AUSTIN, Texas — Local competitors are rolling up their sleeves and getting ready for the national Skee-Ball championship this November, which takes place in Austin. The city is also home to defending champions. Skee players are called “rollers,” and 27-year-old roller Nicholas Jasso was on the winning team, “Skeesar Chavez,” last year. Jasso said he currently practices at least twice a week for two hours with his new team, "Skee-va La Raza."  

“We kind of just go for the 40 (pocket), as a team, until we have to push for something more. That’s going to get us the most consistent score,” the Austin resident said. “That’s going to win us every match we play.” 

Jasso is part of the Brewskee Ball League, which plays in bars in Austin, T.X., Brooklyn, N.Y., San Francisco, C.A., Los Angeles, C.A., Wilmington, N.C., and Philadelphia, P.A. September marks the league's 30th season, or as the rollers say, “skeeson.”

“I’ve had many many people who’ve been with the league for 10 years and never won a prize, never won a trophy, never won a tournament, but they love it, and they keep coming back, because it’s the social aspect,” said the league’s “skee-e-o” E.C. Cooper. 

Cooper said in Austin, the number of local teams has more than quadrupled in the last decade. 

“The vibe is just right. I think Austin’s vibe combined with a really fun, easy game to play - it’s drinking compatible, and when I say easy, it’s easy to play, it’s not easy to be good at it,” Cooper said.  

Jasso and his girlfriend, Katie Dhennin, actually met playing in rival teams in Austin.

“I love Skee-Ball mostly for the people,” Dhennin, 30, said. “It’s definitely a diverse group. We are a real family, but it’s all different types of people and rollers. Some people take it really seriously, some people are just here for fun, and to hang out and drink. It’s a really cool group of dissimilar people.” 

So while the competition is why many rollers head to bars like Full Circle in East Austin to play and practice, for others the community is why some stick around.  

“These are people I can turn to, when I’m going through a hard time, or you know just out and doing something totally un-Skee-Ball- related and just having people I would consider family away from family in a lot of ways,” Jasso said. 

The Brewskee Ball National Championship takes place November 9, 10, and 11 at Full Circle Bar. The league in Austin is accepting teams until mid-September. For more information visit brewskeeball.com.