Roller derby kicks off summer season with 'fresh meat,' and new junior program

Melanie Burry smiles as she recaps the bumps and bruises from her first day on roller skates since she was a kid.

"It was hard getting used to it," she said as she took off her elbow pads and helmet. "I had one bad fall. I'll get the swing of it as soon as I'm back into it."

Burry was one of more than 20 skaters to try roller derby for the first time on Sunday.

The instructional skate was put on by 709 Roller Derby, the local league, and aimed at getting new recruits to join their introductory program called Fresh Meat.

"I hope to come back and join the team some day," said Sharon Hindy, another first-timer. "I've been to a couple games and it looks awesome, so I hope to get involved."

For the league, these recruitment sessions are key in keeping its numbers up and introducing new talent each year.

After Sunday's session in Mount Pearl, skaters interested in sticking with the sport can sign up for Fresh Meat and spend the next 12 weeks honing their skills and learning the craft.

There's a certain place for everybody on the track- Robyn Bursey

At the end of the program, skaters can graduate into the two-team league and play with either the Vixens or the Neversweets.

For Robyn Bursey, coach of the Fresh Meat program, roller derby is about acceptance and fun.

"It's awesome," she said. "It's really inclusive. You don't have to be an athletic body type, you don't have to be tall, you don't have to be small.

"There's a certain place for everybody on the track, whatever your athletic background might be."

Junior program launches this month

For the first time, 709 Roller Derby is getting kids of any gender involved in the sport.

Roller derby is traditionally a female game, but men can referee or coach. In the junior program started earlier this month, however, there's a place for everyone on the track.

The practice sessions and games are non-contact and focused on preparing kids for the senior league.

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"They work on their skills so they become more agile skaters so when they want to come to the league when they are 19 years old, they have so much more experience behind them," Bursey said.