Roller Derby Update: 9/18/10

It's Cherry Bombs and Hellcats at home on the banked track, and Texecutioners against Windy City on the road in the flat track world. Plus, exciting news for Roller Derby video-game developments.

TXRD Lonestar Rollergirls

It's Calvello Cup time! The local banked-track league holds its championship tonight, Sept. 18. Reigning title holders the Hellcats fought through the season, but challengers the Cherry Bombs are on a seasonlong winning streak. The league returns to its old home at the Austin Convention Center, 500 E. Cesar Chavez. Tickets are $15 at the door or $13 online at www.frontgatetickets.com or in person at Whip-In, Headhunter's Tiki Bar, Shag Salon, Pronto Mart/Stop Spot, Pasta & Co., or the Texas Chili Parlor. Doors, 6pm; first whistle, 7pm.

Post-season, the Lonestar skaters will be wearing their indoor wheels on Sept. 21 for a special screening of Whip-It, last year's Austin-set Roller Derby movie (read our interview with director Drew Barrymore and writer Shauna Cross here.)

Texas Rollergirls

First up, congratulations to the 26 skaters that made it into the new girl pool after the recent tryouts. Hope to see you on the track very soon.

Earlier this month, the local flat trackers announced their latest sister leagues under the Women's Flat Track Derby Association apprentice program: Route 66 Roller Derby in Amarillo and NRV Rollergirls from Christianburg, Va. Welcome to the extended TXRG family, ladies, and if any Austinites happen to be passing when they're bouting, make sure to drop by and show 'em how we do it on the sidelines in Austin.

For the early risers among you, several Texas Rollergirls and rec-league skaters will be at the Domain on Sunday morning, Sept. 19. They'll be leading the kids' 1K run in the CASA of Travis County Superhero Run. Online registration for the junior race and the 5K for adults is closed, but if you want to take part in the fundraising fun, be at the Domain (11410 Century Oaks Terrace) with your registration fee at 7am. Visit the run website for more information.

The Texas Rollergirls are coming to a gaming console near you very soon. Game developer Frozen Codebase recently confirmed that its arcade-style derby game, Jam City Rollergirls, will be available as a downloadable game for the Wii later this year. The game will feature real skaters from real leagues. (You may remember Texas' own Crackerjack having to fight for the rights to her own name? Well, this is what it was for.) An alpha of the game got good hands-on word at the PAX 2010 gaming conference, and Frozen Codebase picked up The Stranger Testing Department's Super Lo-Fi Booth Award. More on the game nearer release time.

While the Texecutioners are concentrating on the build-up to the WFTDA South-Central regionals – the Amber Waves of Pain in Lincoln, Neb., on Oct. 8-10 – they're still squeezing in a couple of out-of-town bouts before then. On Sept. 25, they'll be facing Chicago's Windy City Rollers, followed by a Sunday morning match-up with the Mad Rollin' Dolls in Madison, Wis.

WFTDA and Beyond Austin

Speaking of Windy City, they took first place in last weekend's WFTDA North Central Regionals. That means the host team for November's nationals will also be the home team on the track, where they'll be joined by third place Mad Rollin' Dolls and the upset queens, Minnesota Roller Girls, who defied expectations for a roaring second-place finish.

Oh, and if you happen to be down in Houston tonight, the Big Easy Rollergirls are skipping over the state line to line up against Houston Roller Derby's Bayou Brawlers. Big Easy are bringing former Hotrod Honey Bang Crosby with them. (Although, as everyone knows, there's no such thing as a former Hotrod. As the saying goes, por vida.)