By Dan Walton
Pioneer Staff
The Invermere Killer Rollbots wont be taking any prisoners this weekend, as the local roller derby team will be thrashing on home turf during the Silence of the Jams double-header on Saturday, May 10th.
In their only home bout of the season, the Rollbots will be facing the East Side Wheelers from Indus, Alberta an out-of-league team the Rollbots arent very familiar with.
Were looking forward to mashing up and playing a team we dont know anything about, said Rollbot team captain Jess de Groot.
That competition begins at 8 p.m. at the Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena but spectators will want to get there before 6 p.m., as the Silence of the Jams is a set of two bouts.
The Elkford Wildcat Brawlers take on the Bavarian Barbarians from Kimberley to warm up the Eddie during the first bout of the evening.
In an oval-shaped concrete track, each team plays five skaters four blockers and a jammer. Teams earn points when their jammers manage to bypass the opponents blockers, while trying to prevent the enemy jammer from advancing past their own blockers. Blockers arent allowed to trip or obstruct with their arms.
They have to use their hips and bodies to get in the way of other jammers, said Ms. de Groot.
She said the Rollbots are very proud of their home arena the floors are in good skating condition, and the floor offers ample space.
Outside of the track there is a five-to-ten-foot skating lane for the referees, and then right after that you can have chairs, Ms. de Groot said. Its pretty cool; sometimes people will end up with skaters in their laps, and that is why we dont let anybody under the age of 18 sit in the front row.
Arriving at the arena early matters spectators will want a close seat as the jams can be just as exciting to watch as they are to play.
And the front row seats will be coveted since Invermere has posted the strongest attendance records in the East Kootenay Roller Derby League.
The Eddie also holds the record for most beer sold at a single bout. That record could be broken this weekend as Arrowhead Brewing Co. will be featured in the events beer garden.
Its always a big crowd and a good time, Ms. de Groot said. Saturdays event will be the second last regular season bout before the league begin playoffs in July.
The Silence of the Jams will be supporting the Columbia Valley Food Bank, and attendees are asked to bring non-perishable food items for donation.