One of the US's top roller derby skaters is coaching in Napier this weekend.
The highly experienced Sarah Hipel is co-captain of the Texas Rollergirls' Texecutioners and captained the Canadian team in the 2014 Blood and Thunder World Cup, thanks to dual citizenship.
Holly Harper, aka Betty Machete of Hawke's Bay team Bay City Rollers, said the team was committed to improving its rankings "and doing our region proud".
"If that means flying Sarah from the States to elevate our level, then hey, we'll do it," she said.
"We opened up registrations to all the leagues across the North Island and the response was phenomenal. We closed it down at 65 but there were nearly 100 inquiries.