PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 7, 2010

Blue Ridge Rollergirls Move Into the Big Leagues, Announce Selection as Apprentice WFTDA Affiliate

The Blue Ridge Rollergirls, the all-female flat track roller derby league from Asheville, NC, has been selected as a WFTDA “Apprentice” affiliate. WFTDA is the international governing body for women’s flat track roller derby.

October 7, 2010, Asheville, NC. With their popularity and fan base soaring across Western North Carolina, BRRG announced today they have been officially selected as a WFTDA Apprentice League.

WFTDA, the international governing body for women’s flat track roller derby, selected Blue Ridge for apprenticeship along with nine other leagues from the United States, Canada and Europe. WFTDA apprenticeship is the entry step to becoming a full membership league in WFTDA making it the “big leagues” for the exploding sport of women’s flat track roller derby. The WFTDA family includes more than 100 skater owned and operated roller derby leagues across the U.S. with additional leagues in Canada and Europe.

“WFTDA Apprenticeship is an exciting step forward for the Blue Ridge Rollergirls, our fans, and sponsors,” said Jennifer Possick a founding member and Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Blue Ridge Rollergirls. “Being a part of WFTDA means increased visibility for our league, a wider range of opponents, and eligibility for international rankings and competitions.”

The rabid fans of Blue Ridge can expect more challenging WFTDA competition beginning next season. More than 3500 fans stormed the Asheville Civic Center in July to watch Blue Ridge take on WFTDA member Texas Hell Marys. As an Apprentice league, the Blue Ridge Rollergirls will bout more WFTDA leagues and can compete to be national champions of women’s flat track roller derby!

“Becoming a part of the WFTDA Apprentice Program is a goal we have been working towards since the league formed in 2006,” Possick explained. “We are so excited for both our skaters and our fans!”

The Blue Ridge Rollergirls have their first bout as an official WFTDA Apprentice while concluding their 2010 home schedule on November 6 against the Molly Rogers of Melbourne, FL at the Asheville Civic Center. Doors open at 6 PM and the bout begins at 7 PM. Children 12 and under are free. Advance tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the Asheville Civic Center box office.

Blue Ridge concludes their season on November 13th in Johnson City,TN in another sibling rivalry with neighboring Little City Rollergirls. Fans are urged to make the 45-minute drive to Freedom Hall Civil Center in Johnson City to see the Blue Ridge French Broads (”B” team) take on Little City. Bout begins at 6:00pm.

General Info:

Welcome to the home of the Blue Ridge Rollergirls, Asheville, NC’s first all female, flat track roller derby league! Yes, roller derby is back! And yes, roller derby is a fast-paced, aggressive, REAL SPORT!

Founded in June of 2006, the Blue Ridge Rollergirls make up Asheville, NC’s first all-female, flat track roller derby league. The league’s mission is to actively create, promote, and sustain an environment that fosters strength, courage, vitality, and the empowerment of women in the roller derby sport. Each member of the league shall be challenged and supported in her pursuit of personal growth in and through the sport. The league itself shall remain deeply rooted in the spirit of good sportswomanship so as to bring honor and distinction to the league, women in the sport, and roller derby as a whole.

We aspired to become a member of the official Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) league, following WFTDA’s motto, “by the skaters, for the skaters.”

We are a non-profit organization and will foster community outreach through support of local charities. A few chairties the league has supported and raised funds for during their home bouts include: Reach for the Skye, RAINN, and Interlace. Please research these worthy local charities and give til it hurts!

Get Involved!

We need more than skaters to survive. Sponsors, volunteers, refs, crew, an extra pair of hands, you name it, why not get involved and help this league grow! We promise you will have a heck of a good time and make some good friends, too.

brrgsponsors@live.com