A line of eight bodies crouch, some have a roller skate flexed into the rubber floor, all are touching a teammate in preparation for the sounding blast when they'll have to jostle with the two players behind them - known as jammers - who seek to fight their way through the human wall.
This is roller derby, with a twist.
The eclectic group is a mix of men in black and women in red, armed with protective helmets, knee pads and elbow guards.
The Terminal City All-Stars took on the Vancouver Murder, the city's only men's derby team, a week ago Saturday in preparation for the women's long season of elite derby, which kicks off this spring and culminates in the world championships in November 2013. Up against big bodies, dexterity is paramount when co-captain Beretta Lynch, known in league play as "Bobbi Bar-barich," shifts and twists to create holes between bodies that she can speed through. Players dance to keep in bounds, circling around bodies with legs stretched in ways you wonder how their ligaments remain intact.
Lynch said playing against the men is great preparation. "It's significantly more intense. And there's also a big mental game because guys are different. They're aggressive in different ways," said Lynch, who moved to Vancouver from Edmonton.
Lynch and her teammates don't seem fazed by the hits. More than once an errant shoulder or a purposeful check levels one of the women, and just as quickly they're on their skates again.
Off the floor, Kotone Frankowski helped organize the event, but in the game it's her job as a blocker to get low to try and thwart the size difference, creating space for her player or forcing the opposing jammer out of bounds and across the line of the green-taped track. "It's great training for us," said Frankowski, whose bright green helmet separates her from the crowd. "When we hit them, we tend to bounce off," she added.
The men's size proved the difference in this scrimmage, but that was partly the point.
Rob Shannon, known on the floor for Vancouver Murder as "Sideshow Rob," is involved in derby as a player, referee and coach. Shannon said that the team represents the best female players in Western Canada, but they'll face stiff competition in their league.
"They need to be able to struggle against teams that are bigger and stronger," said Shannon, adding that his team struggled against the women's strategy.
"They're just talented."
The scrimmage was the All-Stars last game in B.C. before several away matches after which they will kick off the season at home on Feb. 9.
"I'm really excited for this season," said Frankowski adding they have big goals for the year. Their motto is "Strive for 25" - meaning to raise $25,000 for their extensive travelling costs and increase their fitness levels by 25 per cent.
Lynch said roller derby is the fastest growing women's sport in the world and that its attraction for her is that it draws an alternative crowd, empowers women and creates a close-knit community.
"It's a really awesome community," Lynch said. "It's a full-contact aggressive game for women, and how many options do we have?"
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