Mackay City Rollers will play host to the first ever RADfest. A bootcamp and scrimmage weekend for junior roller derby players from Regional Queensland.
RADfest takes its name from Regional Alliance Derby and sees skaters between the ages of 8 and 18 from Rockhampton and Townsville converge on Mackay.
Mackay City Rollers has secured a lineup of experienced coaches from Southeast Queensland including Squeals on Wheels, Rumpofsteelskin, and Vaxter.
Squeals on Wheels is a returning Mackay skater who is a two-time silver medalist for Australia playing for Skate Australia Women’s Roller Derby Team at the World Roller Games in China and Spain and Queensland representative in the Australia National Roller Derby Championships; a tournament which Queensland won. Most recently this year, Squeals earned a position on the Skate Australia Women’s Roller Derby Team for the third time and was also successfully appointed as the Coach for the Skate Australia Men’s Roller Derby Team.
Mackay City Rollers President Splitz says, “We are really excited to have such an array of experienced coaches attending this weekend to impart their many years of skating and roller derby knowledge to our juniors.
“Regional events like this are so critical in rebuilding regional roller derby after memberships took a big hit during covid.
“We are trying to breathe life back into derby across the region while building strong connections with our neighbouring leagues in both Junior and Senior derby.
“Roller Derby in regional areas isn’t like other sports where kids compete in a regular weekly competition or season. Our skaters have to travel for opportunities to play competitively or bring skaters here to Mackay.”
