Contributed by Melinda Peterson
With a late start to the Boom Town Roller Derby home game schedule, Boom Town trainers had plenty of time at the beginning of the season to get newly “graduated” Rookies up to game play skill levels.
Six rookies, Lineblocker, Castle, Addaconda, So Sorry, and Casstastrophe recently played their first live roller derby game, with AirWrecka working equally as hard in a vital bench support role keeping players in line and ready to go out jam after jam. Players must pass Womens Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) skill testing as well as a 100-question knowledge test of the WFTDA game play rules, safely scrimmage at home team practices, and maintain an attendance percentance in order to earn a roster spot on the 15-member game roster. The new players made a good showing in Boom Town’s away game on February 1st, as BTRD played Rage City Roller Derby’s Sockeye Sallys in Anchorage. The action was intense with both teams showing no mercy and the score remained tight with Sockeye Sallys just slightly in the lead until near the end of the second half of the game. Boom Town answered back with a big jam, successfully gaining a lead score change. BRTD and Sockeye Sallys traded lead change several times in the final minutes of the game, with Absol-ute Chaos scoring the 4 winning points in the final jam of the game.
Boom Town Roller Derby’s home season schedule opens with the Brew Bash on February 22nd, sponsored by Bearpaw River Brewing Company in Wasilla. Skaters from across Alaska will be split into two teams representing signature beers Bill’s Real Pale Ale and Mat Maid Milk Stout. Skaters will find out which team they’ve been placed to skate with on February 15th, at a roster reveal party at the brewery. Bearpaw brews will be featured in the Beer Garden at the game. Halftime contests include a beard competition, with a gift certificate to AK Lady Barber in Palmer to be awarded. Get your table reserved early, you won’t want to wait to buy it at the door! Tickets and tables are available online at Brown Paper Tickets, event number 450526.
It’s going to be an early red salmon run as the Sockeye Sallys come North to the valley on March 21st in a rematch! Our closest local competitor, it’s always a good time on and off the track with Rage City.
Mark your calendars now for May 9th! BTRD’s fundraiser Triwizard Tournament will sort skaters into the three largest wizarding schools of Hogwarts, Durmstrang Institute, and Beauxbatons Academy of Magic in a round-robin type tournament rich with spell casting and fun for the entire family. Audience members control the outcome of the games by purchasing spells that impact game play. Jammers may be stricken with the Cruciatus Curse, causing them to complete a set of burpees prior to taking the track. Referees may fall under the Confundus Charm, or an entire team of skaters may be released onto the track at one time! You never know what will happen when magic meets live roller derby.
All local games are held at Menard Sports Center in Wasilla. Keep track of events by following Boom Town on social media @boomtownrollerderby or by visiting boomtownrollerderby.org
Leavin’ on a jet plane… to Rome, New York! Over the weekend of April 4-5, BTRD will competing in Siege of CNY tournament to climb up that WFTDA ranking board in the sky! Did you know that travel is funded partially by generous sponsors and donors, but that significant portions of trip expenses fall on the skaters, coaches, and officials? That’s right. This is vacation time away from work, school, and families, out of members’ pockets. BTRD is grateful for the generous support of this community in assisting to fund travel to tournaments!
www.boomtownrollerderby.org
