San Diego Derby Dolls

San Diego Derby United is a roller derby organization that seeks to unify derby skaters, leagues, rule sets, and skating surfaces under one mission.

San Diego Derby United
Metro areaSan Diego, California
CountryUnited States
Founded2005
TeamsWildfires (RDCL-A)
Sparks (RDCL-B)
San Diego Aftershocks (MRDA)
Spitfires (JR RDCL-A)
Firecrackers (JR RDCL-12U)
Tremors (JRDA-A)
Mini-Tremors (JRDA-12U)
Stripes (Officials)
SISTER PROGRAM - SoCal Derby Kraken (WFTDA-A)
SISTER PROGRAM - SoCal Derby Cuttlefish (WFTDA-B)
Track type(s)Banked, Flat
VenueDerby United HQ
AffiliationsRDCL, WFTDA
Websitederbyunited.com

In 2005, Bonnie D. Stroir founded the program, then named the San Diego Derby Dolls, in a Linda Vista roller rink, Skateworld. The early years of the program were spent learning the game and fundraising for the program's first banked track. Now, nearly 14 years later, the league has a new name and a new focus, unifying roller derby skaters, and programs, throughout the area.

With a new permanent home that prominently features both banked and flat regulation roller derby tracks, San Diego Derby United is proud to announce a new era of “United” roller derby in San Diego. The two-acre facility in the Encanto neighborhood of San Diego, California is the first of its kind. Built from a dirt lot on the side of the freeway, this “ground up” roller derby haven is unlike anything the modern sport has ever seen. San Diego Derby United is proud to be America's Finest Roller Derby.

History

The league was founded by Bonnie D.Stroir, who lived in San Diego, but had been skating with LADD for two years.[1] Around late 2006, the Dolls installed a banked track,[2] but also continue to compete on a flat track,[1] becoming the first "hybrid" league.[3]

By 2009, the Dolls had about 80 skaters and nearly 1,000 fans.[1] San Diego won the 2009 and 2010 editions of Battle on the Bank, the national banked track roller derby championship[4][5] and came in 3rd place in the 2011 Battle on the Bank.[4] In 2010, they were ranked 20th in the world in flat-track derby.[6] In March 2011, they took on WFTDA Championship winners the Rocky Mountain Rollergirls on the Dolls' banked track,[7] losing 100-125 to the flat track league.[8]

San Diego was a founding member of the Roller Derby Coalition of Leagues in January 2012.[9]

In December 2015, the San Diego Derby Dolls announced they had teamed up with local WFTDA roller derby league SoCal Derby to make the first coalition between a banked and flat track league under one roof in modern roller derby.[10] In 2018, the program went on to expand their offerings, bringing in the MRDA program, the San Diego Aftershocks. In 2019, they brought in the JRDA team, San Diego Tremors.

In media and culture

The San Diego Derby Dolls were the inspiration for the 2013 play Derbywise by Circle Circle dot dot.[11]

In 2015, the San Diego Derby Dolls and General Manager, Isabelle Ringer, were highlighted on Mike Rowe's CNN Program 'Somebody's Gotta Do It' in episode entitled 'Derby Dolls.' [12]

References
  1. Nina Garin, "Dolls with wallop", San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 October 2009
  2. Helen Sanderson, "Roller derby comeback", North Coast Journal, 18 January 2007
  3. "Around the Horn: Derby Style", San Diego Gay and Lesbian News, 4 February 2011
  4. "Past Years". Battle on the Bank. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  5. Ballistic Bomber. "Oly Burns Up the Banked Track". Banked Track News. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  6. Hatch, Debbie (23 December 2010). "Cruisin' and Bruisin'". San Diego, California: SD News. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  7. Michael Stetz, "San Diego Derby Dolls to host flat-track champions", Sign On San Diego, 8 March 2011
  8. Busta Armov, "Rocky Mountain Conquers Banked Track" Derby News Network, 31 March 2011
  9. "RDCL Founding Members and Mission Archived 2015-06-19 at the Wayback Machine", Roller Derby Coalition of Leagues, January 1, 2012
  10. "Diego Derby Collaboration". Roller Derby San Diego. Retrieved 2015-12-16.
  11. Accomando, Beth; McVicker, Nicholas (April 11, 2013). "Video: San Diego Derby Dolls". KPBS.
  12. "DERBY DOLLS / RATS VS. TERRIERS / SUPERPIG / SEASON 3". Mike Rowe. Retrieved 2015-12-16.
Preceded by
Los Angeles Derby Dolls		 Battle on the Bank winners
2009–2010		 Succeeded by
Team Legit
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