The “Off Season”
People always ask us when is our derby “season”. We laugh because there is not a real off season but if we had to have one, we suppose this would be it! We are taking a couple weeks off to spend the holidays with our familes and friends who so graciously support our derby habit throughout the rest of the year. But we have been hard at work since we saw you all for our last bout. First, we had a recruitment period by opening up our practices specifically geared for new skaters, or “fresh meat” as we call them. (If you are still interested in joining us, email us at blackwaterrollers@yahoo.com for more info.) Those practices went amazing! We had no idea there was still so much talent out there! We have an awesome group of new skaters who have picked up the sport faster than we have ever seen. It makes us more excited than ever for the start of our 2012 season. Strawberry Kills Forever and Naughty Nini have taken over the roles of captains in turning these freshies into fierce derby girls and they have been doing an incredible job. Be looking for this group of girls to shine in 2012. We have high hopes for them and love having them apart of our derby family.
Speaking of the 2012 season, our schedule is now up! Check it out and check back often for more details about each bout. We have some new teams and familiar faces to round out our schedule and can’t wait to see what the new year brings us!
Bout Recap from the Beccanator
We first made friends with ECD, East Coast Devastation, when Highwayman was in town for work and got in touch with Fly Swatta to join a practice. Our teams connected for scrimmages and bench coaching/bout help a few more times before we finally scheduled reciprocal bouts. ECD came to us for our first ever Co-Ed home game on August 27th and took on an entirely new ruleset, our traditional WFTDA.
In preparation for our bout at their place, November 12th, we worked extra hard at learning their OSDA ruleset – which although 33 pages shorter than ours, was somehow more confusing! When the day came for us to leave however, ECD actually stood for “Everything that Could go wrong, Did.” DangerAzz was suffering from a major toothache that landed him and Pizazz in the emergency room. Krash Klown was still recovering from a 3rd degree burn on her hand. Hell-ga and Nini had been sick for days, a borrowed RDD skater (KlusterFlux) had a death in the family, and to top it all off, Vamp Stamp’s car got hit in the parking lot! Despite all these obstacles, we came, we saw (a scrimmage with NoVa and DC teams prior to ours), we skated. For a further bad omen, just before the half time, the score was 66 – 6 (their favor). But, with extra help from Groper Cleavage and special guests Feeler Up (from BlackRose Rollers), last minute addition Maiden China from Chesapeake Roller Derby, and NoVa’s Debbie Does Dulles, we held our own in the second half, scoring the majority of our points and minimizing the opposition’s (hey, we kept them under 100!) Final score was 96 – 26, and Hell-ga was nominated as our MVP.
Blackwater is very appreciative of our bench staff (Ron the General and Parrabellum), NSO Meryl Shriek, and guest skaters Fro Down from Star City and Stevel Knievel from Richmond Derby Demons, for their help with this challenging bout! Most of us were able to attend the afterparty at Buffalo Wing Factory in Sterling, and we finally made it home….just in time for FreshMeat Recruitment Night November 15th! The fun never stops!
We know what the score said, but who won these mini competitions?
Furthest travelling player : ECD’s Evil Petting Zoo (from Raleigh, NC) vs. BWR’s Fly Swatta (from Atlanta, GA) Winner = Fly!
Most Statuesque Ref: (no contenders here, everyone else was moving!) Zombi, from BWR! (We did not know that OSDA refs are positioned as stationary in the outside corners! Also, they don’t wear ANY protective gear…..scary!)
Long lost reunion: BWR’s Ron the General with his daughter Rebecca vs. BWR’s Beccanator with derby name twin Bacon Ate Her from Hawaii Winner = Ron the General!
Afterparty winners: ECD’s Children playing the Toy Claw pick up (3 toys!) vs. BWR’s Jr. Bacon w/Cheese tag teaming with a young ECD fan, in a Galaga glitch that required no quarters. Winner = Galaga players! (We left at level 88 and the other kid was still going….)
It was a great end to our season! Thank you ECD!
-Beccantor
Headed North
Blackwater is loading up our gear and heading north to take of our friends, East Coast Devastation Saturday in Sterling, Va. We are teaming up with some derby dudes from all over and competing in a OSDA bout. We can’t think of a better way to end our season than with this team. There should be some amazing derbying hitting the rink, so if you are in the area be sure to swing by! For more info, check out thefacebook event page.
Looking For Some Good Fresh Meat
Blackwater Rollers, is having an open recruitment period! We are looking for any ladies (and guys too!) who aren’t afraid to put on a pair of skates and learn about roller derby. There is no experience necessary, and you don’t have to commit to join the team until you decide if it’s what you really love. We are currently in need of skaters (ladies), refs (guys), and any volunteers who can lend their time and skills to putting on our bouts. If you’re interested, stop by AJ’s skateworld in Appomattox from 7-9 on November 15th, 17th, 29th, and/or December 1st. We’ll provide the skates and pads if you don’t have your own. First practice is free, $5 each one after. Feel free to contact blackwaterrollers@yahoo.com if you have any questions and let us know you are coming by RSVPing to our facebook event page!
A Bout for the Record Books
Hello derby friends! For anyone that was with us at our October Feast bout, we don’t have to remind you how the it was derby at it’s finest! We took an early lead but the hard working ladies of the Star City Roller Girls didn’t give up. They narrowed the gap in the second half and it looked like it could be anyone’s game but we weren’t about to let them take a much needed victory from us. We gave it our all and went home with a win and the score of 129-123. Thank you fans for being on your feet and cheering us on during those final few jams. We needed your support and you showed up in big ways! We are nothing without our derby family!
Besides being victorious, our October bout was also special as we said goodbye to two of our favorite skaters and they head into derby retirement.
Krash Klown has been a Blackwater Roller practically since the Hill City Derby Dollz were established back in 2009. She has served as treasurer, co-captain, and our heaviest hitter, sending skaters all over the state air-borne, back where they came from. Her dedication to the team is unable to be topped. We thank you Krash for helping lead BWR to where we are today.
Fly Swatta has been with Blackwater for almost two seasons and one of the quickest learners and best booty blockers to date! She has not only served as VP, President but has led the team as pivot every bout this season. She will be remembered for her quick wit and fire out on the rink. We wish her and her family well as they move to Atlanta.
We are going to miss these girls as they take on their next adventures in life. But no matter where their skates may roll, they will always be a Blackwater Roller to us.
The Grand Finale
Well, this is it! Our final bout of the year and it is only appropriate we play against our sister team from the west, the Star City Roller Girls. October 15th is the day and you know the drill for the rest. For more information, visit our facebook event page and we will seee you at AJ’s one last time! Help us bring home a victory!
Black and Blue round II
Another bout down! Thank you to the lovely ladies of the Charlottesville Derby Dames for traveling to us twice this year. We took home the victory the first time and go round, they took it back from us. It was a great game and I think we are all still counting our bruises! We love their sports(wo)manship, skill, and kick line at the after party. Thanks CDD! We would also like to thank the fans, Richie Yates, Rick Myers, DJ B Psi, Lynchburg Tribal for performing during half time, Mangia for the after party, Appomattox Rescue Squad, the refs and NSOs and all those who help pull our bouts off. I say lets do it again! When you ask? How about in a couple weeks when we face the Star City Roller Girls on October 15th. It is our LAST home bout for the year so you might want to go ahead and plan on being there. More details to come! Until then, enjoy some action shots, primarily brought to you by the talented Rick Myers and we will see you again soon!
Rematch
We only have two more home bouts this year so clear your schedule for the 24th to come watch us take on the Charlottesville Derby Dames. For those of you who missed our April bout, we brought home a victory and the Dames have politely said they are not going to let that happen again. It should be a good bout to watch and both teams fight for the win! You know the drill with the rest…. Saturday night, doors open at 6pm, first whistle blows at 7pm. Presale tickets are available from your favorite derby girl! Did we mentioned that we are having our most popular half time back? You won’t want to miss that! A portion of the proceeds will benefit our friends at the Appomattox Rescue Squad. For more information, click here!
Burgers not Bruises
This Saturday, Blackwater will be playing the part of a 50′s waitress and serving the fine costumers of Sonic Drive-in. We will be working for tips and tater tots from 11am – 5pm at the Sonic in Madison Heights on 29 North. We take lots of falls on the rink but we promise to be extra careful with your limeade and hotdogs! Sonic will be having BOGO specials so stop on by!
Chucktown
