Alamogordo Roller Derby gears up for first bout of the season

ALAMOGORDO – The Alamogordo Roller Derby will be hosting their first home bout of the season Saturday evening at the Washington Park roller rink as the Alamogordo Rocketdolls will take on the Albuquerque Roller Derby.

Saturday’s match will kick off at 7 p.m. and doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

Roller derby is a contact sport played by two teams of five members roller skating counter-clockwise around a track. The game consists of a series of mash-ups (jams) in which both teams designate a jammer, who wears a star on their helmet. The jammer scores points by lapping members of the opposing team. The teams attempt to hinder the opposing jammer while assisting their own jammer – in effect, playing both offense and defense simultaneously.

Alamogordo Roller Derby League President Carrie Ludington said she has always had a love for the unique sport since she played on a league in South Korea.

“I came from Korea and that’s where I started roller derby. There was a military league in South Korea that was a joint Army and Air Force team,” Ludington said. “Before I moved to Alamogordo I reached out to the team and I joined in spring 2015.”

Ludington said roller derby has given her and other women the confidence to be themselves and to be strong.

“A lot of people make roller derby an important aspect of their life. A lot of our players are really passionate about it,” Ludington said. “It’s really fun being on roller skates. It’s a full contact sport that gives you the confidence to make you a stronger person. We make it a really good environment and atmosphere and we try to make sure the league is a really positive place. We also make an effort to leave out all the negativity out of the interactions we have. It’s a fun place to be and to make friends and takes the stress from your life.”

During the summer, the Alamogordo Roller Derby will host an intake class of "freshmeat" skaters, a recruitment program that teaches new players how to skate and play the game.

The class is designed to teach those who have never skated. Once those skaters pass the minimum skills they will become team skaters and join the Alamo Rocketdolls.

Tickets for Saturday's game are $8 at the door. Pre-sale tickets are available if you contact the Alamogordo Roller Derby through their Facebook page before the match on Saturday, tickets are $5 and children 10 years-old and younger are free.

Active duty military tickets are also available, tickets are $5.

The Alamogordo Roller Derby will be donating 10 percent of all roller derby sales from Saturday's derby bout to the Ochoa family.

Ludington said 7-year-old Bella Ochoa was recently diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma. 

“We will be raising money for her family. Bella’s family is active with youth sports, so this is kind of giving back to them,” Ludington said.

To donate funds for Bella’s chemotherapy, visit her GoFundMe page at www.gofundme.com/bella-ochoa

For more information on the Alamogordo Roller League, visit their Facebook page or their website at www.alamogordorollerderby.com