By SCOTT MCKIE B.P.
ONE FEATHER STAFF
Those of you who are in or near my generation probably remember watching roller derby on television. It was wild. It was crazy. It was rough. It was fun.
The rules are different now as it’s a bona fide sport governed by the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) and the Junior Roller Derby Association (JRDA), but the action and excitement is still there.
You can check out this action close to home as the Smoky Mountain Rollergirls take on the Appalachian Rollergirls in a home bout at the Swain County Recreation Center on Saturday, March 21. Their match will be preceded by a junior league bout between the Smoky Mountain Lil’ Nemesisters and Gastonia’s Mini G’s. The doors open at 4pm with the junior bout starting at 4:30pm. The adult bout will start at 6:30pm.
Although based in Bryson City, the Smoky Mountain Rollergirls feature several EBCI tribal members as well as a couple of other members of federally recognized tribes, and the Lil’ Nemesisters team currently has four EBCI tribal members skating.
Both teams practice twice a week, and it is wonderful exercise. They are always looking for new members, so, if you’re interested just talk to one of the derby girls at the bout.
Since their inception a few years ago, the Smoky Mountain Rollergirls have been dedicated to raising funds for various causes in Bryson City and Cherokee including the Cherokee Children’s Home. This bout will be a fundraiser for the area P.A.W.S. Animal Shelter, and a 50/50 will be held during the bout to benefit the local chapter of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.
Tickets are $7 at the door or $5 online (www.brownpapertickets.com). Children 7 and under are free.
Sporting must-sees for March 20-22
In addition to checking out some cool roller derby action on Saturday night, you can stay glued to your television this weekend for NCAA tournament action on CBS. Do you feel the madness?
