Tag Archives: Jelle’s Marble Runs

MRS7 Memo #2: My Way

“A picture is worth a thousand words.” This might be the case for a blurry selfie on the podium with Superball and Pollo Loco, after an intense battle during the second race of this year’s Marble Rally. Tired yet euphoric, Reflektor was at the top step for their first time ever in a main leagueContinue reading “MRS7 Memo #2: My Way”

MRS7 Memo #1: Black and White and Green With Envy

Sit still. Blink sand out of your eyes. Sit still. Blink away sand. More sand. Sit still. And repeat… Across the track, on the other side of the bankings, was Superball. On Ghost Plasma’s behest, Dragon’s Egg had spent the past fifteen minutes watching them together, unnoticed, from behind one of the emptied-out fan stands.Continue reading “MRS7 Memo #1: Black and White and Green With Envy”

Who’s Tearing Up the Sand in 2024?

In Season 7 of the Marble Rally, 20 racers will compete over tracks both made of sand and built over other terrains. As they look to tear up the sand in 2024, we on Project Marblearth profiled the racers’ stories: the long-time winners, fan favorites, and surprise contenders.

Out of the Rolling – Event 9: Dazed with Destiny

Suddenly, Momomo felt dizzy. Their breathing became shallow as the starting gate at Snowflake Slope lifted and the bobsled entered the track. “Is everything okay?” asked Momo. “I don’t know. It’s really cold up here.” “But you’re all bundled up. It’s just a short sprint down,” assured Mo. “No…everything’s spinning,” said Momomo as snow kickedContinue reading “Out of the Rolling – Event 9: Dazed with Destiny”

Out of the Rolling – Event 8: Once Bitten, Twice Shy

Just before the midpoint, too — poor me, Pinky Panther, finally drifting off to sleep after having stumbled out from the dancefloor, thought. I should’ve at least held out to be sixteenth. Oh well. Though they had fallen asleep in their room, when they awoke they were somewhere dark and formless and unfamiliar. Explosions ofContinue reading “Out of the Rolling – Event 8: Once Bitten, Twice Shy”

Out of the Rolling – Event 7: Food for Thought

“Thank you for waiting!” A waiter said, smiling as they placed a giant platter that resembled a painter’s palette on the table in front of them. “Here’s one Chef’s Palette for the both of you. Please enjoy!” The food arrived in front of Rojo Uno and Frost who were chatting. They welcomed the food withContinue reading “Out of the Rolling – Event 7: Food for Thought”

Out of the Rolling – Event 6: Quack Jacks

Just as quickly as it had become a triumph, it had become a tragedy. One week finished in pole position had led to a week struggling to escape the bottom two, and all the work put in to escape had not been able to save Mallard from a DNF and a redemption win from theContinue reading “Out of the Rolling – Event 6: Quack Jacks”

High Stakes, High Rollers

You see it on every sign and screen at the Kinikolu Resort and Sportsplex: “THE PARTY NEVER ENDS.” Over the past two months, the Marble Survival 100 Tournament host site has lived up to that promise.

Each week, a new obstacle course at the Survival Stadium rises out of a cloud of artificial fog. An athlete from each Marble League team then races day after day to avoid elimination. Those who remain have survived getting battered by rams, smacked four ways by fidget spinners or treated as playthings by the Bell Carousel.

Their reward for this gauntlet will be more than a championship trophy: it will be publicity. Online or on the airwaves, the Elite Eight’s faces are plastered on marketing throughout Marblearth. In the tournament’s first weeks, fans and passersby in Kinikolu could still catch an athlete on the sidewalk or having fun. Now those remaining are hard to access, marbles who seem more like myth on the outside.

As the excitement grows, who is stepping up to the moment while staying true to themselves? The stories over one week, when ten marble survivors turned to eight, tell the tale.