Sports: our Dam City on a roll
By Kyra Hoggan
Most people in this community know Kristina Kruchkowski from her Shaw Cables news reports ….but how many of you know her by her alter ego, Kitty Karnage?
City council now does, after Kruchkowski appeared as a delegation with her Ladies’ derby team, the Dam City Rollers, Monday evening. Sporting fun names like, Pro-Pain Paula, Cyn City Slam-ya, Just Slayin’ and Jinjoe Fight-us, the group came to introduce themselves to council and to request assistance in finding an adequate practice area for one of North America’s fastest-growing sports. She said Castlegar’s women’s derby team started out as little more than an idea, with only five or six members back in October … it has since swelled to a roster of 19. “We used to practice in an old barn in Brilliant, with a terrible floor and no heat – if you saw the barn, you’d understand the drive we have to play,” she said. “Now we practice twice a week at the Rossland Hall, but we’re looking for practice space here in town.” “Derby is super fast-paced and fun,” Kruchkowski said. “To give you a sense of how fast, to pass the skills test, you have to be able to skate 25 laps in five minutes – that’s one lap every 12 seconds. “There’s more to it than just strapping on a pair of skates, and the skill level is important because we don’t want anyone to get hurt.” Learning to “fall small” so you don’t get run over by other skaters, for example, and to get up without using your hands, as placing your hands on the track is a great way to get them run over. Kruchkowski declined to demonstrate a derby check on Mayor Lawrence Chernoff (as per councillor Deb McIntosh’s request), but explained that hitting someone from behind, or in the head, or with elbows isn’t allowed – despite its rough-and-tumble reputation, the sport has rules designed to keep players safe. “Derby’s been around since the ‘70s, but it kind of died out,” she said. “Now it’s more popular than ever, but it’s a lot different.” She said there’s a whole culture around the game, including the alter-ego names and “fresh meat” nights for beginners hoping to join the team, and the group becomes like a second family for participants. The Dam City Rollers are members of the West Kootenay Women’s Roller Derby Association, and can be found on Facebook. For more information, email damcityrollers@hotmail.ca
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