Skater Spotlight: May Q Holla

LADD: What is the story behind your derby name and number?

MQH: After a long, hard search for a derby name -- so many of my first ideas were already taken, like Rory Killmore or Canna Whoopass-- I came up with my name when the song "Wild Thing" was inexplicably stuck in my head while I was in the shower.  I heard it in my head as-- "I need fifty dollars to May Q. Holla."  And there it was. Actually, at first my number was 140dB, the threshold of pain, but Armed Kandy said, "You're so brave to put your weight on your back," and then I was like NUMBER CHANGE IMMEDIATE.

LADD: How long have you been with the league and did you have any skating experience prior to coming to LADD?

MQH: I started May of 2008. Before that, my roller skating experience was back when I was of a single digit age, training at such prestigious institutions as occasional roller rink birthday parties and my back patio while listening to Michael Jackson's Thriller. 

LADD: Can you do the full “Thriller” dance?

MQH: I can no longer do the full “Thriller” dance, but I recognize it in less than two moves. 

LADD: How many Baby Doll Brawls have you been a part of?

MQH: This will be my seventh. Good lord. I've been through the Fresh Meat program so many times, I'm a pro-freshional. I've also been drafted to Sub-pool, out on injury, retired, wrote a piece for Oprah (http://www.oprah.com/oprahsbookclub/How-Roller-Derby-Can-Save-Your-Life-Pamela-Ribon_1) and then went ahead and wrote a whole novel about it (http://pamie.com/books/going-in-circles/). I've got a whole lot of words for you, roller derby.

LADD: Tell us more about the book for Oprah.  How did that happen and how was it received?

MQH: I wrote an essay for Oprah.com, not a book. The novel came first and I wrote this essay during the book's promotion. The novel was selected for Wal-Mart's book club, though. (Oprah was out of the book club game at that time.) The reception was huge. I still get emails from both the essay and the book. There's at least one new derby girl born every day, after all. 

LADD: What characteristics makes the Jedi Knight Terrors unique compared to other Baby Doll Brawl teams you have been a part of?

MQH: This is the nicest team I've ever been a part of. I say this not as a slight to my past teams, where I have made life-long friends (Super shout-out to my Meteorfights!). But you know, usually there's someone on your team that tests everybody else's something or other. Or they just aren't putting in all the effort, whatever. Teams are complicated and when everybody's just starting to work together, tensions can rise. From the bottom of my heart, this is a wonderful collection of oddballs and weirdos. I love them all so much. This is our secret weapon -- we're all a little crazy in the very best way. I can't tell if we're the underdogs. I hope so, because in my experience, the underdogs are the ones who take it all the way in these bouts. They're also the ones having the most fun. A whole lot of this attitude comes from our captain and co-captain Slam Cooke and Sheezus. They make us better skaters and better people. 

LADD: What is it like working with Lil Red Fight ‘Em Good and Star D’Ruckus as your coaches?

MQH: I want them to take us on a road trip or like, a weekend at Joshua Tree. They're that kind of fun. They have clearly spent an extraordinary amount of time crafting their practices, thinking of us individually and as a team. They're supportive, engaged and spirited. I am very much looking forward to seeing their game day faces.

LADD: How big of a Star Wars fan are you?  What did you think of The Force Awakens?  (No spoilers)

MQH: I have seen less than 13% of all Star Wars films. 

 

LADD: Is Jar Jar Binks good or bad for the Star Wars universe?

MQH: That's the one who sounds like Dobby the House Elf?

LADD: Share with us a secret that few people know about you.

MQH: I usually don't tell people that thing about Star Wars. 

LADD: What would you tell someone reading this now who is thinking about trying out for Fresh Meat?

MQH: Stop thinking start skating.

LADD: If present-day Holla could travel back in time to give advice to yourself six years ago, what would it be?

MQH: "I know this is hard to believe, but it's all going to turn out so much better than you ever could have expected."

10 Important LA Derby Dolls Milestones in 2015

2015 was a monumental year for the LA Derby Dolls. Just 12 months ago we weren’t sure what our future would look like, and we weren’t even sure we would have a facility to house our infamous banked track. It took our entire league coming together for months to fundraise the money we needed to move, make the logistics happen, and redefine our league during a time of transition.

We’d like to take the time to thank again all those who donated to our cause because the LA Derby Dolls would not still be here today without the contributions of our fans. This year had so many moments great and small for us to be proud of. Here are just 10 highlight moments of 2015 as we move into the New Year.

Feb 4. - LARD Co-Op Born

We knew that not only did we have to move in 2015–we had to restructure. Our hard working Board of Directors put a plan into action to re-establish the LA Derby Dolls as a skater-owned and operated cooperative. After numerous hours of legal research and organized action, the Los Angeles Roller Derby Cooperative was born on paper in February. Becoming a skater-owned league was very important to us and we are thriving under our new structure.

March 14th – Hot Dog Sheilas vs. Hamburger Marys 

With the Doll Factory soon closing, we had only a few months left to say our goodbyes. A longtime running joke among some skaters was a “Hot Dog Sheilas vs. Hamburger Marys” themed bout. It originated from a Fresh Meat practice, but with precious little time left at the Doll Factory, some skaters got together to make it happen. Finally the dreams of many came true when this matchup was finally held on March 14th. Made up of a mix of team skaters, the two teams went head to head at this informal LA Derby Dolls homecoming.

April 9 – Last practice at Doll Factory

Even though we had no idea if we would still be operating or skating the next month, we continued to train just as hard as ever. The LA Derby Dolls had closed to the public late 2014 but we weren’t going to let anything slow us down. We continued training right up until our moving day. 

April 10 – Moving begins.

The arduous task of moving everything out of the Doll Factory began April 10th. It took days to take apart our banked track, load it up into trucks, and assemble it in the new location. All hands were on deck for days as we tore down wooden structures, moved anything not nailed down (and some stuff that was), and prepared 4900 Alhambra Ave. to be our new home.

April 25 – Soft opening, BDB rematch

The first bout played at the new location was a Baby Doll Brawl rematch. Suicide Pack (Black) vs. The Plastics (Pink) had been forced to play their first bout quietly without friends and family in the stands since the Doll Factory was no longer open to the public. The Baby Doll Brawl is a very important right of passage for the up-and-coming LA Derby Dolls skater as it’s the debut for all future talent of the league. Thankfully in our new location, these rising stars got their chance to shine.

May 1 – New Dollosseum name announced

Members of the newly founded cooperative voted The Dollosseum as the name of our new warehouse location in El Sereno. We embraced our new neighborhood quickly and got to work reaching out to the surrounding community with local trash cleanups, City Council meetings, and much more.

May 16 – First public bout at Dollosseum – Fight Crew vs. Sirens

When the lights went down before the start of the bout and the season opening video streamed across our projector screens, the emotion was extremely heavy in the room. This was the moment we had all been working tirelessly towards for months and finally a new season was officially underway. We were all definitely ready for some roller derby action and so was the sold out crowd.  

May 30 – First Jrs bout at Dollosseum

Our Junior Derby Dolls made their Dolloseeum debut on May 30th. Just like the rest of the league, the Juniors had just gone through a rough year and the first Juniors bout was just as meaningful to us as our first home team bout. The Juniors continued to be featured as double headers once a month throughout the 2015 season. 

June 8 – LA Derby Dolls Named best small business

On June 8, the LA Derby Dolls were named best small business in District 51 of California by assemblymember Jimmy Gomez. Spanning from Silverlake to Eagle Rock and back down to the Montebello area, District 51 is home to a number of unique and tightly knit community cultures. Welcomed at the Capital by Gomez and his staff, it was a special day in LA Derby Dolls history and a symbol of the dedication the Women’s Banked Track Roller Derby league has to its community. 

Dec 5 – VB wins champs

This year was full of firsts and home team Championships proved no different. After an amazing undefeated season, the Varsity Brawlers made it to Champs and won a hard fight over the former 2014 Champions the Sirens. Having been a repeat underdog of the league, this was a particularly sweet victory for the Varsity Brawlers. Congrats VB!

Skater Spotlight – Seth Who?

Seth Who?, coach of the Varsity Brawlers

LADD: The Varsity Brawlers are the only home team without a championship banner.  This year, the team is undefeated and on a mission.  Did the team do anything differently this year to get to this point?

SW: We actually took our strategies from years past and tweaked them a bit. But more than that, VB has put in a lot of extra training hours so they can be more cohesive on the track. And it shows.

LADD: How did you become involved with coaching the Varsity Brawlers and the LA Derby Dolls league?

SW: This is kind of a long story. The first LADD game I attended was Champs 2008, Tough Cookies vs. Sirens. I was instantly hooked and soon after I joined the RaD Dept. A few years later (mid-2012), during one of our many derby/derby rules conversations, my friend, Laci Knight, who was co-captain of VB at the time, suggested I come to one of their practices. I initially declined but about a month later, they had a spot open on their bench staff and I've been there ever since.

LADD: What is the RaD department?

SW: RaD is our in-house audio/video group. We film every game, run house audio and projectors. Members also shoot/edit those great opening videos that are shown before every game, and when there's time, shoot/edit promos for upcoming games.

LADD: Did you have any coaching experience prior to LADD?

SW: No, I never coached prior to LADD. However, I do pick up sports and their concepts relatively quickly.

LADD: People have compared roller derby to being a running back in football.  Do you see much similarity between the sports?  Have you taken anything from watching football that you have used in roller derby?

SW: I can see the comparison of jammers to running backs as blockers in both sports try to create holes/spaces for them to maneuver through. But that's where the comparison ends. Playing roller derby, unlike the majority of sports, skaters have to play both defense and offense at the same time. 

LADD: Who are some of the people who have influenced your style of coaching?  Did you have a mentor?

SW: I was never mentored; it was more trial by fire. I try not to be like just one type of coach. I've read coaching practices/theories from everyone from Gregg Poppovich to Bill Belichick to Pat Summit. I just try to gleam the best aspects. I even read a study on what's the most effective technique to motivate players. There's some great literature out there!

LADD: What would you recommend reading for someone aspiring to learn the fundamentals of coaching?

SW: Sports Psychology for Dummies. No, no… I'm kidding.  Eleven Rings by Phil Jackson is a pretty good read.

LADD: Earlier this year, VB handed the defending champion Sirens their first loss of the year.  How much confidence did that victory give to the team?

SW: We went into that game having won our first two games so our confidence was already pretty high. But the Sirens hadn't lost (I believe) in over a year. They have a very good team and we knew it was going to be hard fought. We were very happy to win.

LADD: What other groups/committees have you volunteered with inside the league outside of coaching the Varsity Brawlers?

SW: I've been a member of our RaD Dept. since I started. Doing everything from making promos to running house sound during bouts. Earlier this year, I was voted onto LADD's first Board of Directors.  I also joined the Internal Rules Committee. 

LADD: Describe what goes on at a Rules Committee meeting.  Are there certain goals the committee is trying to achieve (a direction they want to see the sport go)?

SW: On the Rules Committee, members discuss rules/wording of rules to tighten up gameplay and close potential loopholes.  Suggestions that are passed are then taken by our league RDCL (Roller Derby Coalition of Leagues) Rep. to the RDCL Committee, where rule changes are voted on by all RDCL leagues.

LADD: Tell us a secret about yourself that few people know.

SW: I've stolen at least one item in all the countries I've visited. I'm an international thief!

LADD: Oh?! What are some of your more memorable heists?

SW: Oh no. I've already said too much...

LADD: Are you a fan of other sports?  If so, what teams do you root for?

SW: I'm a huge football fan, rooting for The Ohio State University and the New England Patriots. But I follow all other Boston sports teams as well (Sox, B's, C's)

LADD: Did you grow up in Boston?  If so, what do you miss most about it while living on the west coast?

SW: No, I grew up in Southeast MA (about an hour away from Boston). Strangely enough, I do miss the cycle of the seasons. But only sometimes.

LADD: What keeps you up at night?

SW: Mild insomnia… and spiders.

LADD: Do you have a game day routine/superstitions before a bout?

SW: I try to wear the exact some clothes on bout days. And yes, everything gets washed.

LADD: What was the last book you read?

SW: Not Taco Bell Material by Adam Carolla

LADD: How much time does coaching take in an average week?

SW: It's anywhere between 3-6 hours a week. We only have 2 hours together (private practice/scrimmage) as a team a week.  So most of my "coaching time" is spent away from the track. I re-watch a lot of game footage and comb through stats to pinpoint what elements of our game have improved and what we need to work on. I think it's helped VB stay focused and motivated.

LADD: If VB wins their first championship this year, how will the team celebrate that accomplishment?

SW: We're not thinking about that type of thing. Have to win the game first.

LADD: How long has VB been around and how many people currently on the team were there since day 1?

SW: You know, I'm not sure... Maybe 6 or 7 seasons? No one on this team has been there since Day 1. 

LADD:  Are you noticing support from people who are not normally VB fans this year?  People like rooting for the underdog, and there must be a lot of people pulling for the team to win its first championship.

SW: I am noticing more purple in the stands and cheering for VB this year whether they would normally cheer for us or not. And it's that perception, that the Varsity Brawlers are underdogs, that will make us work hard all the way to the championship.

LADD: Your opponent in Champs this year is the Sirens, the defending champions who took you to the limit earlier this year.  How would you size up that team's strengths and what can people expect in the final game of the year?

SW: The Sirens are an excellent, well-disciplined team and don't make many mistakes.  But we've been fortunate enough to capitalize on the few that have been made.  I expect this game to be fast, have solid blocking, and be a real nail bitter.

Skater Spotlight – Chelada Gama

Gama is a Chelada, training to become an Enforcer (referee) with the LA Derby Dolls.

LADD: You are currently a Chelada, training to become an Enforcer, a referee with the LA Derby Dolls.  How do you feel about the experience so far?  How would you describe Chelada life to an outsider who does not know what it is? 

Gama: The experience has been awesome! The Enforcers are an amazing group of refs with years of experience and to be learning from them and working alongside them is just amazing. They are so professional. 

LADD: Which Enforcers in particular have you worked with, and what has the experience been like learning from them?

Gama: As Cheladas we work very closely with our Chelada parents (Shaolin Punk and Tricky Ricardo). We have had classes from Gia de los Muertos, Roger Assaultrey, and Hurtin’ Ernie. Also have worked alongside almost all the Enforcers! With all the years of experience they have, learning from them and seeing them learn from each other makes you want to improve and practice just that much more at every class and scrimmage.  It makes you want to do your best always!!

LADD: Have you chosen a derby name yet, or are you tossing around any ideas for potential names?

Gama: I have not yet chosen a derby name but indeed am thinking of some names. It will definitely have that Spanish sabor to it!

LADD: How long does it typically take for one to be drafted as an Enforcer while in the Chelada training program?

Gama: It can take five months to a year to be drafted.

LADD: How did you hear about becoming a referee and what made you decide to do it?

Gama: A friend of mine told me about it. I decided to do this for me and my community. Roller derby and becoming an Enforcer is something positive that has come to our community (El Sereno) and being able to be a part of this is just a real honor.  

LADD: Do you think it takes a certain type of personality to become a referee?  What traits would the Enforcer team be looking for in a future referee?

Gama: You have to have confidence because when you make those calls or count them points and doubt yourself you may have a bad game. But having confidence in yourself and the team around you is what's needed.

LADD: What do you do for fun when away from the track?

Gama: For fun I recently started fishing, and if there's a good metal show in town that's where I'll be!!

LADD: What are some of your favorite bands?

Gama: My favorite bands I have tattooed on me, Metallica, A7X, Atreyu, and Bleeding Through. Music plays a big part in my life. Like my family, it's helped me get through bad times, and see the light again in the dark times...

LADD: How do you feel about flat track roller derby?  Have you been to games at other leagues?

Gama: I have seen a couple of clips of flat track derby but I much prefer banked track. No I have never been to any other league games.

LADD: What is your favorite part about working with the Derby Dolls?

Gama: The best part is… I'm not going to lie when I say this but… everything is my favorite part! Being inside the Dollosseum, watching scrimmages, going to Enforcer class, yelling and selling cupcakes at the bouts. Working with the league for events here in the community.  

LADD: Tell us a secret about yourself that few people know about you.

Gama: Well saying this now everyone will know but uh… I have a deviated septum and can breathe just fine.

LADD: Are you a part of the neighborhood council for El Sereno?  Can you explain what that is and how long you have been doing it?

Gama: Yes I am a part of the neighborhood council for LA32.  The neighborhood council is a group of residents, who live or work in the boundaries of 90032 who are elected by their neighbors to represent them and be their representatives. Bringing issues to our councilmember and working alongside them to help better our community. I have been representing the East Area for the past year and a half now.

LADD: How have the Derby Dolls worked with the residents of El Sereno, our new home?

Gama: They have helped with clean ups, participated with our community in our chalk festival, 4th of July parade, bringing together a free Health Fair for the community which was really awesome. And we are looking forward to more projects to collaborate on!

Skater Spotlight: Serena Killams

Serena is a new skater with the LA Junior Derby Dolls.  If you know someone aged 7-17 who is interested in participating in our junior derby program, visit:http://juniors.derbydolls.com/

LADD: How old are you?  What is your derby name, number, and story behind how you came up with it?

SK: 10 years old, Serena Killams #187, my family thinks that I look like Serena Williams with my muscles and all.

LADD: How did you first learn about roller derby?

SK: My mother, Black Mom-Ba, plays and I always watch her.

LADD: How long have you been skating?

SK: Officially 2 months… lol.

LADD: What made you want to try roller derby?

SK: I always watched my mom, and her old league didn’t have a junior derby team… When I saw the LA Junior Derby Dolls I told my mom I have to play, please sign me up.

LADD: Adult skaters often talk about the roller derby community being like a second family.  Is junior roller derby like having another family?

SK: Yes, because it’s easy to make friends.  I like coming to practice and seeing all the other skaters, and we talk and skate and learn together and we laugh and have so much fun!

LADD: Do you spend time with junior skaters away from the track?

SK: No not yet, I haven't had the chance to exchange numbers with anyone yet.

LADD: Do you do anything else for fun besides roller derby?

SK: Yes I play soccer at school.

LADD: What is your favorite movie and how many times have you seen it?

SK: Troop Beverly Hills, hmm… about 20 times.

LADD: Is there an adult skater you look up to... who you want to be like when you grow up?

SK: I look up to Purrfect becuase she is fun, outgoing… and I have fun in classes.... but I want to be like my mom when I grow up.

LADD: What do your friends at school say when you tell them you play roller derby?

SK: They ask me if it’s fun and if it’s similar to the sports they play, and then they say they want to do it.

LADD: What would you say to someone who is considering trying out for junior roller derby but they are unsure whether it is for them or not?

SK: Just try it, you never know if you’re going to like [it] until you try.

LADD: What do you like most about playing roller derby?

SK: It’s really fun and it keeps me active… It builds confidence because roller derby is scary, but when I do it, I realize it’s not so bad, and I get better every practice.

LADD: What was the last book you read?

SK: Bartholomew and the Big Wind.

LADD: How would you describe the roller derby community to someone who is not a part of it?

SK: The roller derby community is cool, everyone is very fun and always excited.

LADD: Tell us a secret about you that feel people know (even your mom!).

SK: I sneak snacks to school often.

LADD: What do you wish someone had told you about roller derby before you started playing it?

SK: The things I can do on the flat track are not so easy to do on the banked. The banked track is very challenging.