2024 Flat Track Fever roller derby tournament in Calgary this weekend
The 11th annual Flat Track Fever roller derby tournament is in Calgary this weekend, with 15 teams from across Canada competing.
The sport is described as being similar to hockey, except without the sticks and pucks.
Ice at the Acadia Recreation Complex has been removed to make way for the tournament, which sees players on two teams roller skate in an oval to compete.
"Flat track is a flat ground adaptation of the classic bank track roller derby that a lot of people are familiar with," said Krystina Edwards, one of the tournament organizers.
"Unlike what we've seen from like the 80s, 90s with that roller jam, there's not a lot of hitting with hands or throwing, but it is your full body contacting other skaters."
Edwards says it's a women dominated sport, but this tournament hosts junior women's, women's, co-ed and men's divisions.
"Flat Track Fever has predominantly been for western Canadian teams," she said. "But we take teams from all over North America who are interested in attending."
Jim Bourne, one of the tournament chairs, says the sport took a hit during the pandemic with many teams folding, but it has been gaining steadily in popularity since.
"We have team from northern B.C., they come from Prince George, but they have skaters from Vancouver," he said.
"We have two teams from Saskatchewan, we actually have two teams from Ontario this year as well, Team Ontario and the Toronto Men's Roller Derby."
Bourne is also a skater and says he enjoys seeing people in the stands cheering athletes on.
He says the sport sees players from a diverse background.
"We have people that have never played sports at all," he said. "We have people that have never played organized sports, we have people that have played rugby, football, hockey… it's really a mix."
In addition to the tournament, the Canadian National Team hosted a tryout for the women's division, where 17-year-old April Willie attended.
"There were 120 people that tried out for the women's team alone, and 20 make that team, as well as some extra people here and there," she said.
"Men's team will probably be about 20, although less people will try out, probably still 100 though, and the junior team will be about 100, and only 20 skaters (will make it) probably."
Ingrid Willie, April's mom, says April was introduced to the sport when she was in Grade 3 and loved it.
Now the entire family all play on various teams.
"It's something that we've all got in common, that we all enjoy.
"Those weekend events where you're following the kids around, we're all involved," she said.
"It's been a really great community, the people that we find who were supporting, who were playing, who are fans, it's been a really great find and it's been fun."
She says she enjoys watching how the sport is making a post-COVID comeback in many centres across the country.
"The community in Alberta is really hopping and it's been really neat to watch how it's beginning to grow through the rest of the country as well," she said.
"Some of those leagues that have been really small are stretching, we're getting more people involved, getting more kids involved, the adults are coming in too."
Naomi Morrell is a 17-year-old player from Victoria playing in the tournament for 'The Betties' from Swift Current, Sask., because they were short players.
She was on the Canadian Junior Women's Team in 2023 playing at the Worlds in Valence, France, and brought home a bronze medal.
"We did really well and we were so close to silver, we were 14 points from silver, and in derby that's nothing," she said. "We held our own, especially in the female team, we're really up there with the rest of the world."
Morrell says she learned about the sport when she was 11 years old from a comic book, and it's now taken her all over the world.
The tournament is open to the public.
More details can be found at FlatTrackFever.com.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Robert Pickton to remain in medically induced coma until later this week: police
Serial killer Robert Pickton will remain in a medically induced coma for at least the next few days following an attack in a Quebec prison Sunday, according to police spokesperson Hugues Beaulieu.
Charlie Colin, founding member of the pop-rock band Train, dies at 58
Charlie Colin, bassist and founding member of the American pop-rock band Train, best known for their early-aughts hits like 'Drops of Jupiter' and 'Meet Virginia,' has died. He was 58.
'Five feet nothing': Pickton's safety likely behind Quebec transfer, says ex-prison judge
When serial killer Robert Pickton was transferred from British Columbia's Kent Institution to a maximum security prison in Quebec about six years ago, correctional authorities gave no public explanation or confirmation at the time, citing privacy.
'I feel betrayed': Ottawa-area customers out thousands of dollars warn of bad faith contractor
A group of people from eastern Ontario and western Quebec is issuing a warning about Dennis Walker and his company Vue Windows.
Fancy pigeon outfitted in custom diaper has free rein in B.C. family home
When Chrissy Chin volunteered to take in a fancy pigeon abandoned on a park bench, she never imagined she would one day be ordering custom-made diapers for the bird – who lives in her house and has become a member of the family.
'We'll need all hands on deck': Details emerge after deadly boat crash near Kingston
Police say they have wrapped up their on-scene investigation into a deadly boat crash in eastern Ontario as details of the incident begin to emerge.
WestJet planning new fare category for travellers willing to forgo carry-on bag
WestJet Airlines plans to launch a new cheaper fare category that would be available to travellers willing to fly without a carry-on bag.
5 dead and at least 35 hurt in Iowa tornado: officials
Five people died and at least 35 were hurt as powerful tornadoes ripped through Iowa Tuesday, with one carving a path of destruction through the town of Greenfield, officials said.
Woman found dead in Lake Ontario in 2017 matches identity of missing person in Switzerland
Genetic genealogy has helped Toronto police identify a woman who was found dead in Lake Ontario in 2017.