For updates on the Texas Shootout in Austin, visit these sites:

• Leadjammer.com - live blog with updated scores running throughout the bouts
• Have Derby, Will Travel - bout recaps throughout the day
• Derby News Network - even more recaps

Since I’m a sucker and I’m stuck in Denver during nationals, I thought I could at least write up an overview of a couple of roller derby boot camps/clinics I’ve heard of that are coming up.

October 6th - Duke City Derby roller derby camp in Albuquerque, 2-6pm
This looks to be just an informal day-type deal for girls interested in trying out, but I saw that one of the Duke City girls posted it on the rollergirls yahoo group inviting anyone from other leagues to come check it out. I got excited for this because Denver is driving distance from Albuquerque and honestly I just wanted an excuse to eat Taco Cabana (AND play roller derby as well), but then I remembered we are having a bout that day so it’s a no-go for me.

October 20-21 - Roller Derby 360 in Kansas City, MO
A pretty-cool looking weekend boot camp hosted by the Kansas City Roller Warriors. Caters towards all levels of skaters as well as some ref and league admin stuff as well. This is nice because it is contained in one weekend, so all you day-job types can make it down without missing work or derby action.

February 21-24 - National Derby Training Camp in San Diego, CA
A whole four days of roller derby training, and in an awesome city - most rollergirls should have every intention of checking this one out. Sponsored by roller derby magazine Blood & Thunder and run by the San Diego Derby Dolls (who have these cool banked track instruction videos up on youtube), this looks to be an intense derby workout. And if you ever doubted the seriousness of this camp, it even has its own yahoo group - and in the derby world, you know that means business. Kind of. Because everything in derby has its own yahoo group, but everything that is important, right?

Four new leagues have just been accepted to the WFTDA:

The Arch Rival Rollergirls from St. Louis, MO
The Denver Roller Dolls from Denver, CO

Green Country Rollergirls from Tulsa, OK

Maine Roller Derby from Portland, ME

Congratulations to all leagues! I also want to add a personal note to the acceptance of the Denver Roller Dolls since there are now two member leagues from Denver - congrats ladies, it’s been great meeting some of you and skating together. For those that aren’t in the Denver area, my league, the Rocky Mountain Rollergirls, is the other roller derby league in our city, and both RMRG and DRD worked together to make having two WFTDA leagues in such a small area something possible.

Just a quick rundown I wrote for our websites and bout programs, but I thought I should repost it here as well - this was one of the most exciting games I have seen, simply because Fight Club was able to keep the Mad Maxines SCORELESS for an entire period. I’ve never seen or heard of this in another bout. Plus there was a fight at the end and I don’t think in the year I’ve been playing I have been in a game with a fight in it (for better or for worse, haha).

September 8th brought the No Coast Derby Girls’ Mad Maxines from Lincoln, Nebraska to Denver to take on our own 5280 Fight Club on their home turf. These teams had never faced off before, and each side was ready to battle for national rankings as members of the WFTDA. Fight Club proved in the first period that they weren’t messing around, bringing air-tight defense down on the Maxines that prevented them from scoring a single point throughout the first 20 minutes – something practically unheard of in a sport with scores frequently reaching over 100 points in a single bout. The end of the period saw FC at 34, MM 0.

After the brutal beating Fight Club had served, the Mad Maxines desperately tried to up their game. Throwing in agile jammer Sylvia Bullet, the Lincoln girls were able to put a few numbers on the board, though not many. Second period put FC at 65, MM 9.

Though Fight Club’s blockers were putting the hurt on the Maxines up until half time, the third period was the jammers’ time to shine. Frida Beater, She Who Cannot Be Named and Olivia Cryin’ almost doubled the points for their team as the last 20 minutes counted down. With minutes left in the bout, Maxine pivot Juana Whippin and Fight Club blocker Annia LateHer got in a scuffle that ended with Fight Club’s coach, team manager, player Zoom Zoom Zetta and even a penalty timer getting ejected from the rest of the bout! Though the 5280 girls suddenly found themselves short, that didn’t prevent a 98-point spread – final score: FC 118, MM 20.

While it was rough on the track, RMRG loved having the Lincoln Ladies in town. Thank you to the No Coast Derby Girls, our volunteers, and all of our fans that made it out to this incredible bout!!

Any word on the Pikes Peak Derby Dames’ vs. the Salt City Shakers in Utah this past weekend? I’m dying to hear the score and I haven’t heard anything yet!

UPDATE: PPDD won, 169 to 137. Thanks Kamilla, and congrats! Hope Susie Q-T is doing well also.

Wow, I’m behind in my recaps and writing in general, but I’ve been in and out of town a lot lately and trying to play catch up.

In the beginning of the month, the Rocky Mountain Rollergirls took on Foco Girls Gone Derby at the Thunder in the Rockies, an annual motorcycle rally in Loveland, CO (right next to Ft. Collins, FGGD’s turf). Last year RMRG faced off against PPDD at the same event, but this year the Foco girls got a chance to prove their stuff close to home. Foco recently played one of RMRG’s home teams, the Sugar Kill Gang, and lost by only 5 points - this bout for Thunder in the Rockies was against a large majority of RMRG’s travel team members as well as quite a few alternates, since many of the regular players couldn’t make it to this particular bout. The first period showed RMRG far in the lead with 56 to Foco’s 15.

Foco looked to have a number of new players on their roster - after losing one of their top jammers, Slick Vick, to the Denver Roller Dolls, this defense-heavy team appeared in major need of some point scorers. Urrk’n Jerk’n as Booty Block Ya snagged the most points for her team by far, but even she is a staple as a blocker for Foco. Foco’s strength definitely lies in their hard hits and their ability as blockers to step in between opposing players and their own jammer just in time to interfere with defense, and these moves allowed them to play some catch up during the second period, with RMRG 82, Foco 64.

By the third period, RMRG was no where near ready to let Foco take the win. Ida Hustler stood out as a major player who both blocked well and jammed hard, especially with top jammer Frida Beater MIA during this particular bout. Smashbox was another jammer to be reckoned with, but she unfortunately took a hard fall in the third period and was taken to the ER due to a broken wrist. The final score saw RMRG at 136, Foco at 68.

While Foco played a great game and it was awesome to bout during the rally, one thing that really sticks out is the fact that Smashbox got injured. This is the third game in a row RMRG played at an expo-type venue, and the third game in which someone suffered a major injury (Rodeo Redd broke her ankle at Fat City and FWDG’s Devilyn Cide also broker her ankle at Taco John’s in Cheyenne). Fortunately Smashbox will only be in a cast for a short period of time and hopes to skate again soon. Hopefully this is the last injury we see for quite a while!

Rocky Mountain Rollergirls vs. Foco Girls Gone Derby.  Exhibition interleague bout in Loveland, CO during the Thunder in the Rockies Motorcycle Rally.  For more info, visit www.rockymountainrollergirls.com.

Arch Rival Roller Girls’ Stunt Devils vs. Smashinistas.  Home team bout in St. Louis, MO.  For more info, visit www.archrivalrollergirls.com.

Steele City Derby Demons’ Bitch Doctors vs. Hot Metal Hellions.  Home team championship bout in Pittsburgh, PA.  For more info, visit www.steelecityderbydemons.com.

Maine Roller Derby’s Vacationland Vixens vs. Hudson Valley Horrors.  Interleague bout in Portland, ME.  For more info, visit www.mainerollerderby.com.