The Good Life – September-October 2014

elbows and body checking a lot, Aker said you
can only use your hips and shoulders.
Many people think roller derby is still fake
because of the popularity of RollerJam, a show
that was on TV in the late 90s. Aker insists that
was all scripted, but this sport in real life isn’t.
There are rules, and you can definitely get hurt
if you’re not being careful.
“Some people are surprised it has rules,
but we can’t just do whatever,” he said with a
laugh.
Chris York, secretary and co-captain, said a
lot of people think derby players get to punch
and elbow people like crazy, but he insists
there are rules and strategy to the game.
“It’s like organized chaos,” Harris added.
‘Everyone’s a teacher and a
learner’
York got started in the league when
it first formed in 2010. He didn’t know
how to skate at all, but he thought it
sounded like fun.
“I didn’t know what to expect,” he
said. “But I’m still here!”
He said the competition and
camaraderie are what keep him skating
and participating in the league.
“It’s a hobby I found that took over,”
he said.
He even loved the sport so much, he
coached in the girls’ league until retiring
at the end of last season.
Eric Harris, treasurer of the Fargo
league and vice president of the national
Men’s Roller Derby Association, said
he enjoys the entrepreneurial spirit
of the sport. He said all leagues figure
everything out from scratch, and that
helps bond them together. Bismarck
started a men’s league about a year and
a half after Fargo did, and York said the
team feels almost like a big brother now.
26