If you drove by the Prime Osborn Convention Center this weekend you might have thought it was a train station once more. If you were lucky enough to have ventured inside you knew that all the ruckus was the 2015 International WFTDA D1 Playoffs. This was the first time they have been held in Jacksonville. WFTDA stands for Women’s Flat Track Derby Association, otherwise known as the great sport of Roller Derby!
Our very own Jacksonville RollerGirls hosted the event. Jacksonville RollerGirls/JRG are dispersed among 6 teams that compete on differing skill levels: home teams consist of the Duval Derby Dames, First Coast Fatales and the Bold City Bombshells; making up the travel teams are the J-Villains (C-team), River City Rat Pack (B-team) and the New Jax City Rollers (WFTDA All-stars)
New Jax City Rollers competed in the tournament, defeating Detroit Derby 262 to 71.
They upset the #2 seeded team, Denver Roller Derby 193 to 163 and fell to the #1 seeded team, London Rollergirls.
Their performance earned them a spot at Champs, where the top teams in the world will compete for women’s flat track roller derby’s highest honor. The WFTDA 2015 Championships will be held in Saint Paul, MN, Nov 6-8.The event will be hosted by Minnesota Rollergirls.
If you can’t make it to the tournament in person, you can still follow all the action live on WFTDA.tv.
Local Roller Derby is still rolling 6:30 p.m. this Sunday: J-Villains vs. Dead Zone Derby Dames, plus Jacksonville Junior Roller Derby action will be taking place at Mandarin Skate Station 3461 Kori Rd, Jacksonville, Florida Ticket prices are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Kids 10 & under are free.