SEQUIM — The roller derby team the Port Scandalous Scandals will host its first bout of the 2025 season on Saturday at the Sequim Boys & Girls Club at 400 W. Fir St. against the Bellingham Roller Betties.
Tickets are $15 at the door. Children 12 and under are free. Tickets can be purchased online for $12 plus a $2.41 service fee by searching for Port Scandalous and brown paper tickets.
The Port Scandalous Roller Derby league was established in 2010 and had its first bout season in 2011.
The league used to be composed of three teams: Strait Shooters (the home team), Intense City Rollers (a traveling team) and Roller Punks (a junior team). Now Port Scandalous’ only active team is the Scandals.
COVID put a halt to bouts in 2020.
In 2023, the league had dwindled to a core group of four to six athletes showing up for practice. Since then, PSRD has regrown itself and returned to bouting July of 2024.
“We are still a small but mighty team,” said league vice president Madelyn Doffing, explaining that, out of 18 active members, 12 are skaters. Fifteen skaters are considered a full roster for a bout, so “we still have to ask for a couple skaters from other teams — pick-up skaters — to play with us when we do a bout.
“Even our pick-up skaters love our attitude and the environment we foster in our league. A couple of our consistent pick-up skaters travel from areas like Auburn or Bremerton to play with us because our team has such a kind and welcoming energy that’s easy to mesh into,” Doffing said.
“It’s easily my favorite part about this team, how they make it feel like home no matter where we are when we are together.”
Many of the people on the team are mothers, including Doffing.
She said she joined the league last February after stumbling upon a PSRD event on Facebook.
“I didn’t know that roller derby was an actively played sport still, let alone having a local team,” she said. “It got me interested enough to go down the rabbit hole on TikTok of roller derby videos. Within an hour of research, and knowing I had a bit of rink skating under my belt from childhood, I decided it was something I wanted to try.
“I hear other skaters in the sport say ‘Roller Derby finds you when you need it most’ and I don’t think there’s a truer statement than that. The camaraderie is one of my favorite parts of the sport, along with the inviting and encouraging vibe that PSRD strives to foster.”
Doffing said that after a hard day, roller derby is an outlet.
”It reminds me of who I was prior to children, it keeps me in shape, keeps me social, and it makes me proud of myself,” she said. “At this point, I couldn’t imagine life without being a part of the sport somehow.”
She added, “I’ll likely volunteer to help at bouts long after my body stops allowing me to play a full- contact sport anymore. I’ve been made a forever fan.”
Those with questions or who would like more information can email portscandalousrollerderby@gmail.com.
Saturday event
Online sales stop 24 hours prior to the event.
People should not attempt to buy tickets through the Port Scandalous website as they are experiencing technical difficulties.
The venue is wheelchair accessible. Trackside seating and the first row of bleachers are off limits to those under the age of 18.
There will be a raffle, beer garden and snacks as well as merchandise for sale. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the bout begins at 6 p.m.
Future home bouts are scheduled for April 5 and June 21. All local bouts take place at the Sequim Boys & Girls Club.
The nonprofit Port Scandalous Roller Derby league raises funds at bouts and other events like Paint and Sip to cover equipment, rental fees and travel and to hold camps for new skaters.
The next New Skater Boot Camp is planned for April 13 to May 13 for $50. More details can be found online by searching for Port Scandalous and brown paper tickets.
Even people who have never skated before are welcome at the camp.
