Central Florida is definitely all about basketball and football. Maybe even a little bit about
soccer and soon
ice hockey. Still, there's a whole other world of sports around here that largely goes unnoticed. Whether you're a die-hard monster truck fan, or curious about what a real roller derby match is like, keep reading to find an event you might not have previously thought about attending.
The Orlando Derby Scene
Something you may not have known about Central Florida is that Orlando has its very own roller derby league. The
Orlando Psycho City Derby Girls are a player-run
Old School Derby Association league. There are three local teams:
Sunnyland Slammers,
Serial Thrillers, and
Arkham Assailants -- and not to forget the referees, the
Zebras.
Looking for something different to do this Valentine's day? Check out the
Love is Madness, this Saturday, February 11th at midnight. Most matches take place in Casselberry.
Click here for the complete list of upcoming events.
For more information on the sport, check out
this article from the Sentinel.
Rodeos Aren't Just for Texans
If rodeos conjure up images in your mind of wind-swept Midwestern prairies or desert ranches, think again: Not too long ago, Florida produced more cattle than any other state. It should come as no surprise then that Orlando is finally hosting a long-overdue rodeo tournament. This weekend, Friday, February 10th, Saturday, February 11th, and Sunday, February 12th, from 6:00pm to midnight, check out the
Orlando Rocking Rodeo at the Citrus Bowl.
Tickets are $40 ($20 for kids 6 - 12) and include free BBQ buffet from 6:00pm - 8:00pm and two beers with each adult entry. Besides bull riding, there's a whole slew of
entertainment, including nine musical acts, dancing, and rides.
Racing and Crashing around Orlando
On your way to the beach, you've probably passed through
Bithlo. If you don't pay attention, you might just fly through the small town along highway 50. Yet there's one defining feature that always catches my eye: the giant sign for
Orlando Speedworld, home of the
Orlando World Street Nationals. Besides street racing, Speedworld also hosts the annual
Night of Fire and events like Night of Carnage and Crash-A-Rama monster truck shows. In sum, this is Orlando's favorite place to see school buses, trailers, and monster trucks fight it out. While you're in the area, check out
Bithlo Motorsports, specializing in motocross.
Another high-profile monster truck rally that regularly passes through Orlando is
Monster Jam. Although the Orlando Monster Jam has already passed, you can still catch it in Tallahasse and Miami later this month. Check the
events page for more information on future shows. If you can't wait for Monster Jam to come back, be sure to check out
Crash-A-Rama at the Auburndale Speedway in Winter Haven, happening this April and again in October.
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