IT’S not for the faint-hearted but that hasn’t stopped Maria Foreman from Maitland strapping on her skates and elbowing in on one of the fastest-growing sports in Australia.
Known to her teammates by the roller derby name of Stitch This, Maria took up the contact sport four years ago when she turned 50. Described as rugby league on skates, the fast-paced game involves teams skating around a flat track in bouts.
Teams of five (four defensive “blockers” and a “jammer”) take to the track in the bouts. The blockers usually skate in a pack, trying to block the opposition jammer and make way for their own jammer. Jammers score points by lapping the pack.
“My daughter was playing so I thought I’d buy some roller skates and skate with her,” said Maria, a child protection case worker. “The last time I’d worn skates was with friends down at the local rink decades ago.
“But she told me to take them off and learn how to fall properly first before skating. So I joined a local club on the Central Coast and learned the basics.”
Members go through a training program of between nine and 12 months before they are able to “bout”. The first stage is called “fresh meat” training, before you move on to the “contact” level, then “bouting”, where you can compete against other leagues.
Maria is nearly at the bout level and is now a member of the Maitland Roller Derby League, which she says is very family-friendly. She trains twice a week and goes to the gym regularly.
Her moniker, Stitch This, came from her other hobby, sewing. “Having the roller derby name adds a bit of intrigue and creates a bit of atmosphere at the bouts,” Maria said. “Some players, like my daughter who was Snow Wicked, also see it as a sort of alter-ego.”
For now, she’s the oldest player in her league – and while she says she has experienced some ageism from competitors, her age hasn’t stopped her from taking part.
“Sometimes I’m competing against 18-year-olds, but I’m not asking for anyone to treat me any differently.
“Before I started I did wonder how I would go with the physical hits and falling over, but after the first couple of times of landing on the floor you just get back up and I haven’t really had many falls – I’m getting more flexible.
“I did recently have one injury where someone skated back over my hand, rupturing a ligament in my thumb, but that had nothing to do with my age.”
The thing Maria loves most about roller derby is the social aspect, the teamwork and the camaraderie.
“Everyone is accepted no matter what their fitness level. We come in all shapes and sizes.
“I do take on the motherly role in the league and check up on people if they’re not turning up to see how they are.”
Coming from an athletic family, it’s no surprise Maria can keep up with her younger counterparts. “My sister is over 50 and just did her first marathon, my great aunty was line dancing and doing aqua aerobics in her 80s, and Mum is still walking.”
So what does her family make of her speed-skating pastime?
“My children love it and think it’s great. But Mum gets a bit worried about it, especially after my injury!”
