New Home. Same Attitude.

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Created on Tuesday, 23 April 2013 15:06

Written by Joseph Peters

LYNDON - On Easter Sunday, Community National Bank foreclosed on the IROC facility in Derby, leaving Orleans County without a major recreational facility. Northeast Kingdom Roller Derby - an IROC tenant - found themselves homeless as a result of the foreclosure, putting the future of the organization in jeopardy.

"We had a lot of uncertainty," said Lady Business, the team's coach. "We'd been practicing in IROC up in Derby up until just the last month, when they were foreclosed on and are now closed."

Enter Fenton Chester Arena. The ice rink, which rarely holds events during the summer months, welcomed the team with open arms.

"This helps a lot with moving towards having a venue in the summertime," said Bonnie Kirchoff, Fenton Chester's manager. "It shows that there is an interest in using the facility in other uses and ways."

With a new home in place, the team can shift its attention to the upcoming bouting season. Their first bout is tomorrow night against the Twin City Riot. Many outsiders view derby as entertainment, but the ladies of NEK Roller Derby stressed how physically demanding the derby life can be.

"I work out an hour a day," Lady Business said. "Even on days that I don't have practice.. I think people are surprised by that. They just think they're gonna get to wear fishnets and hit people." She paused, laughing. "Which is fun, and definitely a part of it."

The sport's popularity has ballooned in recent years. Part of that rise can be traced to the movie "Whip It," which helped push roller derby into the national spotlight. But the true growth of the sport has come at a grassroots level.

"There's a huge group of people that are interested in roller derby that do derby that want it to be on TV like football," said Poison Apple, the team's coach. "They want it to be more widely respected., they're trying to steer away from the entertainment value of it, and go towards a more serious sport."

Poison Apple, a seven-year roller derby veteran, first got into the sport while living in Florida.

"I just like hitting people," she said.

She also talked about a second, more important cause for the derby revival.

"I think that it's a great camaraderie between women," she said. "To come as adult female and to be with a group of women.that you just have to work together with."

That camaraderie was evident throughout Fenton Chester. A locker room was turned into a day-care center as the team practiced, and several team members came in toting toddlers and car seats. The women on the track were constantly communicating: Poison Apple calling out orders, teammates discussing strategy, and experienced skaters teaching the newcomers the tricks of the trade.

All of those tricks will be on display tomorrow night, as the NEK Roller Derby begins its first season in a new home. Doors open at Fenton Chester Arena at 6 p.m.