Mission Statement
Austin Roller Derby is committed to cement modern Roller Derby as a uniquely Austin institution by creating equitable skate opportunities for the community and ultimately finding a permanent physical space to call home for all types of skating.
Equity
Austin Roller Derby strives to make access to roller skating in any form as equitable as possible, removing barriers for low income adults and children and giving them the tools they need to thrive in an otherwise prohibitively expensive sport.
Educational Resources
We are accomplishing this by providing universal access to the tools needed to skate safety. This includes a library of roller skates in all sizes, as well as safety gear. This is provided largely by the Roller Derby community, and organized and distributed through Austin Roller Derby.
We also provide 3 levels of free learn to skate programs; working with in house and guest trainers who volunteer to teach at no cost to the community, regardless of income.
A Skating Home for All
Our secondary goal is to have a sports facility where roller skaters can go and experience the joy of roller skating. As the Austin area slowly becomes more and more expensive, these former facilities where roller derby athletes would train and grow have all but disappeared- this once thriving sport that was once the epitome of “Keep Austin Weird” now must be played at outdoor parks or expensive facilities that are not affordable to most leagues. Outdoor park areas are increasingly being taken over by other sports as well, leaving the options for roller derby slim.
Our facility intends to include a banked roller derby track, two flat tracks, and space for our friends at Slam Portal- a local comedy wrestling promotion. This will serve the needs of 6 roller derby leagues in Austin including two junior derby teams. We intend on having space for spectators, and access to the facility for art, jam, and speed skaters. Our stretch goals will include room for additional athletic equipment and vendors. Our intention is to ensure that costs remain low for all roller skating athletes regardless of what discipline they skate, with a special focus on preserving the roller derby community and its history as an Austin revival sport.
Community and Athleticism
Roller skating is not only an excellent source of cardio and strength building, but provides a unique sense of community when done individually or recreationally. Individual skaters are connected by a shared love of learning.
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