Winter Slayed: SFVRD skaters end the year spreading good cheer

Photo by ConJobb

Christmas is a special time of year, when all of our league mates can come together and hit each other! To end our 2015 season, we created two special Santa-themed teams (Santa’s Pillage and Krampus Kreepers) of players from all different skill levels within the league, including skaters from both Fresh Meat and The Like OMGs. Our two terrifying and twinkling teams were determined not to go home with just coal in their stockings, but Santa's Pillage ended up walking off with the sugar plums of victory 231-149.

The mixed-level bout of holiday-themed teams was not only to celebrate the season, but also to benefit the Haven Hills Women's Shelter. Proceeds from the bout were donated to the shelter and Winter Slay attendees were encouraged to bring much-needed items for Haven Hills. By the end of the night, $850 was raised and four large boxes were filled with toys, books, and other donated goods.

Photo by ConJobb

For the first bout of our league's last double header of 2015, the SFVRD Gnarlies took on their local rivals from Angel City Junior Derby. Angel City's nationally competitive junior roller derby program proved to be a force to be reckoned with and despite a valiant effort on the part of SFVRD's juniors, ACJD took home the win 369 to 129. Stay tuned for a rematch in 2016!

SFVRD's awesome Gnarlies started the holiday season off by heading into the desert to take on the Fabulous Sin City Junior Rollers. These girls may be young, but they sure know how to get down with their bad elves, giving out both velcro kisses and black and blue bruises!

Thankskating: SFVRD Skaters had much to be thankful for this month

SFVRD's Wipeouts and the Mojave Rattleskaters

This month, the Wipeouts picked up a few of the Fer Sures and hit the road, heading out into the land of the Joshua trees to take on the Mojave Rattleskaters. Although the temperature plummeted when the sun set, the track was white hot with tons of SFV heat. Strong walls, killer strategy, and lightening fast jammers allowed the Wipeouts to gain a quick lead which they kept adding to throughout the bout. When the last whistle was blown, the final score was 75 to 219 SFV!

The Wipeouts finished off November with the home floor advantage against the Wasteland Derby Dames of Antelope Valley. Wasteland's defense had proved toxic to more than one league in 2015 and they were determined to show the ladies of SFV which Valley was full of truly unstoppable skaters. The Wipeouts, in turn, were ready to live up to their name and bring a tsunami of force to knock the opposing skaters off their wheels. Neither team backed down and an evening of awesome derby ensued with Wasteland taking the win 178 to 137.

Wipeouts Go North: Sac City B-Legit Tournament

By AmericanHurl Doll

The Wipeouts at the B-Legit Tournament in Sacramento, CA

This month, San Fernando Valley Roller Derby’s B Travel Team, the Wipeouts, got their first ever taste of tournament action as they headed to Sacramento to play in the B-Legit Tournament, hosted by SAC City Roller Derby. The team was excited to hit the road as this was also the farthest they have traveled together to play. They were really looking forward to some high caliber competition and the B-Legit Tournament did not disappoint. 

The Wipeouts played with a limited roster due to some travel constraints for their usual players, and for some of the girls, it was their first ever bout against outside league teams! Every player, including their bench coaches, Dovahkill and Terror, gave their best, brought the heart, and left it all on the track. The Wipeouts played a total of three regulation bouts, with two games on Saturday and one game on Sunday, against more experienced and well established teams including Loco City, Sac City, and Monterey Bay. The exhausted Wipeouts fought hard and kept the games fairly close, even leading at halftime in one of the bouts, but ultimately they were unable to grab any wins. They definitely succeeded in earning the respect of their opponents and, of course, had a blast doing it!    
     
The B-Legit Tournament was a wonderful team bonding and learning experience for the Wipeouts in dealing with all the variables that arise when you are far from home. Whether it’s dealing with having less players than usual, coping with exhaustion as you play in one jam after another due to an injured or ejected player, or even finding an open place to eat at 11:00pm at night when you are starving and in an unfamiliar town -- that's all part of the magic of travel team derby! The Wipeouts have definitely been bitten by the travel bug.

Keep an eye out for them, you just may see them repping the Green and Blue in your town very soon!

Spooktacular October

(Photo credit: Donalee Eiri, Photography by D.E.sign)

You can't keep a good girl dead... but you can play derby with them! SFVRD's The Like OMGs started off October with a ghoulish bout in Antioch, CA against the similarly WFTDA ranked Undead Bettys. Skating with only 11 players to begin with, and eventually only 7 skaters in play after 4 foul outs, SFVRD's scariest skaters proved they always bring their A-game and won against their undead foes 220 to 192.

(Photo credit: Tristan King)

In the first bout of an SFVRD dominated double header, The Like OMGs matched up against the Bakersfield Diamond Divas, the very team that had stolen first place away from them at the Dustbowl Invitational back in March. With a desire to rewrite history and get a little payback, The Like OMGs put their best skate forward and refused to let any jammers but their own make a second pass through the pack. Their determination, months of hard training, and incredible teamwork allowed The Like OMGs to achieve victory with a score of 227 to 53.

(Photo credit: Tristan King)

Not wanting to be outshone by their derby big sisters, The Wipeouts put up a strong front and laid into the North County Derby Alliance. Although several of the Wipeouts had skated with the ladies of NCDA in a banked track bout against the San Diego Derby Dolls just a few months ago, they didn't let their friendship stand in the way of a win. Leaving it all on the track and taking home more than a few bruises, SFVRD closed out the night 226 to 79.

In their 5th full length game in just 15 days, SFV's B-Level Travel Team, The Wipeouts, headed down to Corona to take on the Wine Town Rollers' B-Level Travel Team, The Whine Makers. It was a hard fought bout with killer hits and massive blocks. The Wipeouts kept these Temecula ladies in check during the first period, giving as good as they got, but eventually the Whine Makers pulled further and further ahead, drawing on both their hockey skating background and grape stomping skills to take the win.

SFVRD's Juniors hit the road, heading out to Bakersfield this time for a little pre-Halloween romp. As usual, The Gnarlies delivered some way out action, proving that roller derby isn't just for the 18 and over crowd. This was the Bakersfield Diamond Minors' final scrimmage before this team dissolves, and SFV was honored to share this special day with them.

Sugar & Spice: See What These Girls Are Made Of

(Photo credit: Sean Laughlin)

Our league's youngest skaters started Fall off right with a whirlwind tour of the southland. First up was a scrimmage with the up and coming skaters of Long Beach Junior Roller Derby. It was a perfect mix of sugar, spice, and everything nice in the LBC. And don't let their size fool you-- these little ladies know how to hit like a girl!

Fearless, fierce, and not afraid to fall or take a hit, our skaters brought it for SFV against the Baby Dolls of the San Diego Derby Dolls. Because the Baby Dolls are a team composed of younger skaters, this was a great opportunity for some of our more junior juniors to shine, and they did just that! We are so proud of our girls!

(Photo credit: Jon Cobb)

If one thing is for sure, it's that The Like OMGs are never satisfied to just sit around on their laurels. After winning against the West Coast Derby Knockouts in August, our fiercest skaters headed back up to Ventura to take on the Vendolls of the Ventura County Derby Darlins. The Like OMGs were determined to leave no doll standing and claimed victory 212 to 96. Congrats to MVP Jammer Kat Von Reap, MVP Blocker Lethalicious, and Overall MVP Killo Kitty!

Roll Models: Mother & Daughter Skaters Share Their Love for Derby

SFVRD has a number of skaters who are mothers with daughters who also skate with our Juniors team, The Gnarlies. How has this common ground positively effected their mother/daughter relationships and encouraged each other to succeed in derby?

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Agony Christie with her daughter, DangerBird

Agony Christie, The Wipeouts Co-Captain & DangerBird's Mom:
How many of us can say that we have a shared experience with our daughters that is outside of the typical mother/daughter roles? 

As skaters with SFVRD, Danger Bird and I travel to tournaments, bouts, and workshops together. We share hotel rooms and cheer each other on. We can relate to each other's hard wins and tough losses. 

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Reapa Slayworth with her daughter, Miss Chifmaker

Just as sure as I model strength and persistence to her, she teaches me what it is to be brave and resilient. We know we are part of a much larger family of moms, daughters, and sisters.
 
HaHaHarley, Fresh Meat Skater & Rainbow Smash's Mom:
My daughter and I both playing roller derby has strengthened our relationship. It helped expand our common ground and created a new way of relating to each other. Since she started playing first, she actually helped teach me how to do certain things on the track. It was quite a role reversal for me and a great confidence booster for her. Roller derby has provided us both a community which is full of people who are strong, hard working, and diverse. We have a place for quality time and something the whole family can be involved in. This is a place where friendships are built and a sense of accomplishment is achieved. We are each other’s biggest fan. What more could I ask for?
 
Reapa Slayworth, The Fer Sures Skater & Miss Chifmaker's Mom:
The sense of empowerment being a part of these strong, confident female athletes was an experience I knew I wanted to give my daughter. It's a sisterhood at every level, the acceptance and encouragement in derby is universal. Watching my daughter have that same reaction after her first practice was amazing. 

Her sense of determination and grit was inspiring. As she grows up I am so happy for her to be a part of this family that will value and validate her strength and athleticism. 

Not only do we have each other to share in this experience, but we have the gift of this community. One that bolsters you, empowers you, and through our mutual love of derby, brings us closer together.