South Sea Roller Derby

History

South Sea Roller Derby (SSRD) is a roller derby league based in south-eastern Melbourne in Victoria, Australia.

South Sea Roller Derby (SSRD) was founded by former Victorian Roller Derby League (VRDL) member, Misty Meaner, in 2009.

When VRDL moved its training location from Dandenong to Sunshine in late 2008, Misty’s travel time dramatically increased. This sparked an idea to create a league to cater for girls living on the south east side of the city. After scouting around, the perfect training location was found in Peninsula Skateworld at Carrum Downs. The owners, Robyn and Mark, were keen to help bring roller derby to the area.

Recruitment of skaters began in early 2009, with regular training sessions starting in August. The first sessions helped raise the profile and the word was starting to spread. Lady Malice, a former VRDL fresh meat coordinator, offered her services as a coach to help SSRD along in the crucial development phase.

Before long the league was evolving, skills were being developed and perfected, closed training sessions were secured and outside interest was growing rapidly.

Today SSRD has more than 100 members in the form of skaters, refs and officials. We currently have three home teams, The Cutthroat Charmers (purple and black), The Dolly Rogers (red and white) and The Blackheart Breakers (blue with silver/black). SSRD also fields 2 travel teams: The South Sea Sirens (A Team) and The South Sea Banshees (B Team).

SSRD is 100% skater owned and operated and is probably best known for its cute travel team sailors’ boutfits and for making everyone feel very welcome.

League message

SSRD aims to provide an encouraging, positive and supportive environment within which all roller derby skaters are able to develop to their full potential. We promote teamwork and a healthy, positive image of women in sport, providing an option for women looking to improve their fitness and confidence outside of traditional team sports. We foster a tight-knit network and support group, and supply an outlet for creativity.

We strive to promote and grow roller derby as a sport, increasing the profile of roller derby within the community. A portion of proceeds from each bout are donated to charities, with almost $2,000 donated each year (plus 1,500 bras to Project Uplift in 2012!). We wish to continue actively supporting other skater-run, skater-owned, not-for-profity roller derby leagues in Victoria, both metropolitan and regional, to assist in the growth of the sport.

In the coming year we would love things to grow: increased membership, increased skills and knowledge of our coaches, officials and skaters, increased audience numbers and increased knowledge of our sport and the league in the wider community.

Location

The league trains across three venues in Carrum Downs, Bonbeach and Dandenong in Victoria, Australia

Home games are held at Springers Leisure Centre in Keysborough.

Affiliations

WFTDA

In January 2013, South Sea was accepted as a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association Apprentice Programme.^[1] By this point, the league had around 150 skaters, and thousands of fans.^[2]

Teams

SSRD has three home teams:

• The Blackheart Breakers – slick with strategy in a sea of blue with boundless teamwork
• The Cutthroat Charmers – determined in black with cool heads, quick reflexes and big hits
• The Dolly Rogers – feisty in red, athletic and agile

We also combine home team forces to create two travel teams:

• The South Sea Sirens – Sirens’ hips sink ships
• The South Sea Banshees – you do not want to hear them scream

And our officiating crew;

• the Zea Monsters – Knowledgeable, professional and determined to keep us on track;

Results

2010

South Sea Roller Derby became a bouting league in 2010 with its first public home clash on 28 August.

2010 was also saw the Sirens play their first travel team game against Ballarat of 13 November.

Bouting against Ballarat (BRDL) at the end of the year has now become an annual tradition.

2011

During 2011 the home teams played a total of 4 games and the Sirens played 4 travel games.

South Sea lost all its bouts against other leagues from Victoria, but did beat Western Australia Roller Derby in Perth.

2012

SSRD competed in the Great Southern Slam tournament,^[3] where they managed a win over Geelong Roller Derby League, but lost heavily to the Sun State Roller Girls.^[4]

2012 is also the first year the second travel team, The Banshees, made their debut, defeating a combined NSR/LCRD team and then losing to a full NSR lineup.

2013

In 2013 SSRD had a lot of travel team success.

In November 2013, South Sea came third in the inaugural Vic Tas Tournament, a dual-state tournament comprising 16 teams from Victoria and Tasmania.^[5]

The Banshees also won their only game of the season against Bendigo's Chiko Rollers.

2013 also saw the introduction of a third hometeam, The Blackheart Breakers, which upped the home games for the year to 6 instead of 4.

References

1. ↑ "WFTDA Accepts 16 Apprentice Members", WFTDA, 31 January 2013
2. ↑ Casey Neill, "Roll in, me hearties", Greater Dandenong Star, 31 January 2013
3. ↑ Beck Wise, "Feature Preview: The Great Southern Slam", Derby News Network, 8 July 2012
4. ↑ Beck Wise, "TGSS Day One Recaps", Derby News Network, 9 June 2012
5. ↑ "", Skate Victoria 18 November 2013