Denise "Lightning'' Carrel of the Arizona Roller Derby Tent City Terrors (left) and Susie "Sassy Sue'' Schwartz of the Tucson Roller Derby Saddletramps battle it out in a Jan. 20 competition in Tucson, where the Saddletramps won 95-48.
Women on wheels will be fighting it out at this weekend’s 2007 West Regional Dust Devil Tournament.
Twelve roller derby leagues from the western United States will converge in Tucson at the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association tournament. The top four will advance to a national tournament in the fall to play against the top four teams from the east.
The tournament is a great family affair, said Zoe “Whiskey Mick” O’Reilly, of the Tucson Roller Derby league.
“We’ve had grandmas in wheelchairs rooting in the front lines, kids moshing at halftime, whole families leading cheering sections,” she said.
“We even have an unofficial junior league of girls and a few boys who have jobs as jam timers and penalty trackers during the games.”
Included will be live music at halftime, raffles and, of course, “the hard-hitting exciting derby action. There’s beer and socializing for the adults and constant sensory stimulation for the kids,” O’Reilly said.
The tournament will be held from 1 to 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday at Bladeworld Sports Center, 1065 W. Grant Road.
Tickets are $20 per day and $45 for a three-day pass. Kids under 12 are admitted free when accompanied by an adult.
For information, call 390-1454.