Big Easy Rollergirls
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Big Easy Rollergirls or BERG (est. 2005)[1] is the first and only all-female, flat-track roller derby league in New Orleans. BERG is an LLC, owned and operated by its members, and a member league of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).
The Big Easy Rollergirls league was founded in the spring of 2005, and had planned their first bout during Carnival[2], but had to regroup following Hurricane Katrina. They started competitive play on September 16, 2006. After a citywide tryout, BERG had two teams and more than 30 active members its first season. The debut bout was won by the Hor-Nots (v the 'Aints) 128-123 in overtime before a sellout crowd.
The second season kicked off Oct. 20, 2007. The league doubled its membership with new recruits to stock four new teams: Confederacy of Punches, Crescent Wenches, Marigny Antoinettes and StoryVillains.
The Big Easy Rollergirls are New Orleans' only women's flat-track derby team[3]. Part of the skaters training regimen includes "dry land" exercises including push-ups, situps, squats, and stretches[4].
The Big Easy Rollergirls are part athlete, part pin-up girl and part warrior. Comprised of a diverse group of women that range in age from 19 to 46[5], by day, they are architects, students, teachers, lawyers, bankers, actors, bartenders and artists. The league holds their home bouts in Mardi Gras World in Algiers Point, across the Mississippi River from the French Quarter. They also have a team of all-star players who travel to bout leagues in other cities.
Voted “Best Local Sports Team,” by local magazine Where Y’at in their first year,[6] the league's mission is to encourage and facilitate the sport of all-female flat-track roller derby. They provide alternative athletic entertainment while supporting charitable organizations that benefit the community at large. Charities and organizations BERG worked with in their first season include the Slaughter Volunteer Fire Department, Arabi Wrecking Krewe, New Orleans City Park, Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, NO AIDS Task Force, Common Ground, KaBOOM!, KIDsmART, and the Louisiana SPCA.
All 2007-08 home bouts will be at Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World in Algiers Point, LA.[7]
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[edit] References
- ^ Tulane University Magazine - News
- ^ Bynum, Chris (December 16, 2005), “Spin Sisters”, Times Picayune, <http://www.nola.com/>
- ^ Rollergirls want some aggressive skaters- NOLA.com
- ^ Barkoff, Eva Jacob (May 2006), “On a Roll”, Times Picayune, <http://www.nola.com/>
- ^ Rollergirls want some aggressive skaters- NOLA.com
- ^ http://www.whereyat.net/page.php?id=379
- ^ The Big Easy Roller Girls: Through Hell and High Water, pt. 1 : NOLA Indymedia
[edit] External links
- Big Easy Rollergirls web site
- Big Easy Rollergirls Myspace page
- Women's Flat Track Derby Association web site
[edit] References
- April 2008 - W Magazine - Bruce Weber spread on New Orleans features the Big Easy Rollergirls
- November 2007 - NOLA.com launches Flat Track Fever
- March 2007 - USA Rollersports Magazine "Frivolity in a Forgotten City"
- March 2007 - New Orleans Magazine "Easy Rollin'"
- Feb. 2007 - Times Picayune "Back to Basics"
- Dec. 2006 - Health & Fitness "Rolling Thunder"
- Nov. 2006 - UNO Driftwood "Roller Derby Action"
- Nov. 2006 - NolaFugees.com "Warriors of the Flat Rink"
- Oct. 2006 - Times Picayune "Rocking and Rolling""
- Oct. 2006 - Times Picayune "Rollergirls Make Algiers Their Rink"
- Oct. 2006 - The Gambit "A Sport for the Well-Wheeled""
- Sept. 2006 - The Gambit "Hot Picks"
- Sept. 2006 - New Orleans Magazine "People to Watch"
- Sept. 2006 - Tulane New Wave "Big Easy Rollergirls Ready for Prime Time"
- July 2006 - WTUL Community Gumbo "Through Hell and High Water""
- June 2006 - Where Y'at Magazine "Big Easy Rollergirls named 'Best local sports team'"
