February 5th Roller Derby Trifecta

February 5th came and went, and while it was here, San Diego Roller Derby (SDRD) rocked and won the battle against Tucson Roller Derby (TRD)!

Our roller derby trifecta of a season opener began with a mini-bout between Black and White teams composed of players from all three SDRD teams (619ers, Rockettes and Starlettes). This "Civil War", as our announcer G.I. Bro called it, was followed by the main bout (SDRD vs TRD) and a 15-minute half-time bout featuring our awesome junior league, the Cadettes. It was one exciting Saturday!

The 30-minute opening bout was full of exceptional skating skills, killer blocks, and a very intense co-ed battle. B. Stang of the White Team was a great leader, as always, and wowed the crowd with his amazing skating skills and trips to the penalty box! But hey, nobody’s perfect, right?

The Black Team, led by Bully Julie, definitely didn’t make it easy for the White Team. Bully Julie, and her trusty team of blockers (including Sweet Pain, Juno Escareme, and Tutu Tuff), held a strong wall in the front of the pack, making it difficult for the White jammers to get by. The game was definitely tight, but the White Team ended up taking the win, which couldn’t have happened without Marcy Slayground’s and Berry Nasty’s phenomenal blocking.
Six o’clock rolled around, and it was time for the Starlettes to roll onto the track in their brand new uniforms (thanks, Icepax!). The first half of the bout was exceptionally thrilling! The Starlettes had not bouted since November and the crowd was louder than ever, rooting for their favorite derby girls. The Starlettes had several power jams led by Snow Bunny on Wheelz, Icepax, and Wonder Whoop’em.

The lines of blockers were led by our Capitan, Lady Diesel, and Co-Capitan, Rumble Pie. It was thanks to their leadership that even blockers such as Berle Scout and Split Endz got to score several points as jammers! And on the other hand, jammers Wonder Whoop’em, Icepax, and Wicked Angel showed off just how many opposing jammers and blockers their booties can hip check.

Coach B. Stang makes us Starlettes practice our game strategies extra hard at practice, and... boy, did it pay off! We definitely made it difficult for TRD to score on us but they fought to the very end and showed nothing but a great attitude. The ladies of TRD truly set a perfect example of sportsmanship. We really enjoyed playing with you ladies and we hope to meet again!

Congrats to Wonder Whoop’em for being voted best jammer of SDRD and I.B. Rascal for being voted best blocker by the ladies of TRD! And a very special congratulations to our newbies, Dee Troit and Pixy Stix who played their very first bout with the Starlettes since joining SDRD --you two did great!

Februrary 5th was also a very special day for our junior league, The Cadettes, who really stole the show and riled up the crowd at half time! Sporting their super cool uniforms (thanks again, Icepax!), these ruthless kiddos skated their little hearts out and played one remarkable 15-minute game. Blockers such as Baby Buns , Mini Sweet Pain and Glitter Bomb blocked more than they ever had at practice. Jammers Jack Jack Attack ad Kiki Di Ankles put on quite the show for our crowd, who never tired of cheering, jam after jam! Congrats, Cadettes! You guys are doing great!

Our Cadettes include the following players: RockStar, Little Miss Bashley, Regina Rascal, Mighty Mouse, Skull n Crossovers, Red Hots, Little Red Devil, Jack Jack Attack, Glitter Bomb, Bone Crusher, Booty Bumper, Hot Wheels, Kiki Di Ankles, Mini Sweet Pain, Tap Out, Baby Buns, Rollin Angel and Wild Child. You guys made your derby big sisters and brothers really proud! We can’t wait to see you play again!

We would like to thank our volunteers for donating to our bake sale for this game and to all of you that participated in the 50/50 raffle. Due to the inspiring generosity of the raffle winner, all funds raised went to our February charity dedicated to our very own Molly Rink Mauled in an effort to help her family after the passing of her husband, Tom Arnold. Molly and her family are eternally grateful for your donations.

We hope to see you guys at our game on March 12: Starlettes vs Rage City Roller Girls. These ladies are traveling all the way from Alaska and we can assure you this will be one outstanding bout!! You seriously don’t want to miss it! Remember you can purchase you tickets from your favorite derby girl (or guy) and online. Visit www.sandiegorollerderby.com for more info.

This Kid Was Born on Skates

“This kid was born on skates” the announcer, G.I. Bro, called out on Saturday night as San Diego Roller Derby's coach, B Stang, skated in his debut bout in San Diego. The reality is, he was on skates before he could even walk. While at the rink with his dad, they would put skates on his feet to use as anchors so he couldn’t crawl too far away. As you can witness just by watching, this young man, 23 years old, is simply brilliant on his skates.

With his background in hockey, artistic skating, jam skating, and roller derby, his experiences make him more than qualified to be the coach of our league. B Stang has been around roller derby since the San Diego Derby Dolls knocked on the door of Skateworld back in 2005. Gary Stang, owner of Skateworld, and B Stang helped coach the Dolls when they used the rink as their primary facility for practices and bouts. When the Dolls finished their 2008 season at the rink, Gary and B Stang started their own league, San Diego Roller Derby, and the Starlettes were formed.

San Diego Roller Derby’s 2010 season finished strong with a Starlettes record of 10-4 and the newest women’s team, Rockettes 2-2. With the growth of San Diego Roller Derby, it was just a natural step to begin a men’s team, 619ers, and a junior’s team, Cadettes.

On Saturday night, B Stang jokingly stated that he might be the first person to have 3 wins in one night.Now, while that might not be completely accurate, it is still pretty rad. He made his San Diego Roller Derby debut as a skater in the mixed coed bout, coached the Starlettes, and coached the Cadettes, who made their debut outing during half-time of the main bout. With the win in the mixed bout as a skater (who gave a stellar performance from the jammer line), a Cadettes victory at half (we didn’t keep score because they are all winners J), and an outstanding performance from the Starlettes, Coach B Stang did in fact win all three.

As a member of this league, I have to personally thank this young man and his father for opening their hearts and their rink for our league. Also, Harry Beck and John Hall, they all have done so much to support San Diego Roller Derby, and we wouldn’t be here without them. We love our coaches!!!!

A Tragic Loss in the SDRD Family

San Diego Roller Derby is a family affair. By this we mean that it is something the whole family can watch, participate in and enjoy. What is also meant is that we, as a team, are a family and when one of our own is hurting and in need we share in her pain and will be there to support her. On January 4th, one of ours lost one of hers. (Read Thomas Alan Arnold's obituary here.) Molly RinkMauled and her family is playing short a key teammate and, though there are no replacements, there are many supporting staff that can help in some small way.

Every bout we volunteer our time and collect money for a cause that is near and dear to the hearts of members of SDRD. This month we assisted a fellow skater during the memorial service for her husband and we will be having a raffle at our bout where in 50% of the proceeds will go to help her family. We ask for your assistance, for Molly Rink Mauled as her family begins to rebuild from the loss of a father, husband, coach, and friend. Donations may also be made to Thomas Arnold Memorial Fund, San Diego County Credit Union, 6545 Sequence Dr., San Diego 92121. Donations may be dropped off at any San Diego County Credit Union.

San Diego Roller Derby Fundraiser at Joe's Pizza!

Last Thursday evening, San Diego Roller Derby held a Meet and Greet at Joe’s Pizza on Clairmont Mesa Blvd, and it was a huge SUCCESS. It’s not in my character to be fashionably late; however, as I walked into the pizzeria after the beginning of the event, I was astonished at what I saw. There was not an empty seat in the house! I was greeted by my derby brothers and sisters: “Liz, you’re here!”

The glasses were clinking, the demand of pizza at the buffet could not be met, and the laughter and smiles were everywhere you turned. Derby is a very intimidating sport -- even though we knock each other about at practices and games, we are a tight knit family; a group of gals and guys who absolutely love our sport, and we were excited to be able to share that enthusiasm with all of you.

It was a great way to get our season rolling! Thank you to Joe’s Pizza for opening up your restaurant to us, and everyone who came out to show your support! And if you missed it, then make sure not to be left out of the upcoming events that we have planned for this season. I am excited and honored to be a part of it. Until the next time we meet again…

Liz “Cherry Bomb’Her” Hutton