LYNDEN — In summer 2020, it seemed that everyone was buying a pair of roller skates and taking to the parks and the streets. The surge was largely due to TikTok influencers sharing carefree videos of themselves effortlessly rolling down palm tree-lined streets with calming music floating in the background. During the pandemic, roller skating also encouraged everyone to socialize outside.
However, that summer and the pandemic didn’t breed a surge for everyone in the roller-skating community. Namely, roller derby — an indoor full-contact sport on roller skates — and its robust community went mostly dormant.
“I wasn’t able to see my friends, and they’re really my family and my support system,” said Nona “Princess Rainbow Sparkle” Larson, a skater with the Bellingham Roller Betties.
Now with a drop in COVID-19 cases and widespread vaccines, roller derbies are, tentatively, returning to regular practices and putting some scrimmages on the books. Here in Whatcom County, the Bellingham Roller Betties have laced up their skates, secured their kneepads and returned to the Lynden Skateway.
“It feels really good,” Jeana “Wendy Belltolls” Couchman said. “I forgot how much work and commitment it is.”
Anywhere from 20 to 40 Betties hit the roller rink for the twice-weekly practices. The sport attracts people of all ages and backgrounds; college students, mothers and just about anyone who can stand on a pair of roller skates hit the rink together. (Hailey Hoffman/Cascadia Daily News)
Brielle “Ziggy Starcrush” Kadrmas and the Betties stretch at the start of practice, preparing their bodies for sprints on skates and a full-contact practice. With the pandemic, some people didn’t return, but the local league has welcomed around 30 new skaters, or “fresh meat,” to revitalize the team. New skaters attended a six-week “Booty Camp” to learn the basics of form and execution for skating and, more importantly, falling. “People who are just joining roller derby has made us all really excited because we’re seeing derby with fresh eyes,” Emma “Lemons” Radosevch said. (Hailey Hoffman/Cascadia Daily News)
Team members hold planks at one conditioning station on a circuit. The first half of practice is reserved for warming-up, stretching and conditioning to prepare for intense “bouts.” A bout is the name for a roller derby match where two teams compete with five women each. The Betties expect to return to competitions against other leagues in 2023 and will host scrimmages before then amongst their own teams — the Cog Blockers, FLASH and Tough Love. (Hailey Hoffman/Cascadia Daily News)
Coach Elena “Crumpet Crusher” Van Kregten, left, helps a group practice blocking. In a competition, four blockers and one jammer from each team hit the rink. The blockers try to keep the other team’s jammer from passing them while simultaneously making space for their own jammer to skate by. Jammers earn points for the team for each lap they complete. (Hailey Hoffman/Cascadia Daily News)
Jahnnie “RumbleBee” Martinez picks up speed to navigate through a crowd of other Betties. The athletes used quick toe stops and not-so-graceful jumps to skate and spin around their teammates. The sport requires a mixture of speed, nimbleness, strength and resilience. Martinez said they joined in fall 2019 and are excited to compete in their first bout after the 2020 and 2021 seasons were nixed due to the pandemic. (Hailey Hoffman/Cascadia Daily News)
Brielle “Ziggy Starcrush” Kadrmas, left, and Nona “Princess Rainbow Sparkle” Larson speed skate around the rink before grabbing water. Larson, who had just graduated from college and had participated in derby for a decade, said losing that community along with many other life adjustments was a major jolt to her life. (Hailey Hoffman/Cascadia Daily News)
Kara “QueerElla DeVille” Harrington, left, and Christa “Taste the Painbow” Young brace as a jammer tries to push their way past their group during a drill. Young, a mother to three, said derby has been one of her main social outlets since 2016 and losing it was really difficult in the pandemic. (Hailey Hoffman/Cascadia Daily News)
The Roller Betties finish out practice with a team cheer. In their time on pause during the pandemic, the Betties have looked for ways to make the sport more inclusive and accessible. In a sport with high start-up costs — only exacerbated by the increase in demand for skates and parts — the derby league has created a sliding scale for monthly dues. If a skater can’t contribute as much to the league, someone who can will. (Hailey Hoffman/Cascadia Daily News)
Roller Betties remove their gear after practice while joking and laughing together. The team said they’re overwhelmingly happy to be back practicing together and cultivating the community once again. (Hailey Hoffman/Cascadia Daily News)
