WFTDA Selects Announcers for the 2019 Championships and We Are Nation Roller Derby Game Broadcast
The WFTDA is pleased to reveal the announcer crew for the 2019 International WFTDA Championships, Nov. 15-17, in Montréal, Québec, Canada. Co-Tournament Head Announcers Biertrix and Chloé Gwendoline have assembled a talented, larger-than-ever crew for the historic event, the first WFTDA Championships to be held outside the United States.
“I’m incredibly proud and honoured to be co-Tournament Head Announcer for this year’s WFTDA Championships. As the first European to hold this position, I feel that the hard work of others before me has led to this opportunity,” Biertrix said.
“Innovation is part of the WFTDA’s values and this year I believe our planned coverage will be both innovative and entertaining with an exciting mix of new and established talent bringing you closer to the action.”
In recognition of host city Montréal, the in-venue public address announcing is expanding to provide a bilingual experience.
“We are thrilled to provide our in-venue fans with a Montréal announcing style, alternating between jams commented in French and English,” co-THA Chloé said. “What was years ago a practical way to include the different languages of our fanbase is now a trademark of roller derby events in our city. Je suis très fière de vous présenter notre équipe d’annonceurs.es et de cette inclusion majeure d’une langue autre que l’anglais dans nos tournois.”
The WFTDA has also planned an expanded Sports Desk feature on Twitch.tv to keep fans updated on tournament happenings and provide a deep dive on game analysis from a dedicated broadcast team throughout the weekend. “Join our broadcast team to talk stats, analysis and strategy on Twitch.tv all weekend long,” said WFTDA Live Broadcast Operations Manager Benjamin Doyle, who will direct the Twitch.tv programming.
“Our viewers have really responded to Twitch this year, as we’ve grown on the platform, and we love the engagement it offers us to incorporate fans into the broadcast. The Championships Sports Desk on Twitch will give us the chance to give fans more content and more time to talk to us about these awesome high-level games,” said WFTDA Executive Director Erica Vanstone.
The WFTDA is also honored to present We Are Nation: A Game Without Borders between Team Indigenous and Jewish Roller Derby at this year’s Championships. This game will air as a free stream on WFTDA.tv. In conversation with the WFTDA Board of Directors and representatives from the teams, we have selected announcers for this broadcast who can directly represent these communities, combining much-needed context with the game call:
Ref In Peace is best known as a longtime official who also volunteers with the WFTDA Tech Pillar. “I’m very excited to be able to help represent Jewish Roller Derby on WFTDA’s main stage. Coming from Jewish-German heritage, with grandparents lucky enough to immigrate to New York, I’m proud to be American, Israeli, Jewish, in alphabetic order. It’s an honor to be part of this important event.”
reGretel is an announcer with the Eves of Destruction in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. “I am so very excited to have been invited to add volume to We Are Nation: A Game Without Borders. I am honored to help broaden the spotlight on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls through this borderless gathering of strong and resilient athletes unified through sport,” reGretel said. “I am the white-passing daughter of an Ojibwe/Algonquin father and French/German settler mother. I was raised on the traditional territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation, lived many years in the Zulu kwa’Mbonambi (South Africa), as well as the Negev desert in southern Israel. I now raise my daughter of African heritage on the lands of the Lekwungen people of the Esquimalt and Songhese Nations. On Saturday, Nov. 16, Ref in Peace and I will join voices in sharing this dynamic global event.“
The selection process for Championships is rigorous and reflective of the hard work put in by each announcer at every stage of their advancement. This year’s announcer crew includes those selected from each of this year’s postseason tournaments and also others making their WFTDA postseason debuts.
“I hope you’ll join me in supporting their Championships weekend, whether it’s their tenth time or their first,” Biertrix said.
Championships Announcers
Co-Tournament Head Announcers: Biertrix (She/Her) and Chloé Gwendoline (She/Her)
In-Venue Public Address: Chloé Gwendoline, Electra Blu (She/Her), Plastik Patrik (He/Him), Rippi Longstocking (She/Her), Ruderigo (He/Him), Saucisse (She/Her), Scott Chicken (He/Him), Speaker of the House (He/Him)
In-Venue Emcee: PR Mageddon (He/Him)
WFTDA.tv Broadcast: Biertrix, deathKNELLa (She/Her), Gretchen Little (She/Her), Lightning Slim (He/Him), Mr Whistler (He/Him), October Revolution (She/Her), Scarlet O’Hurtya (She/Her), Wilhelm Scream (He/Him)
We Are Nation Game Broadcast: reGretel (She/Her), Ref In Peace (He/Him)
Twitch.tv Sports Desk: Adam “AK” Kenyon (He/Him), Erica “Double H” Vanstone (She/Her)
Broadcast Producers/Sports Desk: Andrew Marron (He/Him), Chloroform Cupcake (She/Her), Eloda Sarcasm (She/Her), Kate Silver (She/Her)
Broadcast Sideline Reporters: Hammer Abby (She/Her), Rich Mahogany (He/Him), Sissy Splaysek (She/Her)