Little Roller Derby history: Aside from being the first modern flat track league, the Texas Rollergirls created one of the first all-star travel squads, the Texecutioners. Finally, this weekend, they’ll get a little support from new B-Team the Firing Squad in their massive face-off against Portland’s Rose City Rollers.

Saturday’s headliner puts the Texies (ranked #1 in the Women’s Flat Track Derby Associations‘s South-Central region) up against Portland’s Wheels of Justice. They’re currently ranked #3 in the hyper-competitive Western Region, so this promises a real brawl as the Texies try to position themselves for a shot at the WFTDA championship later this year.

But the Rollers aren’t just bringing their second team, the Axles of Annihilation, to the Austin Convention Center just to sit on the sidelines. Instead, they’ll be giving the newly-minted Firing Squad their first ever excursion on the track. Like the Texies, they’re drawn from the Texas Rollergirls’ regular rosters, but don’t think this is some second tier operation. With former Texies Shank coaching and Desi Cration breaking out her touring wheels, Portland’s B-team better bring their A-game.

Texas Rollergirls versus Rose City Rollers. Sat. May 19, Doors 5:15pm, first whistle 6pm. Austin Convention Center, 500 E. Cesar Chavez, www.texasrollergirls.org. Tickets available now and include both bouts. Children under 12 free.

This article appears in May 11 • 2012.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

SUPPORT US

The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.