Roller Derby Update 2/5/11

Anyone remember when there was an 'off'-season in roller derby? Nah, me neither. There have already been dozens of bouts this year nationwide, but first up, local news, including Wii battles with the Texas Rollergirls today, the Hustlers in Arizona, and the first TXRD Lonestar Rollergirls result of 2011.

Texas Rollergirls

It's only two weeks until the local flat track league makes its long-awaited debut at its new home, the Austin Convention Center. So mark your calendar for 4pm on Feb. 20, when the Texas Rollergirls hit the track and each other for their annual season-opening round robin of six 15-minute bouts. Tickets for this and all other bouts, plus season passes, are available now at getsmackedtx.com

If you can't wait for the real thing, you can join the Texecutioners travel squad for an afternoon of virtual derby. They'll be celebrating the release of Jam City Rollergirls for the Wii, with actual local stars of the game – including Bloody Mary, Crackerjack, Lucille Brawl and Rice Rocket – in attendance. The fundraiser starts at 3pm at Mister Tramps Sports Pub (8565 Research Blvd) today, Feb. 5.

For those of traveling mind, those globe-trotting Hustlers are currently over in Phoenix to face the Arizona Derby Girls' Tent City Terrors this afternoon. [UPDATE: The Hustlers beat the home town travel team 142-91. An auspicious beginning to 2011 for last year's TXRG silver medalists.]

That's just the start of the travel schedule: The Texecutioners head to Beaumont Feb. 12-13 to defend their title at the annual Governor's Cup, then they'll be in Denton for the Clover Cup April 2-3. Expect a lot more traveling dates to be added, including a major surprise excursion that … well, just wait and see. Let's just say that, if you're a big fan of threepeat champs, you better start saving your air miles big time.

The 2010 Whammy Awards were announced on Jan 15: You can read the full results here, but the undoubted champion of the night was Belle Starr (with two r's), who walked away with nine awards including a tie for the fan-favorite Texas Rollergirl with the Angie Christ.

TXRD Lonestar Rollergirls

The local banked track league kicked off the 2011 season with a superstar smash-up as the All Scar Army beat the United Skates Navy 61-50 (don't worry if you missed the bout: You can catch it online at Ustream.

The regular season begins Feb. 20 with the Holy Rollers versus the Rhinestone Cowgirls: The bout starts at 7pm, so you could always make it a TXRG/Lonestar double header.

Junior Derby

Enrollment is open for the Spring session through to Feb. 27. The $115 registration fee covers 24 practices, three scrimmages, plus two Austin Derby Brats t-shirts for uniform.

WFTDA and Beyond

The Women's Flat Track Derby Association has released its final quarter rankings for 2010. The Texas Rollergirls hold steady at number two in the South-Central region.

The Minnesota Rollergirls may hold the new record for biggest paid attendance at a roller derby bout: Their Jan. 31 double-header with the National Lacrosse League’s Minnesota Swarm at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul pulled in 8,911 fans. The record for a derby-only event still stands with Seattle's Rat City Rollergirls from last June, with a total gate of 6,885.