In the third bout, the High Rollers and Heartless Heathers battled for third and fourth seeding in a defensive power match. Down 54–27, jammer Sully Skull Kicker was unable to pull the High Rollers close after she was sent to the penalty box late in the match. The Heathers went on to defeat the High Rollers, 54–34, to claim third.
ROSE CITY ROLLING
On Saturday night, a sold-out crowd witnessed four half matches of women’s roller derby as the Rose City Rollers opened their fifth season at the Portland Expo Center. Portland’s four home teams all participated in a double-elimination tournament, with the Break Neck Betties emerging as victors over the Guns N Rollers.
The sellout—a first for the Rose City Rollers at the Expo Center—impressed derbyist and Portland State alumna Sugar & Vice.
“It was amazing. It’s been a while since we sold out, so to have our fans coming and filling up the Expo Center and giving us that much support and love is incredible,” she said.
The season began to a roar of applause as the four teams blazed out of the gates, making several circuits around the track before leaving for individual team introductions. The first bout of the evening pitted the High Rollers against the Guns N Rollers in a high-octane match that would set the tone for the evening.
The Guns and Rollers controlled the majority of the bout, with the High Rollers playing catch-up after falling behind by as much as 23 in the early going. The High Rollers chipped away at the lead with both teams’ jammers sharing time in the penalty box.
After an unanswered 10–0 run by the High Rollers left them nine points behind at the 4:53 mark, jammer White Flight sustained a hard hit that left her immobile on the track as emergency medical personnel rushed to her aid.
After several minutes of tense silence, White Flight would leave the bout immobilized on a stretcher to the sound of applause as the crowd supported the injured skater.
White Flight reached out to thank her fans the following day on the league’s online forum.
“After a couple hours at the hospital strapped to an ungodly board, I left with a bad strain in my neck,” she said in the forum. “I am moving around slowly today…a huge thanks to Payton for keeping me calm and taking care of business.”
Though the High Rollers stormed to within four points behind the play of jammer Sully Skull Kicker, the Guns N Rollers took the bout, 72–67.
The Heartless Heathers then faced off against the Break Neck Betties, the 2009 season winners. The Betties asserted dominance early, and did not let up on their way to a 78¬–41 advantage. Jammer SoulFearic Acid poured on the points by splitting the Heathers’ defense in what would be a mere preview of her play in the final bout.
In the third bout, the High Rollers and Heartless Heathers battled for third and fourth seeding in a defensive power match. Down 54–27, jammer Sully Skull Kicker was unable to pull the High Rollers close after she was sent to the penalty box late in the match. The Heathers went on to defeat the High Rollers, 54–34, to claim third.
The decisive final match between the Break Neck Betties and Guns N Rollers looked to be a quick blowout, with the Betties storming out of the gate to a 26¬–1 lead. Despite strong defense from the Betties, foul trouble prevented them from maintaining the lead and Cher the Pain, Rollers’ captain and jammer, zipped through the Betties’ weakened defense to take a 35–34 advantage.
The Betties responded quickly, sending second-match standout SoulFearic Acid to the jamline, where she promptly regained the lead 43–35. Before the Rollers could mount another push however, the bout ended with the Betties on top 60–45, being outscored 25–11 in the final minutes.
Opening night festivities drew light upon what makes roller derby such a success in Portland. Live color commentators kept track of the fast-paced bouts, emphasizing and explaining obscure rules, fouls or technicalities to new fans.
According to Sugar & Vice, Portland’s roller derby is an exceptional league for several reasons.
“Not only do we have derby, we have really good roller derby,” she said.
However, perhaps greater is what women’s roller derby can symbolize.
“There is a place for every body type,” she said on her player page. “We need the small, fast women for jamming, the big, burly women for blocking and every body type in between.”
The sellout—a first for the Rose City Rollers at the Expo Center—impressed derbyist and Portland State alumna Sugar & Vice.
“It was amazing. It’s been a while since we sold out, so to have our fans coming and filling up the Expo Center and giving us that much support and love is incredible,” she said.
The season began to a roar of applause as the four teams blazed out of the gates, making several circuits around the track before leaving for individual team introductions. The first bout of the evening pitted the High Rollers against the Guns N Rollers in a high-octane match that would set the tone for the evening.
The Guns and Rollers controlled the majority of the bout, with the High Rollers playing catch-up after falling behind by as much as 23 in the early going. The High Rollers chipped away at the lead with both teams’ jammers sharing time in the penalty box.
After an unanswered 10–0 run by the High Rollers left them nine points behind at the 4:53 mark, jammer White Flight sustained a hard hit that left her immobile on the track as emergency medical personnel rushed to her aid.
After several minutes of tense silence, White Flight would leave the bout immobilized on a stretcher to the sound of applause as the crowd supported the injured skater.
White Flight reached out to thank her fans the following day on the league’s online forum.
“After a couple hours at the hospital strapped to an ungodly board, I left with a bad strain in my neck,” she said in the forum. “I am moving around slowly today…a huge thanks to Payton for keeping me calm and taking care of business.”
Though the High Rollers stormed to within four points behind the play of jammer Sully Skull Kicker, the Guns N Rollers took the bout, 72–67.
The Heartless Heathers then faced off against the Break Neck Betties, the 2009 season winners. The Betties asserted dominance early, and did not let up on their way to a 78¬–41 advantage. Jammer SoulFearic Acid poured on the points by splitting the Heathers’ defense in what would be a mere preview of her play in the final bout.
In the third bout, the High Rollers and Heartless Heathers battled for third and fourth seeding in a defensive power match. Down 54–27, jammer Sully Skull Kicker was unable to pull the High Rollers close after she was sent to the penalty box late in the match. The Heathers went on to defeat the High Rollers, 54–34, to claim third.
The decisive final match between the Break Neck Betties and Guns N Rollers looked to be a quick blowout, with the Betties storming out of the gate to a 26¬–1 lead. Despite strong defense from the Betties, foul trouble prevented them from maintaining the lead and Cher the Pain, Rollers’ captain and jammer, zipped through the Betties’ weakened defense to take a 35–34 advantage.
The Betties responded quickly, sending second-match standout SoulFearic Acid to the jamline, where she promptly regained the lead 43–35. Before the Rollers could mount another push however, the bout ended with the Betties on top 60–45, being outscored 25–11 in the final minutes.
Opening night festivities drew light upon what makes roller derby such a success in Portland. Live color commentators kept track of the fast-paced bouts, emphasizing and explaining obscure rules, fouls or technicalities to new fans.
According to Sugar & Vice, Portland’s roller derby is an exceptional league for several reasons.
“Not only do we have derby, we have really good roller derby,” she said.
However, perhaps greater is what women’s roller derby can symbolize.
“There is a place for every body type,” she said on her player page. “We need the small, fast women for jamming, the big, burly women for blocking and every body type in between.”
