Swain County’s Smoky Mountain Roller Girls travel to Haywood County to take on the Thunder Road Roller Girls in the upcoming “Debut Taunt Brawl.” This event marks Smoky Mountain’s first away bout as well as Thunder Road’s first ever bout.
The hard-hitting, fast paced roller derby action takes place Saturday, June 30 at the Haywood County Fairgrounds. Doors open at 5p.m. Bout begins at 6 p.m. All ages are welcome. Tickets are $10 at the door or purchase online at https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/255390. Children 12 and under admitted free.
Roller derby has experienced a world-wide explosion in the past few years, and now it’s found its way to western North Carolina. These two gangs of fearless female athletes will offer more than your average sporting event, roller derby is a full contact, aggressive, competitive sport conducted on four-wheeled skates.
Roller derby involves two teams of four blockers skating round an elliptical track, while a point scorer from each team (“the jammer”) tries to fight their way through, gaining a point for each opposing player they pass. Trips, grabs, elbows, head butts and fist-fighting are all illegal – but spine-crunching shoulder barges, hip checks and booty blocks are totally legit.
The Smoky Mountain Roller Girls is an all-female roller derby league that aims to provide an outlet for fun, fitness and camaraderie among its members. Members come from Bryson City, Sylva, Cullowhee, Stecoah and Cherokee.
– Smoky Mountain Roller Girls
