Asheville, NC

About the Hosts

The Blue Ridge Rollergirls have “rolled local” in Asheville, North Carolina, since 2006. In 2010, Blue Ridge was accepted as a WFTDA apprentice league, and the league became full WFTDA members in March 2012. Blue Ridge is comprised of two teams: the All Stars and the French Broads, who are named after the French Broad River that flows through the city.

The league has strong ties to the community, and they typically donate a percentage of each bout to local charities like The Urban Arts Institute, Girl Scouts, and Animal Compassion Network. Currently, Blue Ridge has nearly 40 skaters and numerous refs and volunteers who support the league. Recently, the Blue Ridge Rollergirls created a “Derby Babies” program that trains aspiring skaters for tryouts. Many of the Blue Ridge Rollergirls also help coach the Mad Divas, Asheville’s junior roller derby team for girls ages 12-17.

The league is known for taking advantage of Asheville’s devotion to alternative medicine by offering its skaters acupuncture before bouts; many skaters also participate in pre-bout yoga sessions to prepare for competition. Part of the league’s mission is to “foster strength, courage, vitality, and the empowerment of women” in the sport of roller derby. Blue Ridge is a 501c(3) nonprofit corporation.