OUR HISTORY

Founded in 2008, the Winnipeg Roller Derby League is Winnipeg’s only flat track roller derby league.

WRDL is a skater run and operated league, full of dedicated and passionate skaters. There’s a place for everyone in our league with WRDL offering various levels of competitiveness including rec league, fun league scrimmages, and our WFTDA charter team, the Winnipeg Roller Derby League All-Stars. WRDL strives to create an inclusive, safe, and non-judgemental environment for everyone regardless of race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation.

Our Mission

The Winnipeg Roller Derby League is committed to the sport of women’s flat track roller derby through creating a fun, healthy, safe, and inclusive atmosphere, while giving back to our community.

What We do

Gear required to skate:

All safety gear is required to play.

• Helmet (bike helmets with points are not permitted)

• New mouth guard (optional for officials)

• Elbow pads

• Wrist guards

• Knee pads

• Roller skates - skates can be rented for a fee if needed, prices may vary

Winnipeg unfortunately does not have a roller skate shop. There are a couple derby specific shops in Canada where gear can be purchased from: Roller Girl, Lowlife, Nerd Roller Skates.

What is Roller Derby?

Roller derby is a full-contact and fast paced sport played on roller skates. Modern roller derby is played on a flat oval track with two teams consisting of 15 skaters. The game is played in two 30 minute halves. Each half is divided into units of play called “jams” which last up to 2 minutes. Every jam, each team fields 5 players, 1 jammer and 4 blockers. Points are scored by the jammer lapping and passing the opposing blockers. Blockers attempt to prevent the jammer from passing and scoring points. 

The sport of roller derby was created in the 1930s by Leo Seltzer. Originally envisaged as an endurance race it eventually evolved to incorporate more contact, excitement and established the general structure of modern roller derby. Two teams skate around the track and score points once members of the other team are passed. 

Roller derby’s popularity faded in the 1950s but saw a resurgence in the 1970s. This version of roller derby was much more theatrical and dramatic, even drawing comparisons to wrestling. Does Skinny Minny Miller ring any bells? Roller derby again fell out of popularity, but not for long.

The game was once again revived in the early 2000s in Austin, Texas. This is the version of the game that is still played today around the world. Shortly after the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) was founded in 2004 and the sport continued to grow. Roller derby is now played across the globe, with leagues on almost every continent, and is still growing!