SteelSteel CityCity DerbyDerby DemonsDemons Press Kit 2008-2009 Season Nationally Competitive 2008-2009 Season The Steel City Derby Demons are Pittsburgh’s only all-female, flat-track roller derby league. This year, the SCDD’s all-star Steel Hurtin’ embark on their second competitive season, as part of the nationally-recognized Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).
Founded in 2004, the WFTDA promotes and fosters the sport of women’s flat track derby by facilitating the development of athletic ability, sportswomanship, and goodwill among member leagues. The governing philosophy is “by the skaters, for the skaters.” The Steel City Derby Demons Steel Hurtin’ compete within the East Region, battling leagues from Connecticut, Wash- ington D.C., Virginia Beach and others. With a year of competitive experience under their belts, the ladies of the Steel Hurtin’ have few new tricks up their sleeves. This year, they will go head-to-head against some of the best WFTDA leagues in the country, bat- tling for a spot in the 2009 Eastern Regionals, and hopefully, Nationals.
The Steel City Derby Demons are also proud to announce the debut season of the fledgling B-Unit.While B- Unit will not compete for WFTDA ranking, they will play interleague bouts along side their Steel Hurtin’ sisters in another first for the SCDD: double headers.
From November through April, the Steel City Derby Demons will host double-feature bouts. The Steel Hurtin Roster Athena - Captain Dirty Merdi Betty Bonecrusher - Co-Captain Dresta Kill Ally McKill Girl Rolla Warfare Attaxyl Rose Hissy Fit B.B. Basher Hurricane Heather Bekkie MK Ultra J-Bomb C.C. DeKill La Diabla Cheeseburger Mel Practice The Crippler Snot Rocket Science Damage Dahl
The Steel City Derby Demons - Pittsburgh Roller Derby www.steelcityderbydemons.com b-unit roster Busty Brawler - Captain Madame Abagael Amanda Smakround - Co-Captain McShovin Auntie Establishment Mission Impassible Icepick Pinky Dontachadare-O Iron City Pounder Tower O Terror Kinky Kurlz Wham Bam Pam Lolli Pop! Pictured left: The two Steel City Derby Demons Travel Teams, the Steel Hurtin’ and B-Unit.
The 2008 - 2009 season schedule (see end of packet) includes various teams from Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Indiana, Ohio, Virginia, and New York.
about the league The Steel City Derby Demons, a skater-owned and operated organization, is Pittsburgh’s only all-female roller derby league. Founded in 2006, the SCDD takes pride in their membership, comprised of strong and indepen- dent women who hail from the original City of Champions. As part of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Associa- tion (WFTDA), the Derby Demons are not playing the roller derby of yesteryear. This new era of roller derby was founded in a DIY spirit, and continues to evolve as a home for unconventional athletes.
Veering away from the sensational, the rules of the game encourage strategy, rather than theatrics. The WFTDA currently has 61 member leagues across the nation, adding new leagues on a regular basis. the home teams During the off-season, when there are no WFTDA games scheduled, the Steel City Derby Demons split into four fearsome home teams which compete against one an- other for the highly revered SCDD Championship trophy. Kitsch in design, the trophy reads vintage vamp with a new punk rock spin. Believe it or not, the entire furious home season comes down to a trophy that is…a leg. Reminiscent of the greatly cov- eted leg lamp from A Christmas Story, the trophy is artfully composed of a mannequin leg, a discarded skate, and a whole lot of heart. The teams that compete for this mas- terpiece are every bit as original as the prize. Their punny and alliterative names only hint at the in-depth themes listed on the following page.
The Steel City Derby Demons - Pittsburgh Roller Derby www.steelcityderbydemons.com Bitch Doctors These two-time champs of the SCDD have the derby voo- doo, and they’re not afraid to use it. Known for their master- ful pack work, the Bitch Doctors are experts at blocking the opposing jammer, while creating a path for their own jammer to speed through and score points. This proven method of edging out their opposition has made the Bitch Doctors the team to beat.
hot metal hellions More machine than human, these futuristic rollergirls are known for their hard hits in the pack and their agility on the track. In the 2007 season, the Hot Metal Hellions nearly beat The Bitch Doctors for the league Championship trophy. In 2008, they gave the Wrecking Dolls a run for their money by defeating them in the season opener.
slumber party slashers These are the girls your mom never let through the front door. They paint nails, curl hair, and slash throats. Guided by the mantra, “Slashers are Awesome”, this team triumphed in their first win against the Hot Metal Hellions in the 2008 season.
wrecking dolls Just as the team name suggests, the Wrecking Dolls are a bunch of hard-working, blue collar women. Their “DO MORE” mantra earned them honor of being the first (and currently only) team to beat the Bitch Doctors in the history of the league (mid-season, 2008). Losing only to the Hot Metal Hellions in 2008, they earned a spot in the Champion- ship game, where they were squarely defeated by the Bitch Doctors.
The Steel City Derby Demons - Pittsburgh Roller Derby www.steelcityderbydemons.com The history of roller derby In 1935, during the Great Depression, Leo Seltzer invented a new spectacle and called it Roller Derby.
Originally, the derby was a long distance track race, occasionally punctuated by collisions and falls. Recog- nizing that these run-ins were the most exciting part of the race for spectators, Selzter tweaked the rules of his game to encourage such contact. The result was a full-contact sport, featuring elbows, body-checks and fights. The fans loved it.
Roller Derby peaked in the late 1940s and 50s, drawing as many as 30,000-40,000 fans per bout. The hype con- tinued through the 1960s and 70s until the expenses of travel and competition from other forms of entertainment killed off the last of the large leagues in the 1980s.
Derby remained dormant until 2001, when a revival began in Austin, Texas. Since then, derby leagues have been popping up all over the country. While the new generation of roller derby pays homage to the theatrical traditions of the past, there are now real rules, real penalties, real referees, and real champions. Today’s roller derby is an honest and competetive sport, packed with maximum entertainment value. our bout venue All bouts throughout the home and travel season are held at the Bladerunners Ice Complex in Harmarville. For more information, please see their website at http://www.bladerunnersice.com
bout promotion
Roller derby bout promotion has quickly taken shape as a new form of art. Leagues from across the country have utilized artists within their ranks, as well as their com- munities, to define their own unique aesthetic. The Steel City Derby Demons have worked with several community artists, the work of which can be collectively de- scribed as vintage comic book.
These posters are distributed to skaters and refs, and can be found in store windows throughout Pittsburgh and the near suburbs several weeks prior to each bout.
The Steel City Derby Demons - Pittsburgh Roller Derby www.steelcityderbydemons.com bout promotion
Please direct all press inquiries to the SCDD League PR Chairperson:
Crystal “B.B. Basher” Rupp [email protected] Cell: 443-340-7970 Home: 412-271-4349
General Inquiries:
Steel City Derby Demons P.O. Box 10720 Pittsburgh, PA 15203 www.steelcityderbydemons.com [email protected]
2008 - 2009 bout schedule
Saturday November 22, 2008 Harrisburg Area Roller Derby at Steel City
Saturday January 10, 2009 Steel City at Naptown Roller Derby (Indianapolis)
Saturday January 24, 2009 Connecticut’s Stepford Sabotage at Steel City
Saturday February 21, 2009 Columbus Roller Girls at Steel City
Saturday March 21, 2009 Long Island Roller Rebels at Steel City
Saturday April 11, 2009 Steel City at Fort Wayne (Indiana)
Saturday April 18, 2009 Dutchland Rollers (PA) at Steel City
This schedule is subject to change. Keep checking our website for the most up-to-date information. www.steelcityderbydemons.com
The Steel City Derby Demons - Pittsburgh Roller Derby www.steelcityderbydemons.com