Trang Kager-Nguyen (44) was on the plane in 2011 and turned on the movie Whip It. The Eindhovense was impressed by the sport roller derby that she saw on the screen. Fourteen years later she is international and goes to the World Cup in Austria. “The first time I put on roller skates again, I immediately fell on my tailbone.”
After seeing the film, she even dreamed about Roller Derby. “Of course it was super American, so I thought the sport in the Netherlands did not exist at all. Coincidentally, I saw an article about Roller Derby in the newspaper in the newspaper. It had to be like that. I put on the bad shoes and signed up at the club RockCity Rollers. ”
“Not exactly a success, I immediately fell.”
She first bought second -hand roller skates to practice. “I had not been on roller skating since my childhood and had to income again. The first time practicing was not exactly a success, I immediately went down. I therefore just waited for an introductory course. I learned everything there, such as the right posture and technology. “
Roller Derby, which originated in America in the 1930s, has been played in the Netherlands since 2009. It is a full-contact sport where participants are wearing roller skates. Two teams compete against each other on an oval course, where each team sets five skaters. One skater per team, the pity, can score points by passing the blockers of the counterparty.
“It is a tactical and strategic game. It looks like rugby on roller skating with elements of short track, but we don’t have a ball. You can use your body to try to prevent the unfortunate points. There are all kinds of rules, such as not using your hands or elbows or skating straight into someone’s back. You should also not touch someone else in the face or below the knee. “
“Make sure you get up as quickly as possible.”
Roller Derby is a sport for Bikkels, because falling is part of it. And that on a concrete surface. “We have a helmet on, a bit in and we wear wrist, knee and elbow protection. If you fall, you must ensure that you get up as quickly as possible. Otherwise, the chance is only greater that the opponent scores. Pain will come later. ”
For someone who was not very sporty as a child and had different priorities in her student days, Trang has been international since this year at the age of 44. During an open try-out she was selected for the Dutch team. Ida Aarts and Naoise Hennessy from Breda have also been called. With Team Nederland they can join the World Cup in Innsbruck from 3 to 6 July. In the run -up to the final tournament, international matches are on the program, such as in a few weeks against Germany.
“Coming out for your country is of course cool.”
“International trips are not new to me, because with the club we have been to various countries. But to come out for your country is of course cool. Who we meet at the World Cup is still unknown and that is why it is good to practice against countries. What is a challenge for us as a team is to finance the entire trip. All in all it is a tough cost item and that comes down to the shoulders of the athletes. As a Dutch team we hope for enthusiastic sponsors. “