby’s next bout is at Adelaide Showground 17 June. The 2023 Grand Final takes place at the same venue 5 August.