Skip to main content
Fresh off a roller derby world championship last fall, Portland’s Rose City Rollers kicks off its new season this Saturday, Jan. 11. The doubleheader will be held at the Hangar at Oaks Amusement Park.
“There’s a lot of exciting momentum going into this season because we just won our fifth world championship in November, so we’re feeling ready to get into it,” says Loren Kaplan-Mutch, Rose City Rollers’ spokeswoman.
In November, Rose City Rollers’ all-star travel team, the Wheels of Justice, took out the Arch Rival All-Stars from St. Louis to win the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association’s bracket-style tournament, hosted right at Oaks Park.
The Jan. 11 season opener features Heartless Heathers vs. Guns N Rollers at 5:30 pm, followed by Break Neck Betties against the High Rollers at 8 pm. Fun extras include food carts, a bar, team merch and raffles, Kaplan-Mutch says. (In addition to doing marketing for the Rollers, Kaplan-Mutch competed on the championship team. Derby name: “Mutch Mayhem.”)
Founded in 2004 by Kim “Rocket Mean” Stegeman, the now-iconic league has grown into a bona fide subculture in Portland, complete with four home teams, a travel team, two junior derby programs, a recreational program, and the Skatemobile, a fully stocked mobile skate truck.
The league is introducing theme nights for the first time this season, which runs from January to June. Mark your calendars for the following:
- Jan. 31: Emo Night
- Feb. 8: Wicked Night
- Feb. 21: ‘80s Ski Night
- March 14: Pi Night
- April 4: Zodiac Night
- April 18: Angels vs. Devils
- May 2: Disco Night
- May 16: Superheroes
- June 13: Werewolves vs. Vampires
SEE IT: Rose City Rollers Opening Night at the Hangar at Oaks Amusement Park, 7805 SE Oaks Park Way, rollerderbytickets.com/events/161664817/1-11-adult-home-team-season-opener-doubleheader. Doors at 4:30 pm, first game at 5:30 pm Saturday, Jan. 11. $21 for one game, $35 for both, kids 6 and under free.