One look and Lee Windsor was hooked.
The 41-year-old Langley resident is a proud member of the Free Agents women's roller derby team, which hits the floor tomorrow (Friday) at 7 p.m. at Poirier Sports Complex versus the Freedom Fighters.
"I was always athletic but I was never really involved in a team sport before," said Windsor, who caught the roller derby bug five years ago when a friend invited her out to come watch a match. "I was like 'Hey, that's really cool.' Then I went an watched another one and said again, 'Hey, that's really cool.' After that, I just had to try it and loved it instantly."
So do many others, apparently. A Penticton Ironman competitor in 2003, Windsor (who guys by the derby name of Mya Diction) is one of several female athletes who have gravitated to roller derby in the last half-decade.
Windsor, whose husband also toils in roller derby under the moniker Mean Streak, said the Lower Mainland has grown from two to eight leagues merely since the time she joined.
"I love the people... the roller derby community is so open and welcoming," said Windsor, who has already suffered cracked ribs and a dislocated shoulder during her relatively brief action in the rugged sport. "On the track, it's a lot of hitting and aggression but after it's all high-fives and hugs and we all go out together."
Windsor and company are working to introduce the general public more to roller derby, which she said features more than 50 teams across B.C.
"I'm trying to promote it as a legitimate sport," she said.
