It’s a big week for rollerderby: not only was documentary Hell on Wheels finally released on DVD, but this weekend sees one of the three biggest events of the competitive calendar Battle Royale 08, the Western regional play-offs for the Women’s Flat Track Derby Assocation. This year it’s in the Verizon Wireless Theater in Houston, so a very driveable distance for flat-track fans.

While the full bouts started today, Austin’s own Texecutioners don’t take to the track until 9.45am Saturday, when they face the winner from today’s match-up from Rocky Mountain Rollergirls and Houston Rollerderby. The winner of that goes on to face either Tucson Rollerderby or Seattle’s Rat City Rollergirls (considering how much controversy there was about the Rat City/Texecutioners bout at nationals last year, that could be the bout to watch.)

Tickets still available.

This article appears in October 3 • 2008.

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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.