‘It’s f-cking badass’: Gallatin Roller Derby League skates into action

Twice a week, members of the Gallatin Roller Derby League lace up their skates and prepare for inevitable collisions on the track. With each match — called a jam — lasting just two minutes, the fast-paced environment is filled with strength and teamwork.

The Gallatin Roller Derby League started in January 2014 and has around 45 skaters. According to Kelsey Clark, who goes by the derby nickname Mauled Whiskey, the league is made up of skaters of all ages united by the desire to defeat the other team. 

Clark is on the board of directors for the league and helps organize its practices. She said roller derby is fast-paced and thrilling to watch.

"It's been described as playing chess while someone throws bricks at your head,” she said.  

Jessica McReynolds, who teammates call Rice Rice Baby, has played with the club for four and a half years. She said she likes roller derby because it is a good space for her to release pent-up aggression.

“It's one of the most welcoming places I think I've ever been,” McReynolds said. “As women, we're taught that we don't have aggression, but we do, and this is a really good outlet to get it out in a safe environment.”

Clark said that the team will attend a state-wide tournament in April, so recent practices have focused on game strategies and scrimmages.

“You spend a lot of time with one another,” she said. “I think when you see people challenging themselves and trying and failing, and trying and succeeding, and being frustrated and having to work to overcome that, I think that really bonds you together.” 

Jennifer Guenther, known as Jenga, started roller derby at 40 years old having only been to the roller rink once or twice. Four years later, she's competing with the Gallatin Roller Derby League and volunteering to teach the beginner group.

Guenther said the community helped her navigate multiple difficult events in her life. 

“This is my fourth season, and during that time period, I lost my brother to suicide, and I was married and then I got divorced,” she said. “And these ladies have really helped me remember that you can come here, you can have a lot of fun, you can get some aggression out and you can do something a little different to really pull your happiness together.” 

Guenther said anyone is welcome to join the beginner program, which runs once a year in January. It costs $85 for eight weeks and includes any equipment needed. Once they complete the eight weeks, they can move on to more advanced levels and eventually compete if they choose.

Ellie Zaher, a beginner who received the nickname Hot Saw, said she found the group on Facebook and hopes to eventually enter in competitions. 

“When I got here, I felt very welcomed,” she said. “And everybody's so kind — we're all learning.  We’re all falling and making mistakes. No one's berating you. Everybody's like, ‘Yeah, you're gonna fall, it's okay.’” 

Zaher said members of the club come from many different walks of life, and all support each other and have fun. 

“Everybody has different body sizes — it's awesome. I think it's cool to see not just one kind of person here,” she said.

Mechanical engineering student Katerina Shabalin is known in the rink as Party Thrasher.  Shabalin played in a junior league during high school and joined Gallatin Roller Derby after moving to Montana to continue playing her favourite sport.

“It's f-cking badass, the dopest people I know have been on these teams,” she said. “It's a full contact game where your skills can be in strength, in speed [or] in a combination of those things. You put your body on the line with your best friends, and that's really cool.”

Clark said roller derby could be an excellent opportunity for students looking to try a new sport.

“I think challenging yourself in any domain is really good for you emotionally and prepares you for other challenges in your life,” she said. “So it's a good way to mentally train yourself to do hard things.”

For more information on Gallatin Roller Derby, visit its website https://www.grderby.com/ or Instagram @gallatinrollerderby.