Categorized | Featured, Roller Derby, Sports

Kona Derby Girls on a roll

Priscilla da Thrilla and Wheelin' Kahilin work together to keep jammer Reba Smackenflier behind them. (Photo special to Hawaii 24/7 by Cliff Fabacher)

Special to Hawaii 24/7 by Eric ‘Buddy Haole’ Lammerman

The Kona Tsunami Slammers beat up on each other in a “Black and Blue” exhibition bout Saturday evening at Old Kona Airport’s hockey rink.

The Slammers, a new member of the Hilo-based Paradise Roller Girls (PRG) league, split into “Black” and “Blue” teams for the nine-on-nine scrimmage. Roughly 150 fans watched as the Black team bested the Blue team, 114-67.

Several members of Hilo’s “B” team traveled across the island to take part in the scrimmage. Among those who made the trip was Caffeinated CreamHer, a former speed skater.

CreamHer, who recently moved to the Big Island from Bakersfield, Calif., was a one-woman wrecking crew for the Black team, opening up a 63-15 lead after the first period.

In roller derby, teams score when their jammer (who wears a star on her helmet) passes a member of the opposite team. With her combination of speed, agility and power, CreamHer jammed for well over half of her team’s points in the first half.

“What we have to do is block and play defense, and we weren’t doing that in the first half at all,” Blue team coach Papa Lolo said.

The Blue team managed to outscore the Black team in the second period 52-51; but they couldn’t make up for the big first period deficit.

Slammers Captain Sadie Mae Gutz, who spent four years playing with the Silicon Valley Roller Girls in California, coached the Black team.

“Nobody used the strategy that we practiced, and we won on pure luck and good play from our jammers,” she said. “Everybody did their best, though, and we were definitely better this scrimmage than last scrimmage. I expect we’ll be even better for the next one.”

Gutz wants her team to scrimmage for the public again in August and expects the Slammers to play a “real game” by the end of the year.

The Tsunami Slammers are actively recruiting, and hold practices at the Old Airport Hockey rink on Sundays (3-5 p.m.), Mondays (7:15-9:15 p.m.) and Thursdays (7:45-9:45 p.m.).

For more information, e-mail tsunamislammers@hotmail.com

Blue team coach Papa Lolo speaks to the players at the end of the scrimmage. (Photo special to Hawaii 24/7 by Cliff Fabacher)

Beelza Bozo did her best to clown her opponents. (Photo special to Hawaii 24/7 by Cliff Fabacher)

One Response to “Kona Derby Girls on a roll”

  1. skates make the world go round !!!!!!!!!! good luck saifron.gotta love a girl skates & bakes !!!!!!!!!! got the buzz every wednesday – frank – p.o.a

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