Portland, OR – The Roller Derby World Cup will be held in Manchester, UK, from February 1st through the 4th, with skaters from Rose City Rollers — the number one ranked roller derby league in North America and the number two ranked roller derby league in the world—contributing skaters to five teams.
Team USA and Team Canada pose for a photograph after a bout at The Hangar in Portland, OR, last summer. (Photography Credit: Regularman Photography)
Bonnie Thunders (Nicole Williams), Jes Rivas, Loren Mutch, Licker-n-Split, and Jessica Chestnut will be skating for Team USA, which will be coached by Drew Flowers, another member of Rose City Rollers. This is the single largest contingent of Rose City Rollers’ skaters playing for a single team at the Roller Derby World Cup. What is more remarkable is the fact that Rose City skaters make up one fifth of Team USA’s 20-person roster.
“Representing USA roller derby at the World Cup is an honor and one of the athletic achievements of my lifetime,” says Jes Rivas. “When I take the track with my teammates in Manchester, I want to skate with the relentless determination, dogged work ethic, and insane talent shared by the giant pool of people who play and make this sport possible.”
Rose City Rollers also will be represented on Team Brazil, Team Russia, Team West Indies, and Team Spain. “Representing Trinidad and Tobago at the Roller Derby World Cup, has brought me closer to my roots, and my entire family,” says Visakha Seon, who normally skates for the Wheels of Justice and the Guns N Rollers. “I am humbled and honored to be a part of this world stage for our sport.”
In addition to the adult skaters, Portland will be sending one of its junior skaters—Square Not (Ridley Liu)—to the International Derby Exhibition at the World Cup. Square Not, who is 14, was invited after submitting a tape of her skating to a selection board. When asked what she wished more people knew about roller derby, she had this to say:
“The movie Whip It! is not what flat-track roller derby is like these days. I wish more people knew about the sport in general.”
Square Not (Ridley Liu), who skates in Rose City Rollers’ Junior Program, will be traveling to England to compete in the International Derby Exhibition. (Photography Credit: Regularman Photography)
BBC Sport will be broadcasting the Roller Derby World Cup finals from Manchester. If you would like to see these athletes skate closer to home, Rose City Rollers’ next home team bouts will take place on February 16 & 17, and its junior programs will play a double header on February 18. For tickets, please visit the Events page.
