Santa Cruz Derby Girls
 | |
| Metro area | Santa Cruz, California |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Teams |
Boardwalk Bombshells (WFTDA A Team) Organic Panic Redwood Rebels Steamer Janes |
| Track type(s) | Flat |
| Venue | Kaiser Permanente Arena |
| Affiliations | WFTDA |
| Org. type | Non Profit, 501(c)3 |
| Website |
www |
Santa Cruz Derby Girls is the first female, amateur flat-track roller derby league in Santa Cruz, California.
History
Contemporary roller derby came to Santa Cruz when Robin Yo' Life, a skater with Seattle's Rat City Rollergirls, started the Santa Cruz Rollergirls in 2007.[1] After one successful season, a majority of the league's members felt that in order to align with the sport's growing movement and further the success of the organization, the league needed to seek non-profit status. In early 2009, the LLC known as Santa Cruz Rollergirls was dissolved, and a majority of the skaters moved on to establish the Santa Cruz Derby Girls as a non-profit roller derby league.[2]
In September 2010, Santa Cruz Derby Girls was accepted as a full member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association.[3] The league moved into the newly inaugurated Kaiser Permanente Arena in 2013, with a regulation-sized track for WFTDA sanctioned matches.[4]
Travel teams
The Boardwalk Bombshells are Santa Cruz's charter all-star team, and represents the league in WFTDA-sanctioned play.
2013 playoff run
In 2013, the WFTDA announced the creation of a 3-division system for rankings. Santa Cruz was placed at the lower end of Division 2, but throughout the season improved their rankings and eventually entered Division 2 Playoffs as the Number 1 seed. Earning a spot in the Division 2 Championship (held during the 2014 WFTDA Championships in Milwaukee, WI), Santa Cruz eventually fell to the Jet City Rollergirls by one point, with a final score of 195-194.
By the November 2013 rankings release, Santa Cruz was officially placed in Division 1, and entered the 2014 Season ranked 32nd in the WFTDA.[5]
Current ranking
As of June 30, 2016, Santa Cruz Derby Girls are ranked #23[6] in the WFTDA.
Home Teams
- Organic Panic
- Redwood Rebels
- Steamer Janes
- Up-and-Comers
- Jellies
Groms
The Santa Cruz Derby Groms were established in the summer of 2009, most of the girls ranges from the ages of eight to eighteen and were relatives or friends of the adult league women. They were split up into two teams, the Sugar Skulls and the Bumper Scars. They played full positional derby with no hitting until 2012, when a full contact team (the Gromshells) was established.
Groms teams
Interleague teams: Gromshells (Full Contact), Saltwater Sassies (Positional)
Hometeams: Sugar Skulls, Bumper Scars
In the community
As dedicated members of the Santa Cruz community, the Santa Cruz Derby Girls volunteer hundreds of hours each season at numerous events and fundraisers in the Bay Area. In addition, each Santa Cruz Derby Girl home bout features a local non profit or charity which receives a portion of proceeds from that bout.
On November 7, 2011 Santa Cruz Derby Girls was granted 501(c)3 status by the IRS, effective retroactive to March 27, 2009.
References
- ↑ Mosher, Will (27 February 2008). "Down & Derby". metrosantacruz.com. Metro Santa Cruz. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
- ↑ "http://www.santacruzderbygirls.org/component/content/article/45-articles/244-scrg-founder-rolls-on" "[New name, logo and tax status accompany the change in leadership]",
- ↑ "9 Leagues Join WFTDA for Full Membership", WFTDA, 1 September 2010
- ↑ http://www.santacruzderbygirls.org/press/latest-news/900-2013-new-venue-announced
- ↑ "2014 Rankings". WFTDA. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
- ↑ "WFTDA Rankings".
