BY JESSICA FERRACANE – The Paradise Roller Girls, whose very first bout last November sold out the Hilo Civic to an unprecedented crowd, are ready to lace up and rumble again – against Kauai’s “Garden Island Renegade Rollerz.”
The inter-island bout is Sat., Mar. 12 at Hilo’s 3,000-seat Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium. Doors open at 4 p.m., and the bout starts at 6 p.m. Tickets are now available online at https://www.paradiserollergirls.com/shop.html or through your favorite Paradise Roller Girl. Other outlets include CD Wizard in Hilo, Mountain View Village Video, Hilo Burger Joint, and Akmal’s Indian Food. Pre-sale tickets – available until Mar. 5 – are $8 in advance. After Mar. 5, prices are $10 at outlets and at the door the night of the event – if any remain. Children five and under are free.
PRG expects to sell out the Civic again and fans are encouraged to purchase tickets as soon as possible.
The competitive bout will test the strength, teamwork and agility of the East Hawaii-based PRG, many of whom recently returned from an intense three-day derby training camp on Kauai dubbed “Lei’d on the Track.”
“There are seriously competitive athletes on the Kauai team who will definitely give us a run for the money,” said PRG Coach Blue “Irish I Was Bashin’ Ya” Davis. “It is going to be an extremely grueling game, with both teams bringing their best skaters to the track,” Irish said.
Paradise Roller Girls is a women’s flat track roller derby league based out of Hilo, Hawaii. The league began in February 2010 with a small group of thrill-seeking women looking for good fun in a quiet town. Now, more than 60 women are part of the spirited “warriors on wheels” group, which holds practices five times a week throughout East Hawaii.
While the PRG have been seriously committed for the year they’ve existed, the Garden Island Renegade Rollerz have been honing their skills as well, and officially formed their league in October 2009.
The PRG roster includes Anita Whiskey, FyreFly Fatale, AvaTart, OkiPunKture, Devil’d Meggs, Smash Yo Face Stace, and many more skilled skaters. Kauai is bringing a contingent of their fiercest females, including Pushy Brat, Jen-a-Roll Electric, Kaizer PermaMento, Hard LiqHer and league president Suki-2U.
Despite the tough personas, the outlandish and clever costumes, and the undeniable brute physicality of the sport, roller derby – especially that practiced by the PRG – is a family-friendly sport and all ages are encouraged to attend.
“It is a physical and demanding sport, but derby truly empowers women. When you lace up your skates and start weaving and bashing your way around the track, you leave all your troubles behind. Family, work, relationships, all take the back seat when you are trying to stay upright and score points,” PRG president Meg “Megative” Premo, said.
PRG adheres to Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) rules and has qualified referees in the league.
Sponsors of the March bout include WillKill Termites & Pests, Aloha Coast Realty, Kapohokine Adventures, Kona Marine Supply, Law Offices of Steven Strauss, Kauai Skate,and Curly Pinky Designs.
Come out and support your local roller derby, with action packed entertainment, and family fun. For more information and to meet the PRG, check out www.paradiserollergirls.com