Skating for sport
Nani Bosnar, left, and teammates Wendy Fratella-Harris and Kristina Allman, race around the rink at Hollywood Roll during practice on Feb. 1.
Rebecca Pettingill/Columbia Basin Herald
Wendy Fratella-Harris gets in front of Nani Bosnar, to her left, and Kristina Allman in the far right, during warm ups on Feb. 1.
Nani Bosnar, left, talks with Kristina Allman at practice on Feb. 1 about what skill to work on next.
Standing in the top row, from left, are Kerri Hanson “Madame May-Ham,” Corinna Rauch, Nani Bosnar, Larissa Bailey “Dream ReapHer.” Kneeling, from left, are Kayelyn Vollema “Lady Liberty,” Krista Keski-Hynnila, Kristina Allman “Tink,” Wendy Fratella-Harris. Ricardo Cedillos “Jack the Whipper” sits in the front row.
The Columbia Basin Roller Derby team is getting back into action with the start of a new season, and encouraging people to try the sport.
The women’s team currently has eight members, but it likes to have a full roster of 14.
For bouts or scrimmages, the team has five skaters in the rink at a time, four blockers and one jammer. Having a full roster of 14 allows the team to swap players throughout the event so no one gets too tired and there are extra skaters in case anyone gets injured.
The team is encouraging anyone interested in roller derby, men or women, to come to practice and see what it’s all about. There are several ways to be involved with the team. Skaters can be on the team in the rink, be a referee or a non-skating official (NSO).
Kristina Allman, whose derby name is Tink, said no prior skills or knowledge of roller derby is needed. The team will teach people everything they need to know, she said, including from the basics of skating to the rules of the sport.
“We even teach you to fall properly,” Allman said.
Allman explained there is a certain way to fall to reduce the chance of hurting oneself or others. While many people have joined roller derby for various reasons, Allman said she did so on a dare because her ex-husband said she didn’t have the guts to do it. That was almost 10 years ago and Allman is still involved in roller derby.
Nani Bosnar said she was a part of a moms group that would do various activities together weekly. She explained one of the members of the group suggested they go to a “fresh meat” camp.
“I don’t know what that is, but I thought there was food. There was no food. We were roller skating,” Bosnar laughed.
She ended up going back because she said she felt from the beginning like she belonged.
When asked what advice she would give to people who are interested in roller derby, Allman said, “Just get on a pair of skates.”
“That’s everyone’s biggest hesitation is like, ‘Well, I don't know if I can skate.’ Well, you're never going to know until you slap those bad boys on and get out here,” she added.
She said none of the members knew how to skate when they first joined roller derby.
Bosnar said people should just show up and tell themselves they’re going to give it a try.
Practice is at Hollywood Roll, 19297 Adams St. NW, in Soap Lake from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m on Tuesdays and Thursdays and from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. every other Sunday. The next Sunday practice is Feb. 20.
Just like a lot of hobbies, there is a larger start-up cost to getting into roller derby, but after that it is just upkeep costs, Wendy Fratella-Harris said.
Skaters must get a helmet, skates, knee pads, elbow pads, wrist guards and a mouth guard.
There is a $35 a month fee to be on the team, which helps cover costs for the rink, travel, team insurance, etc. Skaters also must buy a special kind of insurance, separate from health insurance, for any personal injuries.
For more information, visit the Columbia Basin Roller Derby’s Facebook page.
Rebecca Pettingill can be reached via email at rpettingill@columbiabasinherald.com.
