NEW MEXICO
Albuquerque hosts Rumble on the Rio roller derby tournament
'Roller derby is often described as playing chess while people throw bricks at you,' organizer says
Roller derby teams from across the western 近距离内射合集 States will convene in Albuquerque this weekend for Rumble on the Rio.
Rumble, they will.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e going to hit the ground, you're going to wipe out, you're going to eat pavement. You are going to get bruised and bumped around,鈥� said Lisa 鈥淜atnip Karnage鈥� McKitrick, a player for the Albuquerque Roller Derby team, in describing the fast-paced, full-contact sport.
Albuquerque Roller Derby is one of nine teams from New Mexico, Idaho, Texas and Colorado participating in the two-day tournament starting Saturday at the National Guard Armory, 600 Wyoming Blvd. NE.
Roller derby, which has been around since the 1930s, is a sport played on quad roller skates and is known for speed, falls and fierce competition.
Teams field five players at the starting line. Those five are divided into one jammer and four blockers. Jammers start each lap behind the pack and score a point for every opposing blocker they pass. Blockers spend the game simultaneously getting their jammer through while preventing the other team's jammer from passing.
鈥淩oller derby is often described as playing chess while people throw bricks at you. And that's not entirely wrong,鈥� said Elizabeth 鈥淩effe鈥� Cahill, one of the Rumble on the Rio organizers. 鈥淏ut at its heart 鈥� it's empowering, supportive, fun, high energy. It's a great time with a wonderful, welcoming community.鈥�
Camila 鈥淪unny鈥� V谩squez, another organizer, and Cahill said that the roller derby community welcomes everyone who wants to play. They described the Albuquerque roller derby community as a queer-affirming space.
鈥淩oller derby molds to whatever the community needs,鈥� V谩squez said. 鈥淭here is not one roller derby team that looks alike.鈥�
There will be five games each day at the third annual Rumble on the Rio, though it will be the first one held in Albuquerque. Tickets are $25 for a one-day pass and $40 for a two-day pass. Children under 12 get in free.
Knowledge of roller derby isn鈥檛 a requirement to attend, organizers said.
鈥淚f you don't know what's going on, just speak to someone who is cheering, and they'll get you cheering, too,鈥� Cahill said.
Isabella Campbell is an intern with the New Mexico Local 近距离内射合集 Fellowships and Internships Program, which places emerging journalists in newsrooms across New Mexico. Learn more at . She can be reached at icampbell@abqjournal.com.
