ROLLER DERBY
Albuquerque Roller Derby kicks off season
Fast-paced action, wild player names, and family fun await
Albuquerque Roller Derby begins its season Saturday at Expo New Mexico鈥檚 Manuel Lujan Jr. Exhibit Complex.
The exhibition will begin at 4 p.m. with a match between two junior teams, Albuquerque鈥檚 Narwhals and Arizona鈥檚 Prickly Scares. Albuquerque Roller Derby and West Texas Roller Derby will face off at 6 p.m.
Lisa 鈥淜atnip Karnage鈥� McKitrick, one of ABQRD鈥檚 players, promises fast-paced action. The full-contact sport is played in two-minute jams around an oval track. Jammers, identifiable by the stars on their helmets, must force their way past the opposing team鈥檚 blockers. Each time a jammer laps a blocker, they earn a point. Scores easily surpass 200 points in the 60 minutes of play (3o-minute halves).
In a sport where the names are as exciting as the game 鈥� Albuquerque鈥檚 team features players such as 鈥淪he Devil,鈥� 鈥淒emolition Doll鈥� and 鈥淧iece of Quake,鈥� among many others 鈥� self-expression is key. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a certain freedom,鈥� McKitrick said.
Her nickname, Katnip Karnage, is derived from her love of cats 鈥� McKitrick has six of them. 鈥淢y life is pretty much feline carnage,鈥� she said.
There will be food and drinks, pop-up vendors, merch, and a bounce house for the kids.
Tickets are $13 online at or $15 at the door. Children under 12 get in free. Doors open at 3 p.m.
