The Northern Nomads, the first-ever travel team under the Northwest BC Roller Derby League, are officially rolling — a major milestone for the sport in the region and a sign of how far local derby has come.
“We are getting the sport off the ground with some big momentum behind it,” said Nadine Cunningham, president of the Northwest BC Roller Derby League and member of the Bulkley Valley Bruisers. “There’s enough skaters now to flesh out our rec teams, and more skaters are looking to compete beyond their hometowns and play at higher levels now with the travel team. It’s a really exciting time for what roller derby looks like in northern B.C.”
The league’s board voted unanimously at its Oct. 19 meeting to oversee the creation of the travel team — including its management, policies, staffing and funding — following strong engagement from the community that helped shape the team’s direction. The name Northern Nomads was chosen by league members from a shortlist.
While the Northwest BC Roller Derby League itself is relatively new — formed within the past year and a half — the idea of a travel team has been building since day one. The league unites four communities: the Bulkley Valley Bruisers (Smithers), Northcoast Nightmares (Terrace), Coastal Crushers (Kitimat), and the Burns Lake Body Count.
“In forming the league, we wanted to create a healthier rec league in the North with interleague play,” Cunningham said. “Because we’re all so distant from one another it was difficult to get regular games going. Out of that we have more skaters and members want to travel more and play more. Organically, the travel team was born.”
With the centralized league structure now in place, teams can coordinate more effectively — and the Northern Nomads are the result: a competitive squad bringing together players from each community to represent the region and seek out stronger opponents beyond the local scene.
The Nomads played their first game against the Prince George Thrashers, which ended in a loss but marked a new beginning. Since then, they’ve earned their first victory at the Days of Derby competition in Chilliwack.
“As we level up and gain more skill, it’s necessary to branch out and find more teams that match our skill level,” Cunningham said.
The team also acts as a launchpad for skaters aiming to compete at the provincial AA level. Once a member completes their Learn to Skate program and joins their local rec team, they become eligible for the travel team.
Each fall, Learn to Skate programs introduce new members to the fundamentals — standing, skating, stopping and falling — preparing them for local play and, if desired, the Nomads.
Roller derby is a fast-paced, full-contact sport played on roller skates between two teams of five skaters circling an oval track. The goal is for a designated “jammer” — marked by a star on their helmet — to lap members of the opposing team to score points. Meanwhile, “blockers” work to stop the rival jammer while helping their own advance. It’s a demanding sport requiring strategy, speed, balance and teamwork — and for athletes joining the Nomads, it’s a chance to test those skills at a higher level.
For Cunningham and many others, the draw of roller derby goes far beyond the action on the track. She said it’s the culture that makes it so powerful for new and returning athletes.
“It’s so much more than one bout,” Cunningham said. “Through its inclusivity, the roller derby community creates something really special. We have a place for all persons, regardless if they are athletic or not.”
The league — and the Northern Nomads — welcomes all body types and gender identities, with both open and women-only rosters available depending on the competition.
“In the north, if you have two legs you can come and skate with us,” she said. “It’s one of the most inclusive sports I’ve ever played, with a huge, supportive community.”
The travel team is managed and operated by the skaters themselves, who cover their own practice costs and tournament fees. However, the board is actively pursuing grant funding — particularly through programs supporting women in sport — to support the team’s sustainability as it grows. The long-term goal is to reduce financial barriers for participation and strengthen the team’s competitive presence.
Looking ahead, the Northwest BC Roller Derby League is exploring opportunities to help launch new teams in Prince Rupert and Haida Gwaii — with the hope that one day, those communities may also feed into the Nomads.
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