Founded 2005 Venue Bayou Music Center | Track type(s) Flat | |
Teams The Bayou City BossesThe BrawlersThe Psych Ward SirensThe Valkyries | ||
Houston Roller Derby (HRD) is a non-profit flat track roller derby league based in Houston, Texas, (USA). HRD was founded in early 2005, and is a member league of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA). HRD consists of four home teams that play within the league as well as against visiting teams from other WFTDA leagues.
Contents
Houston Roller Derby also has an all-star travel team, formerly called HaRD Knocks but now referred to as the all-stars, which was formed in 2006 to play against other WFTDA leagues across the U.S. and in WFTDA tournaments and competitions. The HRD all-stars were one of 12 WFTDA teams who qualified to compete in the WFTDA National Championships in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, (USA) in 2009. League skater Windigo played for Team Canada at the 2011 Roller Derby World Cup.
History
Originally formed in early 2005 as the Space City Rollergirls, Houston Roller Derby split from their founding group in the pursuit of an all-skater owned league. A majority of the skaters involved in Space City Rollergirls formed HRD after the founding members of Space City Rollergirls attempted to fire the league's coed training team. The new league focused on democratic leadership, with decisions made by committees with elected leaders. HRD's first bout took place in October 2005 at the Pasadena Convention Center. By January 2006 the league had about 50 members and consisted of four teams: The Bayou City Bosses, The Burlesque Brawlers, The Machete Betties and The Psych Ward Sirens. 2006 bouts took place at the Arabia Shrine Temple. The 2007 and 2008 season bouts took place at the Verizon Wireless Theater, the 2009 and 2010 bouts took place at Kick's Indoor, and the 2011 bouts took place at Houston Indoor Sports. Houston Roller Derby filed as a public charity (Houston Rollergirls Inc. dba Houston Roller Derby) and received its tax-deductible 501(c)(3) non-profit status effective March 11, 2011. HRD's season bouts from the 2012 season forward take place in downtown Houston at Bayou Music Center (formerly the Verizon Wireless Theater).
Home Teams
The current home teams of Houston Roller Derby are The Bayou City Bosses, The Brawlers, The Psych Ward Sirens and The Valkyries.
All-stars Travel Team
Houston Roller Derby formed the travel team in 2006 to play against other WFTDA leagues across the U.S. and in WFTDA tournaments and competitions. The team's first interleague competition was the Dust Devil National Flat Track Derby Tournament held in February 2006. The Texas Rollergirls from Austin won the 20-team tournament held in Tucson, Ariz.; HRD placed 13th.