I can see there might be a link between roller derby and heartburn.

So it makes sense that an ad company for a heartburn relief drug would be on hand Wednesday at the Carlson Center to tape the Fairbanks Rollergirls in action at a special holiday “bout.”

One of the rollergirls, who competes under the name “Jump On Jenny,” takes Prilosec to relieve heartburn and may be featured in an upcoming ad or video.

The company is paying to get a borrowed rollerderby floor from Washington to Fairbanks, as well as a couple of competitors from Bellingham and others from Anchorage, for the Wednesday night contest.

The bout is free and open to the public. The doors open at 6 p.m. and the bout starts at 7 p.m., an exhibition between the "Slay Belles" and the "Missfit Toys."

Michelle “Bad Lady” Maynor, president of the Rollergirls, asks spectators to bring a new unwrapped present for Santa’s Clearing House. She said this event would be a good introduction to the sport for those who have not seen rollerderby in person and she hopes that fans of the Fairbanks Rollergirls will show up to cheer them on.

Maynor, who owns Interior Graphics & Printing, is the founder of the Rollergirls, though she is not skating at present because she is pregnant. She hopes to get back on the track by next spring, however, and is passionate about this new addition to the Fairbanks sporting scene.

The Fairbanks Rollergirls raised $20,000 for their new floor, which is to be installed over the ice at the Carlson Center, but that floor isn’t here yet. To  tape the team in action, the production company arranged for the borrowed floor and get it shipped to town for this week's showdown.

These floors weigh more than 8,000 pounds and require two hours of work by a crew of about 20 to set up. The permanent floor the local team has purchased is expected to be in town in time for the next bout, which is set for next month.

Maynor said the floor can be installed over the ice, which will make it possible for the Rollergirls to have bouts during the winter at the Carlson Center.

For those who want to help the Rollergirls help Santa’s Clearing House, Maynor offered this list of gift ideas: “Quilts, blankets, hats, gloves, scarves, new hygiene products, unopened board games, craft items or sets, movie passes, basketballs, footballs, puzzles for all ages, and gift cards of $10 to $20.”