League aims high for 2015
Following the team's success in the Blood and Thunder Roller Derby World Cup in Texas last year, the C-Max Roller Derby League (RDL) is gunning for greater heights in an endeavour to create more awareness around the sport.
Last year, 12 skaters from Modderfontein were part of TeamZa that represented the league in the World Cup.
This year, the C-Max RDL will host a number of major events including the second Home Season with three teams each playing four games to qualify for the tournament.
The home season will start towards the end of March; it consists of the top three Johannesburg-based teams including The Raging Warmoes, The Thundering Hellcats and Slam Damsels.
The league will also continue with its monthly Friday Night Roller Derby games outside the scheduled Home Season to provide games for skaters and spectators all year round.
In addition, C-Max RDL will be hosting the annual Boot Camp again in October, with three skaters and the manager from Team USA as guest coaches.
C-Maz RDL also aims to complete its Women Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) apprenticeship by the end of 2015 and gain full membership to the WFTDA by the end of the year.
Historically, the tradition with the Roller Derby phenomenon across the globe has been that leagues are funded and supported by their own members.
Ms Melinda Lotz, the chairperson of C-Max RDL, is ecstatic with the sport’s growth,
“We are extremely proud of everything we have achieved in 2014 as a league. Together, we have shown our commitment to growing our sport and being able to play it at the highest international level in spite of not having a substantial sponsor to back us. Our members, with their ‘can-do will-do’ attitude, remain our biggest asset and their love and loyalty to the sport and each other will be the driving force for our success in 2015. Our main challenge for 2015 is to find a new, suitable venue for the league where we can continue to host our bouts and provide the high level of structured Roller Derby training that we have been providing to all levels of skaters thus far,” said Ms Lotz.
“With a packed line up of activities set for 2015, the league will continue giving female athletes an outlet, while nurturing new talent and taking this incredible sport to the world.”
