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HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) – Harrisonburg Roller Derby, Rocktown Rollers, will compete against Chemical Valley from Huntington, WV tomorrow, Saturday, April 5, 2025, at Funky’s Skate Center. This is Rocktown Roller’s first home bout of the season.
According to Lindy Suster, aka “Sadie Masochist”, Roller Derby is a sport played on a track that is shaped like an oval. She describes the sport as NASCAR meeting rugby.
“You’ve got 2 point-scorers, and you’ve got 2 packs,” said Suster. “Each team is trying to get their point score through and then stop the other one.”
The 2 point-scorers have to legally block the pack with a set of rules such as no biting, hitting the face, going out of bounds, etc. The first person to finish the first lap can call off the jam, and points are earned based on how many people they pass in the second lap.
“That’s where you get the NASCAR comparison because we’re trying to get through there,” said Suster. “Obviously the other team is trying to stop you and get their own person through, and that’s when all the fun hitting comes in.”
Ashley Rizzo Csady, aka “Nancy DrewBlood”, is one of the co-captains for the B Team and said she brings the team together to discuss what they want to accomplish in the competition.
“I really want to make sure that the goals that we set are both attainable and stretches a little bit,” said Csady. “But definitely want to make sure that we’re having a good time.”
While the B Team is not a charter like their A Team, they are focused on the competition while still having fun.
“We think we take ourselves a little less seriously,” said Csady. “But one of the things that we’ve been doing, the other co-captain and I, we write out cards for the team before the game. I bought a bag of sweets and then another thing of Gatorade for the team.”
Suster described what goes into training, such as footwork and also synchronization.
“Within your pack you have three skaters in a triangle and being able to move together as a unit to stop an opposing jammer, it’s not the easiest thing in the world,” said Suster. “If they lose the jammer, how do they reform and get them again?”
Competitions usually last about 2 hours, so training involves having endurance for that period of time and after taking a few hits.
Suster is also a member of the A Team, and her training regimen consists of weightlifting 5 times a week, keeping up with speedskating and attending more practices.
“Trying to eat healthy, keep my protein levels up,” said Suster. “If it’s for world competitions, anything to that level, I’ll stop drinking for several months and keep my nutrition down on point.”
Both also encouraged the importance of hydrating while participating in the sport.
“I focus a lot on shoulders, because a lot of our hits come from the hip region,” said Suster. “Which is going to be naturally strong because we’re skaters. But you don’t think about your shoulder blades and clavicles. I’ve seen many breaks from that. So, I tend to focus a lot on shoulders, chest press, anything of the upper body. Core strength has to be key, because everything you’re doing is balancing and recoiling and you have to keep your center of gravity.”
Both Csady and Suster are very passionate about Roller Derby and the Rocktown Rollers.
“It’s probably the cornerstone of my mental health,” said Suster. “This is the longest relationship I’ve ever been in. So almost 20 years, like 16 years, so that’s a long timeframe. I’ve skated my entire life. It is the absolute pure sense of joy.”
“Derby has definitely been something for me that took me out of my comfort zone,” said Csady. “I am not someone that would go seek out things outside of a small group of friends. When I found Derby, I was like this is insane and also so fun. I’ve played sports my whole life and I’ve been out of sports for quite some time. So, getting back into it has been really cool.”
Csady said the best part of Derby is the community and connecting with them inside and outside the track.
Doors open for the bout at 4 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the door or on their website: Rocktown Rollers vs. Chemical Valley Roller Derby.
Csady said to bring a camping chair, snacks and drinks will be provided, and there will be an after-party at Sage Bird Cider Works after the competition.
“We’ll still be having a good time,” said Csady. “The other team will come too.”
For more information about the event on Saturday, April 5th, or about Rocktown Rollers, check out their website here: ROCKTOWN ROLLERS – Rocktown Rollers.