CORRECTION APPENDED
The Emerald City Rollergirls kicked off their third season on Saturday with their Inaugural Brawl to a sold-out crowd at the Lane Events Center.
The bout — or tournament in roller derby speak — pitted the Church of Sk8in against the Andromedolls and the Flat Track Furies against the Bad Reputations, who traveled all the way from Vancouver, B.C. The teams fought tooth and nail, head to head in typical roller derby fashion with no shortage of intensity and an unhealthy dose of spills.
The Flat Track Furies reigned supreme over the Bad Reputations, accomplishing their goal of beating their American counterparts, though just barely with final score of 101-100. The 2009 champs, the Andromedolls, continued on their path of destruction, beating the Church of Sk8in 128-84.
The Emerald City Rollergirls league has high hopes for its teams this year, aiming at having its traveling team, the Skatesaphrenics, achieve national ranking, and opening up roller derby to younger girls with the Junior Gems. The league’s growing popularity has transformed it from a handful of ladies with a DIY attitude to a community that has asserted itself nationally. They’re even starting a men’s league.
Despite all the flash and glamour, roller derby bills itself as a high-speed contact sport before a fashion show.
“It’s our ultimate dream to be taken seriously as athletes,” said Andromedoll skater Assista Suicide.
Because of a photographer’s error, an article in Monday’s Emerald (“‘Round a-bout,” ODE, Feb. 1) misstated the outcome of the Emerald City Rollergirls Inaugural Brawl. The Flat Track Furies beat the Bad Reputations 101-100 and the Andromedolls beat the Church of Sk8in’ 129-84. The Emerald regrets the error.