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WFTDA
______________________________ Always recruiting skaters, refs, volunteers and sponsors!
For more information e-mail contact@gr-rollergirls.com.
Grand Raggidy Roller Girls VS NEO Roller Girls — DOUBLE HEADER!
The Grand Raggidy Roller Girls are ready for a battle of the broads in a double header against North East Ohio’s Rock ‘N’ Roller Girls! Not only is this the first time the two leagues will duke it out, it is also the last home bout for GRRG until September!!! So get your tickets and get ready for a show as the hits keep coming courtesy of GRRG.
The G-Rap Attack! will play against NEO’s Audio Assault in the first of two games of this double header. The Attack is prepared to show NEO a thing or two about roller derby with their ever growing roster and skill. Like any one hit wonder, the Audio Assault will have their moments on the track but the G-Rap Attack! is the real rock star in this show.
The second bout will be the All Stars versus the Rock ‘N’ Roller Girls. The All Stars are currently ranked 9th in the North Central Region and are always pushing to improve their standing. NEO is a WFTDA Apprentice league trying to climb the ropes in their third season. They show great promise as a future league of the WFTDA. How these games will play out is still unknown, but we all know who the favorite is…
Date: Saturday, May 15, 2010
Time: 5:00pm - 10:00pm
Location: Rivertown Sports, 2605 Sanford Ave SW, Grandville, MI
Most Valuable Member
Mr Brat, aka Tim Bileth, began assisting GRRG as a track setup volunteer around January 2007. He is the spouse of GRRG’s skater turned referee, Preachers’ Brat. In January of 2009, Mr. Brat took over as head of Event Coordination, becoming the first make non-skater to hold a leadership position with GRRG. His accomplishments include streamlining our bout day setup, controlling merchandise sales and inventory, and improving overall bout day experience for fans and skaters. His goal for GRRG is to keep things running smoothly so the skaters can focus on skating and winning games.
Happy 5 Year Anniversary, GRRG!
“How did you get involved with something like that?”
That was always the most common question, after “What is roller derby?” and “You mean like that Raquel Welch movie?”
How does a person become involved in something so unusual, unexpected, and (let’s face it) potentially self-destructive as roller derby?
For my version of the story, we travel back to early spring 2005….
“I’m starting a roller derby league with (Shutter Speed),” I said to my parents during a weekend visit to my childhood home.
This out-of-the-blue-to put it mildly-pronouncement was met with a bewildered, but not entirely unamused stare.
“Do you know how to roller skate?”
“No. Not yet. We’ll figure it out.”
Silence, followed by slow nods, as if to say “That sounds about right for our daughter.”
As we were in the early stages of founding the league, we were met with a lot of enthusiasm coupled with more than our fair share of public skepticism, derision and occasional outright hostility. Looking back on my years spent playing roller derby, from an outsider’s perspective, in a lot of ways - it was/is nuts!
But it was our diverse, driven group’s desire to determine our own value system for measuring the importance of roller derby and how we wanted to spend our free time (and where to funnel our passions) that kept us from giving up in a situation where those with lesser convictions would have crumbled.
This isn’t to overinflate the importance of roller derby. I understand that we weren’t exactly civil rights pioneers, but what the Grand Raggidy Roller Girls (and roller derby as a whole) did, and continues to do, in the grander scheme of things, is offer more choices to the women of West Michigan and beyond.
The friendship, competition, athleticism, fun and confidence are in some ways, simply icing on that derbilicious 5-year-anniversary cake. (Fun fact: Did you know that the traditional 5-year-anniversary-gift is wood? I will be sending the league a commemorative wooden mustache in honor of this milestone.)
Even in my comfortable bruise-free retirement in Florida, I still get stomach flips when I think of the feeling of standing in the pack for the first time in each bout.
So how DO you get into something like roller derby? (Not to mention start a league?)
You have to want it. It’s not really a world that is conducive to wishy-washiness. You have to want to do something kind of insane, be willing to suffer injuries, sacrifice your time with friends and family and be immune to those who can’t comprehend why you would choose to do such a thing.
Everyone’s choices for joining the GRRG - or any league - are unique to that individual, and they count for something. I hope that the women of West Michigan have that choice for the next 5, 10, 15, 50 years down the line.
I’m unbelievably proud to have been a part of something so special and thankful to Shutter Speed for asking Ricochet and me to join her in launching this crazy thing called GRRG.
Most of all, I’m happy I had the good sense to say “Why the hell not?”
—The Vindicator
5 years of Derby in Grand Rapids!
Time flies when you’re having fun! April marks the five year anniversary of the Grand Raggidy Roller Girls League! What better way to recognize this special day than by having a double header against the Cincinnati Roller Girls.
The G-Rap Attack will kick off the event playing against the Cincinnati Silent Lambs. With a fresh lineup and high spirits, the Attack is ready to get on the track and get down to business. Be sure to get there early to get a good seat! This game is sure to be a fantastic start to a mind-blowing evening with your favorite roller girls!
Following the Attack, the second game of the evening will showcase the All Stars versus the Black Sheep. The All Stars have matched up against the Black Sheep on multiple occasions, but have not yet claimed a victory. The All Stars will be going into this match with a winning record and hope to continue the streak. Cincy is currently ranked fourth in the North Central Region. There is no doubt that CRG will be a worthy competitor. GRRG is more prepared than ever and wants to take the win.
Now, you may be telling yourself that this sounds like an amazing night full of fun and heart racing action, but wait! There’s more! To celebrate the five year anniversary of GRRG, the first 200 fans will receive a special treat! Our merchandise will also be marked 20% off so be sure to visit the merch booth while your there!
Date: Saturday, April 24, 2010
Time: 5:00pm - 10:00pm
Location: Rivertown Sports, 2605 Sanford Ave SW, Grandville, MI
Exclusive Offer - Griffins Hockey and GRRG
Grand Rapids Griffins VS Lake Erie Monsters
Friday, April 9th at 7:00 p.m. at Van Andel Arena.
GRRG members, fans, business partners and all other supporters are invited to enjoy this exclusive online offer: Purchase specially discounted tickets to the April 9th Griffins game and 25% of the proceeds from each ticket sold will directly support GRRG.
The Griffins’ Season Finale traditionally is a SELLOUT so purchase early!
www.Griffinshockey.com/promocode
Promo Code: GRRG
**Select Section 201 when purchasing tickets so GRRG peeps can watch the game together!!!**
Upper Bowl Tickets are ONLY $12 ($3 Per Ticket Donated to GRRG)
$1 Beers and $1 Hot Dogs (6:00-8:00 p.m.)
FREE Griffins Reusable Tote Bag Giveaway (First 2,000 Fans)
