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On Friday it’s time to ‘Shut Up and Skate!’

This Friday, the West Kootenay Women’s Roller Derby League is urging everyone to Shut Up and Skate!
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Castlegar’s Dam City Rollers (in the darkest shirts) are seen here battling the Salmo Babes of Brutality during a bout in Castlegar last month. The Rollers will return to action at the Castlegar Complex on Friday

This Friday, the West Kootenay Women’s Roller Derby League is urging everyone to Shut Up and Skate!

At the second roller derby bout in Castlegar this season, the hometown Dam City Rollers will be pitted against Rossland’s Gnarlie’s Angels, and Salmo’s Babes of Brutality will play Nelson’s Lumber Jackies.

Kitty Karnage of the Dam City Rollers said they’re rolling out fresh meat — a few new girls who haven’t played in a bout before.

“Because we have a team of 19 skaters, only 14 can play in a bout,” she explained. “They’ll be making their debuts.”

After seeing the Angels play many times before, they know what to expect.

“We know the Angels are a really fast team,” she said. “They’re not necessarily aggressive and hard-hitting.”

The plan of action is to try to cut them off and slow them down, but the main point is to just have fun with the game, Karnage said. Playing against one of the more experienced teams in the league at home again, she said they’ll make sure everyone is having a good time, first and foremost.

“It’s a little bit different because the coach of the Angels helped a lot with our training and we’ve practised with them,” she said. “[Their coach, Cousin Vegas] was hugely instrumental with getting us to where we are.”

She said because of that, the Dam City Rollers have a special place in their hearts for the Angels.

“We’re still learning a lot of strategy that they’ve got a handle on,” she said. “Their endurance is up there.”

But Karnage anticipates the match will be somewhat closer than it normally would be since some of the Angels are playing on the regional team, the Kootenay Kannibelles in Kelowna this weekend.

Tickets are selling fast and can be picked up at MountainHigh Lighting in Castlegar, Phat Angel in Nelson, West Kootenay Scuba in Salmo, Gerick’s Sports in Trail and Ross Vegas in Rossland. $10 in advance, $15 at the door. Children 10 and under $2. Doors open at 6 p.m., first whistle is at 7 p.m.

For more information, visit kootenayrollerderby.com.