The national flat track Roller Derby season has begun in earnest as the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association has posted the seeding for the 40 teams to make the upcoming regional tourneys (see the full list here).
This is the first year with four regions rather than two: In three of the four regions, there are few surprises amongst the top ranked teams. Austin’s own Texas Rollergirls head in to September’s Southern Fried Smackdown in Atlanta topping the South Central region, while the East is dominated with the no-surprise line-up of New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore. No real shockers in North Central either, with the great lakes pairing of Windy City and Detriot large and in charge.
But the world has changed in the West. The fast-rising Oly Rollers take the top slot: No mean feat, considering they only joined WFTDA last year. They’re flanked by the Denver Roller Dolls and Rose City Rollers. That’s a big switch from the last couple of years, where the previously indomitable Rat City Rollergirls and the B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls (who visit Austin on Sept. 6) ruled the Pacific shores.
The seeding counts: Only the top three teams from each region get through to nationals in Philadelphia in November, and the bottom four seeds in each region have to get through an extra first round to make the cut.
This article appears in August 7 • 2009.
