Pictou County’s roller derby team the Kickin Vixens has started up for another season.
When thinking of roller derby what comes to mind first for many is the 2009 film Whip It, starring Halifax native Elliot Page.
The Kickin Vixens have been around for the better part of the last decade; however, not everyone knows Pictou County sports a roller derby team.
“The closest team to here is Halifax,” says Casey Marjerrison or, as she prefers to be called for derby purposes, 'Basket Case' or just 'Basket' for short.
She suggests picking a derby name is almost as much fun as the sport itself. Some people pick strategic names, like Whiskey Sour, so at the end of the game, fans are more inclined to buy you that drink.
“There's kind of a process; first you learn to skate then you learn the game. We don’t just throw you to the wolves your first time,” Basket explains. “For a lot of people, it's their first sport ever.”
They meet every Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Trenton Rink.
“Roller derby is for anybody, any fitness level, any age, any body type. It's a great sport where you get to make friends by skating into them,” Basket said. “There are people I’ve known for years now, who I’m very close with, and I don’t know their legal names, just their derby names.”
Atlantic Canada is looking for volunteers right now in the derby world. There is a significant need for referees, skating, and non-skating officials, so if you’re a person wanting to join the action, but the idea of being on skates isn’t for you, there are still plenty of roles.
July 8 is the Mam Jam, a fundraising game for Breast Cancer in Springhill NS, and July 22 is the Slay of Fundy Tournament in St. John.
You can contact the team through their Facebook page - Highland District Derby-Team Kickin' Vixens, or by email at [email protected].
