Ice Skating Derby

Ice Skating Derby

On the evening of Jan. 8, the neighborhood basketball court underwent a slight makeover as a brand new ice rink was installed. This special sheet of ice was specifically made to accommodate an ice skating derby – a promise of great entertainment for both spectators as well as participants. The rink was set up and hosted by the Flame of Truth Homeless Shelter in the hopes of raising money for winter necessities. However, the donations taken at the door only served as a ticket to what would become one of the most violent and public event in recent weeks.

The winter weather of Dead End was cold enough to keep the ice nice and solid, but not cold enough to turn away hardy denizens. The derby had a fantastic turnout – the bleachers were filled, and those who didn’t donate for a ticket stood enthusiastically around the fence in order to watch the sporting event.

Six derby participants fixed themselves at the starting line. Were their intentions to win or simply to have fun? In retrospect, this reporter doesn’t think either were true. As said before, this charity event devolved into a very hostile bloodbath within the first few moments of the derby. The rink itself did not help either – its fence was made of sharp barbed wire. The rink was simply a pit that contained six individuals who, for the most part, were only interested in causing bodily harm to the other team.

This reporter looked away from the derby for a moment, and when he turned back, it resembled a major cluster f***. Participants were flipped over, hair was yanked, and bodies were pushed into the barbed wire. Instead of a derby, this turned into an all out brawl on the ice. To this reporter, personal vendettas seemed to be acted upon. Certain individuals only targeted certain victims and vice versa, but this is only speculation. It also seemed like one participant was shaken up to the point that she started to skate the opposite way on the rink, slipping and tripping like the new-born Bambi.

As the so-called ‘derby’ continued, people flipped over, exposing their sharp skate blades. With the sharp hazards flinging around in the air as people turned and tumbled, the blades inevitably came in contact, and then subsequently sliced through bits of flesh. The white ice quickly became tainted with flicks and runs of red – similar to putting fruit punch flavoring on your childhood’s shaved ice.

In the end, the referee of the derby eventually called everything to a close. It was ruled a tie, but how anyone was able to keep points during that battle on skates is impossible to figure out.

None of the officials of the event nor the participants were available for comment as they were mostly shipped to DEMH for medical treatment. Unless prior legal forms were signed, the donations received tonight will probably be used to cover medical expenses of the participants. Either way, this charity event tried its hardest, but only time will tell if that money will actually help out the unfortunate of Dead End.