Tuesday, July 31, 2018

MEDIA RELEASE: GPRDA welcomes junior team

GRANDE PRAIRIE- The Grande Prairie Roller Derby Association (GPRDA) will be welcoming a junior team in January 2019. From January to June, the organization will provide a trial team for ages eight to 15. If there is enough support, the team would start back up after summer break in September 2019.

“This is a great way for youth to get a taste of the sport of roller derby. They will learn sportsmanship, skill-building, and more,” said Kristina MacNeil, Co-coach for the jr. team.

The senior team continues to thrive as they will be heading to Wetaskiwin for a league game on October 28. The GPRDA board has also started to look into space for a Home Opener as well as mini-tournament for the spring of 2019.

Crash Royale, a roller derby event, is being held on July 28, 2018 at Revolution Place. Doors open at
2:30 p.m with the event beginning at 3 p.m. Although most of the Grande Prairie team is participating, the ladies have been split into two teams in a scrimmage-style game.


Media inquiries can be directed to:

Michele Jesson
Junior Team Representative
Grande Prairie Roller Derby Association
juniorsgprda@gmail.com

Crash Royale: a successful event

Our team is still sizzling with excitement after a very successful event in our home city.

Crash Royale was short benched, short staffed, and short NSO'd but it goes to show, a little spirit goes a long way. 

I think the best thing about the weekend was that EVERYONE had a piece of the pie. We had Jaded and Hacksaw on goodie bags, Head Huntress on music, CatASStrophe on vendors, and so on! It was a total team effort.

We have big plans for 2018/2019 - first practice back is September 9 and for the first time in a long time, we have a full roster. We will be allowing new skaters on Sundays but for Thursdays it is closed practices. Once you are benchmarked in rookie practice, you can join the squad twice a week.

We also have a junior team coming in January! Woo! Ages 8 to 15 with the help of TNTina, Iron Eden, Speed Bump, and a couple other players. 

Also, a scrimmag & home opener in the spring as well as a mini-derby-tourney! 

Watch for us as we make our league successful again! 

Monday, May 28, 2018

Busy May brings a busier June

It has been a WILD May and the busy vibes are not stopping.

We were able to skate a few times at the Crosslink County Sportsplex and it was AWESOME. We can't say enough about how great this facility is. Now that we have had a taste of this gem, you know we will be spending more time in this building next year! Watch for that!

Congratulations to our rookie, 12 Gauge Dollface, for playing her FIRST game this month in Killam. She kicked butt and looked GREAT doing it (pictured below). Hacksaw also played in Killam on May 26 and JAMMED. For those who know our coach, you know she doesn't do jamming. A big move for her!!
TNTina, Sassy, CatASStrophe, and aROARa filled in for a game with the Grim Reapers as they played Fort St John's KillBillies on May 26. All of the ladies held their own.

Our Annual General Meeting is planned for June 24. Watch for the announcement of our new board as our rolls into more events.

Watch for us skating around Rock Downtown! We have two demonstrations scheduled for 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. and we will also be recruiting. If you have always wanted to join or learn about derby, talk to one of us. We are nice, we prommise!

Crash Royale is going down on July 28! A bootcamp followed by a scrimmage. Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe6dV8HddrNmKq0tHFO4yLawu99mxus6CNszH0YtLxu_AiaSQ/viewform?usp=sf_link

Email secretarygprda@gmail.com if you have any questions.

We hope to see you out in the community!! Watch for more news as we roll through the summer months!!

Xox
Goody2Skates


Tuesday, May 8, 2018

Play as a pick-up, you won't regret it

A huge thank you to Coxy Roller and her beautiful team for letting a few of the GPRDA RadLeak Rollers play with them over the weekend. Hacksaw, aROARa, Iron Eden, CatASStrophe, and TNTina played with the Whitecourt Roller Derby Association Hot Rollers in Roller Mayhem in Peace River. 

Two hard fought games against the Grim Reapers and KillBillies! One big supportive team!

If you were ever thinking about playing as a pick-up player, do it. Not only is it a great way to spread your derby social circle, you learn a lot too. Seeing how other teams work their lines, work together, and seeing how a team can persevere back-to-back games was something to admire. 

Jaded Lillin', one of our RadLeak Rollers, also filled in for Grim and she played like a BOSS. 

A big thank you to Grim for hosting the event! A big thank you to the REFS and NSOs!!! You are all the real MVPs! Thank you to everyone that made the event happen. 

We hope to have an event of our own that you can come support very soon!

Ps. Hacksaw and aROARa took some MVP action for the second game. MVP Blocker and MVP Jammer went to the players from GPRDA, respectively. A HUGE thanks to some of those vets that pushed aROARa to play out of her comfort zone -- she couldn't have done it without you.
Overall, it was a great experience and would do it again and again and again.

xox,
Goody2Skates


Wednesday, May 2, 2018

MEDIA RELEASE: MAY 2018

MEDIA RELEASE
May 2018

First League Game In Almost Two Years

GRANDE PRAIRIE- The Grande Prairie Roller Derby Association’s (GPRDA) RadLeak Rollers drove down the highway to Fort St John over the weekend to take on the Energetic City Roller Derby
Association’s KillBillies in their first game of the season.

In the end, the score was 163-69 for FSJ, but even with a loss, the GP team represented the Alberta side of the Peace Region with class. With five rookies on the team, the RadLeaks played virtually a clean game of roller derby.

This game is just another sign that the RadLeak Rollers are gaining momentum as this is the first league game the GPRDA has played in almost two years. With a full roster of committed and enthusiastic players, the team will begin to plan home games as well as seeking leagues to travel to for away games.

Although the Grande Prairie isn’t officially part of the Roller Mayhem in Peace River on May 5, Whitecourt Roller Derby Association as well as the Grimshaw Roller Derby Association have picked up a few players to be part of the action.

We invite anyone interested in the sport to come watch the action at the Baytex Centre this Saturday.

For more information:
Hacksaw                                                       Jaded Lilin’
Coach                                                           Team Insurance Representative
RadLeak Rollers                                           RadLeak Rollers
Grande Prairie Roller Derby Association    Grande Prairie Roller Derby Association
presidentgprda@gmail.com                         arlana.mowat@outlook.com

Our Mission: Broadly promote the sport of Flat Track Roller Derby. Recognize and support the Grande Prairie (and Northern Alberta) athletes involved. Create a strong and thriving league for future generations of derby players. Solicit dedicated community and corporate sponsors to help promote the GPRDA RadLeak Rollers. Develop kinships with like-minded women and men, respect each other, and have fun!

Monday, April 30, 2018

RadLeak Rollers vs. KillBillies Wrap-up

The RadLeak Rollers played hard against the KillBillies over the weekened in Fort St John.

As it was their B team, the Grande Prairie team wasn't expecting the hard-hitters, but the the black and red persevered. The women even had few penalties!!
GP didn't take home a win, but the real win was being able to jump through hoops with practice space before this game, pulling together a full team, and enthusiasm on the bench.

A big thank you to Sean and Rachelle for keeping us organized and pumped up on the bench!

Thank you to the refs - Pepper Grinder and her beautiful ref team for making the game possible. Thank you to the KillBillies for hosting, the swag, the food, and the ability to play some derby on a Saturday night.

Also, a big thank you to Lacey, Aiyla, and Marit who were watching and cheering on the sidelines! Although they couldn't play this game, they came to FSJ to cheer on their other teammates. That is dedication.

A SUPER BIG thank you to our pick-up players from Grimshaw. Jack Hammer, KarKrash, and Klip'Her you really helped us pull together on the track. We appreciate you.

This was the first league game the GPRDA has been able to attend in approximately two years and I guarantee that it won't be the last!

Watch out derby world, the RadLeak Rollers are rollin' at ya in full force!

Iron Eden, Hacksaw, Princess a-ROAR-a, CatASStrophe, TNTina, and Jaded Lillin' have been picked up by Whitecourt and Grimshaw for the weekend for Roller Mayhem in Peace River. See you there!