The L.A. RI-Ettes, the L.A. Derby Dolls' all-star A team, will skate in the banked track tournament Battle on the Bank III at the Del Mar Fairground next weekend. Sister league San Diego Derby Dolls will be represented, as will banked track skaters from all over the country. Come down and show your favorite skaters some love! Tickets and more information available here. 
Photo by Stalkerazzi
On Saturday, May 15th, the L.A. Derby Dolls skated a special "Secret Saturday" game for charity. Each year, Couples Against Leukemia sells tickets to a premiere "Secret Saturday" event, where guests are loaded onto buses and taken to exciting new places they have never seen in Los Angeles. The first stop this year was the Doll Factory, where LA's newest skaters, who you can see in action at the all-ages Baby Doll Brawl on June 13th, put on a great exhibition bout! The crowd was thrilled- many had never seen live derby before. LADD is honored to be a part of CAL, who has raised million of dollars for Leukemia research.
Come and visit the LA Derby Dolls at this weekend's Silver Lake Jubilee! From 10-1 on Saturday May 22 and Sunday May 23, you'll find us skating and hosting a booth at this celebration of local music and art. This eco-friendly, all-ages event, which features food from local restaurateurs, musical and community performances, and arts and literary installations, promises to be a great time for the entire family.
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!!!!!
Officer Killo Kitty has been patrolling the track with her girls in blue for 3 years, terrorizing those who break the rules and enforcing with an iron hip check. As the new captain of the crowd favorite team the Sirens, Killo Kitty and her new co-captain P.I.T.A. are ready to brutalize and serve in 2010. We talked to Killo about her strategy for the new season, who she wants to make cry, and why she's such a bully on the track.
You can see Killo and her Sirens take on the Varsity Brawlers on January 23- tickets are on sale NOW here and we WILL sell out!
Q: After a disappointing 2009 season, how are you feeling as the new captain for the 2010 season?
KK: Becoming captain of this great bunch of ladies is an extreme honor! I want to give the team my all and I know that each and every one of the Sirens feels the same way. 2009 was not disappointing at all! It was a learning experience and now we are moving on to bigger and better things... like CHAMPS!
Q: Given the numerous changes on the Sirens roster, and the loss of four all-star skaters (Puncherello, Paris Killton, Kung Pow Tina, and Mila Minute), how is the team adjusting and how are you filling the void?
KK: We have filled the void with new and upcoming all-stars! Watch out for these girls! They may look sweet but they have a vicious side!
Q: Last spring, the Varsity Brawlers stunned the audience when they nearly beat the Sirens in just their second game as a team; given that bout, how are you viewing this rematch and what will you do differently?
KK: The Sirens are a totally different team than the one that played VB last year. We have trained differently and have a different mindset.
Q: What will it take for the Sirens to win the 2010 Championship and add another trophy to the mantle (the Sirens were previously 2007 Champions)?
KK: Positive attitudes and aggressiveness! It's up to the SIRENS to want it... and we want it BAD!
Q: How many skaters have you launched off the track?
KK: Just 1... almost 2... but I have made girls cry, and I like doing that! I am hoping to make Tae Kwon Ho cry!
Q: Why are you such a bully on the track?
KK: It all goes back to when I was in first grade. I got in a fight with the school bully. I did the Karate Kid kick and kicked sand in his face... he feared me after that and I got addicted to the power. MWAHAHAHA!
Q: Describe the 2010 Sirens in 5 words or less.
KK: 2010: Year of the Siren!
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Recent News2016 Mid Season Standings| Team | W | L | PF | PA | Net | Streak | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fight Crew | 1 | 2 | 382 | 395 | -13 | W1 | |
| Sirens | 2 | 1 | 483 | 405 | 78 | W2 | |
| Tough Cookies | 1 | 2 | 389 | 424 | -35 | L2 | |
| Varsity Brawlers | 2 | 1 | 360 | 390 | -30 | L1 | |
Last Updated: July 25, 2016
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