It was August 30th, a whole caravan met up at The Bean to make their way to a tournament we were invited to called the “Labor Pain Invitational” hosted by San Diego Roller Derby. This was an exclusive six team tournament featuring some of the best “B” teams in the Southwest As we laughed, hydrated, made some pit stops (In & Out Burger) Jesus H. Coach lead us into the beautiful city of San Diego.
This all felt like a dream I was in, skating for three years now I never imagined I’d have the opportunity to journey this far playing this fantastic sport. We arrived Friday evening checking into our hotel, shortly after headed to dinner near the beach. After dinner, we were all so excited to be there. We walked over to the beach and sunk our feet in the sand while the chilly water rolled over our toes. Knowing we had to be up early for our first bout the next morning ZDestroYa, Fearless Foxy Fighter and I were just so excited for what this Labor Day weekend would have in store for us.
Saturday Morning we get ready and mosey on over to “Skate World.” Opening Ceremonies begin. Crossroads is up against Resurrection Roller Girls from Sonoma County CA. These six bouts were all thirty minute bouts with no half times. They move fast and are intense. The first time I go in to block my whole body is shaking from the adrenaline, then suddenly I get hit from the other teams blockers I snap out of it and was ready! Resurrection put up a good fight and won 102-56. We are a strong willed group of women and didn’t let that bout get our hopes down, I mean here we are from little ol’ Las Cruces playing against “big city” leagues that have hundreds of women in their leagues.
As we get over our nerves and regroup its time to gear up again and go up against Ventura County Derby Darlin’s“Battalion of Skates.” We were warmed up and ready.Fatal Mishtake jammed her heart out along with The Venomous DeMilo, and General Grant Slam. Our final score was indeed a victory with a win of 105-6. Now we knew this wasn’t the end, but we were done for the day. We then celebrated our first win of the tournament at a little Pho restaurant around the corner of the venue. We chowed down some noodles and recapped the two bouts we just went through.
As we head back to the hotel some rested, and some went sightseeing. The Venomous DeMilo and Pep agreed to take the lovely KrusHer, Fearless Foxy Fighter, Z DestroYa and I to the beach. We walked down the boardwalk along Ocean Beach and watched the ocean come to life when we meet a sea lion at the end waiting for fish. It was a hot and very humid day so we wandered around the beach and sat at a local restaurant that over looked the beach. Soon Pep needed to be at another venue to help ref another bout that wasn’t part of the tournament. So we waved him and Venom off and ran to the ocean. The first ten minutes we giggled and screamed jumping into the water getting tangled in seaweed and just having the time of our lives.
Sunday morning we had three bouts ahead of us. We were all at the venue surrounded by derby. Our first bout started at 10 am against San Diego Roller Derby, I was a little intimidated at first, playing against these ladies on their home hardwood floors. As we battled it out, we were on fire, and played so well together. The game’s final score was another win for us; 142-39. We were feeling so good and having fun! There was one bout in between the next one we were in, so we took a little time to get refreshed and headed back to the track.
Next we took on Border City Roller Girls from Yuma, AZ. They had a very short roster, and the few that did travel to the tournament were fairly new to the sport. They surely didn’t show it. They played hard and gave it their all. In the end, the score was CCD 138 to BCRD 80.
We had a few hours to eat and get some rest. So we head to lunch and go back to the hotel to rest and refresh then we play the last team up for the championships.Angel City Road Ragers, from LA meets us back at Skateworld. We wait for the doors to open and we are all determined. This was a rough bout. Bubble Viscous from Angel City was unstoppable but we battled on and on. This bout felt like the longest even though it was the same as all the others. It was neck n neck towards the end. As our jammers were getting thrown in the penalty box, we ran out of time. Unfortunately we lost this bout and it was a little disappointing but we were still in the running for third place!
Angel City’s Road Ragers won their last bout against CCD 99-64, so the final brackets were set. Monday morning the Championship bouts would start and they would all be full bouts. Resurrection would face Angel City Road Ragers for first and second place, and San Diego Derby Girls and Crossroads City would go head to head for third and fourth place.
We were all so happy to make it as far as we did and we weren’t ready to give up. Third place was going to be ours! My first thought was “we already beat this team, how hard could it be to do it again?” I was underestimating them. This was their home town and they weren’t ready to give up either. They even had the famous Hockey Honey helping bench coach. We kept our spirits high warming up to the chicken dance! First whistle blows the first jam starts. We score a little they score a little… By half time San Diego is ahead by 21 points. Right after half time we start taking lead over and over bringing up the score. The fabulous Racky Balboa took lead jammer a few times and was a jamming superstar! All the endurance coach has us do started to really pay off. Finally the last jam only, seconds left on the clock and General Grant Slam Takes the lead and calls it off. And just like that Crossroads City Derby that won third place with the 237-169 win over San Diego. I had so many emotions I didn’t know whether to cry, scream, or laugh. I just smiled so big and I still am to this day.
With so much excitement and pride we get our trophy.Our very own Goldy Blocks wins MVP blocker of the whole weekend! I’m so grateful that I had been given the opportunity to be there. I was so proud of us. While they start announcing raffle prizes we all listened in to see who gets the brand new Reidell blue streaks with Venus plates; a sweet set up worth at least six hundred dollars! Our very own amazing BiPolar Bear is announced! This gave our whole team more excitement because someone we skate with that needed a new set up actually won it! I was honored to be invited to skate with these amazing ladies and to represent our league so far away. Being around so much derby all weekend really showed me how lucky I am to be a part of this amazing league. My derby sisters and I had a journey of a lifetime and will never forget!
-Lady Longlegs, #8
This all felt like a dream I was in, skating for three years now I never imagined I’d have the opportunity to journey this far playing this fantastic sport. We arrived Friday evening checking into our hotel, shortly after headed to dinner near the beach. After dinner, we were all so excited to be there. We walked over to the beach and sunk our feet in the sand while the chilly water rolled over our toes. Knowing we had to be up early for our first bout the next morning ZDestroYa, Fearless Foxy Fighter and I were just so excited for what this Labor Day weekend would have in store for us.
Saturday Morning we get ready and mosey on over to “Skate World.” Opening Ceremonies begin. Crossroads is up against Resurrection Roller Girls from Sonoma County CA. These six bouts were all thirty minute bouts with no half times. They move fast and are intense. The first time I go in to block my whole body is shaking from the adrenaline, then suddenly I get hit from the other teams blockers I snap out of it and was ready! Resurrection put up a good fight and won 102-56. We are a strong willed group of women and didn’t let that bout get our hopes down, I mean here we are from little ol’ Las Cruces playing against “big city” leagues that have hundreds of women in their leagues.
As we get over our nerves and regroup its time to gear up again and go up against Ventura County Derby Darlin’s“Battalion of Skates.” We were warmed up and ready.Fatal Mishtake jammed her heart out along with The Venomous DeMilo, and General Grant Slam. Our final score was indeed a victory with a win of 105-6. Now we knew this wasn’t the end, but we were done for the day. We then celebrated our first win of the tournament at a little Pho restaurant around the corner of the venue. We chowed down some noodles and recapped the two bouts we just went through.
As we head back to the hotel some rested, and some went sightseeing. The Venomous DeMilo and Pep agreed to take the lovely KrusHer, Fearless Foxy Fighter, Z DestroYa and I to the beach. We walked down the boardwalk along Ocean Beach and watched the ocean come to life when we meet a sea lion at the end waiting for fish. It was a hot and very humid day so we wandered around the beach and sat at a local restaurant that over looked the beach. Soon Pep needed to be at another venue to help ref another bout that wasn’t part of the tournament. So we waved him and Venom off and ran to the ocean. The first ten minutes we giggled and screamed jumping into the water getting tangled in seaweed and just having the time of our lives.
Sunday morning we had three bouts ahead of us. We were all at the venue surrounded by derby. Our first bout started at 10 am against San Diego Roller Derby, I was a little intimidated at first, playing against these ladies on their home hardwood floors. As we battled it out, we were on fire, and played so well together. The game’s final score was another win for us; 142-39. We were feeling so good and having fun! There was one bout in between the next one we were in, so we took a little time to get refreshed and headed back to the track.
Next we took on Border City Roller Girls from Yuma, AZ. They had a very short roster, and the few that did travel to the tournament were fairly new to the sport. They surely didn’t show it. They played hard and gave it their all. In the end, the score was CCD 138 to BCRD 80.
We had a few hours to eat and get some rest. So we head to lunch and go back to the hotel to rest and refresh then we play the last team up for the championships.Angel City Road Ragers, from LA meets us back at Skateworld. We wait for the doors to open and we are all determined. This was a rough bout. Bubble Viscous from Angel City was unstoppable but we battled on and on. This bout felt like the longest even though it was the same as all the others. It was neck n neck towards the end. As our jammers were getting thrown in the penalty box, we ran out of time. Unfortunately we lost this bout and it was a little disappointing but we were still in the running for third place!
Angel City’s Road Ragers won their last bout against CCD 99-64, so the final brackets were set. Monday morning the Championship bouts would start and they would all be full bouts. Resurrection would face Angel City Road Ragers for first and second place, and San Diego Derby Girls and Crossroads City would go head to head for third and fourth place.
We were all so happy to make it as far as we did and we weren’t ready to give up. Third place was going to be ours! My first thought was “we already beat this team, how hard could it be to do it again?” I was underestimating them. This was their home town and they weren’t ready to give up either. They even had the famous Hockey Honey helping bench coach. We kept our spirits high warming up to the chicken dance! First whistle blows the first jam starts. We score a little they score a little… By half time San Diego is ahead by 21 points. Right after half time we start taking lead over and over bringing up the score. The fabulous Racky Balboa took lead jammer a few times and was a jamming superstar! All the endurance coach has us do started to really pay off. Finally the last jam only, seconds left on the clock and General Grant Slam Takes the lead and calls it off. And just like that Crossroads City Derby that won third place with the 237-169 win over San Diego. I had so many emotions I didn’t know whether to cry, scream, or laugh. I just smiled so big and I still am to this day.
With so much excitement and pride we get our trophy.Our very own Goldy Blocks wins MVP blocker of the whole weekend! I’m so grateful that I had been given the opportunity to be there. I was so proud of us. While they start announcing raffle prizes we all listened in to see who gets the brand new Reidell blue streaks with Venus plates; a sweet set up worth at least six hundred dollars! Our very own amazing BiPolar Bear is announced! This gave our whole team more excitement because someone we skate with that needed a new set up actually won it! I was honored to be invited to skate with these amazing ladies and to represent our league so far away. Being around so much derby all weekend really showed me how lucky I am to be a part of this amazing league. My derby sisters and I had a journey of a lifetime and will never forget!
-Lady Longlegs, #8
