News Coverage

Derby Deeds Interview with Bloody Mary

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 20:07:00 -0800

Derby Deeds interviewed WFTDA Executive Directory, Blood Mary, in Episode #85 of their Derby Deeds Podcast on December 9, 2011.

Bloody Mary discusses WFTDA's new partnership with Skate Australia.

Click Here to Listen

Gotham Girls Roller Derby All-Stars win Hydra Trophy at WFTDA Championships

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 04:37:00 -0800

DENVER, CO - New York's Gotham Girls Roller Derby All-Stars were the big winners at the 2011 Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) Championships at the 1st Bank Center this weekend, beating out West Region champs the Oly Rollers Cosa Nostra Donnas, 140-97.

Gotham Girls also trounced the Rocky Mountain Rollergirls 5280 Fight Club -- local favorites and defending champs -- and Austin's Texecutioners on the way to winning the Hydra Trophy.

The Rocky Mountain Rollergirls 5280 Fight Club won its opening bout on Friday, dispatching Nashville's Music City All-Stars 198-58, but lost to Gotham 187-134 on Saturday. Despite ousting the local heroes, Gotham became the clear fan favorite from that point on: The Oly Rollers, 2009 WFTDA champs and last year's second-place finishers, have a long history of dominating the flat track derby circuit, and the crowd at the 1st Bank Center seemed primed to root against them.

For the full story please visit http://blogs.westword.com/showandtell/2011/11/gotham_girls_roller_derby_all-.php

Roller Derby Championships from The Daily Camera

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 05:29:00 -0800

The 2011 WFTDA Roller Derby Championships were held November 11-13th at the 1ST Bank Center in Broomfield, CO. Video by Cliff Grassmick.

From: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BWTNpPJ2WI

Gotham beats Oly and becomes the first WFTDA Champ to repeat!

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 05:21:00 -0800

DENVER, CO - The last two bouts of the 2011 WFTDA Championships are in the books, Kansas City finishes fourth after losing to Texas, and Oly finishes second for the second year in a row after losing to Gotham.

The Semifinals: Texas 136 over Kansas City 112

The Texas Rollergirls made a meaningful leap into the top of the WFTDA ranks today by beating the already bruised and battered Kansas City Roller Warriors. Although the Roller Warriors were in the bout late, Texas was in full control in the final ten minutes, and their efforts yielded a coveted third place finish in this year’s crowd pleasing tourney. While Kansas City was never out of the bout on paper, their bench was no match for the Texecutioners, and although many would gladly trade places with them, their missed opportunities will surely inspire them in 2012. In recognition of their efforts, Kelley Young, the Kansas City “triple threat” was recognized as tournament MVP, a title that doesn’t begin to describe her abilities on and off the track.

The Finals: Gotham Derby Girls 140 over Oly Rollers 97

For the full story please visit http://www.womentalksports.com/items/read/2690/1229026

Roller derby makes names part of the game

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 04:50:00 -0800

DENVER, CO - Bloody Mary has been playing roller derby since 2002, which means there are fewer than a handful of people who have been playing longer. And it means that calling her by her legal name, Juliana Gonzales, is less likely to make her look up.

"More people in the world call me Bloody than call me Juliana," said the skater for Austin's Texecutioners.

She will play this weekend as the Women's Flat Track Derby Association holds its national championship tournament in Denver. The first bouts are scheduled for Friday afternoon.

Picking your roller derby alter ego is a rite of passage for a skater, involving self-reflection -- how you see yourself, or the kind of player you'd like to grow into. You have to be able to carry a name like Atomatrix or Raggedy Animal.

Quick, think about what defines you.

Are you quick, like Bonnie Thunders? Are you clever, like Harlot Bronte? Physically intimidating, a la Eleanor Bruisevelt? Do you leave 'em dazed and confused, like OMG WTF?

Bonnie Matera kept waiting for the right derby name to hit her. Sporting curly blond hair with pink ends, she knew she wanted Rock in there, but couldn't get the rest. Finally, a friend suggested over beers -- the inspiration for many a great name -- that she go with Rock Nasty.

"It suits me," said Matera, er, Nasty, who skates for the Nashville Rollergirls.

Names have been a part of roller derby since the renaissance of the sport in the early 2000s. Each prospective skater checks her chosen derby name against a master list. If no one else has it, or a similar version, she can register it. But the list has grown immensely as the sport gains popularity, and picking the right name can be a challenge.

As much fun as the names are, the theatrical nature of a pseudonym doesn't appeal to every skater as teams try to push the athleticism of roller derby. One elite league, the Denver Roller Dolls, fields a travel team with players who wear the names their parents gave them on their backs. Tracy Akers and Gabrielle Begeman may not sound quite as tough, but they are formidable athletes.

For the full story please visit http://w.espn.go.com/espnw/mobile/more-sports/7220807/roller-derby-makes-names-part-game

Derby Deeds Interview with Grace Killy

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:17:00 -0700

The folks at Derby Deeds interviewed 2011 WFTDA President, Grace Killy in Episode #75 of their Derby Deeds Podcast on September 30, 2011.

Grace talks about her service on the WFTDA Board of Directors and the WFTDA process and schedule for rules adoption and revision.

Click Here to Listen

Aggression on Wheels, With Bruises as Badges

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 20:27:00 -0700

NEW YORK, NY - As a child of the 1970s, I spent a number of birthday parties in striped tube socks and bright white roller skates, whizzing around a place called Skate Country in New Orleans.

I loved the freedom of doing figure eights to Olivia Newton John or couples skating to the Bee Gees. But when I entered the Hunter College gym this spring for the Gotham Girls Roller Derby home season opener, I instantly knew it was going to be so much better than Skate Country. On one side was a roaring crowd and on the other a line of the toughest-looking women in short shorts I had ever seen.

For the full story please visit http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/10/arts/10derby.html

Heavenly Bodies: The Roller Girls

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 00:33:00 -0700

PHILADELPHIA, PA - Their regimen: Three two-to-three-hour practices each week, which include everything from speed and footwork drills to balance-perfecting ab exercises, like crunches and planks.

Then endurance training: “We skate pretty much nonstop for 30 to 40 minutes,” says Grindem, co-manager of the team. “It’s a great lower-body workout.” Once a month, they compete in an all-out 60-minute battle.

Why they love roller derby: “It’s pretty much the hardest athletic activity I’ve ever done,” says Grindem. “There’s a level of athleticism and competition that I don’t think is widely available to women in any other sport.” Plus, the hits release pent-up tension: “It’s a great stress-reliever. You’re using your own body to knock somebody to the ground. It’s pretty cool.”

For the full story, please visit http://www.phillymag.com/home/display/heavenly_bodies/?gallery_idx=888&row_position=2&photo_idx=9160&thumbnail_num=7

July 14th – BRUTAL BEAUTY DVD RELEASE PARTY WITH ROSE CITY ROLLERS

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 23:30:00 -0700

PORTLAND, OR - Floating World Comics, Ninkasi Brewing, and Voodoo Donuts present: BRUTAL BEAUTY DVD RELEASE PARTY WITH ROSE CITY ROLLERS

Roller derby is an American contact sport that has seen a nationwide revival in recent years. Brutal Beauty: Tales Of The Rose City Rollers tells the story of Portland, Oregon’s league, the Rose City Rollers. For more than a year and a half, an embedded film crew documented the thrills and spills of derby life.

Through unlimited access to team bouts, practices and the private lives of the players, Brutal Beauty puts the viewer on the inside track to this high-contact, and sometimes dangerous, sport. In their own words, the Rose City Rollers tell how roller derby saved their souls.

For the full story, please visit http://www.floatingworldcomics.com/main/july-14th-%E2%80%93-brutal-beauty-dvd-release-party-with-rose-city-rollers/

The Great Wall of DoomsDames

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 01:55:00 -0700

ALBUQUERQUE, NM - Duke City Derby's home teams got their season off to a proper start on Saturday, June 19, holding the first official bouts of the season after last month's scrimmages.

In the first bout, the DoomsDames held off the Derby Intelligence Agency (DIA) for a 115 –85 win. Later the Ho-Bots pummeled the brand-new Taos Whiplashes, smacking them around for nearly the entire match on their way to a 195-74 victory.

The DoomsDames started to pull away early in their bout, taking the lead by outscoring DIA 22-0 in the third jam for the first points of the match. After that, the teams were only able to grab a few points per jam, and the Dames maintained about a 20-point gap. Then DIA scored 15 points with eight minutes left in the first half to reduce the DoomsDames' lead to 13. DIA continued to fight back, making the score 58-50 before the Dames scored the next seven points to take a 15-point lead at halftime.

For the full story, please visit http://alibi.com/index.php?scn=news&story=32802

Nashville Rollergirls Deliver Hoedown Throwdown at This Weekend's Tennessee Roller Derby Championship

Sat, 12 Jun 2010 02:25:00 -0700

NASHVILLE, TN - Looking for a local thrill this weekend? We've got your answer: the Nashville Rollergirls are hosting the Honky Tonk Stomp, a roller derby state championship tournament between the Nashville Rollergirls' Music City All Stars, the Hard Knox Rollergirls' All Stars (out of Knoxville), and the Memphis Roller Derby's Hustlin' Rollers.

What could be more thrilling or entertaining than watching 10 women roll around an oval track, blocking, pivoting, jamming and doing whatever else it is a rollergirl does?

Bouts between the three aforementioned teams will be Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) sanctioned games. All three will play Saturday at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds Sports Arena. In addition to the three WFTDA bouts on Saturday, Johnson City's Little City Roller Girls will skate against Nashville's Music City Brawl Stars.

For the full story, please visit http://www.nashvillescene.com/pitw/archives/2010/06/11/nashville-rollergirls-deliver-hoedown-throwdown-at-this-weekends-tennessee-roller-derby-championship

Fishnets and Four Wheels

Sat, 12 Jun 2010 02:13:00 -0700

PHILADELPHIA, PA - The most ferocious women on wheels in Philly host a double-header Saturday. You can get your fix of fishnets and four wheels this Saturday, June 12, when the Philly Roller Girls -- all three teams -- host a double-header to wrap up their regular season.

The Broad Street Butchers go up against the Connecticut Rollergirls. After that, Philly's other two teams face off -- the Heavy Metal Hookers vs. Philthy Britches.

The competition starts at 6 p.m. at the league's new home, the Class of 1923 Arena at UPenn.

Tickets start at $12 and you can buy them online through Philly's own TicketLeap.

And if you go home hooked on roller derby, you only have to wait a couple of weeks to get your uber-fan experience at the East Coast Derby Extravaganza.

For the full story, please visit http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/around-town/events/Get-Your-Roller-Derby-On-96162859.html

Salt City battles FoCo in a double header this weekend

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 02:48:00 -0700

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - This Saturday, June 12, 2010, the Salt City Derby Girls will host their third double header bout of the 2010 season at the Salt Palace. The all-star team, Salt City Shakers will take on a traveling opponent in a WFTDA sanctioned match against FoCo Girls Gone Derby (Fort Collins, Colorado).

The bout will begin at 6:00 pm, followed by a bout between Salt City Derby Girls home teams, the Bomber Babes vs. The Leave it To Cleavers.

The Salt City Shakers bouted against Fort Collins in 2008, with Salt City winning the match 135 to 91. Two seasons later, Salt City Shaker captain Alexa Rough says, “I think that we will be able to make this our second win against Fort Collins. We learned some tough lessons in our last game against Lava City, but those have only made us a better team.” Fort Collins’ FoCo Girls Gone Derby were established in 2005 and have been ranked by WFTDA since 2009, and more information can be found through their website, www.focogirlsgonederby.com.

For the full story, please visit http://www.examiner.com/x-40508-Salt-City-Derby-Girls-Examiner~y2010m6d10-Salt-City-battles-FoCo-in-a-double-header-this-weekend

Dixie Derby Girls announce changes to second team

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 02:02:00 -0700

HUNTSVILLE, AL - Raging Rockets? Dixie Derby Girls? All-Stars? B-team? What?

Even the most die-hard fans and some inside skaters have been left scratching their heads lately at the myriad of names used to identify the teams from Huntville-based Dixie Derby Girls Roller Derby League.

The non-profit organization, in their 5th season in Huntsville, have gone through quite a few name changes over its history. Growing to over 40 skaters in 2010, the Dixie Derby Girls are comprised of two separate teams; a traveling, WFTDA (Womens Flat Track Derby Association) chartered All-Star veteran team, and a rookie level home team for newer, less experiened skaters (similar to a Junior Varsity distinction). Both teams play competitively at all home double headers at the Von Braun Center.

In an effort to help better define the two teams to the public, the Dixie Derby Girls have decided to rebrand both teams with separate team names. Though both will still be part of the Dixie Derby Girls league, the All-Star traveling WFTDA charter team will now be known as the Raging Rockets, while the rookie, less experienced JV team will become the Rocket City Rollers.

For the full story please visit http://www.examiner.com/x-40430-Dixie-Derby-Girls-Examiner~y2010m6d8-Dixie-Derby-Girls-announce-changes-to-second-team?cid=channel-rss-Sports

Windy City Rollers Before the Game

Mon, 31 May 2010 16:33:00 -0700

First established in Chicago in the 1930s, roller derby has gone through several incarnations.

It has recently risen in popularity again thanks in part to A&E's television show Rollergirls and the 2009 Drew Barrymore film Whip It. Leagues have started to pop up all across the country once again.

The original all-female roller derby league in Chicago is and was started by Elizabeth Gomez,who is better known by her alter ego, Juanna Rumble, and Kelly Simmons - also known as Sister Sledgehammer. The league is made up of four teams who do battle with each other as they vie for the Ivy King Cup. The best players from each of the aforementioned teams join forces and play for a traveling All-Star team called the Windy City Rollers who travel across the country challenging teams from a number of major cities.

For the full story, please visit http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/specials/fan-guide-2010/windy-city-rollers.html

Videos Posted by Cheerios

Thu, 27 May 2010 16:25:00 -0700

NEW YORK, NY - Cheerios is launching a new ad campaign featuring our very own Gotham Girls.

For more information, please visit http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=966071433027

Dutchland Roller Derby

Wed, 26 May 2010 23:25:00 -0700

LANCASTER, PA - Dutchland Roller Derby: They're tough girls on skates...and they all have their own story. Check out this video courtesy of Fox 43.

For the full website, please visit http://www.fox43.com/videobeta/0b006441-2567-4f6a-a6b1-f20c38d2f5e0/News/5-26-DUTCHLAND-ROLLER-DERBY

Skaters find a challenge in the path of most resistance

Sat, 15 May 2010 02:30:00 -0700

SAN ANTONIO, TX - Standing 4 feet 10 1/2 inches tall, Anna Lisa Garcia has to hold her head high as she dukes it out as a prosecutor for the Bexar County District Attorney’s office.

But going up against hard-core felons and criminal defense lawyers is a piece of cake compared to her nighttime and weekend job as “Hot Purrsuit,” a fiesty roller derby player for the Alamo City Rollergirls’ Las Tejanas team.

During a recent contest against Beaumont’s Spindletop Rollergirls, Garcia was matched up against Jules Edinburgh, who outsized “Hot Purrsuit” by a whole foot. Things got, well, a little physical, and Garcia hid her purple bruises at work under a polished suit blazer.

“Roller derby is a great way to take out the stress and frustration of court,” Garcia says. “It’s all about being a strong woman and a team player — which are skills I use at work, too.”

For the full story, please visit, http://sanantonio.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2010/05/17/story4.html?b=1274068800^3344001

Roll along with derby gals

Sat, 08 May 2010 02:34:00 -0700

OLYMPIA, WA - In the documentary “Hell on Wheels,” women’s roller derby has a lot of drama. But for the undefeated Oly Rollers, derby is about winning.

Some of the Rollers will host the film’s local premiere Friday night — and they’ll get things rolling with a skate demo.

The film follows the establishment of women’s roller derby in Austin, Texas, in 2001 — an event that some say sparked the sport’s present-day resurgence.

“There are over 450 roller-derby leagues all over the world, and they were all inspired by what happened in Austin,” said filmmaker Bob Ray of Austin, who’ll be in Olympia to answer questions after the screening. “Our film is about the women who resurrected this idea.”

The sport’s growth in Austin was rife with conflict, though. A large group of skaters walked out to form their own league, which skates — like the Oly Rollers — on a flat track, while others remained on the management-run team, which uses a banked track.

“Emotions were damaged, and friendships were ruined,” Ray said. “The movie is about a really passionate group of people trying to create something and wrestle over what direction it should take and whose voice should be heard within the organization.”

For the full story, please visit http://www.theolympian.com/2010/05/07/1231112_roll-along-with-derby-gals.html

Bruisers roll into Downtown for championship bout

Sat, 08 May 2010 01:04:00 -0700

MILWAKEE, WI - The Brewers are out West. The Bucks and Admirals both saw their playoff runs come to an end.

What's a sports fan to do?

Well, why not try something new ... like Roller Derby.

The Brewcity Bruisers, Milwaukee's Roller Derby entity, takes center stage Saturday night at the U.S. Cellular Arena. The sport has a long history at the Arena, which played host to a number of banked-track events during the 1950s and '60s.

Unlike the more scripted, wrestling-style matches of the 1970s, the current inception of Roller Derby is completely genuine competition.

"It's fast-paced, high-energy and full-contact," says Bruiser Servin' Justice - a member of the Crazy 8's team.

The Bruisers are actually a league consisting of four teams - Crazy 8's, Maiden Milwaukee, Rushin' Rollettes and the Shevil Knevils - which play a series of bouts throughout the year.. The league is skater-owned and operated, though an accountant and lawyer are retained for various purposes.

For the full story, please visit http://onmilwaukee.com/sports/articles/brewcitybruiserschampionship.html?22584