Skater FAQ

Where do I need to get my butt and skates and by when?

The Great Southern Slam will be held in Adelaide on Saturday the 9th to Monday the 11th of June 2012.

Skater registration will happen on the afternoon of Friday the 8th, from 5pm to 9pm, and registered skaters can get on the tracks for a casual skate during that time.

Early news skater schedule:

Friday June 8

  • 5 pm – 9 pm, Registration at Adelaide Showground, Skating allowed

Saturday June 9

  • 10 am – 8 pm, Prelims and Challenge Bouts

Sunday June 10

  • 10 am – 8 pm, Quarter Finals, Match Up Bouts and Challenge Bouts

Monday June 11

  • 10 am – 6 pm, Semi Finals and Finals, Match Up Bouts and Challenge Bouts

What’s the track/bouting surface like?

The bouting surface is polished concrete = hard and slippery (fast). The Wayville pavilion concrete is slightly rougher (more grippy).
Yes, it hurts to fall on concrete. Not that you care.

Should I pack grippy or hard wheels?

Of course it’s a matter of personal preference. But we thought you might want to hear from people who’ve skated the surface.

Some wheel recommendations:

  • If you like to grip to the floor with no slide whatsoever – 90a hardness or softer: Atom Stinger and Centuri, Backspin Trackstar, grey or orange Sure-Grip Fugitives, purple or blue Sure-Grip Fugitive Mid, Sure-Grip Sugar, etc.
  • If you like a lot of grip, but a little slide too – 91a-93a hardness: Blue Hyper Witch Doctor and Cannibal, green Hyper Shaman, red, blue, pink or black Sure-Grip Fugitives, yellow Sure-Grip Fugitive Mid, Sure-Grip Optics, Sure Grip Power Plus and Interceptor (except purple or green), Backspin Scribble, Blueprint, Remix and Remix Lite, Atom G-Rods, Omega and Omega 2.0, etc.
  • If you like some grip but not too much and like to be able to slide – 94a-97a hardness: Orange Hyper Witch Doctor or Cannibal, Pink or white Hyper Shaman, green Sure-Grip Fugitives, green or purple Sure-Grip Power Plus or Interceptor, Atom D-Rods, Superfreak, Fusion, and Lowboy, Labeda Heckler, Assault, Diva, Classic Speed and Stiletto, etc.

The above also applies to your weight – if you are lighter you will probably need a grippier wheel, if you are heavier you probably won’t need to go as grippy.

The floor in the Jubilee pavilion is a little slipperier than the Wayville pavilion. The floor in the Wayville hall is more abrasive and feels grippier, but will wear out wheels fairly quickly.

“I don’t like too much grip, being able to slide is important to me. On these floors I like my pink Hyper Shamans and Atom D-Rods” – Rebelicious!

“I’ve used Fugies at the Showground for every single bout and they’ve never let me down while jamming or blocking!” – Barrelhouse Bessy

So when the refs wave their hands all funny at me, what are the rules?

WFTDA STANDARDIZED FLAT TRACK ROLLER DERBY RULES
Updated May 26, 2010 – will be played for all bouts.
The exception is that bout halves for preliminary bouts on the first day will be shorter (20 mins).

Can I run around naked?

Sure, if you like.
But mid June in Adelaide has an average temperature of around 16C maximum, and it gets down to as cold as 9C minimum. Pack leg warmers and hoodies for between bouts and for after-parties.

Can my friends/mum/pet monkey get in for free?

Not really. No.

Teams can register up to 20 skaters, a couple of NSOs and a herd of ref zebras. Everyone else needs to buy a ticket to help cover the costs of putting on the tournament. But it’s a pretty cheap ticket price for SO MUCH DERBY!

Pretty sure you can’t bring your pet monkey, either. Sorry.

I’m not skating and I’m bored. What can I do in between bouts?

Well, apart from watching the other teams bout, and general derby girl hijinks, there will be a skating track set up for registered skaters to use at any time.

I’m in Adelaide for longer than just the tournament dates, and I am desperate for a skate… WHERE ARE THE INDOOR SKATING VENUES?

Okay, in order of proximity to the city:

  • St Clair Recreation Centre in Woodville: Saturdays roller disco 1:30-4:00pm $8 inc skate hire, available for group bookings Saturdays and Sundays, at around $50 per hour. 
Bus and Outer Harbor line train access
  • Blackwood Recreation Centre in Eden Hills: Sunday 3:30-5:00pm. 
Bus and Blackwood line train access
  • Ingle Farm Recreation Centre: Friday 6:00-8:30pm $5 inc skate hire
  • Noarlunga Leisure Centre:
 Skating timetable with fun theme nights every three months on a Friday night, and 2-4pm sessions every second Sunday, download the program here to check dates. Bus and Noarlunga Centre line train access
  • Gawler Sport and Community Centre: 
Fridays 7:00-9:30pm roller disco $5 inc skate hire. Saturdays 10:00am-12 noon $4 inc skate hire. Gawler line train access

If the weather’s fine, there are many netball courts on the corner of West Terrace and South Terrace in the city, and these are ideal for an outdoor skate and are usually free during the day.

Muscles! Ouch! Where can I go to have a spa or swim?

The Adelaide Aquatic Centre has huge indoor swimming pools and provides spa, sauna and steam room facilities. The centre is in North Adelaide, about five minutes from the city centre. Catch a taxi, ride a bike and use the near by bike lockers, or take a 235 or 239 bus from Grenfell Street. Centre hours are 5am to 10pm Monday to Saturday, and 7am to 8pm on Sundays and Public Holidays. Entry fee $6.80 per person.

Oh crap my laces/kneepads/mouthguard broke, where can I get another one?

Visit Da Klinic at 20 Currie Street Adelaide, specialising in all your derby needs. They have been in the industry for over ten years and are still heavily involved within the local and national scene. ph 8212 0028. Open Friday 10am-7pm, Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 12pm-5pm.

For boot fixes, such as replacement eyelets and speed strap repairs, go to Ideal Shoe Store at 174 Hutt Street Adelaide, ph 8223 4017.

For spare mouthguards, try A-Mart Sports upstairs in the City Cross arcade just off the King William Street end of Rundle Mall, or Rebel Sports in the Myer Centre on Rundle Mall.

For spare shoelaces, try the above sports stores, or a supermarket. At a pinch, some of the larger petrol stations sell socks and shoelaces.

For spare fishnets, try Target at the Rundle Street/Pulteney Street end of Rundle Mall, or any of the major department stores in Rundle Mall.
Check the Adelaide Guide section of this site or ask a local for more details.

Oh crap I twisted or pulled a knee/wrist/elbow, where’s a good physio close by?

I’m sure there are plenty of great physios in Adelaide, but here are a couple of derby-friendly places we go to regularly:

Wakefield Sports Clinic (Sports Care)
270 Wakefield St
Open 8.30am – 6pm Mon – Fri, 10am – 3pm Saturdays
Ph: 8232 5833
Toll Free Sports Injury line: 1800 888 925

Sarah Kibble – Massage
Remedial massage, personal training, Exercise Physiology/Exercise Therapy, Nutrition Counselling, Sport Specific conditioning and supplements, Pre and Post Natal exercise programming and massage. Mobile Service.
Ph: 0406 426 422 (mobile)

I need medication at a weird hour. Where can I get it?

Midnight Pharmacy
 opens Monday to Saturday 7.00am to 12 midnight; Sundays and Public Holidays 9.00am to 12 midnight.

Midnight Pharmacy
13 West Terrace
Mon-Sat 7am-Midnight, Sunday and Holidays 9am-Midnight
Ph: 8231 6333

D.G. Cacas Chemist
127 Hindley St
Mon-Fri 9am-7pm, Sat 9:30am-1pm and
6pm-10pm
Ph: 8231 3550

For anything urgent outside of these hours, go directly to a hospital.

Oops… I think I broke part of me. Where’s the nearest hospital?

In an emergency, dial 000
and ask for the type of emergency service you require, e.g. AMBULANCE

The nearest public all hours hospital to the city and showground is:

Royal Adelaide Hospital
(Public, All Hours Emergency)
North Terrace Adelaide – North end, near Rundle Street & Botanic Gardens
ph 8222 4000 for patient enquiries

Also, near the Adelaide Showground:

Ashford Hospital
(Private, 8am to 10pm Emergency Hours)
55 Anzac Highway Ashford
ph 8375 5222 for patient enquiries

I am STARVING and it’s 3a.m. Help me?

Don’t panic. Here are your options:

The Pancake House
Gilbert Place, Adelaide
(just behind the corner of King William and Hindley, near Rundle Mall)
Pancake-based meals both sweet and savoury, roast potato chunks, beer, cider
24 hours 7 days

Marcellina’s Pizza House
273 Hindley Street, Adelaide (head towards West Terrace)
ph 8211 7560 for delivery
Pizza, pasta, seafood, gluten free pizza, beer wine & spirits
7 days, until very late (around 4 or 5am)

McDonald‘s West Terrace
Corner of West Terrace and Hindley Street, Adelaide
The usual golden arch thing. Burgers and would you like fries with that. No alcohol.
24 hours 7 days

Café de Vilis
Corner of Manchester Street and South Road, Mile End
approximately 10 minutes or $10-$15 by taxi from the city
The café outlet of a local pie and pasty factory.
Pies, pasties, vili dogs, quiches, lamingtons, tarts, beer and wine. Try a pie floater.
24 hours 7 days

Bakery on O’Connell
44 O’Connell Street, North Adelaide
approximately 5 minutes or $8-$10 by taxi from the city
Baked things, toasted sandwiches, slush puppies, soup, energy drinks, Internet access. No alcohol.
24 hours 7 days

I have a question you didn’t answer!

No problem. Email one of the contacts on this site and we’ll answer it.

Is this going to be the most fun I’ve ever had in my entire life?

Quite possibly.