While many roller derby mamas admit to a careful balancing act between family, work and roller derby, it’s a commitment they think is worth it.
“Having a team you do not want to let down definitely helps you justify taking the time out of family duties to meet your fitness needs,” says Fackler, who calls her supportive, derby-loving husband a lifesaver.
“Roller derby was the first consistent, regular exercise I stuck with after having kids,” says Salome, whose six-year-old daughter and three-and-a-half year old son cheer her, while her orthodontist husband makes mouth guards for the team.
“It’s incredibly fun and great exercise without feeling at all like you are ‘working out’. It is also a wonderful stress reliever. Hitting each other on the track, legally of course, is such an excellent way to work out the frustrations that build up.”
Salome first got involved after hearing how much fun several neighbors who played on the Austin Roller Moms were having. The league even provides on-site babysitting.
Salome describes the league as an intensely supportive and nurturing group of women, adding that one skater is a grandmother while another has five kids. “You never know who you will end up on the track with. The 18-year-olds are cheering on the 38-year-olds who are cheering on the single mom who is cheering on the 46-year-old.”
Deveau, currently on maternity leave from the Calgary Roller Derby League, can’t wait to get back on the track.
“It’s nice to be into something that really breaks the mold,”
Cailynn Klingbeil
While many roller derby mamas admit to a careful balancing act between family, work and roller derby, it’s a commitment they think is worth it.
“Having a team you do not want to let down definitely helps you justify taking the time out of family duties to meet your fitness needs,” says Fackler, who calls her supportive, derby-loving husband a lifesaver.
“Roller derby was the first consistent, regular exercise I stuck with after having kids,” says Salome, whose six-year-old daughter and three-and-a-half year old son cheer her, while her orthodontist husband makes mouth guards for the team.
“It’s incredibly fun and great exercise without feeling at all like you are ‘working out’. It is also a wonderful stress reliever. Hitting each other on the track, legally of course, is such an excellent way to work out the frustrations that build up.”
Salome first got involved after hearing how much fun several neighbors who played on the Austin Roller Moms were having. The league even provides on-site babysitting.
Salome describes the league as an intensely supportive and nurturing group of women, adding that one skater is a grandmother while another has five kids. “You never know who you will end up on the track with. The 18-year-olds are cheering on the 38-year-olds who are cheering on the single mom who is cheering on the 46-year-old.”
Deveau, currently on maternity leave from the Calgary Roller Derby League, can’t wait to get back on the track.
“It’s nice to be into something that really breaks the mold,”
As a child Cailynn Klingbeil received a portable cassette recorder one Christmas. She loved interviewing relatives on the device and documenting various childhood investigations. While Cailynn has since moved on to a more sophisticated recorder and subjects that are not related to her, she continues to pursue journalism in many forms. It’s a fitting outlet for her intense curiosity and satisfies her passion for writing. Cailynn is in her final year of a communications degree at the University of Calgary. When she’s not busy with school or freelancing, she enjoys live music, running, road tripping and her winter-only hobbies of cross-country skiing and knitting.
