Dallas is a mecca for roller derby, which is why the World Cup is here this weekend
Skulls will collide this weekend during more than 60 matches at the 2014 Blood & Thunder Roller Derby World Cup.
The fact that it takes place in Dallas was a no-brainer, said and the event’s organizer.
Lindy Hartsfield, owner of Blood & Thunder magazine, which presents the world cup, said that Texas has remained a bit of a spiritual homeland for the sport. That’s just one reason why Dallas was a natural pick for this year’s world cup, a four-day catastrophe (in the best way possible) featuring 30 international teams.
Some background: Roller derby has been around in some variation almost since the inception of skates on wheels, but Hartsfield said that about a decade ago, the contact version we know and love had a bit of a revival down in Austin. In a relatively short time, it’s amassed a cult following and gained popularity around the world. The teams in the Blood & Thunder Roller Derby World Cup are all female, though men’s teams do exist, and the next men’s world cup is set for 2016.
That brings us up to speed here in Dallas. D-FW International Airport’s worldwide accessibility and efficiency were part of the city’s appeal, Hartsfield said. And since the inaugural World Cup was held in Toronto in 2011, a U.S. city seemed like a good pick.
Now, the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center has been commandeered through Sunday by hot, sweaty, fantastically talented athletes with nicknames like Trauma, Fisti Cuffs, and Suzy Hotrod, each of Team USA.
Team USA won a previous world cup championship and defended its title by slamming the Netherlands Thursday morning. True to Hartsfield’s remarks about Texas, USA consists of three Austinites: Smarty Pants of the Texas Roller Girls; Melanie Pfister, who now rolls for Wasatch Roller Derby; and, Trauma, now with the Kansas City Roller Warriors.
National news has been worse than crummy lately. America needs this. Let’s bond over badass women on wheels.
Want to check out the action? Tickets are still available for the remainder of the weekend. Or, you can purchase a pass for streaming online. (Really!) More info here.
Event info: Roller Derby World Cup Tournament 2014