Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
The St. Chux Derby Chix are primed for a return trek to Kalamazoo, Michigan this weekend for a competitive roller derby invitational. SCDC, ranked #86 internationally by the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), skates at the second annual “K-Town Shakedown” at the Wings Center beginning Friday.
The three-day, dual-track event features 31 games overall, eighteen of which will be WFTDA-sanctioned.
The St. Charles County-based Pack in Black (1-3) has three Shakedown shindigs on the docket in contests against #62 Tri-City, #69 Grand Raggidy and #83 Pirate City.
After competing at their self-hosted “Skate to Thrill” annual event in early-March, where they notched their first victory of the year, St. Chux has been executing recent scrimmages knowing that K-Town kerfuffles on the polished concrete are projected for all three days.
Photo Credit: Jeff Higgins
“A few of the top areas of focus included awareness, offense, and communication,” said SCDC captain Sha’Killa of the team’s practices. “Going into it this year, I really can’t underestimate any opponent. That floor can be a little tricky to get used to for some of our Chix that weren’t with us last season.”
Preparation will be key as the captain will be joined by blocking teammates Pixie Dust-Ruction, Slaughterhaus, Big Red, Whip L’Ash, Blue Bear, Judy Boom, #smashtag, Bad Mutha T, Rockie Who and Dani Disaster while jamming contains the quartet of Jedi Knight-N-Gale, Ankle BiteHer, Calamity Cat and Annieville Horror. Other chartered Chix will make the trip, hoping to gain valuable experience.
None of their games will be easy this weekend and the team is fully aware of it. Friday’s meeting with Grand Raggidy (6-1) is a re-match from last year’s donnybrook that was claimed by the Michiganians, 220-204.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
“I felt we played a great game against them compared to some of our other opponents,” reflected Sha’Killa of the 16-point differential. Grand Raggidy, a WFTDA Division 2 post-season entrant last season, sports a four-game winning streak heading into the match-up.
Meanwhile, newly-minted meetings against Auckland, New Zealand-based Pirate City (0-0) on Saturday and Canadian Tri-City Roller Derby (0-1) on Sunday complete the agenda. However, challenging a pair of teams sight unseen doesn’t alter the St. Chux game plan prior to battle.
“I think it’s fair to say that the element of the unknown doesn’t necessarily change how we prepare for Tri-City and Pirate City, but it forces us to be more focused and aware to switch to a new game plan faster,” said Sha’Killa.
The goal is to win on the flat-track this weekend but the SCDC captain believes that quality hours will be also spent off the track.
“The Chix always have good times whether at home or away,” she said. “Our schedule is pretty amazing this weekend, so I predict lots of team bonding. Perhaps a little karaoke and playing the game of spoons will lighten the camaraderie.”
SCDC returns home to play the Twin City Roller Derby on Saturday, May 13 at Lamborghini Gold Coast Athletic Centre in downtown St. Charles.
For more information on the St. Chux Derby Chix, go to their official website.
ST. CHUX DERBY CHIX AT K-TOWN SHOWDOWN
FRIDAY 6:30 PM vs. Grand Raggidy
SATURDAY 8 PM vs. Pirate City
SUNDAY 5 PM vs. Tri-City
For updates from the event, go to the official Twitter of Killamazoo Derby Darlins.
By trade, he is a six-time, regional Emmy Award-winning news videographer/editor for KTVI/KPLR-TV. By hobby, he is a writer for Arch City Media, dating back to February 2014. Emphasis is on featuring and promoting local women's sports, but will cover anything that is not reported by traditional media outlets. Also a contributor to local concert reviews.
