Before Heather Hill discovered Forest City Roller Derby, she wasn't much of an athlete. But, she said there was something about the roller skates and the physical combat that was irresistible.

"A lot of us are derby nerds, but we've never been involved with any other sport before. We just gravitated to this weird, wacky sport," she said.

But while Hill and her fellow derby nerds may have plenty of passion, what they don't have is real estate. Forest City Roller Derby is one of several leagues across the province that are searching for a permanent space to practice in.

Forest City Roller Derby is one of several Ontario derby leagues that say they just can't win the real estate game. (Paula Duhatschek/CBC)

After being booted from the Western Fair District due to renovations, the league has landed at Medway Arena for the summer. The space is great, but the clock is ticking, because when summer ends the ice comes down and the derby league is out.

Forest City's sister league, London Middlesex Roller Derby, is also looking for a new space, as is Hammer City Roller Derby in Hamilton, Ont. and the Toronto Roller Derby League.

"This is something that's kind of endemic among roller derby," said Hill.

"The problem is we're all non-profits and we're kind of squeaking along in a DIY kind of existence," which means purchasing a permanent space is pretty much out of the question, she said.

Maggie Middleton of Hammer City Roller Derby says her team recently heard their practice space—an empty Target department store—had found a permanent tenant. (Submitted)

Hammer City Roller Derby had been practicing in an empty Target department store, until the space found a new tenant last month. The Toronto league happily practiced in a warehouse known as 'The Bunker' since 2011, but that space is being converted into a television studio.

The perfect solution would be to leave an arena de-iced all winter for derby and other sports, according to Hammer City's Maggie Middleton.

But as far as arenas are concerned, hockey is still king.

"We don't want to make an enemy of the hockey world, but we just wish that our city would actually acknowledge that there are these groups that are in need of space," said Middleton.

"People from all walks of life come to derby and it creates this amazing dynamic," said Heather Hill, president of Forest City Roller Derby. (Paula Duhatschek/CBC)

At their most desperate, teams have been known to get creative. Forest City Roller Derby has practiced in quonset huts; Hammer City has done drills in an unheated arena out in Caledonia, Ont.

These situations have been known to put a downward pressure on membership, Middleton said.

"We just lose people who are like, 'No way, I'm not driving in a blizzard on a country road to get to a place to play roller derby.' Especially the people who aren't in love with the sport yet," said Middleton.

What they're looking for

Forest City Roller Derby plans to cycle practices between Bob Hayward YMCA and Silverwoods Arena, but they're looking for a more permanent solutions. (Paula Duhatschek/CBC)

For now, Forest City's plan is to spend one night a week at the Bob Hayward YMCA, and another at Silverwoods Arena. Silverwoods is leaving one arena pad dry this winter as a pilot project.

Neither space is exactly right: the Y is just a smidge too small, and the pilot project isn't permanent, at least not for now.

So, they're looking for a permanent space that:

Is around 9,000 to 10,000 square feet;

Has no columns or pillars;

Has a solid floor;

Is heated (though Hill says this one's negotiable.)

Establishing permanent roller derby space would be a plus for the community as a whole.

"Roller derby brings to London a strong level of empowerment for women in the city," she said. "Women come to us that have never played a sport before that have never skated before and they learn that. There's a self confidence that comes from playing sports, and it is a fabulous atmosphere."

Jessica Becker, a.k.a. "Madame Wobbles," said a permanent space would make roller derby feel more established. (Paula Duhatschek/CBC)

Player Jessica Becker—also known as "Madame Wobbles"— agrees. Like Hill, she never saw herself as an athlete until she discovered derby.

Having a permanent space would go a long way toward making the fringe sport feel a bit less fringe, she said.

"That would definitely add to the whole feeling of not just belonging to the league but belonging a part of the community, in that we're a fixture, we're not just some nomadic band of people who strap on roller skates and hit each other," said Becker.