The Tornado Alley Rollergirls attract crowds, give back to community

Tornado Alley Rollergirls vs. Central Arkansas Roller Derby
Tailgate party, 5 p.m.;  bout, 7 p.m. Sunday
Oklahoma City Farmers Public Market
311 S. Klein
$10 in advance, $12 at the door, kids 12 and under are free
www.okcrd.com

The Tornado Alley Rollergirls are ready to take on their next challenger, the Central Arkansas Roller Derby from Little Rock, Ark. A tailgate party begins 5 p.m. Sunday, and the bout starts at 7 p.m. inside the Oklahoma City Farmers Public Market, 311 S. Klein.

The Rollergirls host a regular crowd of about 500 people, and it's a rowdy, loud audience eager for hard-hitting, full-contact action, said Jade Crockett, aka Calamity Jade, the Oklahoma City Roller Derby marketing director.

Skating on an old, wooden floor in the building where roller derby was played in the 1930s, the girls perform a mock run-through so newcomers can understand the bouts and how they work, Crockett said.

During halftime between matches, the girls give back by asking for donations for the charity of the night. Sunday's donations will go to a suicide awareness and prevention group called HeartLine.

"One of our referees' teenage son committed suicide a couple years ago, and she will be talking about that," Crockett said. "Last month, we did a St. Baldrick's bout, and we shaved our heads during halftime."

Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Kids 12 and under are free. For more information, visit www.okcrd.com. "LeighAnne Manwarren

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