It's official -- the Bumberbout Flat-Track Derby Invitational at Bumbershoot was the biggest flat-track roller derby exhibition tournament in world history! Granted the flat-track incarnation of roller derby is only a couple of years old, but we're still pretty proud. Key Arena had more than 22,000 spectator visits in 10 hours to watch the Rat City Rollergirls as well as the Texas Rollergirls, the Minnesota Rollergirls, the Mad Rollin' Dolls of Madison, Wisc., the Boston Derby Dames, the Carolina Rollergirls, the Bay Area Derby Girls, and the Kansas City Roller Warriors.

       

The Rat City Rollergirls were undefeated in Pool 2 and made it to the Bumberbout championship to come within five teensy points of defeating the reigning national champions, the fierce Texas Rollergirls. Rather than reinvent the wheel by telling you all the details, you can read more about the tournament here and here and here. You can read charming recaps from novice roller derby fans here and here, in which unsuspecting Bumbershoot attendees tumbled into Key Arena unawares and stumbled out hardcore fans. There are also thousands of photos of Bumberbout on the web at Flickr and more. You can even check out some videos posted on YouTube!

One of the most exciting moments of the day was when sisters D-Bomb and Femme Fatale unveiled a stunning move they'd been practicing for months -- the leg whip! Thanks to photographer Jules Doyle, you can click the photo to see the leg whip in action.

Get ready to see rollergirls from all parts of the country trying this move. Our prediction? Many broken tailbones and few successes -- not just anyone can pull off a move like that!

There are still a few tickets available for Saturday's last regular season bout. It's the second-to-last bout of the year, yo! Buy your tickets online until Friday night, or come to the Hangar 27 at Magnuson Park on Saturday, 7400 Sandpoint Way NE, Seattle. The bout begins at 6 p.m., but doors open at 4:30 p.m., so get there early (especially if you want a bleacher seat).

Things you won't want to miss:

• Old grudges made new, with the Throttle Rockets trying to knock the undefeated out of DLF, and Grave Danger trying to exact revenge on the Sockit Wenches.
• Fankick!, the irresistible '80s dance duo, at half time.
• White Knuckle Ride kicking things off in the beer garden before the bout.

Another reason to come to Saturday's bout: you get first crack at buying tickets to the Rat City Rollergirls 2006 Championship bout on October 21. Space is limited, and the tickets are gonna go faster than Drew Blood chasing Femme Fatale, so get yourself to the hangar Saturday to buy yours.

An exciting addition to the Championship Bout is the after-party. Following the bout, we're going to drive all the way to ... THE HANGAR! That's right! After the Championship, we're not going anywhere at all, and neither should you. We're going to take off our skates and turn our floor into a dance party. There will be drinks, food, and the best part of all is that admission to the party will be free with your ticket to the Championship bout. Note: food, beer, and good dances moves not included with the price of bout admission.

The Rat City Rollergirls love it when people take photos at their bouts and share them. Point-and-shoot cameras are always welcome, but commercial and video cameras are now prohibited unless you make arrangements with us ahead of time. Wanna bring a bigger lens than the one on your camera phone? To be considered for commercial-sized camera or video camera access at our bouts, please e-mail a photo request to shoveychase@ratcityrollergirls.com at least two weeks before the bout.

Hangar 27, Magnuson Park
7400 Sandpoint Way NE, Seattle
Doors at 4:30 p.m. and bout starts at 6 p.m.

Grave Danger vs. Sockit Wenches
Throttle Rockets vs. Derby Liberation Front
Tickets here.

If you liked watching Seattle's own Rat City Rollergirls take on Portland's Rose City Rollers, maybe you'd like to join us in Portland to watch their championship bout on September 30th. Many of us will be driving down to check out our competition and, of course, cheer them on.

Check out their website for more information.

Hangar 27, Magnuson Park
7400 Sandpoint Way NE, Seattle
Doors at 4:30 p.m. and bout starts at 6 p.m.

Line-up to be announced. Tickets available online through Brown Paper Tickets on Monday, September 25th, or you can buy them in person at our bout on September 23rd. Don't miss it! Right after the bout we'll be taking off our skates and converting our track into a dance floor. Admission to the afterparty is free with ticket stub, and we'll have food and drinks and music and rollergirls. Seriously, what more could you want?

Friday, October 13th, 2006
Rendezvous (in the Grotto)
Doors at 9 p.m. -- $7 Cover

Drinking with Danger is doing a special night at the Rendezvous! Mark your calendars now for what is sure to be Grave Danger's most ghoulish event to date! More details coming soon!

There are only two more months left of our 2006 bouting season! That's only two opportunities to help out with the second season of Seattle's first and only Women's Flat Track Roller Derby League, the Rat City Rollergirls. We currently need volunteers for our championship bout on October 21st, although last-minute helpers for September 23rd may be needed. Volunteers are typically rewarded with free bout admission and our undying love and affection. Please e-mail volunteer@ratcityrollergirls.com for more information, or to sign up for a shift!