Asheville’s Blue Ridge Rollergirls gear for a bout against the Hell Marys of Austin, Texas. The event takes place tonight at the Asheville Civic Center. Doors at 6 p.m., bout at 7 p.m. $10 advance/$12 doors/free for kids under age 12.
Here’s a little bit about the Rollergirls: “Founded in June of 2006, the Blue Ridge Rollergirls make up Asheville, NC’s first all-female, flat track roller derby league. The league’s mission is to actively create, promote, and sustain an environment that fosters strength, courage, vitality, and the empowerment of women in the roller derby sport. Each member of the league shall be challenged and supported in her pursuit of personal growth in and through the sport. The league itself shall remain deeply rooted in the spirit of good sportswomanship so as to bring honor and distinction to the league, women in the sport, and roller derby as a whole.”
(And, in case you thought that Austin only produced skinny-jeans-wearing indie-rockers, here’s a little bit about the city’s derby team: “Formeded in 2003 as the only sports league of its kind, Texas Rollergirls Rock-n-Rollerderby® started today’s Flat Track Derby movement. There are now more than 300 Flat Track Derby leagues worldwide, with more forming every week. In its current incarnation, Roller Derby is a genuine athletic competition complete with well-defined rules, divisions, tournaments, and a governing body: the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA). The Texas Rollergirls, Austin born and bred, is 100% skater-owned and managed. The league is composed of four home teams supported by a loyal, enthusiastic fan base: Hell Marys, Hotrod Honeys, Honky Tonk Heartbreakers, and Hustlers. A fifth team, the Texecutioners, is comprised of all-star members from each of the four home teams. In 2006, the Texecutioners were crowned the WFTDA Champions of the first Flat Track National Tournament.”)
Also, debuting at this match — The Madison Junior Derby Divas. The all-female, flat-track, low-contact roller derby league trains girls, ages 12-17 to compete in matches. Since February, this team, under the tutelage of WNC’s Blue Ridge Roller Girls, has been learning the rules of derby and will make its first public appearance this week during a friendly exhibition with the Little City Junior Rollers from Johnson City, Tennessee.
This should make for a very exciting bout – one not to be missed! Go BRRG!!!