OPEN SKATE – TRY OUTS FOR ROLLER DERBY AND ROLLER SKATING ON 24.8. AND 31.8.2023

Come and try out roller derby and skate with us!

What: Roller derby open skate!
When: Thursday 24th of August from 7 pm to 8.30 pm and Thursday 31st of August from 7 pm to 8.30 pm
Where: Ilpoisten palloiluhalli, Lauklähteenkatu 15, Turku
Price: It’s free!
Sign-up form: https://forms.gle/bVdiVrZ85gye5i5N7

Dirty River Roller Derby is looking for new skaters, referees and non-skating officials. These events are free of charge and open for everyone. You must be at least 16 to attend. You’ll get to try the skates and other gear and you don’t need to know how to skate or have any background in sports to attend. Everyone is welcome! Wear comfy sports clothes and bring a water bottle with you.

Our next beginners’ practices start later in September! Questions? You can reach our beginners’ department at beginners@dirtyriverrollerderby.com – we speak English!

Turku Pride Week Scrimmage: Rage and Love on Monday 21st of August

Turku Pride -week is starting soon, and DRRD will be a part of the official program! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ The match theme is ‘Rage and Love,’ fitting the spirit of Turku PrideWe will organise an open-for-everyone Pride Scrimmage at the very beginning of the week, on Monday 21.8. at 18–20 in Ilpoisten palloiluhalli. We would love to have players, bench crew and commentators also from other leagues! Everybody is welcome! If you are interested in participating in any role, you can sign up via form below. Come and start the Pride Week with us and the best sport ever! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

https://forms.gle/MBRQcdSPpMtutfweA

Player introduction: Razor Leaf

Razor Leaf, #88 (they/them)

“Hi! I’m Leaf and I’ve played as a jammer since 2019. I’m excluding a few years that I missed inbetween, but I’ve now returned and am back in the team! I adore the fun of derby and how it engages your entire body. A previous partner of mine in HRD got me into derby, which I am very thankful for. When it comes to playing, agility is definitely my strong suit. So far, my favourite memory is my first game, where I was so nervous, yet so excited! I just slammed some glitter onto my face and gave it my best. A fun and not so secret fact about me is that I indeed love glitter. 😎✨“

Player introduction: Memento Mori

Memento Mori, #13 (she/they)

“I’ve played derby since February 2017. I play as a blocker and mainly as a brace, but I’ve done some offence playing too! I’m good at communicating and reading the game. What I love about roller derby is its intensity and how fun it is! I also love its people and the anti-discriminatory values. I never believed I would enjoy team sports until I found derby!”

Player introduction: The Grim

The Grim, #394 (She/her)

“I started beginners phase in the fall and this spring I got to the team. Jamming and blocking are both super fun.

I heard about roller derby, of course, by watching the well known movie whip it. Moving to Turku got me finally into the sport ❤

Roller derby has everything I have wanted… Community, competing, roller skating and contact!

Fun fact about me… I’m obsessed about Harry Potter✨🖤💛“

Player introduction: Hälinä

Hälinä, #505 (she/her)

“I have always been very skeptical about sports, especially team and contact sports. Naturally, of all possible sports, I decided to try roller derby last autumn, and I was sold on it right away. I’m fascinated by every aspect of derby: people are wonderful, the community is accepting and supportive, and playing is so much fun! It’s also cool that derby seems really rough from the outside point of view. 😎 At the moment, I want to learn to play in all positions, but perhaps sometime later I’ll specialize in something specific. Although I don’t have so many memories of derby yet, the most fun thing so far has been to play my first scrimmage outside of our own league in Porvoo!”

Coach – we want you!

Are you passionate about sports and an inspiring person? Can you bring people together, make them work together and succeed together? Dirty River Roller Derby is looking for new coaches. We are hoping to get 1–3 coaches, who could share the responsibilities and tasks of coaching. The sharing is done by coaches themselves.

The tasks of coaching consist of being present in team’s practices and occasionally planning and running the practices together with the coaching group. We hope that the members of the coaching group have an enthusiastic attitude towards learning new things, skill of working together and ability to inspire. Obviously, basic knowledge of roller derby is also desired!

The coaching should be interested in getting to know also the international governing body of roller derby, WTFDA, and its rankings, and be able to plan the team’s future games with that in mind.

DRRD has currently one competitive team which represents the league. At the moment the team does not play in the SM series but participating in it is possible in the future. Formerly we have aimed to play WTFDA-sanctioned games also abroad.

The players of the team are on different skill and experience levels, so it is important that the coaching is able to coach players both as a team but also as an individual.

Everyone participating in DRRD activities should read and commit to our values: https://dirtyriverrollerderby.com/en/drrd/our-values/

If this advertisement made your heart pump faster, send us a message:
coaching@dirtyriverrollerderby.com.

Player introduction: Hellinen

Hellinen, #338 (she/her)

“I started the beginners’ course in January 2014 with Kuopio Roller Derby and my primary aim was to learn how to skate. Quite soon I fell in love with the sport, but also realized that the best about derby are the people. I’ve played mainly as a blocker or pivot, but occasionally also jammed. Nowadays I’m most comfortable as a blocker. I’ve had many good memories playing derby, but maybe one of the most special one was playing in Sweden’s Championship games in 2019 with Uppsala Roller Derby I hope to make several new memories with my current team! 😊“

Sign up for roller derby’s spring 2023 beginners’ practices

Would you like to try a new hobby in a safe and supporting environment? Dirty River Roller Derby’s beginner practices are here and you can sign up now!

What: Beginners practices start on Thursday 2nd of March from 6.30pm to 8pm
Schedule: Thursdays from 6.30pm to 8pm and Sundays from 2pm to 4pm
Where: Ilpoisten palloiluhalli, Lauklähteenkatu 15, Turku
What do you need: Your own gear (we have also a limited amount of gear to lend out)
Cost: 70 € which includes a membership fee for 2023.

Sign up for beginners’ practices here

You don’t need any previous experience in roller skating or roller derby. We’ll start from the very basics and help you develop your skills at your own pace.

The age limit for our beginners’ phase is 16 years. All participants must agree to and behave according to our values.

More info: beginners@dirtyriverrollerderby.com.

You’re warmly welcome to DRRD and our beginners’ practices!

Player introduction: Seitan

Seitan, #666 (She/They)

“I have been playing mainly as a jammer. My strengths lie in my endurance and fast feet. I’ve been playing roller derby for eight or nine years (minus corona-years). I got into derby because l had heard it was fun (and it was!). I love that it’s a sport where you sweat and meet many wonderful people.”