OGDEN — After months of preparation, the Ogden-based Junction City Roller Derby is set to return to the track for a new campaign, beginning with home games at the Golden Spike Event Center on Saturday.

Junction City’s All-Star team, the TrainWrecks, will be taking on Idaho’s Beet City Bombers. Meanwhile, its developmental squad, the LocoMotives, will square off with Salt Lake City’s Beehive Skate Revolution to open the doubleheader.

Tickets currently are available online for $12, plus fees; the price will be $15 at the door on game day. Children 12 and under will be admitted for free. Doors open at 3 p.m. with first whistle set for 4 p.m. For more information, go to https://sites.google.com/view/junction-city-roller-derby/.

While roller derby is known for bravado, showmanship and even violence, Chelsy Bloomfield — a team captain and one of Junction City’s veterans who competes under the name “Malibu Harpy” — told the Standard-Examiner that the competition, the science and strategy behind it and the incredible level of preparation that goes into each matchup is what truly stands out about the sport.

She further espoused the opportunity it affords her and her teammates to tap into a different side of their femininity.

“I found once I had graduated, there’s not really spaces for women,” she said. “There are stereotypes and … women are so many different things other than just stereotypes. I’ll go do something fun and girly, but I also want to, like, explore other parts of my personality. So, I find it’s therapeutic.

“There are women on the team that have young kids, women coming back from pregnancies, women who have full-time jobs. Like, we have a head of oncology nurse, and it’s just such a good release in an aggressive way.”

Bloomfield says that Junction City Roller Derby takes all comers, and its training committee helps them develop skating skills and teaches them the finer points of the sport. The team practices twice weekly for two hours per session, and it does so throughout the year.

The rosters for its respective squads for the upcoming season were finalized in January. Players were sorted to their appropriate team based on factors beyond just skill level; style of play also is among the considerations. Meanwhile, efforts are always made to foster and promote inclusivity.

“Your gender identity, it’s not worried about. Trans skaters are more than welcome. Nonbinary skaters are more than welcome. It definitely is a safe place,” she said.

Where the game day experience is concerned, fans can expect to see big hits and fast-paced action on the track. However, there are other things to look forward to beyond the games themselves.

“Our events are themed, and we’ll have vendors there. There’s always going to be food there. It really can be like a full day thing,” she said. “Little kids run around on the outside. We have a raffle that we’re doing. You don’t just have to sit and watch roller derby. You can look at what the vendors have, and things like that.”

Junction City Roller Derby will host a total of three home events this season, on April 6, June 29 and Oct. 19. The TrainWrecks have road bouts scheduled for May 11, Sept. 21 and Nov. 9, while the LocoMotives will travel on May 11, Aug. 24 and Sept. 28.

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