Maine Roller Derby at the 2018 Roller Derby World Cup
Maine Roller Derby was recently well-represented in the Roller Derby World Cup in Manchester, U.K. which took place from February 1 to 4, 2018. After months of training skaters, officials, and others from Maine recently participated in the growing international event, representing Team Korea, Team Greece, Team Indigenous, and serving on the officiating crew.
Melanie Kim has been a member of Maine Roller Derby since 2014 and competed with Team Korea Roller Derby this year.
“Being able to play for Team Korea was a dream come true,” Mel said, “To me, the tournament was not just about winning or showing off skills, but about representing my family’s heritage.”
Beth Salts Maine Roller Derby since 2013 and first skated with Team Greece Roller Derby in 2014 with only about a year of skating experience. Salty said that since that time, she has been pushing herself to grow as a skater.
“Being involved in my second Roller Derby World Cup has been an amazing experience,” Salty said, “Being on a team with other strong Greek women makes me appreciate my culture in a new way, and I was honored to fight with them on track.”
BarbaRusky has been an MRD coach and is a member of Casco Bay Roller Derby and also represented Team Greece as a coach. Rusky described the experience as one of the most rewarding coaching experiences of his life, “It is a wonderful feeling to take skaters from teams across the world of all different styles, put them together in a team, build some crazy strategies, see the bonds form, throw them against the best skaters from other countries, and watch them shine.”
Jumpy McGee is a founding member of Team Indigenous Roller Derby, a team comprised of indigenous skaters from North and South America and Oceania. With friend and fellow indigenous skater Mick Swagger, Jumpy, who is of Diné heritage, sought to use the international platform to bring indigenous athletes from around the world together and to raise awareness about such indigenous issues as environmental rights, changing indigenous mascots, and violence against indigenous women. Although Fournier made the team, an unexpected medical issue meant she would not be able to play and had to permanently retire from competitive roller derby. Fournier described the news as devastating, but turned to supporting the team off the track.
“I like to think that we helped create a platform for other social justice issues to be raised within our sport.” Jumpy said, “We believed that we have a responsibility to use our time and our sport for our communities. This was the perfect opportunity for us to lead that call to action and create a path for others to follow.”
Ruth of All Evil has been involved in roller derby since 2008 as a coach and official. Evil said officiating the first two Roller Derby World Cups in 2011 and 2014 were the highlights of her career. This year, she abandoned neutrality to attend the event as a fan, however, and said “I was excited for the opportunity to attend this year’s event as a spectator and to support my friends as they competed, coached, and officiated.”
Chemical Restraint has been a member of Maine Roller Derby since 2014 and served as an official in Manchester.
For a chance to watch these world-class skaters, be sure to come to the next Maine Roller Derby bout! Check the events page or find us on Facebook!
Photo: Judy Beetle Photography
