Interview with Varsity Brawlers’ Long Island Lolita- Tickets on sale now for Tough Cookies vs. Varsity Brawlers April 17!

Photo by Charlie Shutterthug Chu

Long Island Lolita is the captain of the Varsity Brawlers and an All-Star blocker and jammer.  We talked to Lolita about the changes VB has gone through since the team’s first season, the challenges ahead, and why the Cookies should watch their backs this year. 

You can see Lolita and the Varsity Brawlers take on the Tough Cookies on Saturday April 17- tickets are on sale NOW here.     

Q:  This is only the Varsity Brawlers’ second season. How have you grown as a team over the last year?

LIL:  We have grown tremendously!!  When we first started, the majority of us were new and only had one or two games under our belts, but now we know what it takes to skate as a team and to win as a team.  We have stepped up our training, and everyone works really hard and gives 100%.  We had a little taste of victory last season and it felt so good… WE WANT AND NEED MORE!!

Q: 
The last time VB played the Tough Cookies  (October 2009), the Cookies won by 35 points.  How will this game be different?

LIL:  The Varsity Brawlers are a very different team.  We have broken down the game and studied the Cookies very carefully.  We are going into this game with strategy knowing what we have to do to get the job done.  Each girl on my team has found their strengths and as a whole we have become more confident. 

Q: 
What are the biggest challenges that the Varsity Brawlers will face in 2010?

LIL:  This may be our second season but we are still the “new team.”  We have to constantly prove to the league and to the fans that VB is here and we are not going anywhere.  We want this just as bad as any other team does and will do whatever it takes to be the best.

Q: 
What will take for the Varsity Brawlers to win their first Championships in 2010?

LIL:  If I gave away our secrets, then every team would be in the running for CHAMPS!  In all seriousness, if the girls keep up all the hard work and continue to learn, grow as a team, and build on their own strengths, then we’ve got it.   

Q:  Which Cookie are you looking forward to hitting hardest?

LIL:  Are you kidding?  ALL OF THEM!!!!!!!!!!!

Q:  Why should fans root for VB on April 17?

LIL:  In today’s world, people need a change!  They need something new to believe in… we are the new girls in town.  We have the spunk, the drive… I believe it’s called the “IT FACTOR”.   Plus, green is so last Spring.

Q:  Describe the 2010 Varsity Brawlers in 5 words or less.

LIL:  BAD ASS!!

Interview with Tough Cookies’ Gori Spelling- Tix on sale now for Tough Cookies vs. Varsity Brawlers April 17!

Photo by Charlie Shutterthug Chu

Gori Spelling is the co-captain of the Tough Cookies and an All-Star blocker and jammer.  We talked to Gori about the Cookies’ venerable history, the challenges ahead, and why the Cookies aren’t giving up their status as Champs any time soon. 

You can see Gori and the Tough Cookies take on the Varsity Brawlers on Saturday April 17- tickets are on sale NOW here.     

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

GS:  I think that never underestimating our opponents and tailoring our practices towards what we think will help us defeat each specific team is key. 

Q:  The last time VB played the Tough Cookies  (October 2009), the Cookies won by 35 points.  Do you think that this game will be any different?

GS:  Both teams have a 1-0 record, so neither want to leave the track on the 17th as the team who got defeated.  Of course we would hope for a large point spread like the last time we played, but VB has improved so much since then that we are anticipating a close game.

Q:  You’ve been a Tough Cookie since 2007.  How has the team changed over the last few years? 

GS:  The spirit of the team is the same today as it was in 2007 when I became a Cookie.  We're the fun team and I think that having a good time while playing this game is key.  Iron Maiven has been the captain since 2006, which gives us consistency, and we're lucky to have such a great leader who motivates us to be our best!

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

GS:  It's a lot of pressure to be defending Champs; every other team wants to take us down.  We just need to stay one step ahead and keep learning.  

Q:  Which Brawler are you looking forward to hitting hardest? 

GS:  Not anyone in particular!  Just whoever is in my way or my jammers’ way!

Q:  Why should fans root for the Cookies on April 17? 

GS:  Why not!?  Have you met us?  The Tough Cookies LOVE our fans! 

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

GS:  2010 DO FOR IT AGAIN!

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.

Interview with Windy City Rollers’ Jackie Daniels- Last Chance to Attend March Radness Training Camp in LA!

 Photo by Boss Hogg

Jackie Daniels is an All-Star blocker, jammer, and all around good time derby gal.  She’s been rocking the Midwest with her skating for the last five years, and will be making a special guest appearance in Southern California to lead classes at next week’s March Radness Camp.  We talked to Jackie about switching leagues, switching tracks, and why she never misses a chance to party with the the L.A. Derby Dolls.

You can train with Jackie and other fantastic skaters from all over the country, as well as try out the banked track, from March 4-7 in LA.  More information and tickets are available here.

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

JD:  I joined and helped build Grand Raggidy Roller Girls in May of 2005.  We played our first bout (standing straight up) in April of 2006.  I read an article about derby coming back in major cities and just knew it was for me (I have no idea why; I hadn't seen it, nor did I know anything, but I would not stop talking about doing it).  I was afraid it wouldn't happen in Grand Rapids, but soon found out it was just getting started on a very small scale.

Q:  You recently relocated from Grand Rapids to Chicago, and from the Grand Raggidy Roller Girls to the Windy City Rollers.  How has the transition been?

JD:  The transition is great.  I feel my agility increasing significantly, as I am more scared of getting hit WAY hard by more girls- ha!  Not that GR girls don't hit hard, but there's a big difference in a league of 25 vs. 90+ skaters.  It feels great to have more coaching and opinions available.  I am on one committee vs. several and I am loving feeling less pressure in that arena after a long time on Board of Directors.  WCR has been very welcoming and I am SO happy to be with them.  It's completely, completely different, in a great way, and it feels really like a perfect fit. 

Q:  You normally skate flat track, but have a healthy respect for the bank.  What do you see as biggest difference between banked and flat track derby?

JD:  Mostly strategy.  You really need to rethink your game when shorter jams, faster laps and different advantages due to the bank are all new things coming at you.  It all makes sense that these would come into play, but you just need to remember plan for it, even though you just wanna get out there!

Q:  What’s the most important thing for newer skaters to think about when learning the game?   What do you think vets can always get better at?

JD:  Fundamentals and a positive attitude are huge assets to take you where you need to be regardless of the point you are at in your athletic career.   Working hard with a positive attitude is a huge contribution to your team at the early or later stages of skill.  I am constantly learning, even if I attend a beginner class, it seems I take something away.  There is always something to be gained from each experience.  Putting yourself in the position to have as many experiences as possible really helps growth- whether that be attending all of your leagues practices you can, adding camps, watching nearby various bouts, watching DNN online bouts, etc. 

Q:  Why is March Radness camp in LA a derby event that’s not to be missed?

JD:  LA knows how to get down; they just know how to do an event right. They are gracious hosts and wonderful planners.  They've always come out 110% each time I have practiced with, played against, played with or spectated a game with LADD.  I have no doubt that they’ll pull off one the best training camps to attend.  I try dang hard to not miss anything stamped Derby Dolls.

Q:  If there were a banked track league in Chicago, would you join?

JD:  Hmmm... I'd try to do both.  If I couldn't, I'd stick with WCR, cause I'm just a loyal lady (maybe the lady part isn't exactly accurate) and any banked track league would have a serious challenge to compete with the love in my heart for Derby Dolls.

Q:  What’s the hardest part about roller derby?

JD:  Not being able to be everywhere at once.  In so many ways.

Q:  Boxers or briefs?

JD:  I like to wear baggy briefs.