Rated PG Northstars in a jam with Grande Prairie Fury N Fyre during game one of the Northern Exposure Roller Derby tournament    250News photo

Prince George, BC – If you ask Mother Tucker, the second annual Northern Exposure Roller Derby tournament underway at the Roll-A-Dome is the “coolest thing in Northern BC this weekend.”

Shown in photo at right, Mother Tucker – who asked to go by her Derby name for this interview – joined the Rated PG Northstars two years ago.

“I work in professional theatre and, so, the theatrics mixed with the athleticism just draws me in like nothing else has.”

“Roller Derby has this history of being scripted,” but, she says, “It’s not anymore – it’s sport.  You’re playing for real, but there’s still that vibe of girls in fishnets and some wear facepaint.  And there’s a little bit of showboating when a jammer scores big points, or makes a big hit, or dodges something – the crowd goes nuts.”

Tucker says it’s the best of all sports and she was drawn by the energy, but stayed for the energy.  “It’s the coolest reason to get this many women in one room, working towards a big goal.”

The Northstars are one of the two teams that make the Roller Derby ‘community’ in Prince George.  There’s also the officials, including a trained head NSO (non-skating official).  All have pulled together in hopes of making this weekend’s tournament a blast for the six visiting teams, including the Saskatoon Mindfox.  Tucker says the Mindfox put in a request to participate almost a year ago, after learning about the inaugural Northern Exposure.

The event runs today and tomorrow at the Roll-A-Dome.  Tickets at the door are $20 for a day pass.