Try Outs

Every year in the Fall, for one night only, a huge group of women, brand new skates and gear in hand, nervously line up at the entrance of United Skates.  While they fidget and anxiously wait to be checked in, they secretly scope out their competition.  Some are sweating with anticipation, others are calm and in control.  There are beginners and a few with some experience under their belts.  They are all sizes, shapes, races and ages.  They have different educations and different backgrounds, but they all have one thing in common; They all want to play roller derby.  This great night in October is better known as The Long Island Roller Rebel Try Outs!

Recruitment night is one of the most exciting and important nights for our league.  As coaches, we take it all in.  Watching strides and skills of our newcomers to determine if they have what it takes to be a part of the team.  It's our job to pick and choose who will be a strong player in order to improve the performance of our league as skaters, as teammates and as a family.

I personally love this time.  It's inspiring to see where our new girls start off and if they make it, where practice eventually takes them.  Teaching the girls and watching them progress to bout level skaters is such a rewarding experience.  That being said, I can't wait to meet all of you new skaters!

Interested in trying out?  Here's what you need:

- Experience is not required, but a good attitude and willingness to learn is. 
- A registration fee of $50
- You must be 21 or older
- A photo ID
- Quad roller skates (if you don't have your own they are available for rental)
- All of the proper safety gear;  Helmet, elbow pads, knee pads, wrist guards and mouth guard

For more information, see the flyer below.  Good luck and see you there!

What's In Store

Hello Rebel Yell Readers!

I hope that you all had a fantastic summer and that you have many memorable moments from this year's derby season so far.  I know all of us Roller Rebels do!  One recent moment that comes to mind, is our girls winning three out of five bouts at the 2011 Empire Skate Showdown!! 

The end of summer does not mean that the fun is over though! We still have a lot more events that we're really looking forward to and we hope to see you at them!

Coming up this weekend, Saturday, 9/17 and Sunday 9/18, we will have a table full of Roller Rebel merchandise available for sale at The 25th Annual Bellmore Family Street Festival.  Come on down and say hello!

Stay tuned here because I have a lot of other exciting news to share with all of you.

Til then,
Etta

Spread The Word

Below is an important letter from B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls that I would like to pass on. 

Dear friends:



Saturday, July 9, was an evening of mixed blessings for the B.A.D. Girls. After a successful Championship event at the Craneway Pavilion on the Richmond Harbor, league members who were transporting the money raised from the event were robbed at gunpoint.

Thankfully our league members were not injured. However the robbery was not only a shock to our community, but it took our entire financial reserve and profit for the event, totaling thousands of dollars that would have gone towards both future events and our practice venue.

The B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls is a 501(c)(3) and has been entirely volunteer-run since inception. To be robbed of badly needed funds is devastating; to have our league members’ lives threatened is irreparable.

Due to the ongoing investigation, we cannot release further details on the case but we have absolute confidence in the San Francisco Police Department to bring us justice.

While the SFPD works on the investigation, the B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls are in dire need of fundraising. We have always depended on the kindness of our fans and our community. In this time of need, we are reaching out for your generosity once again. Like the strongest jammers, we do not fall after one hit, and we have no intention of allowing thieves who would steal from a non-profit organization to stop us from rolling. If you can please donate to the B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls to recoup some of these financial losses, we would greatly appreciate any amount. Your donation will be fully tax-deductible. In addition, if you can donate items for us to raffle or venue space for us to hold a fundraiser, we promise to make it worth your while and continue to bring you the best roller derby in the Bay Area.


Like the community that we all practice and play in, we are strong. We have always been a league of extraordinary women who are undaunted by obstacles. Roller derby is a sport that embraces challenges, enables resiliency, and celebrates the spirit of the best in humanity. We intend in honoring that spirit and moving forward from this crime toward a much brighter future with all of you. Thank you again for your support. It means more to us now than it ever has before.


To support the B.A.D. Girls, please donate by clicking the "Donate" button on our home page at http://www.bayareaderbygirls.com. Your donation is tax deductible. You can also support us by attending our upcoming Golden Bowl tournament, Aug. 12-14 at the Oakland Convention Center. http://www.bayareaderbygirls.com/aug-12-14-the-golden-bowl-3-day-ro...


To donate a product or venue space, please email pr@bayareaderbygirls.com


For press inquiries, please contact katy@bethechangepr.com; +1 415 375 0663

Ready, Set, Showdown!

Is it really August already?  Before we blink, summer will be winding down and we'll be starting to get ready for holiday shopping.  UGH - did I really just say that?  Of course, we do have a lot of great things to look forward to and one of the biggest events is our Second Annual Empire Skate Showdown! 

Let me sum this event up very simply:

Saturday, September 3rd, 2011

9 New York Teams

17 Bouts

2 Tracks

DJ Joe Jack

Long Ireland Beer

Tons of Vendors

Tons of FANS!!

The showdown was a huge success last year and we just can't wait to do it all over again!  For more information on where to buy tickets or to become a part of the event, please visit our website.

Build Your Own Monster

Attention all monster lovers!  Now you can look like one any time you want!  These adorable and somewhat scary skull caps are just the way to showcase your inner monster! 

Roller derby referee Anne Persand hand makes each individual monster hat and also takes special orders for some other creative creatures including scarves and helmet covers for jammers and pivots.

Not only are the hats fun to wear, but once you take a look at the uniquely designed order page on her website, the fun sketches and drop down boxes will have you stocking up for the whole family in no time!  Each hat is individually made to perfection, right down to the fang-toothed grins.  A few of the Roller Rebels have been seen sporting these and they rave about them.

Check out Anne's creative designs at her website My Monster Hat and order yours today.

Try and Catch This Villain!

The Roller Rebels are proud to have one of our newest league members featured in The Merrick Herald.

Click here for the full story on Velloce Villain!

That Booty Can Really Work a Pencil

There are so many Roller Rebels that have talent beyond skating, many I probably don't even know about.  I always like to showcase my girls in their "real" lives and I especially like to feature the crafty things some of them do. 

I always knew that this Roller Rebel was a talented artist and I've seen some of her work from years ago, but this recent project that she just completed, simply blew my mind!  It also apparently impressed some very tough judges at The School of Visual Arts as well.  She was accepted into the school and very happily starts this Fall.  We couldn't be more excited for our dear friend who gets to leave her desk job behind and move herself behind the drawing board. 

Congratulations Sleeping Booty!! 

Here are some images from her Derby Project

Booty, here's to you and a job well done!  Your acceptance into SVA is well deserved.

An Extravaganza

The Roller Rebels have had a fabulous summer so far and it's not over yet!  We have a handful of away bouts set up and ECE coming up this weekend. 

I can't say enough about ECE.  For skaters new to the game of derby, it's one of the best places to observe and learn.  For veteran skaters, it's such a great way to team up with other vets and really challenge yourselves.  Some of the most talented skaters get together to really show off their skills and they do it all in good fun! Meeting other skaters from the East Coast, is a great way to network and learn more about the people involved in derby.  And hey, if you aren't there to skate, you can watch one of the MANY bouts, buy gear from some of the vendors or enjoy the BBQ pool party.

All in all, it's a great workout and a great party!

Good luck to my Rebels this weekend and have a blast!!

- Etta

25 Random Facts

This wonderful woman has been with the Rebels for three years.  Some call her a skater, others a friend, I call her a hero.  With not much help at all, she took on the position of Treasurer for the league and completely overhauled our bookkeeping system and net worth!  She suffered one of the worst leg brakes I've ever heard about during a practice and took it like a champ!  Best of all, she can marry all of you. Read on to learn more about this Ordained Minister and amazing mother of three.  Ladies and Gentleman, I introduce to you our favorite Mexican treat, Eve L. Taco!

1. My birth certificate is in German.


2. I was born with a congenital deformity of the bones in my legs. I was forced to wear metal braces on them until I was almost 2 years old.


3. Once, when I was younger, a girl chased me down the block holding only a slice of meatloaf.

4. I believe my huge Pez collection will finance my children’s college education.

5. I have lived in Alaska and have never skied in my life.


6. I married the same man twice.


7. I have squeezed over 25,000 breasts.

8. I would rather go bottomless than topless.


9. I am an Empath. Which, in certain situations translates into social retard.

10. Musicals get me extremely agitated.


11. I have a fantasy of becoming a professional ice dancer. Complete with ball-hugging-spandex-wearin’ partner. (Last season I had choreographed routines to all 3 Roller Rebels team's intro songs.)

12. I can’t remember the last day I haven’t laughed.


13. I’m a straight shooter. I will never blow smoke up your ass.


14. I believe that one can have may soul mates, but only one partner at a time.


15. My decision to use the name Eve L. Taco had nothing to do with vaginas (just an added bonus).

16. I am a travel-size, hotel shower cap, table condiment whore.


17. I didn’t really make a fuss when I broke my leg, but I cried like a bitch when somebody skated over my hand in Steel City….twice.

18. It took over 8 months for my derby blisters to go away, but 1 ½ hours to get them back. And I loved every second of it.

19. I never let my children watch me compete - too violent.

20. If I was a guy, I would have the most amazing facial hair-always shaving it into different patterns and shapes.

21. I value distinct, unique features, over all-around physical beauty.


22. No matter where I live, I always grow a garden.


23. I prefer to be independent, but I was made to be a mother.


24. I’m pretty certain that most girls don’t join roller derby leagues and become bookkeepers.


25. Bret Michaels saved my life.

This Saturday!