Houston Roller Derby Skates New Orleans Running of the Bulls

It's festival time in Spain. Hundreds of thousands of tourists flock to Pamplona and other townships to participate in Sanfermines and the daily encierros, or bull runs, during which lunatics brave souls flee from bulls loosed in the streets. 2009 marks the third year of New Orleans own version of an encierro, but flat track roller girls do the chasing instead of bulls.

The NOLA encierro, entitled San Fermin in Nueva Orleans, began after a local was inspired by his run with the bulls in Pamplona. Mickey Hanning (El Padrino), a New Orleans native, enlisted the help of four others (together they're called Los Pastores) to conduct the inaugural event on July 7, 2007.

This first encierro saw roughly 125 runners take the course to evade bulls played by Big Easy Roller Girls, New Orleans flat track group. 2008's SFNO encierro was run by over 800 correros (runners) with the crowd swelling to over 1,000 at the finish line party at Gazebo Cafe. Los Pastores expect this year's attendance to easily best that figure.

While the cadre of bulls had grown to over 30 BERG skaters in 2008, reinforcements were clearly needed to handle the additional growth. La Rebellina, a former BERG member and an SFNO founding pastor, put out the call to roller derby crews in the Southeast.

Houston Roller Derby was one of four other leagues who answered the call and will be sending ladies from across its three teams. They will ban together with skaters from BERG, Cajun Rollergirls (Houma, LA), Red Stick Roller Derby (Baton Rouge, LA) and Jacksonville Rollergirls (Jacksonville, FL). The total number of "bulls" is expected to top 80. All will be wielding large amounts of sassitude (sass and attitude) and foam bats with which they will "gore" the correros by smacking the shit out of them.

Yes, this is your chance to live out your fantasy of being abused by an HRD girl. But, make no mistake, there won't be any kissy face after. These chicks mean business.

Head down to New Orleans this weekend for the festivities if you think you can handle it. Else, you can catch them at their next bout on their home track as they take on the Austin ladies. Both events are sure to be slam dunks on the fun scale.

2009 San Fermin in Nueva Orleans, The 3rd Annual Running of the Bulls in N.O.

Get more info on the Friday and Saturday evening parties, as well as the encierro, at NOLABulls.com

Houston Roller Derby
Texas Roller Girls (Austin) visit HRD

Tickets for $12 & $25
More info @ HoustonRollerDerby.com