Portland Men's Roller Derby
Frequently Asked Questions
(Last Update: 17 May 2010)
How can I find up to date information about men's roller derby in Portland, OR?
Info is posted at stumptownderby.com. You can also find updates by following "Portland Men's Roller Derby" on facebook or @stumptownderby on Twitter. Email us at info@stumptownderby.com.
What equipment do I need to play men's roller derby?
Men's roller derby is a FULL contact sport. You are required to have the following in order to play: Roller skates (not inlines), knee pads, elbow pads, wrist guards, mouth guard, and a helmet. The staff at Oaks are very knowledgeable about the kind of equipment required for roller derby, and they have several roller derby packages available. We also have a deal with Oaks Park to get discounted equipment -- contact Beki at Oaks Park rink for any questions related to equipment and to receive our discount.
What else is required to skate?
We are currently a chartered club with USA Roller Sports (USARS). Membership in USARS gives you limited liability insurance and is REQUIRED to skate. We require all our skaters to have individual USARS insurance policies along with our umbrella policy. More info can be found at http://usarollersports.org/pages/4582
Where do you practice men's roller derby?
We practice year-round in the "hangar" facility at Oaks Park. The facility has a sport court with a dedicated roller derby track. Check the calendar for practice times. During the warmer months, we will also hold informal outdoor practices. Outdoor skating is fun and a great way to improve your skating skills.
Isn't roller derby fake?
Hell no, this is a real sport. No gimmicks, no "roller jam" style play. There is no "fake fighting," throwing punches, or tripping people intentionally.
Is this really a sport?
Yes! We are very serious about playing the sport of roller derby. We play under the same rules as the Women's Flat-Track Derby Association (WFTDA), whose teams compete against each other on a national level. Read more about the WFTDA ruleset here: (http://wftda.com/rules)
