Embracing their alter ego in roller derby scene

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Bernard said when she moved here, she saw ads for Red Rock N Roller Derby and thought she would see what it’s all about.

 

 

“I went to the open house and fell in love. I’ve been playing for three years.”

 

 

She feels her skills have vastly improved as she became more comfortable with the sport.

 

 

“I feel like I’ve come a long way from where I started. I’m always learning and the sport is always changing.”

 

 

The people involved are what makes roller derby amazing, she said.

 

 

“I think the first part is the camaraderie.

 

 

“There’s so much support and I’ve made a lot of friends I wouldn’t have met elsewise.”

 

 

It gives her an outlet to feel like an athlete, play something that’s fun, and be somebody else for a while.

 

 

“I think that’s one of the great parts about having the other name because it’s like our alter ago. It’s a huge part of my life and I really love it.”

 

 

Ken Parson is the coach for the Twisted Sisters. He said his fiancée got him interested in the sport because she’s the president of the league and this is now his second season coaching.

 

 

“She introduced me to roller derby and I fell in love with it.”

 

 

Parson said team bonding, communication, doing the drills, and strategizing are all important elements of the game.

 

 

“With those four things you become a really good team.”

 

 

This is something the women truly enjoy doing, he said.

 

 

“We’ve got ages from 20 to 40. Anybody can do this.”