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!!!!!  

Iron Maiven on Last Call with Carson Daly

Rachel Piplica? Whodat?! Looks like Tough Cookies' Captain, Iron Maiven, to us. Check out Maiv dishing about "Whip It," roller derby and her life off the track.

Interview with Tough Cookies co-captain GORI SPELLING - Oct. 3 bout on sale now

Get to know...the Tough Cookies. Reigning champions, the Tough Cookies are led by Iron Maiven and Gori Spelling. One of the top jammers in the league, Gori is known for her athletic abilities, positive attitude and being the only skater who can properly rock a mohawk. Gori talks to us about the pressures of being champions and how the Cookies will take down the Varsity Brawlers. See the two teams LIVE on Saturday, OCTOBER 3. Get your tickets now at www.derbydolls.com/la

Q: How long have you been a skater and how did you become involved with the L.A. Derby Dolls?
GS: I went to my first fresh meat practice in September of 2006. I had been looking for something athletic to do and came across an online ad for a derby league. I did some searching online and found the LA Derby Dolls. I had never seen a bout before, but I could tell from the web site that this was the sport for me. I had previously been on an ice hockey team and did a lot of ‘aggressive inline skating’ during my high school years, so derby seemed like a great next step!

Q: What skaters past and present do you admire?
GS: My derby hero is Iron Maiven. She does so much for the league and is so good at all of it. She also has a full time job and I just have no idea how she fits it all in. Maiven is such a positive, fun leader and I hope she skates forever!

Q: You and your teammate, Laguna Beyatch, are one of the most formidable 1-2 combinations in the league. Are the two of you ever competitive with one another? How do you continue to drive each other?
GS: I don’t feel competitive with her at all on the track. We really work together and support each other…and we usually plan in advance to wear matchey outfits at practice…so I guess that’s our secret. Laguna and I got drafted to the Tough Cookies at the same time and we’ve just been BFFs since! We do get competitive when it comes to shopping though!

Q: The Tough Cookies have a personality all their own in the league, and have earned the reputation as not only the "fun team," but as one of the most strategic and intelligent teams. Tell us how you and captain Iron Maiven maintain high standards for the team and develop the chemistry that is your secret to success.
GS: As a team, we are really tight. We hang out together outside of practice quite a bit and I think that helps a lot to how fluid we can be on the track. Maiven always has new drills for us to try, new videos for us to learn from and she always keeps it fun.

Q: As reigning champions, do you feel pressure to repeat? How do you feel about the dominance of the Swarm who are currently 3-0?
GS: I think any team that was last year’s champions would feel pressure to repeat. The nice thing about playing the Swarm last is that we’ve been able to watch our other home teams skate against them and evaluate what works and what doesn’t.

Q: The Varsity Brawlers are coming off a major win (in addition to a huge near-upset of the Sirens), a serious feat for a first-season team. Given what a roll they are on, how will you combat their style?
GS: Trash-talking Long Island Lolita is my personal combat tactic.

Q: For being a self-professed "Diva Jammer," you are remarkably humble and lowkey both on and off the track. What exactly do you do to earn such a reputation as a Diva Jammer?
GS: Yeah, good point. ;) I am probably the least ‘Diva’ of the ‘Diva Jammers’ at the moment. I have vanity ‘Diva Jammer’ license plates though…doesn’t that count for anything? Are you suggesting I act out a bit? Do you want me to throw my iPhone at you?

L.A. DERBY DOLLS BANKED TRACK ROLLER DERBY ACTION ON OCTOBER 3 PREPARES FANS FOR RELEASE OF DREW BARRYMORE’S “WHIP IT”

Undefeated Champions Tough Cookies Prepare to “Whip It” Good To First-Season Varsity Brawlers; Tickets On Sale Now For Saturday, October 3 Event

LOS ANGELES – The L.A. Derby Dolls (www.derbydolls.com/la), Southern California’s premiere all-female, banked track roller derby league, anticipate the chance to demonstrate the thrill of the spill to new and seasoned derby fans as the Tough Cookies take on the Varsity Brawlers on Sat., Oct. 3 at the Doll Factory (1910 Temple Street, Los Angeles CA 90026).  This event threatens to be a fierce and competitive bout as it arrives on the heels of the much anticipated movie, “Whip It,” directed by and starring Drew Barrymore.

The 2008 champions, the Tough Cookies, under the brute leadership of captains Iron Maiven and Gori Spelling, are currently undefeated and with the quickness and agility they’ve been exhibiting they have no plans to let this title slip away. Their aggressive, no-holds barred approach to scoring points establishes them as a formidable opponent. The team also features co-stars from the film “Whip It,” Iron Maiven and Krissy Krash.

The new gals on the block, Varsity Brawlers, have done their homework over the summer break and are coming off a huge win against the Fight Crew, a major feat for a first season team.  Led by captains Long Island Lolita and Razorslut, the outstanding and outlandish women in purple have proven their mettle. This tenacious team is known for their teamwork and heart.

The energy at the Doll Factory is at an all-time high.  With roller derby exploding onto the big screen, these two teams have the guts and the glory to show Southern California that not even Hollywood could script anything as exciting as roller derby.

The youthful and vibrant band, Kitten, will perform at halftime, with DJ Kasey Bomber supplying the tunes. Derby Dolls events offer a full range of entertainment off the track, with the Vendor Village featuring art, jewelry and clothes, food from Garage Pizza and Hot Dog on a Stick, and beer from Tecate and Alex’s Bar.

Tickets are now available to purchase at http://www.derbydolls.com/la. General admission tickets are $17 online and $20.00 at the door; VIP tickets are $40.00. The Doll Factory is located at 1910 Temple St., Los Angeles, CA 90026 (between Alvarado and Union). Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and closes at half time. General parking is available for $8 at Silver Lake Medical Center, 1711 West Temple (near the intersection of Temple and Union), one block east of the Doll Factory. This is a 21 and over event, featuring beer and wine. Please have your ID, leave your cameras/recording devices at home, and note that all concessions and most vendors accept cash only.