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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Building up speed crouched low, knees bent, chest up and butt out. "Outside, inside," other skaters yell out as they lap past me repeatedly.

Leslie Merrithew, a.k.a Arctic Foxxx, Yellowknife Roller Girls league president, adjusts her quad skates before weaving through an obstacle course at the Shorty Brown Arena. To assure safety, she wears a mouthguard and other protective gear. - Danielle Sachs/NNSL photo

It's fine, it's day two on quad skates - four-wheeled turning roller skates - after a couple of years on solid ground.

Again, I crash knee-first into the hard gym floor. The destroyed sweater sleeves, hockey taped over my knee pads, slide across the floor.

It's fine.

It doesn't matter that it's the same knee injured from tumbling off a bike two weeks ago.

Tomorrow will be painful, but it's fine.

You get back up, trying to keep your hands off the floor.

More skaters glide past. They yell, "good fall."

Everything's fine because it's roller derby practice night in Yellowknife.

Welcome to the Yellowknife Roller Girls, the city's newest sport. For the uninitiated, roller derby is played on an oval track on quad skates, the four wheels lined up two-by-two instead of in a single row.

On-skate practice is three times a week with a fourth session held off skates.

You don't need to be good to join the league. There are a few who have been skating for just over a year and others who are still working on balance. Everyone is welcome, providing safety is respected. Safety is key.

You won't skate without a mouthguard, helmet, wristguards, knee and elbow pads. You also need specific insurance, Canadian Roller Derby Insurance (CRDI).

Why all the safety? Don't let the outfits fool you. Roller derby is a sport and an intense one at that. You sweat, a lot. It's an hour and a half of non-stop rolling action.

Before playing competitively, there's a list of minimum skills that one needs. Governed by the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), the minimum skills range from skating 27 laps in under five minutes on a regulation track to manoeuvering through 10 cones spaced 1.5 metres apart in six seconds or less.

I never excelled at sports. Throw something at me, and I won't notice until it hits me in the face. Ask me to climb one of those stupid ropes in an elementary school gym class, and I'm not getting off the ground. Softball? Nope. I'm that kid picking dandelions in the outfield.

So, why is roller derby different? It's in the support. Speaking of support, a good sports bra should be listed as essential gear.

The league is made up of strong Yellowknife women from all walks of life. Strong both physically and mentally.

Your fellow league members give you a push when you need it.

They can whip you into shape. Ha! That was a little bit of roller derby humour for you.

Sometimes you need a little bit of extra speed to score some points - points are scored by the jammer on one team lapping the opposing players - and that's when your teammates can give you an arm.

That was the new skill picked up by new skaters Monday, taking and giving whips. If you're taking a whip, you grab onto your teammate's offered arm and propel yourself forward as they move you along. If you're giving a whip, keep your elbow tucked in for more shoulder support and stick your forearm out.

Why keep your elbow tucked in? Because no one wants to show up to work the next day with a dislocated shoulder.

Currently, the league skates in the gym at J.H. Sissons School. The off-skate sessions are open to everyone, league member or not. Watch the Facebook page for updates on everything from the logo contest to the calendar release date.

And remember, you need to learn to fall before you can get back up again.

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