KINGSFORD -- The Kingsford Krush may have been the first flat-track roller derby team in the Upper Peninsula, but they certainly won't be the last. The team says they're hoping to keep things rolling in the sport, drawing in more players and refs, along with ticket sales.
Stephanie Mieras, known as Maim-Bow Brite by her Kingsford Krush team, wants to see the sport spread throughout the U.P. “I hope we will see it be in a lot of towns like Houghton,” says Stephanie. “There are over 1,000 leagues worldwide right now so it's a huge growing sport…it's wonderful.”
The bout or game has four 30-minute periods with ten girls on the floor in total. Each team has one pivot, three blockers and one jammer. The pivot skates at the front of the pack controlling the speed. The blockers' job is to help her jammer get through while simultaneously stopping the opposing team's jammer from breaking through. The jammers have to get through the pack to score points.
“I think the sport is catching on especially in the U.P. More and more people are coming to our bouts. More people are stopping us with our shirts on and asking, 'Are you a derby girl?'” says Stacey Steinbeck, or SpaceRacer, of Kingsford Krush.
The players haven't been the only ones excited about the action. Since the first roller derby match last October, the box office has been picking up speed with sales increasing 10-20 percent each game.
They started out with an average of 200 spectators, but Saturday’s game drew in an estimated 300 fans ready to see some cruisin' and bruisin'.
The derby matches are a fun night for families, and ticket prices start at eight dollars. You can catch the next game coming up May 19. The doors open at 5 p.m. with the junior players at 6 p.m. and the Kingsford Krush following them right after with their game starting at 7 p.m.
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