After the Whistle with Evil E: Ri-Ettes vs Team Bionic

L.A. RI-Ettes to skate Battle on the Bank III Tournament June 25-27!

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. 

Interview with Ri-Ette and one-time Baby Doll Brawler P.I.T.A- Tix on sale now for Ri-Ettes vs. Team Legit March 27th, and Baby Doll Brawl March 28th!

Photo by Charlie ShutterThug Chu

Today, Ri-Ette and Sirens’ Co-Captain P.I.T.A is unstoppable on the track, but she hasn’t always been a rolling force of nature.  We talked to P.I.T.A. about her humble derby origins, from what made her strap on skates to her first Baby Doll Brawl, and about why you should check out L.A. Derby Dolls’ newest Fresh Meat this Sunday. 

You can see P.I.T.A. and the Ri-Ettes take on Team Legit on March 27th- tickets are on sale NOW here.  And then on March 28th, come back with the whole family to watch the all-ages Baby Doll Brawl.  Get your tickets now- we WILL sell out.

Q:  When and why did you join the Derby Dolls? 

P.I.T.A:  TXRD had a show on A&E called “Rollergirls.”  After seeing it, my husband suggested that I try derby to get some aggression out.  I thought he was nuts because I couldn't skate worth a damn.  By the end of the series, I was hooked!!  I took skating lessons at a local rink on Saturday mornings for about two months, and joined a brand new derby league in Orange County.  

When Todd and I went to our first banked track game (LADD's Sirens vs. Trust Fund Terrors at Crazy Gideon's, July 2006), the skaters’ blocks were so forceful they broke the rail right by where we were standing.  I still have that piece of wood on my mantle.  It was sooo exciting, and quite a rush to see!  Todd looked at me and said "you need to make the drive to LA to do this." and that was it.  August 1, 2006 was my first day as LADD Fresh Meat!!   

Q:  When was your Baby Doll Brawl?  How did it go?

 P.I.T.A:  My first game was the very first Baby Doll Brawl, on December 2, 2006:  The Juggernauts vs. The Glam Reapers.

It was crazy raw because we only had a month to prepare.  We were all so new that we didn't really know how to play... we just knocked each other down a lot!  I was a blocker on the Juggernauts- Cannon Doll X was our captain.  Diva Jammers Gori Spelling and Laguna Beyatch made their jam debuts.  Titty Titty Bang Bang, Aggro Vader, and Minnie Jugs were all Juggernaut blockers.  Janis Choplin was the Reapers' Captain, and they had the super fast jammers of Mila Minute and Kung POW Tina (now San Diego Derby Dolls).  They also had the blocking force of Trixie Biscuit, Razorslut, and former skater Hannah Grenade (now a WFTDA ref).  They also had Bloody Holly, who after all these years got just the derby bug again, and is back as LADD Fresh Meat.   

It was a brutal game; I almost sent Leia Mout over the rail!  Reapers won... I don't remember the score, I just remember how fun it was!

Q:   What impact did that Baby Doll Brawl have on the rest of your derby career? 

P.I.T.A:  What I found to be the coolest part of the whole experience was that we were all Fresh Meat, and we all created this unique bond with each other.  We were these tough women who liked giving and taking beatings.  At game time, we knocked the crap outta each other.  Then after the game, win or lose, we were still friends.  

I ended up hyper extending my left knee and pulling my PCL, so I had to sit out for two months after the Brawl.  That game fired me up to do my physical therapy and get strong so I could do it again!  Just being near those women made me feel like I had found my niche in life!  Like I knew exactly what my cankles were built for!  The whole experience made me want more, and still motivates me to work hard so I can remain a part of roller derby!

Q:  How privileged was the audience to get their first-ever glimpse of future Sirens Co-Captain/All Star LA Ri-Ette P.I.T.A?

P.I.T.A:  HA! Privileged, I dunno... but there is this really great picture of me nailing the opposing jammer and in the back ground Iron Maiven's mouth is wide open in shock that a freshie just did that.  Busta Armov made a video of that hit and sent it to TXRD to show them what LA was teaching their new girls to do- that was an honor. I'd say the crowd was certainly privileged to see all of us from that BDB that are now Ri-Ettes- me, Gori, Laguna, Titty, and our Manager Razorslut.  We're some pretty bad-ass skaters now!!

Q:  Did you do your trademark shimmy in a moment of triumph, or was that developed later?

P.I.T.A:  The boobie jiggle came way later!  I was always the biggest girl on the track (dare I say fattest?).  At 5'6", weighing in at 215 pounds for my first 3 years of derby, I liked to show the fans that this big girl can rock it and I'm proud of it!  It's more of a "I am phat woman... hear me roar" kinda reaction to something I feel I've done well!  I only do it once a game... so watch for it!  P.S. I've lost 30 pounds this year- makes the jamming a little easier with a few less pounds to push around the track!  LOL!

Q:  How long did it take from your first Fresh Meat practice until you got on a team?

P.I.T.A:  I started in August of 2006; I made the Sirens in late February of 2007.  I spent six months as Fresh Meat. 

Q:  What did you learn from the Baby Doll Brawl that you still use today as the Co-Captain of the Sirens?

P.I.T.A:  I learned in the first BDB that we're all here for our own reasons. Each one of us has our own derby dream, and we need to find ways to make that dream come true.  I try to remember that all my skaters are different, and that each one of their derby dreams is just as important as mine.  So hopefully I can make the experience good for them... and hopefully Killo Kitty and I can motivate them to achieve their dreams!  If we can live this dream together as a team, then no matter what the score board says... we're winners!  It's all about fun!

Q:  What can the audience expect from the upcoming Baby Doll Brawl?

P.I.T.A:  RAW ROLLER DERBY!  Massive hits!  Pile ups!  A ton of energy, and some really great smiles!  These are the future skaters of LADD, and you don't want to miss the chance to see these up and coming All-Stars at the beginning of their derby career!  This will be one of the best Baby Doll Brawls yet!

Interview with Ri-Ettes' Captain Tara Armov- Tix on sale now for Ri-Ettes vs. Team Legit March 27th!

Photo by Charlie Shutterthug Chu

In her six years skating with L.A. Derby Dolls, Ri-Ettes captain Tara Armov has, among many accomplishments, led the Fight Crew through the only undefeated season in the league’s history, coined the term Baby Doll Brawl, and ignited fear in the hearts of countless skaters.  We talked to Tara about her history with derby, the nature of being an All-Star, and why you should never turn down a chance to hang out with derby people. 

You can see Tara and the Ri-Ettes take on Team Legit on March 27^th- tickets are on sale NOW here.  And then on March 28th, come back with the whole family to watch the all-ages Baby Doll Brawl.  Get your tickets now- we WILL sell out.

Q:  How long have you been playing roller derby?  How did you first get involved with the sport?

TA:  I've been playing derby since January, 2004. Good gawd, seeing that date actually makes me feel very, VERY old.   Ah, lost youth...  Oh, wait!  Back to the interview...

Anyway, I found derby when I was working in Texas in 2003, and through a series of fortuitous circumstances, found myself at the first awards ceremony for the TXRD Lonestar Rollergirls in Austin.  There was something about a dirty warehouse covered in spray-painted banners, filled with old theater seats surrounding a well-used banked track that I found to be exciting.  All without seeing them actually skate.

When the job ended and I came back to Los Angeles, I found the Derby Dolls through Craigslist.  I emailed co-founder Thora Zeen telling her that if the Derby Dolls are doing what the Texas league was doing, I wished them the best and couldn't wait to see them skate.  Thora emailed me back saying that I should come practice with the Dolls.  I said that I was too old.  Thora replied, "BULLSHIT!" and convinced me to skate with them.  And so started the long road of How Tara Armov Came Into Being.

Q:  What’s the difference between a regular season game and an All-Star game?

TA: Our regular season games feature our amazing intra-league teams: Fight Crew, Sirens, Tough Cookies, and Varsity Brawlers.  Our All-Star games feature the best skaters from each of those teams going up against kickass skaters and teams from leagues all around the country.  Seeing an All-Star game is kinda similar to getting the Greatest Hits collection of your favorite band with the occasional remix bonus track added on the end.

Q:  What does it take to turn an average skater into an All-Star?

TA:  Usually either a freak accident involving nuclear radiation in a shifty scientific study, or a LOT of sweat, blood, hard training and the occasional tear will turn your Average Everyday Kickass Skater into an All-Star Who You REALLY Don't Want to Tick Off.

Q:   How are this season’s Ri-Ettes different from last year’s?

TA:  I think we're even more enthusiastic about playing new teams and having fun with it than last year.  We're enjoying learning the best way to utilize who we have on the team and learning to work well with each other on the track.  I'm VERY excited to see how we play on the 27th!

Q:  Your March 27th opponent Team Legit is made up of flat track All-Star skaters from all over the West Coast.  How do you think these skaters will fare on the banked track?

TA:  It will depend on how fast they adjust to the differences in speed and timing on the banked track.  Some of them skated against LADD at Battle on the Bank II tournament in Austin, TX last year, and they were a force to be reckoned with.   However, our track is longer and has a steeper bank to it than TXRD's, so it'll be interesting to see how Legit adjusts to that.

Q:  In your spare time, you travel across the country training other leagues and doing commentary for Derby News Network.  Why is it important for LA skaters and fans to expose themselves to derby beyond the Doll Factory?

TA:  Because there's SO MUCH AWESOME derby out there!  Seeing other leagues skate, whether it's banked or flat track, is an eye-opener on so many levels!  I always learn something when seeing other leagues skate.

That, and hanging out with DIY derby people is always the most fun one can have without going to jail for it.

Q:  Who are the Ri-Ettes to watch on March 27th?  Who from Team Legit are you nervous about facing?

TA:  The Ri-Ettes to watch?  ALL OF US.  Each Ri-Ette brings something amazing to the team.  Look at our roster...there isn't anyone there who shouldn't be there, and it shows when they skate.  When we stick together, we're unstoppable.

As for Legit, I don't focus on particular individuals to be nervous about.  That's a mind game I'd rather not play.  I'm going to tell my team to just hit the crap out of anyone who isn't wearing a Ri-Ettes uniform on the track.

Q:  2010’s first Baby Doll Brawl is on March 28.  What’s so great about a Baby Doll Brawl?  Should fans come back to the Doll Factory two days in a row to see this one?

TA:  Here's the beauty of this weekend's Derby Dolls games: you get to see the current best and the future best of the league.  It's like a big, sweaty, violent derby sammich!

Baby Doll Brawls are just so much FUN to watch... you can see what the future will bring forth, even in their current embryonic derby stage.  And isn't always fun to see your babies grow up to kick ass?

Q:  You are notoriously loud and angry on the track.  What fuels your rage?

TA:  I wouldn't say I'm angry most of the time, but I am vociferously enthusiastic, especially when it comes to anything derby.

Ri-Ettes Hit the Road: Next Stop, Tucson!

Photo by StalkerazziOn Saturday, October 17, LADD's all-star team, the Ri-Ettes, face-off against Tucson Roller Derby's Saddletramps -- flat track style.

The skinny:

$8 at door, $5 w/ Whip It ticket stub (no advance ticket sales)
2009 season passes honored! 6:30 doors open
7:00 derby brat 15 minute bout
7:20 LADD vs. SaddleTramps, Period 1
7:50 DHD vs. TRD 20 minute bout during half time
8:15 LADD vs. SaddleTramps, Period 2

More info here.

It's gonna be 100 degrees in the desert this weekend. Will our spoiled SoCal gals survive the flat track? We'll keep you posted!

Update on Monday, October 19, 2009 at 12:02PM by Judy Gloom

Final score: 144-46 in favor of the Saddletramps. The Ri-Ettes are still figuring out this flat track business! As of last week, the Doll Factory is now home to a regulation-sized flat track, which should improve the learning curve in 2010.