Harbor City Roller Dames (HCRD) is the Twin Ports’ and Northern Minnesota’s ORIGINAL women’s flat track roller derby league! HCRD provides an opportunity for all women ages 19+ to learn and play the sport of flat track roller derby and participate in the skater-run business aspects of the organization. HCRD strives to maintain a presence of athletic entertainment in the Duluth and Superior area, while using the efforts of the league to give back to the local community.

HCRD’s wheels first started spinning in January 2007. Bringing the fastest growing sport in the nation to the Twin Ports began to seem like merely a hard-hitting dream as we skated up against a number of obstacles along the way. But, thankfully, we could never shake the passion and commitment to seeing our league succeed. In October 2009 we became skater-owned and hit the track for our first official competitive season!

We have hosted bouts at World of Wheels Skate Center, Wessman Arena and the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center, inviting leagues from around the Midwest and Canada to skate by the Lake. We have also traveled to compete against neighboring leagues in Wisconsin, North Dakota, Iowa and Ontario, Canada. Currently in our fourth season, we can boast some exciting new talent on the track along with many of your favorite veterans. We have also taken part in our first regional tournament and have just earned acceptance into the Women’s Flat Track Roller Derby Association’s (WFTDA) Apprentice Program.

As of October 2011, Harbor City Roller Dames were accepted into the WFTDA Apprentice Program. Designed to act as a “WFTDA 101” tutorial, the Apprentice Program matches new leagues with a mentor from an established WFTDA member league, who will guide her apprentice through the processes and requirements necessary to becoming a full member. The mentor will also offer advice and encouragement regarding league-specific issues, including everything from league formation to how to become ranked and qualify for WFTDA sponsored tournaments.

Upon completion of the program, apprentice leagues will have the knowledge and league recommendations needed to apply for full WFTDA membership.

HCRD is owned and operated entirely by dedicated skaters. Our league is open to all women ages 19 and up — no matter your size, shape, or present skating ability! You must be female to play with the Dames, but men and women (18+) are welcome to join our fantastic referee and non-skating official staff.

As a league we also work to give back to our community by making donations and taking part in events that benefit local charitable, non-profit organizations. Through volunteer opportunities and bout proceeds HCRD gave $4000 back to the community in our first season alone! We have worked to benefit organizations such as Animal Allies, Program for Aid to Victims of Sexual Assault (PAVSA), The Emily Program, Safe Haven Shelter, Habitat for Humanity, Special Olympics, Damiano Center Kids Cafe, Center Against Sexual and Domestic Abuse (CASDA), First Witness Child Abuse Resource Center, and the Lakes and Pines Girls Scouts Outreach to Girls at Risk Program.

League practices are held every Wednesday and Thursday from 5:45pm – 7:15pm as well as Sunday morning 11:00am until 12:30pm at World of Wheels Skate Center (1218 Oakes Avenue, Superior, WI). Practices are not open to the public, but prospective skaters and volunteers are encouraged to stop in and meet with one of our league representatives. For more information email [email protected] and leave a message for BOOTYmaLICIOUS to contact you. You can also find us on Facebook.

If you are part of a business or organization that is interested in sponsoring Harbor City Roller Dames please contact us as well! Sponsoring your local women’s flat track roller derby league is an exciting way to promote your business, product, or service to the wide variety of people who attend our events. We have a number of sponsorship packages available or we can work together to create a more specific partnership!