On May 13-15, the Appalachian Rollergirls All-Stars (#180) represented Boone, NC, in a Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) international tournament hosted in Fort Lauderdale, FL. The tournament, known as Beach Brawl, featured teams from Canada, France, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The Appalachian Rollergirls were one of 18 teams to participate in the tournament.
Throughout Beach Brawl, the Appalachian Rollergirls played four bouts against highly-ranked teams from Florida, Louisiana, Alaska, and Paris, France. The Appalachian Rollergirls may have come up short regarding points, but the team learned many new derby skills and never gave up the fight to succeed.
Playing the Paris Rollergirls was certainly the highlight of the tournament for the team. Mason Herman (Snatch n Bent), skater and league Vice President, recognizes that “the chance to play the Paris Rollergirls was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It is something the team will never forget. The language barrier does not matter in roller derby. We are all focused on playing strong and being positive role models for fans and one another.”
If you missed the Beach Brawl action and want to see the Appalachian Rollergirls skate closer to home, the team’s next bout will take place in Maryville, TN, against the Hard Knox Roller Girls (#119) on June 25. The teams will skate at the Cooper Athletic Center at 7 p.m. Pre-sale tickets are available for $10 at brownpapertickets.com.
