If the Hot Chocolate Run Finish Line was a Movie…

When they’re not perfecting their moves in practice or zooming around opponents in a bout, PVRD skaters look for opportunities to give back to the community.

For the past couple of years, the league has volunteered to hand out mugs to participants at the annual Hot Chocolate Run for Safe Passage, a benefit for a local shelter. This year, over 5,000 people—including some PVRDers—completed the 5K run and a 2 mile walk through downtown Northampton.

Skaters described the event as “a good cause” and “absolutely inspirational.” (See an interview of a couple of PVRDers on WWLP 22 and a gallery of photos from the day.)

What would the movie version of the volunteer effort look like? Take a look below to see one possible trailer option.

Roller Derby World Cup: A French-American Derby Adventure

Router Girl for Team France

By Router Girl

It’s still hard for me to believe that in about a week I leave for Toronto to join Team France and play in the first ever Roller Derby World Cup!

In fact, Team France will be playing the opening game of the world cup against Team Canada on Thursday, December 1st. We then play against Brazil and Sweden on Friday. After that we’ll see what the rankings bring…

Check out the bout schedule, player profiles and other Team France links in this handy PDF.

Thirteen countries are represented at the world cup: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, England, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, Sweden and the U.S.A.

There are many people to credit for how I found my way to Team France.

Ketchum (formerly Rollin’ Redshirt) #1955

Derby name: Ketchum (formerly Rollin’ Redshirt)  #1955

Age: 55

Hometown: Springfield, Mass.

PVRD team: Dirty Dozen

 

Fans should watch for Ketchum’s favorite move: skating up on the pack from behind and acting as a moving wall to sweep the entire pack off to the side.

Ketchum would like to go back to the old rule where whichever skater was in the lead would have lead jammer status because it makes for an ongoing change to have lead jammer status.

As the oldest active rostered male skater is the way that Ketchum would like to eventually make it into the Guinness Book of World Records.

 Ketchum has been a roller derby fan for the past 43 years – like the best fans, he eventually ran away to join up.

Find out where you can see Ketchum in a bout or give him a big hello on Facebook.