Interview with Tough Cookies’ Iron Maiven- Tix on sale now for Tough Cookies vs. Fight Crew Feb. 13!

Photo by Charlie ShutterThug Chu 

Tough Cookies Captain Iron Maiven has led her troop of rough and tumble Girl Scouts to victory at Championships for the last two years- the only repeat winners in Derby Dolls’ history.  With Co-Captain Gori Spelling, Maiven wants to lead the Cookies to an unprecedented third championship in 2010.  We talked to Maiven about her leadership strategy, the challenges her team faces this season, and her favorite flavor cookie. 

You can see Maiven and the Tough Cookies take on the Fight Crew on February 13- tickets are on sale NOW here.  We WILL sell out!

Q:  This is your fourth year as captain.  How have the Tough Cookies changed under your leadership?  

IM:  I think my leadership has changed, which has in turn affected the team.  Motivating, offering constructive criticism, and encouraging while still maintaining discipline is a difficult balance that four years has allowed me to perfect.  The team decides what the team wants to do at our practices, how we train, what we study, how we strategize.  It’s a group effort, but it’s my job to take their ideas and goals and find ways to get us to achieve those goals through specific drills and discussions.  I think we're doing a pretty good job, don't you?  Ha ha ha...

Q:  What are the biggest challenges that the Tough Cookies will face in 2010? 

IM:  The biggest challenge we face right now is the drive and hunger other teams have for a win against us.    

We watched the Swarm join our 2009 season and just destroy our other teams; it actually took the spotlight off us, for once.  We were already the 2008 champions, but the Swarm seemed to present a bigger threat than we did.  That was our motivation last season, beating the competition.  Now, in 2010, I fear we're perceived that way, as the biggest threat.  And that kind of perception can generate some serious competition. 

And the counter to that is that it’s a lot harder to pump up the team when we already have 2 trophies, when we already defeated the undefeated, when we already proved we can walk in the underdogs and take the gold.  We can't get big heads about this season; we need to remember that we are 0-0 like 3 other teams.  Right now Varsity Brawlers are ahead of us with 1 win! 

Q:  You’ve been off skates with a knee injury since last fall.  Has this changed your perspective on leading and training your team? 

IM:  Being injured has allowed me to step back and WATCH my team.  When you're a captain AND a skater, you're constantly trying to critique while skating.  You miss a lot because you are on the track with the team and can only see what's going on within your pack.  Being able to step back and watch from the infield has created new strategy and skills I've implemented in our training.    

Q:  The Cookies are LA Derby Dolls’ first repeat champions.  How do you plan to continue your dominance in 2010?  

IM:  It’s difficult to set goals when you're the first team to win back-to-back championships, against odds that didn't appear to be in our favor.  This year the Cookies are putting a focus on individuals.  So many Tough Cookie team skaters have stepped up to the challenge of maintaining championship status by upping their personal skills.  I'd like to see more "hybrid skaters" on the Cookies, meaning we all skate offensive and defensive positions, and do both WELL. 

I have some other goals in mind that will help us push ourselves, but I fear if I mention them, I'll have four teams joining forces to bring us down.  Ha!  You'll have to come out and see what we have up our little Girl Scout sleeves!

Q:  What do you admire most about Fight Crew? 

IM:  I admire Fight Crew's strength, experience, and leadership.   Haught Wheels and Janis Choplin are two of my biggest idols in the league.  Haught Wheels is a teacher and an all around amazing skater.   Her accomplishments within this league, in such a short amount of time, on top of her day job, are motivating to me.  Janis Choplin is a fitness instructor, constantly pushing the league to new training, starting both Punk Rope and Derby Por Vida, opening up our facility to the community and skaters.  I seek leadership, rules, and training advice from both, and when we're not about to duke it out on the track, our teams often practice together and manage for one another.  It is always a difficult bout for the Tough Cookies both because of the level of competition, and the level of friendship we have.

Q:  Which flight attendant are you looking forward to taking down? 

IM:  Oh gee, well, I can't physically take anyone down, so I'm just looking forward to bringing some strategy to the bout that Fight Crew doesn't expect.  Fight Crew is incredibly savvy on their rules, and their strategy and skating style reflect that in their bouts.  I'm hoping that we are indeed one step ahead of them and can mess with their heads and packs a bit with what we have to bring. 

Q:  What’s your favorite kind of cookie? 

IM:  Mmmmmmmmmmmm, my favorite cookie is chocolate chocolate chip.  The more chocolate, the better! 

Q:  Describe the 2010 Tough Cookies in 5 words or less. 

IM:  Fierce, aggressive, athletes, fun, CHAMPIONS!!!!!