For Becca Corah and Leah Michael, this will be their Swan Song.

The two local derby dames — known as Viola Blood and Lady Viper, respectively, when in uniform — will bid farewell to a sport tonight that has captivated not only their passion, but also their dedication for the past three-and-a-half years. Both are lacing up their skates, donning pads and helmets, for their final roller derby bout as members of the Big Mountain Misfits.

Corah, who turns 42 at the end of the month, says age is one of the reasons she’s stepping away now.

“I’m old for playing roller derby,” she said.

“I wanna end not broken.”

Michael, 38, is calling it quits because of her professional career.

“I have to step back,” she said.

“I have some work priorities now that won’t allow it.”

And ...

“I want to end on a good note,” she added.

“If things turn around differently for me, I’d love to come back out of retirement.”

Corah is one of the blockers for the Misfits. Michael is a blocker and a jammer.

Michael is also the team captain, and was recently named the state’s Most Valuable Player.

“I really enjoy (roller derby),” Michael said.

“It’s a real powerful sport for women and I really believe in the game.”

Michael says many people, however, still have the wrong idea of what roller derby is all about.

“They have this misconception that it’s dramatic and theatrical like when it was popular during the 1970s,” she said.

“It is nothing but athletics ... a physically demanding sport to play, which is great. It’s a lot like hockey. You have to learn skating, then learn how to play the game. There are a lot of things to roller derby.”

Michael discovered roller derby was starting up in the Valley after reading several media articles on it. She went to a practice at the old Shady Lanes Roller Rink, now the Boys and Girls Club, “to check it out. After the first practice I was ready to buy my gear and start to play.”

The team currently practices twice a week — Mondays at the Boys and Girls Club and Wednesday at the Flathead County Fairgrounds Trade Center.

Each session runs two hours.

Mondays are spent on skating and cardio work with all members, including the newest which are called Fresh Meat. The more experienced skate during the second session of the week.

“It’s been very rewarding,” Michael said.

“A lot of time commitment ... it can consume your life because you become so enthralled with it.”

The season typically runs from October through March.

Tonight’s outing versus Hel’z Belles of Helena — doors open at 6:30 with bout action an hour later — is the season finale. Tickets are $10. Children 12-and-under are admitted free.

“A very rewarding sport to play,” Michael said.

“A team sport, sisterhood, stress outlet, family atmosphere. I’ve never been in such good physical shape in my life. It’s been really motivating for me to be a real healthy person.

“Roller derby is so accepting of everyone,” she added.

“There are no stereotypes, no perfect person. We accept everyone ... they have a place here.”

Corah said this is the first time she has ever played sports, or been on a team.

“I was a ballerina, a dancer,” she said.

“I never did anything like this before.”

Despite a nagging groin injury, dislocated knee cap, cracked ribs and being punched in the face, she has persevered.

“That’s some of the minor stuff,” she said.

Corah discovered roller derby on Craigslist.

“I was kinda looking for something (to do),” she said.

“I was dancing up until eight years ago. I was dancing with high schoolers and didn’t fit in. I was looking for something more my age.”

Corah emailed the coach Lisa Pooler, also known as Starley Davidson, went to a practice and was hooked.

“I needed to push myself,” she said.

“To do something different in my life. I used to skate when I was younger.

“It was really tough (at first),” she said.

“Mentally it was very challenging. I didn’t know what was going on ... skating with the disco ball, lights were on ... skating like a normal Saturday night.

“I skated for a couple months. It wasn’t until someone pushed us, the coach yelling at us, that I really started to enjoyed it.

“I’m not the best skater,” she admitted.

“Still kind of timid, but I have my moments and come out of nowhere.”

“She has a great derby attitude,” Pooler said of Corah.

“Comes to practice, does what we tell her to do, goes out and plays the best she can every time.

“She’s a pretty decent blocker ... she’s a good one to have in the pack when you are down some players.”

Pooler says Michael embodies derby.

“Always pushes herself. She’s better than everybody else. She’s probably the best skater.”

Pooler says Michael is always online looking up different ways to do things.

Also retiring tonight are two more members of the Misfits — Shannon Galloway (Lit’l Shananagins) and Shana O’Brien (Inshana Sylum).

Galloway, a blocker/jammer, has been skating for two-and-a-half years.

O’Brien, a blocker, has been on skates for the same period of time.

A broken ankle last June is the main reason O’Brien is leaving the game.

“It’s hard to come back from an injury like that,” Pooler said.

“She was really starting to make some progress when she had her injury.”

Pooler said Galloway is going to focus all her attention to getting a junior league going.