CARIBOU, Maine — The Melody Roller Rink will host a fundraising event for the Aroostook Roller Derby team “Biohazards” on Sept. 29 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. during which time anyone can skate without paying admission as long as they make a donation at the door.
Rink operator and owner David Doody said 100 percent of the donations will benefit the local derby team, adding that while he would like to see the team raise as much as it can, people can give as little or as much as they want and still skate for free.
In the meantime, Doody and a handful of volunteers are working hard to renovate the rink for the fundraising event, which will kick off a new season for both the derby team and the rink itself.
This will mark Melody Roller Rink’s 54th year of operation and the Biohazard’s sixth year of competing.
“We want people to come and hang out,” said Aroostook Roller Derby coach Jay Olson. “We’re working on getting door prizes, and we just want people to come see the building, meet some of the derby girls and, if they love skating, maybe get them to join the team.”
While the team has roughly 20 members, Olson said that ideally the team could use over twice as many members.
“We have a decent group, but we still need a lot of people off skates to help out,” he said. “For a bout, you have a lot of people tracking penalties and keeping score, and we often have to ask other teams to bring extra people with them to help us out.”
He added that he would like to see “at least 30 people on and off skates in addition to what we currently have.”
All are encouraged to join, regardless of age, with current members ranging from 18 to in their 50s, and all at differing skill levels.
Olson said that he and the other members of the team have had several newcomers join who initially knew nothing about skating, but who trained to become great players.
There is no specific fundraising goal for the team, but Olson said he would like to see the event draw in enough money to help out with travel expenses for long-distance games and with renting the Melody Roller Rink for practice sessions.
“We want to help everyone out,” he said. “When we go to Prince Edward Island, everyone has to pay to cross a big bridge, and we don’t want everyone to have to pay for everything out of pocket.”
Olson added that, depending on a player’s level of dedication, roller derby requires a significant investment for gear.
“You have to buy skates, elbow guards, wrist guards, and a helmet,” he said. “There are starter kits out there for about $300, but you’re not going to like it after the first year, so I always tell them to buy a good pair of skates right at the start.”
All in all, Doody said he viewed the event as a “win-win for everybody.”
“This is the first time we’ve done a fundraiser like this,” he said. “If it pans out well, it will probably become an annual thing to kick off our new season, which runs from the beginning of October until the end of May.”
Doody said off months give him an opportunity to renovate the facility, which is currently in the process of receiving new carpets, a new handrail, and a new water line that hooks directly to the city’s water supply as opposed to a well that the rink had been using in previous years.
“We have a lot to do,” said Doody on Sept. 14, “but we have some great volunteer help and we’ll have it shipshape and ready to go by the 29th.”
Doody also moved the sound system from the DJ booth back into the main office area, allowing him to take care of sound lights, and skate rentals from one central location. He said he is often the only person manning the rink, and that he will be better equipped to take care of all skaters needs, from monitoring the safety of young skaters, to selling concessions and controlling the music.
On Friday, Doody and Olson were going through about 500 pairs of skates, checking the wheels, bearings, and plates ensuring everything is in working order. Many of these renovations are unseen to customers, but are time consuming nonetheless. Doody said, without the help of volunteers, none of this would be possible.
“Thank God for good friends and good volunteers,” Doody said.
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- While renovating the Caribou Melody Roller Rink, business owner David Doody found this pair of vintage skates from the mid 20th century. Unlike skates seen today, Doody said these steel skates feature steel wheels, an axle held by a nut instead of a bearing, and straps to attach them over a shoe. (Chris Bouchard)
