Tag: roller derby

KRG Season Closer: Kingsford Krush

THE KEWEENAW ROLLER GIRLS 2017 HOME SEASON CAME TO A CLOSE LAST NIGHT WITH A MATCH AGAINST KINGSFORD KRUSH.

Saturday was hot! Temperatures were in the mid-80’s outside and the interior of the arena quickly warmed to something similar to a hot-yoga class. Unseasonable for certain, but made all the cold beverages that more thirst-quenching. The crowd was thick with seasoned fans and a healthy cheering section of Girl Scouts seated in the stands behind the benches. All were primed to close the season with a high level of excitement.

Keweenaw got off to a strong start with a multi-pass first jam and soon was far ahead in the first half. An unfortunate injury to one of Kingsford’s jammers resulted in a lengthy time out while the skater was assessed trackside. It was certainly a tenuous time for everyone in the arena as we awaited the return to play. We are thankful to report she is home and resting and wish her some swift healing.

With eight skaters remaining on Kingsford’s roster against Keweenaw’s thirteen, Kingsford couldn’t take a defensive hold. Endurance was the name of the game in the second half. Keweenaw has worked diligently the last few months on refining their offensive strategies and it showed with the breeze in which their jammers moved throughout the pack. That’s not to say it was all breezy; several Kingsford blocker’s sent KRG jammers flying on the outside with precision hip clips. In the end however, Kingsford fell to KRG in a score of 58 to 266.

The Upper Peninsula is fortunate to have Kingsford back and rolling after a few year hiatus. Returning with great number, great leadership, and fresh blood, this team is gaining strength. We suspect in a short time they will become quite a contender for Keweenaw and the surrounding leagues.

Game Day Recap – KRG vs Shipwreck Alley

Keweenaw Roller Girls Score a Win

The weather was as hot as the derby action on Saturday night at the Calumet Colosseum, as the Keweenaw Roller Girls (KRG) beat worthy opponents, the Shipwreck Alley Rollers (SAR) 366 to 72.

photo: KayEnSee Photography

Although Saturday’s bout was the first away match for the newer SAR, who made the trip up from Alpena Michigan on Friday, they played hard and were respectable opponents.

Newer KRG skaters Glam Bam, Amelia HitsHart, and AfroDisiac all had the opportunity to take a turn in the jamming rotation alongside KRG veteran jammers Thimbleberry Slam, Starbuck, Wrath B. Nimble, and Black Ice. From SAR, skaters Skellawhore, Siren Sea Pearls and Punkahotness were stand outs due to their agile skating and smart derby playing. However, newer skater No Fox Given was voted game MVP by KRG for “being a real menace on the track”.

At half-time, viewers were treated to a mesmerizing and interactive belly dance performance courtesy of 47 North Belly Dance troupe from Hancock. Their gyrating hips and artistic maneuvers were truly a sight to behold!

Hosted by Shute’s historical tavern, the bout after party was memorable: tall tales shared, cold drinks consumed, new friends made, and great tunes spun by DJ Dave Brotherton. Mother Nature even treated us to some classic Keweenaw late spring weather drama in the form of heavy rain and wind. Like most weather in Michigan, we waited five minutes and it changed.

Overall, the events of Saturday night at the Colosseum served to bring communities together: both the roller derby community and the tightly knit community that are the folks of the Keweenaw.

Our opponents, Shipwreck Alley Rollers may not have won this one, but they are showing great sisu as they continue on their journey that is sure to mean great things for them in the future. As for KRG, we are proud to know the skaters of SAR, and can’t wait to meet again!

photo: KayEnSee Photography

 

Contributor: I Love Skatin’ #666

Season Beginnings and Sinking Ships

Keweenaw Roller Girls 2017 season started off with a bang as our first WFTDA sanctioned game is now in the books. It was a tough battle against Chippewa Valley Roller Girls of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. They’ve been on the track several season longer than KRG and really have some superb leadership that has carried their strategies and game play over the years. Ending their season against KRG, they left with a powerful 261 to 65. Though the score visually was a huge blow out, the gameplay itself was exciting. If you never looked at the scoreboard you might not have known who had won the game. Some great skating skill was displayed by both teams, and the 1 on 1 battles in the front of the pack, usually against CVRG’s #25 Stunt Double, were so thrilling it really didn’t seem to matter to the home crowd that KRG was having their butts handed to them. With more than 500 in attendance at the Calumet Colosseum, the house “Ooohhs” and “Ahhhs” could be heard clearly on the track amongst the chaos of shouting skaters, whistles, and the house PA.

Keweenaw showcased some new talent at the first game in Calumet this season. Glam Bam #18, Amelia HitsHart #724, and AfroDisiac #88 played in their first game as rookies against a seasoned WFTDA All Star team. We are so proud of their fearlessness (okay, maybe they were a little scared, but they didn’t show it), and their great sportsmanship. Talk about a trial by fire. These new skaters are ones to keep your eyes on. As any team should know, every loss is a win if you learn something from it, and we certainly took some pointers, made adjustments, and are ready for the games ahead of us.

Next up on the schedule for June 10th, a new team on the scene, Shipwreck Alley Roller’s (SAR) of Alpena, Michigan.  They will be making their way up the peninsula this weekend, and what a great time to hit the road! This team has a lot of soul and we look forward to strengthening our connections with them. First recognized at the 2016 Mitten Kitten Tournament in Mackinaw City, SAR was in full force co-hosting and lending support to River City Renegades and the entire organizing crew. They were growing their league and supporting the growth of roller derby, and we are all about that! They have quite a presence and are hard to not notice with their iconic pirate-skull logo with pretty eyelashes.

Get ready and make some evening plans for this Saturday as KRG prepares for their opponent from below the bridge. School is out for the kids and we’re all in the mind-set for having some fun. Bring your kiddos to the game, or bring that gal who you know would just be great at roller derby (we want to recruit her).

Tickets are $5.00 for adults, and the kids 10 and under are FREE! Bevies, grub, and rolling thunder. What better way to spend a Saturday night in Calumet!?

Visiting our facebook event for more info!

WFTDA Adds 17 Member Leagues

On December 23rd, the Keweenaw Roller Girls were given a fabulous gift. We were announced as one of the 17 additional leagues to be accepted into the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association following successful completion of the WFTDA Apprentice Program.

As new members we can now enjoy the benefits of full WFTDA membership, including competing in sanctioned games, attending the WFTDA Annual Meeting and becoming eligible for rankings. This group of new members includes leagues from Europe, North America, South America, and New Zealand.

The WFTDA now has 397 member leagues and 48 apprentice leagues world wide.

  • Kingston Derby Girls – Kingston, Ontario, Canada
  • Traverse City Roller Derby – Traverse City, Michigan, USA
  • Bogotá Bone Breakers – Bogotá, Colombia
  • Dunedin Derby – Dunedin, New Zealand
  • Keweenaw Roller Girls – Hancock, Michigan, USA
  • Free State Roller Derby – Rockville, Maryland, USA
  • Rocky View Roller Derby Association – Airdrie, Alberta, Canada
  • Roller Derby Caen – Caen, France
  • Cape Girardeau Roller Derby – Cape Girardeau, Missouri, USA
  • High Altitude Roller Derby – Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
  • York City Derby Dames – York, Pennsylvania, USA
  • Orlando Psycho City Derby Girls – Orlando, Florida, USA
  • Sitka Sound Slayers – Sitka, Alaska, USA
  • South Shore Roller Girls – Hammond, Indiana, USA
  • Twin State Derby – White River Junction, Vermont, USA
  • Dom City Dolls – Utrecht, Netherlands
  • Maui Roller Girls – Kahului, Hawaii, USA

The Keweenaw Roller Girls are absolutely ecstatic to be recognized as a full member league and are eager for the year ahead. We are so proud to be amongst those who have paved the way for the successes of this great sport.

Congratulations to our fellow graduates and especially to Traverse City Roller Derby! Roller derby in the state of Michigan is stronger than ever!

May all of our New Years be fruitful and bright!

KRG Does Mitten Kitten

mittenkitten2016logo

We’re going to the Mitten Kitten Tournament in Mackinaw City!

Mitten Kitten. We’ve heard about it, some of us have attended as spectators, but this year we’re doing it! Teams from all over Michigan will come to gather at the peak of fall for a weekend of D1 and D2  games at the Mitten Kitten Mash Up – MackinAwww. KRG takes off in the D2 bracket on Saturday morning against the Killamazoo Derby Darlins “Kill Squad” – how we fair determines whether we get to rest more hours before our next game. Will be play again that night, or the next morning? Will we make it to the finals? Only time will tell. What we do know is it’s going to be one of the best weekends in the Michigan, and the best people will be there.

Also attending from the far North (above the bridge) in the D1 bracket is Dead River Derby. Between DRD and KRG we’re representing a whole lot of land with our small leagues. We’re all proud to be representing the Upper Peninsula, and so thankful for the hosting league the River City Renegades .

See the bracket below and follow KRG updates during the weekend via facebook and instagram. Going to be in the area enjoying the fall colors? Stop by and watch some of the greatest roller derby in Michigan! 

October 14 – 16
Mackinaw City Creation Centermittenkittend2bracket