What pads should I get?
I recommend getting the 187 Pro pads if you can afford them - they will save your knees! The knee pads are thick and sturdy and have held up very well to all the abuse of practicing on asphalt. Also, if you are a truly novice skater, consider getting crash pants in addition to the default gear to protect your hips and tailbone.
What kind of skates should I get?
Best thing to do it come to practice and talk to the girls. Read online reviews - different boot models have different fits. A skate with a leather boot is generally preferred because it lasts longer than the plastic boots. Aluminum plates are suggested for heavier skaters but we have been doing fine with nylon - no one has broken a skate so far. If you are buying a Rookie Package deal from SinCitySkates.com or Kauai Skate consider the wheels on your skates. You will want outdoor or hybrid outdoor/indoor wheels. We practice 3x/week on asphalt and 1x/week on vinyl sport court. Sin City's Deluxe packages come with an extra pair of outdoor wheels so you can swap your wheels depending on the skating surface. Or you can customize your order with hybrid wheels and bearings so your skates will be ready for any surface.
Anything else I might need?
Take your measurements carefully! Measure twice! See sizing information here for skate gear. Also, get Duct tape or hard toe caps from Kauai Skate. The asphalt will EAT the tips of your skates very quickly so if you want to keep your boots nice get caps or a roll of duct tape (Gorilla Tape seems to last the longest) to use to wrap your skate toes.
For a wealth of information about selecting and maintaining gear visit Sin City's Blog
Fresh Meat
Everyone can participate in some capacity. Skater membership in PRG is open to all women age 18 and older. Roller derby is a full-contact sport so all skating participants are required to carry health insurance and have appropriate protective gear.
Gear Guidelines:
- HELMET: needs to be fitted to your head.
- MOUTH GUARD: must fit securely over your upper set of teeth. This protects your teeth and protects you from concussions.
- WRIST GUARDS: must fit securely. The most popular brands for derby pads are Triple 8, Protec and the 187ʼs.
- ELBOW PADS: again, must fit securely.
- KNEE PADS: must fit securely and stay in place when falling. Knee gaskets or knee braces can also be worn under knee pads for added protection. Quality knee pads are highly recommended. If youʼre going to sink money into your derby equipment, spend it on knee pads. Knees are important and hard to replace. Many a derby career has been ended due to knee injuries, so protect yourself!
- SKATES: we use quad speed skates. Refs are allowed to wear roller blades if they choose.
You can obtain your gear locally or order online from the mainland. Our recommended mainland skate vendor and sponsor is Sin City Skates, located in San Diego.
Our local skate shop sponsor (and PRG Member) is Kauai Skate, owned by Jewanna Brawl.
If you want to make friends, be a positive role model, and transform yourself into a lean-mean- skatin'-machine, then this is for you!
Even if you don't skate you can still participate - we need volunteers to assist with bouts, practices, fundraising, public relations and promotion.
Every little bit helps! Support Hawaii Island roller derby and Paradise Roller Girls with a donation or participate in our fundraising efforts.
Check out our awesome sponsors and find out how you can become an Paradise Roller Girls derby league sponsor.
