Blue Ridge Rollergirls had a baby and they named the baby Madison

Imagine this. Your mom is a Blue Ridge Roller Derby girl and goes by the public name of Smithereen, and she’s part of something that is a must-see group in Asheville right now. The BR Roller Girls are It. You go to practices, sit around with a few other teenage girls and *get* to watch mom and friends with names like Poison Sue Smac skating round and round a rink, punching, blocking, hitting, falling, screaming, laughing … having a blast. You sit. You watch. You eventually get up, put on your own skates and pretend you’re one of the big girls. You think: “One day.”

That’s how The Madison Junior Derby Divas came to be. And you can meet them at The Blue Ridge Rollergirl’s Hell Chere Bout, Saturday, July 31 at the Asheville Civic Center, 7 pm. They are making their debut in "a little friendly exhibition" with the Little City Junior Rollers from Johnson City, TN.

“We’re figuring this out as we go along,” says Smac aka Lisa, as she describes taking on the task of coaching the younger group. “We kept talking about it how would be a great idea if there were a younger group. And the only way it was going to happen was just do it.”

So they are. Just doing it. Smac and Smithereen’s daughter talked to some of their friends, word got out, and The Blue Ridge Roller Derby girls had a baby girl. The baby girl is named Madison because that is where the mother’s live and where the BBRG have finally landed a spot to practice without it costing next month’s paycheck. They practice at the Marshall Island Gym, located behind the popular Marshall High Studios.

The younger derby girls - about eight active skaters right now - don’t get to be quite as physical as their 'mama’s'. They are limited to leaning and blocking. They’ll have to wait to turn 18 before they get to start hitting and all the other good stuff.

For more info: http://madisonjuniorderbydivas.com

And BTW, I like to spread the word about various out ‘n about happenings and people around Asheville and WNC. If you’ve got something you think I might like, a story about some special event or some special character, send it to me and I’ll help you get the word out. Send it even if you don’t think I’ll like it. You just never know unless you ask. Email me at outnaboutwnc@gmail.com.