While roller skating is having a moment during this pandemic, and banked track derby still pulls the lion’s share of representation in derby media, I have been starved for good flat track derby media. No more goofy “watch this person learn to skate” segments, “this isn’t your grandmother’s roller derby” pieces, or “girl on girl action!” I just can’t take it!
Thankfully, my prayers have been answered by the good folks at Alright Pictures who have provided “Jumping the Apex.” Released on Out.tv, the show is an ambitious in-depth-season-long-6-episode look at the Anchor City Harbour Grudges, from Halifax, Nova Scotia as they embarked on their first ever Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) season.
The best part? The series was filmed almost right up til the pandemic and covers right up to the beginning of the 2020 season. It is extremely rare in flat track derby media for a project to have that kind of accelerated timeline. I am used to watching documentary footage covering 2–5 seasons ago. The timeliness of this show is a huge strong point for a sport which changes so quickly. It feels very relevant.
Aside from the fast release, the series also has great production value. Game footage is crisp and the interview segments are phenomenal.
Filmed for Out.tv, a “lifestyle television channel for the gay and openminded,” the series is rooted in the queer culture that surrounds the team. It’s a familiar story for many roller derby leagues, but it develops within its own arc within this league as Halifax becomes a landing point for people from all over.
The game by game, or tournament by tournament, coverage is great and even the most jaded derby veteran will be touched by the nerves and passion of the Grudges as they break out of their Maritime Derby bubble and join WFTDA competition. The team crosses off so many firsts and you can see that constant tension of accepting a rapid amount of change within a short period of time.
As per Flat Track Stats, in the 8 years prior to this season the Grudges had never travelled or played a game against anyone outside of Canada and their game history is a steady diet of Fog City (Saint John, NB), Muddy River (Moncton, NB) and Capital City (Fredericton, NB). The quality of the production and the team’s skill can fool you, but the impressive landscape travel shots should pull you back in. This is an historically isolated team venturing into something completely new.
No spoilers but the team fairs well throughout the season, holding their own against teams from as far away as Oslo, Norway, establishing their first ever WFTDA rank and working through obvious growing pains. The vulnerability and willingness to let a camera into their struggles, is a highlight and should be commended. The series does get a bit too on the nose though in Episode 5 when the Grudges face off against the Penn Jersey She Devils. Penn Jersey, who started last year in 130th and finished it in 89th, had their own goals and motivations going into their match up in Quebec. Not every game will be upbeat, not every team will be looking to make friends.
The show gives a lot of time and effort to the common struggles each charter team faces — how to run a tryout, how to structure practice, how to construct lines, how to make a roster and decide playing time, etc. The minutiae will be identifiable to anyone within roller derby, but it’s also handled in a way that’s compelling to the uninitiated. The series also, almost magically, was able to capture an EXTREMELY RARE double overtime jam.
It is easy to get caught up and start cheering for your favourite skaters. Again no spoilers, but the power of the series for me came in seeing one of my favourite skaters grow and find the space to finally take a step back. A long time former Captain and clear leader on the track, who played through injury because they felt like they had to, uses the growth of that season to refocus and find peace. It’s a beautiful personal document and the series includes multiple storylines like this that are easy to identify with. It’s a special piece of derby media and a great snapshot of a team embracing the challenging and opportunity of growing beyond their bubble.
Episodes air every Thursday at 8pm ET on Out.tv. The full series can also be streamed on Out.tv. More Information on release in the US and UK will hopefully be coming in August. We will update this piece as that happens.
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