Roller derby league comes to Palouse

by Emily Kitts for the Daily Evergreen

This article is missing a lot, including the name of the roller derby team!

The women of the Palouse’s first ever roller derby league are recruiting female members to give a healthy outlet for physical activity.

The league practices at 10 a.m. Saturdays at the University of Idaho Student Recreation Center.

However, because the league is not affiliated with the university, the league can only practice during open skate.

“Unfortunately, they won’t set aside any space for us, but hopefully soon we can find a place to call our own,” said Annalyse Barnes, a member of the roller derby league.

The league originally formed last summer but was more of a recreational group.

Barnes said it started as a way to make money for the Moscow ice arena because two women had husbands who were affiliated with it. “They were purely recreational, and they didn’t want to compete,” Barnes said. “Some of us got a little frustrated because we wanted more.” Barnes and a few other women broke off from the original league and began recruiting for their own competitive roller derby organization.

The league has about 12 to 15 members that skate together on a regular basis. The league is still in the beginning stages, so members elected a board of five women to help things.

Even though the elected board makes the majority of the decisions, Barnes said the organization is still a democracy.

Anyone who is 18 or older is welcome to join the league.

Daquarii Rock, a member of the league, said the ages of women on the team range from 18 to 50.

“It’s a very diverse group of women,” Barnes said. “It’s a great way to hang out with people that aren’t in your age range.” The women encourage people to come see if they are interested, even if they don’t have much experience.

Barnes said everyone is just beginning, so it’s a good time to join.

“There are no skills needed,” Rock said. “Just be brave, excited and ready to have fun.” The league has big goals for its future. There are regional leagues all over the country, including Spokane and Walla Walla. The Palouse has never had a competitive league. “We really want to represent the Palouse in competitive roller derby,” Rock said. Rachel Reynolds, another member of the league, said she wants to grow as a skater, and she wants to see her league be able to compete with the regional teams of Spokane and Walla Walla.

Another goal the women have is to become a community-driven league. Reynolds said they are trying to get involved by doing more community service. “We want a portion of our ticket sales to go to a selected charity,” Barnes said. Besides work in the community, the women want people to come out and experience the strenuous exercise involved with competitive roller derby.

“We are providing women with a healthy outlet for energy and physical activity,” Rock said.