CBS Chicago

Guide to the Windy City Rollers

The eighth season of The Windy City Rollers is upon us, and the hundred-plus skaters of Chicago’s premier flat-track roller derby league are ready to duke it out for the Ivy King Cup – as well as your entertainment.

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Chicago Now

Roller Derby in Chicago, A Short History

These visitors, Elizabeth "Juanna Rumbel" Gomez and Kelly "Sister Sledgehammer" Simmons were impressed and maybe a little puzzled. At first Gomez asked their server, what kind of tattoo she had. The "tattoo" wasn't actually that, but array of bruises that the young woman, a roller derby skater, shook off as just part of the game and life. For a moment Elizabeth and Kelly had a new idol.

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Chicago Now

Kidnapped Dogs and How We Get by in Roller Derby

We train hard and the payoff is that people fork over money to come watch us play. So while the fact that it’s a simultaneous passion project and business is motivation a-plenty to keep at it, the down and dirty training gets trying at times. We all need a lil somethin’ something here and there to keep pace and endure.

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CBS Chicago

Chicago’s Top Bars for Niche Sports 

Chicago’s top-tier derby team might not have a pro designation, but their matches are among the best and most exciting sporting events in the city. The Windy City Rollers currently play at the UIC Pavillion, but it’s the Bottom Lounge that hosts all their post-bout parties.

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Gapers Block

Windy City Rollers Announce 2012 Schedule

Chicago's very own Windy City Rollers have been skating hard and hitting even harder in anticipation for their upcoming 2012 home season.

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CBS Chicago

Windy City Rollers Announce Home Schedule

Check out the 2012 home season schedule for the Windy City Rollers. Head to the UIC Pavilion to get your fill of hard hits, speedy skates, and pulse-racing action all year long.

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Examiner

Windy City Rollers 2012 Schedule

The Windy City Rollers (North Central Rival of the Cincinnati Rollergirls) have released their schedule for the 2012 season, and are looking to make it back to the WFTDA Championships in Atlanta, GA next year.

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The Windy City Rollers return to the track for another thrilling home season. Come to the UIC Pavilion to get your fill of hard hits, speedy skates, and pulse-racing action all year long!

Saturday, January 28

6:00pm - Preseason Charity Bout

Saturday, February 11

6:00pm - Hell's Belles vs. The Fury

7:30pm - Manic Attackers vs. Double Crossers

Saturday, March 10

6:00pm - Hell's Belles vs. Manic Attackers

7:30pm - The Fury vs. Double Crossers

Saturday, March 31

6:00pm - Naptown Roller Girls Warning Belles vs. Second Wind

7:30pm - Naptown Roller Girls Tornado Sirens vs. WCR All-Stars

Saturday, April 21

6:00pm - Double Crossers vs Hell's Belles

7:30pm - Manic Attackers vs. The Fury

Sunday, May 13

Playoffs! First bout begins at 3:00pm

Saturday, June 2

Ivy King Cup Championship! First bout begins at 6:00pm

Saturday, July 14

6:00pm - TBD vs. Second Wind

7:30pm - TBD vs. WCR All-Stars

Saturday, August 25

6:00pm - Denver Roller Dolls Bruising Altitude vs. Second Wind

7:30pm - Denver Roller Dolls Mile High Club vs. WCR All-Stars

Saturday, October 20

6:00pm - TBD vs. Second Wind

7:30pm - TBD vs. WCR All-Stars

Tickets are available at Ticketmaster, the UIC box office, or from any WCR skater or official. Contact groups@windycityrollers.com to receive 40% off of groups of 25 or more.

The Windy City Rollers are proud to skate at the UIC Pavilion located in downtown Chicago at 525 S Racine Ave, easily accessible from I-290, I-94, and the Blue Line.

 Huffington Post

Chicagoans Give Thanks: Politicians, Foodies, Bloggers And Artists Weigh In On The Holiday

With Thanksgiving now upon us, HuffPost Chicago wanted to take the opportunity to reach out to some of our favorite Chicagoans and find out some of the things they are giving thanks for this holiday.

Karmageddon, Windy City Roller All-Star: I am thankful for my chiropractor who puts me back together after every bout at the UIC Pavilion, and for roller derby, which allows me to eat an entire pie in 2 days without guilt! Thanksgiving, here I come!

Minerva Damage, Windy City Roller Hell's Belles: I am thankful for all my teammates who would not hesitate to knock the snot out of me on the track, and then hug me afterwards over some beers.

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Bleacher Report

How to Follow the 2011 Roller Derby World Cup

For die-hard derby fans, it's no surprise that after a decade of progress, North America's fastest-growing sport has taken an international stage. Newer sports fans are being converted daily, as many think now is the perfect time for a World Cup, especially given the success of other action sports events like the X Games.

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Gapers Block

Derby Teams Race for Cash at Chicago Invitational

While the Windy City Rollers and their colleagues in the Women's Flat Track Derby Association charge for tickets to see their events, the reality is that none of the competitors actually makes any money. The ticket sales and sponsorships go toward funding the operations of the teams, but derby folks compete for the love of the sport, not for money. However, last weekend's Chicago Invitational brought not only banked track derby to town, but also cash money for the teams that fared the best in the two-day tournament at the Odeum Expo Center.

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TribLocal

Chicago Invitational Banked Track Roller Derby

On Friday and Saturday, November 18th and 19th at the Odeum Sports & Expo Center in Villa Park, Illinois—Kitten Traxx presents the Chicago Invitational Banked Track Roller Derby, where four amazing teams will compete for a $10,000 first place purse. All eyes will be on the banked track as the Gotham Roller Girls open the tournament to take on Rocky Mountain Roller Girls and the Windy City Roller Girls challenge the LA Derby Dolls to move one step closer to holding the title of best team in the nation.

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Watch 312.com

David Martin IV with the Windy City Rollers 

It's a lot of fun watching the Windy City Rollers play. It's hard hits, it's graceful and hard impact at the same time. They're hardcore athletes; these women train 4 - 5 days a week, and then they have their regular jobs too. They're not getting paid to do this, they're doing this because they love it.

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Examiner

WFTDA's Divide and Conquer tourney rolls on Friday 

The Windy City Rollers are the number one seed from the North Central Region and are ranked 11th in Flat Track Stats and ranked tenth by Derby News Network.  Windy City has beaten tournament participants Texas, Charm City, and Minnesota twice.  They open up Saturday at 2:45 pm against the winner of the Kansas City-Rose City Friday bout.

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Continental Divide and Conquer, WFTDA Championships; Kansas City vs. Windy City

After defeating Rose City on Friday, former Cincinnati Rollergirl and her team the Kansas City Roller Warriors took on the #1 team in the North Central, the Windy City Rollers. Windy being the #1 seed had a bye for the first round, this being their first bout of the tournament, which typically is an advantage, but being in the midst of Denver’s thin air a team who has already had to skate in it may have the advantage of knowing what to expect.

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Fox Chicago News

Chicago Roller Derby Boasts Tough Athletes 

When you think of Chicago's toughest athletes, you probably think Bears or Blackhawks, but don't forget about the Windy City Rollers! Some of Chicago's roller derby stars joined us to talk about a big match-up this weekend. The Roller Derby Bout against the Tampa Bay Derby Darlins is Saturday night at 6 p.m. at UIC Pavilion. Tickets are $20 in advance.

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Fox Chicago News

Fashion, Plants and Eccentric Art Top the Weekend: Time Out Chicago

Also on Saturday is the Monster Bash, the last season game for the Windy City Rollers women’s roller derby team. Watch them play the Tampa Derby Darlins before heading to Denver to compete in the national championship. The game starts at 6 p.m. at the UIC Pavilion. Tickets cost between $20 and $35.

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Medill Reports Chicago

Protein supplements boost strength but watch for sugar and carbs

On days that I don't work-out, I'll have around 80 grams of protein, and on really active days, I'll try to get 120 grams in,” she said. “I will do one hour of a martial arts class, then two hours of roller derby practice, along with weight training and boot camps on days I don't skate. I rarely have a workout that's less than 90 minutes in duration.

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Time Out Chicago

Chicago does have a winning team 

Well, the Bears might suck, but Chicago does have one champion-quality team: The Windy City Rollers roller derby crew. The Rollers won the North-Central division for the third consecutive year this past weekend in Indianapolis, beating Minneapolis Minnesota’s Rollergirls 123-100. The champs earned themselves a spot at the national championships, which take place Nov 11–13 in Denver, Colorado.

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Time Out Chicago

This Week in Chicago

The Windy City Rollers have been selected to compete during travel season. Squads are a little different; butt-kicking remains the same. This doubleheader features WCR Second Wind versus the Bleeding Heartland at 6pm, followed by WCR All-Stars against the Tampa Derby Darlings at 7:30pm.

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Huffington Post

Windy City Rollers Monster Bash

Chicago's favorite women's roller derby team, the Windy City Rollers, are headed to Denver to compete in the national championship--but before they go, they're treating Chicagoans to a bone-crushing bout against the Tampa Derby Darlins. Hit up their pre-Halloween Monster Bash, where they'll be hosting a costume contest sure to bring out at least a handful of roller zombies.

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CBS Chicago

Windy City Rollers Derby Team Headed To World Championships

For the third consecutive year, the Windy City Rollers women’s roller derby team will be heading to the world championships. At the tournament in Indianapolis Sunday, the Windy City Rollers defeated the Minnesota RollerGirls 123-100 to earn the No. 1 seed for the North Central region of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association. The Rollers also maintain an undefeated record of 23-0.

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Vimeo

The Windy City Rollers 

I think it’s a wonderful thing for young people to be doing. It’s because it helps build their bodies, mentally, physically, emotionally, and it gives them an outlet that’s far better than anything you can think of because they’re building positive images as a result.

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Chicago Reader

Open Streets on State Street

The first Open Streets on State Street shut down seven blocks of State (from Lake to Van Buren) to vehicles on Saturday, opening up the streets to pedestrians, cyclists, and skaters. From 10 AM to 3 PM, there were break-dancing demos, yoga and zumba classes, a dunk tank, bouting by the Windy City Rollers, play areas for kids, a skate park, and activities like foursquare, hula hooping, and relay races.

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Chicagoist

In Pictures: Open Streets on State Street 

State and Van Buren was transformed into a skate park and skateboarders were taking advantage of it. The Windy City Rollers were hosting demos a block north where we learned about roller derby in a 30-minute exhibition. Dance exercise and yoga exhibitions were to be had further up, while a dunk tank was surprisingly busy on a chilly mid-morning.

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Examiner

On Saturday, The Windy City Rollers Hit the Open Streets on State 

The Windy City Rollers will help Chicagoans experience State Street and the Loop in an unprecedented way on Saturday, October 1st, at Open Streets on State Street, a free event promoting community culture in Chicago, presented by the Chicago Loop Alliance and Active Transportation Alliance.

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Gapers Block

WCR All-Stars to Take on San Diego Derby Dolls 

Chicago's own Windy City Rollers All-Stars are on a winning streak this season, having rolled over Pittsburgh's Steel City 147-117 at their July 30 home game. Hopefully our gals can keep it up at their August 27 bout against the San Diego Derby Dolls at the UIC Pavilion (525 S Racine). San Diego are known for being the first hybrid league in the nation, skating banked- as well as flat-track derby.

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RedEye Chicago

Attend: Windy City Rollers 

The Second Wind take on the Ohio Rollergirls and the WCR All-Stars take on the San Diego Derby Dolls on Back to School Night. Kids hate to hear that phrase, but that's how the Rollers, uh, roll.

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