Michigan Tech Parade of Nations and the Keweenaw Roller Girls are collaborating together to bring you an open skate event at the Houghton County Arena. This collaboration is to get you excited for the September 17th Breaksk8 performance at the Rozsa Center

This “Bring Your Own Skates/Blades” event is FREE and open to all ages and levels of experience.

Join us Wednesday, September 14th from 6:30pm to 7:30pm!
Music from around the world to skate to, and raffle prizes given away.

Thinking about joining KRG? This is a great time to come get to know the league! Come have fun with us!

The Keweenaw Roller Girls want to grow our league!

 

We’re seeking new skaters (Fresh Meat) to join us on the flat track. No experience? No problem!

Each season the Keweenaw Roller Girls host a 10 week program that teaches the 101 of skating and roller derby. This year marks our 6th rendition of this program. If you’ve never skated before, that’s okay, but you will need your own gear. Skates, knee, elbow and wrist guards, helmet, and mouthguard.

Over the course of the 10 weeks we teach the mechanics of propulsion, transitioning, speed skating, and how to block and be blocked, as well as an introduction to the rules to get those mental sponges wet.  This is a fast paced sport with lots of strategy. This program is to get new skaters familiar with the sport and what it is like to be on roller skates.

Once the program has reached it’s conclusion, each skater is provided with an opportunity to take the Minimal Skills Requirement test or MSR. This test insures you have an understanding of safe play, can place control over your body and your skates, and is required in order to play in an actual game.

So here’s the stuff to know:
When: Starting Sept 18th (Sunday) – Classes are on Sundays from 12-3pm – these are dedicated to you, Fresh Meat. You are expected to make as many of these as possible. Available to attend (as supplement only not as a substitute) are the regular league practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays 6:30 to 8:30pm. This gives you track time and a place to practice new skills, however, many advanced drills will be off limits to you.

Where: Houghton County Arena  – this is our competition home and practice space in the late spring and summer. Once the snow flies and the ice hits the rinks KRG moves to our alternative spaces. Spaces includes, Finlandia University, Hancock High School, and Jeffer’s High School. All within 10-15 minutes from home in Hancock, MI.

How much: The program is $150 in total. This can be split into two payments of $75. It is nice to have an opportunity to test things out before you completely commit, so KRG offers the first two sessions “free,” after which the first payment is due on the 3rd Sunday.

In addition, each league skater must purchase liability insurance through the WFTDA. This is purchased annually. Your initial insurance costs are pro-rated as the insurance goes from Jan 1 to Dec 31 of each year. Annually the cost is $75, when you purchase insurance now it is around $40.

Buying Skates and Gear:  Please contact us through our website, email, or facebook page to inquire about special pricing on gear. There are several websites to purchase gear from, though unfortunately, in our neck of the woods there are no brick and mortar stores to buy from.

Join the KRG Fresh Meat 6.0 Facebook group for more info, or contact us here!

It’s finally Summer in the Copper Country and (despite not having a bout for this month of June) the Keweenaw Roller Girls have been hard at work. The league has decided to focus our energies on fundraising and community outreach this month. We are excited to announce that at our next bout, on July 9th , KRG will feature Child and Family Services of the U.P.’s “Project HOPE!”

Child and Family Services of the U.P. is a local, non-profit agency based out of Marquette, MI, with offices operating out of several Upper Peninsula counties, including our own Houghton County. They offer a slew of community, family, and homeless prevention based services throughout the region.

Project HOPE is a 90-day prevention program for local homeless and runaway youth. It is designed to provide emergency shelter for said youth, reunification services with their family (if applicable), or assistance in finding other stable living arrangements. Their positive youth development approach focuses on existing strengths, encourages leadership and incorporates community involvement and recreational activities. Project HOPE’s goal is to prevent youth from running away and to end youth homelessness in Houghton County.

Currently, Project HOPE is experiencing a lack of host homes for the emergency shelter component of their program. If you are a caring adult (or know one) who is willing to share their time and home, for up to 21 days per youth, call Jim Boggio to inquire about becoming a HOPE Host Home (906) 281-0937. You can also meet Jim and learn more about Child and Family Services of the U.P. at our next home bout at the Houghton County Arena on July 9 th at 5 p.m.

See ya’ll there!
– Starbuck