ROLLER DERBY SHOWDOWN

FoCo Micro Bruisers vs. Durango Roller Girls

Saturday, April 9

Rollerland Skate Center, 324 S. Link Lane, Fort Collins

Doors open at 7 p.m., bout begins at 7:30

FoCo Girls Gone Derby’s travel team the Micro Bruisers return from the Dust Devil Tournament in Tucson on April 2-3 just in time to face off against the Durango Roller Girls on FoCo’s home turf. Come show your support for your hometown badasses on roller skates on Saturday, April 9, at Rollerland.

You may have seen FoCo’s home teams, the Deathrow Dolls and Chanel Cartel, skate at Rollerland, but this is the Micro Bruisers’ first home bout against another league this season. The Micro Bruisers is FoCo’s team of skaters culled from the home teams who tried out and were selected to skate competitively in order to earn a WFTDA ranking for the league. WFTDA – the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association – is the sport’s international governing body.

Twelve leagues from throughout the Western region will compete in Tucson, Ariz., April 2-3, with FoCo’s Micro Bruisers kicking off their tournament run against the Bellingham Roller Betties. Visit www.dustdeviltournament.com for more information.

A portion of the proceeds from this bout will go to Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build program. Visit www.fortcollinshabitat.org/index.php?pr=Women_Build for details.

Tickets are $10 presale and $15 at the door. Students and members of the military receive a reduced rate of $10 with a valid ID. Ages 12 and under are admitted free. Tickets can be purchased through the Rollerland Skate Center ticket booth, from any FoCo derby girl or online at www.brownpapertickets.com or www.focogirlsgonederby.com.

Bout Recap: Saturday, February 26th, FoCo MicroBruisers vs. Slaughterhouse Prime Cuts

Last Saturday's bout was difficult for everyone. All in attendance were in mourning, not only for Andrew "Andy Capp" Hodge, a Slaughterhouse Referee, NSO, and man who put smiles on the faces and warmth in the hearts of all he met, but also for the father of one of the skaters who recently passed away. That night's bout was dedicated to these men who are greatly missed.

Perhaps because of the high running emotion, it was a particularly dirty game on both sides. Back-blocking, forearms and cutting were the most common penalties committed by both teams. Slaughterhouse with a whopping 57 minors and 29 majors, along with FoCo's 54 minors and 21 majors kept the penalty boxes full and the fans looking to see the new line-ups with every jam.

The pandemonium made it difficult to tell what exactly happened to our strategy, but by the end of the first half we knew one thing-- it wasn't working. Misty Skull-Krippler, our player who jammed the most in this bout and a jammer we're used to seeing high scores from, only managed 3 points in the first half. Aimee Armalite, the game's big scorer for FoCo, managed 24, but it just wasn't enough as we came to half time with the score standing: Slaughterhouse, 69 to FoCo, 40.

FoCo is famous for playing harder in the second half, sometimes making a comeback, so I looked forward to the next period. It was a mixture of hope and heartbreak, as FoCo cleaned up their game, committing less than half the penalties as in the first half (in spite of Slaughterhouse stepping up their penalties) and began serious scoring. Chocolate Milfshake, Raven Luna C (one of our new girls in her first bout), and Rox Yorr Soxov put on the gas. FoCo scored more points than Slaughterhouse in the second half and it looked like we were not only going to catch up, but overtake them.

There was a good chance we would have won the game, if it wasn't for a few key mishaps, not just affecting scoring ability, but overall morale. LA's Finest, also playing her first bout, played a penalty heavy game from start to finish and was expelled in the 5th jam of the second half for too many trips to the box. Adding insult and injury, Rox Yorr Soxov, who was scoring big in the last half, was taken out of the game in the 11th jam due to injury by what looked like a barely legal hit. Mary Poppin' Caps was also sent out for injury in the second to last jam of the bout.

Final score sat Slaughterhouse at 143 to FoCo's 119. Victory or defeat, the first bout of the season is always an exciting one. In victory we celebrate our hard work that got us there and in defeat we learn what we need to do better. I'm excited to see what new strategies lay ahead and our new girls in our first home bout on March 12th and hope to see you all there!

Your Humble Announcer,
~Evil I. McVillain

GAME ON!

FoCo Girls Gone Derby’s Season Opener

Roller Derby bout, Saturday, March 12

Rollerland Skate Center, 324 S. Link Lane, Fort Collins

Doors open at 7 p.m., bout begins at 7:30

FoCo Girls Gone Derby’s home teams Chanel Cartel and Deathrow Dolls are ready to roll for the 2011 season. Brand-spankin’-new skaters, who have been training hard since last season and have earned their uniforms, will join their teams on the track for the first time on Saturday, March 12.

The league has improved literally by leaps and bounds over the past several months, with skaters practicing through the one-month “off-season” instead of taking a break. The 2011 season promises more strategy and athleticism along with the familiar thrills and spills that home crowds look forward to watching.

FoCo’s travel team, the Micro Bruisers, has begun its season and is heading to Pueblo March 19 and to the Dust Devil Tournament in Tucson April 1-3.

A portion of the proceeds from March 12’s season opener bout will go to Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build program. Visit www.fortcollinshabitat.org/index.php?pr=Women_Build for details.

Tickets are $10 presale and $15 at the door. Students/military receive a reduced rate of $10 with a valid ID. Ages 12 and under are admitted free. Tickets can be purchased through the Rollerland Skate Center ticket booth, from any FoCo derby girl or online at www.brownpapertickets.com or www.focogirlsgonederby.com. Purchases also can be processed by phone at 800-838-3006.