Tickets for the Sept. 11 West Kootenay Roller Derby final will go on sale this weekend.
The final will see Rossland’s own Gnarlie’s Angels facing the Salmo Babes of Brutality.
Shannon Marion, blocker on Gnarlie’s Angels and vice-president of the league, said the team is gearing up for the finals.
“We’re practicing three times a week, with two and a half hour practices,” she said. “We’re working on strategy, fitness and cardio.”
She said that the team watches most games and were there last Friday to see Salmo beat the Castlegar Dam City Rollers by a score of 180 to 106.
“We’re there at pretty much every game, so we’ve been watching them play all season and likewise, they’ve been doing the same to us,” she said. “So I’m sure our strategies are much the same.”
That strategy, she said, is to conquer; whether it be divide and conquer or stick together and conquer, winning is their plan.
“Conquer any way you can,” she said laughing.
“No, it’s more defend and conquer, we’re trying to defend our points and they’re trying to take them away.”
Tickets for the Sept. 11 event are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.
There will also be a special opening to the game, with the two newest teams in the league playing each other.
The Slocan Valley Vendettas will be up against the Trail Bloodshed Betties.
“I’m encouraging people to not just come and watch the championship game, but to also come cheer on some newbies and get them excited for playing derby,” Marion added.
“They’ve been working and training really hard, and not only that they’ve been volunteering and helping out at every single one of our games, since the very beginning of the season. They’re an integral part of the league even though they haven’t been playing.”
The event takes place at the Rossland Arena. Doors open at 4 p.m. with first whistle at 5 p.m.
“This is expected to be a sell-out event, so don’t wait until game day to get your tickets,” said Michelle Sylvest, marketing, fundraising and sponsorship director for Kootenay Roller Derby.
Tickets will be for sale online, at kootenayrollerderby.com, or at the following local venues:
Mountain High Lighting (Castlegar), Gerick Cycle & Sports (Trail), RossVegas (Rossland), West Kootenay Scuba (Salmo), and Phat Angel (Nelson).