Ohio Roller Derby (OHRD) is gearing up to roll back into action in 2026, bringing Columbus five home games of fierce competition. As one of the city’s premier sporting and entertainment experiences, OHRD delivers fast-paced, full-contact roller derby. This season, the excitement returns to the heart of Columbus, spanning across three different venues at the Ohio Expo Center.
Ohio Roller Derby (OHRD) is celebrating our 20th year, so get ready to ring in this special anniversary with us! The theme of our season is OHRD: The Heart of Derby — a celebration of our identity, history, and love for our sport, with a nod to Ohio’s state tourism slogan. Grab your green, black, and any weird and wacky Ohio-themed getups you have and join in the celebration!
OHRD is proud to share another one of our 2018 sponsors: Transformation Athletics! Transformation Athletics was born when former charter skater, The Smacktivist, saw a need in the community for body-positive fitness training. The key principles of Transformation Athletics are: all bodies are good bodies, all bodies are worthy of love, all humans deserve access to trauma-informed modalities of healing, and fitness is for everyone. Taking a trauma and mental health informed approach to coaching, Max works to empower their clients to make healthy choices based on their individual needs. Max is an ISSA certified personal trainer and corrective exercise specialist and enjoys working with the trans and queer community, and athletes alike, to help folks find healing in strength.
OHRD is excited to announce our first sponsor of 2018, Bruised Boutique! Bruised Boutique features an online shop as well as brick-and-mortar locations in Nashua, NH, and Metairie, LA. For all your roller derby needs - be it skate packages, referee shirts, or Derby Skinz in the brightest and shiniest colors - they've got you covered. Their website also features a FAQ section for new and aspiring skaters navigating the world of derby gear, and an in-depth guide to wheels that lays out all the factors you should take into account when selecting your next set. Be sure to check them out online or in person if you're lucky enough to live nearby!
Happy 2018! With the first full week of post-break practice complete, we checked in with members of OHRD to see what plans they had for the upcoming season! Some common threads emerged: Putting more time into off-skates workouts and building derby skills, so we start the season right where we left off (or better!) Working on our mental game, both in playing smart and having fun. Encouraging each other, working together and supporting our teammates so that we are the best team we can be — which hopefully leads to a winning season with ALL the points! Is your 2018 resolution to get in shape, learn to skate, or make a bunch of new friends? Do all three at once! Check out our next WannaBe Clinic! Picture by: Matthew Hatcher