POW! Town’s Blonde Slambition, aka CaroleAnn Leishman, who is currently out with an injury, will provide play by play commenting for the upcoming roller derby doubleheader to be held at Hap Parker Arena.
The first round of Ocean Commotion will start at 4 pm on Saturday, June 15, and see Salt Spring Island’s The Committed face Cumberland’s The Brickhouse Betties. After a brief intermission POW! Town will take on Courtenay’s The Rinx Minx at about 5:45 pm.
“We’re hoping attendance will be similar to last July because it’s a doubleheader,” said event organizer Leishman. “Hopefully people will have the opportunity to enjoy the nice weather during the day and then come to watch unheard of doubleheader roller derby action in the evening.”
Townsite Brewing will host a beer garden with a few flavours on tap and there will be lots of food vendors and fun stuff for the kids to do, she said. Organizers have planned a 50/50 draw and there will be T-shirts, tattoos and soap on sale.
Over 20 officials are coming from up and down Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland to referee the game. There are about seven skating referees and 12 to 15 non-skating officials needed, said Leishman.
She hopes her commenting, with the aid of Gerry Lister, will help spectators understand the complex rules of roller derby. “At least I have a sense of the game, so I can kind of explain what and why things are happening and explain time-outs and things like this,” she said. “It’s interesting for me to not be skating and to talk about it out loud the whole time.” She will take notes with her to the game about things to talk about because sometimes it’s hard to tell what call is being made.
The doors for Ocean Commotion doubleheader roller derby will open at 3:30 pm. Tickets for adults are $10, $5 for youth 11 to 17 and children 10 and under are admitted free. Tickets can be purchased at First Credit Union, Creative Rift, A&W Restaurant and Ecossentials.
