Come at Me, Sarasota: The Bradentucky Bombers

Welcome to ThisWeekinSarasota.com's newest series, "Come at Me, Sarasota." Yep — it's exactly what it sounds like. Our reporter, Alex Mahadevan, is ready to take on any and all challengers. Think you can out eat him? Out lift him? Run faster? Jump higher? Bring it on.

To kick off the series, we invited the Bradentucky Bombers roller derby team put the smack down on him as they prepare for their season-opener bout against the Jacksonville Roller Girls at 6:30 p.m., this Sunday, Feb. 9, at Astro Skate of Bradenton. Tickets are $12 at the door, or $10 in advance. Halftime show will feature live music from Sarasota's own southern rockers, Hail Dale.

Team founder, Gigi Ramone, says she started the team in 2006, after being inspired by a roller derby documentary, and it's since become her passion.

"Before roller derby, I wasn't really into sports," she says. "I stayed fit, but I never really pushed myself. That's the best part about roller derby — you can push your physical limits, and it's limitless. It's up to you to see how far you can take it."

She looks forward to the season-opener bout, and she expects the Bombers to be a formidable team this year, being more cohesive both on and off the rink.

Alex, however, she described as slightly less than formidable.

"Come on, dude," she says. "We were hitting you at 40%. Not even half our effort. Yeah, I think you got beat up by a bunch of girls."

We'll let you decide who won.

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