On Wednesday evening, some 20 roller derby players from Toulouse, France hit the rink at the Oregon State Fair Pavilion.

The team, Quad Guards of the Roller Derby Toulouse league, is in Salem for the 2025 Men’s Roller Derby Association Championships, which will bring 11 teams from four countries to compete at the pavilion.

The three-day event begins Friday and runs through Sunday. It is hosted by a local team, Concussion Roller Derby, who will compete alongside teams from Mexico, France, the United Kingdom and states like Missouri, Indiana, Florida, Washington and Texas.

Roller derby is a contact sport played on roller skates. Despite the name, men’s roller derby is open to all regardless of gender, with several women skating for Concussion.

Wearing knee pads, hand braces and helmets f

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