Tilted Thunder Rail Birds

Tilted Thunder Rail Birds (TTRB) is a Seattle, Washington based, all-female, banked track roller derby league. They are a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization run by a volunteer force of skaters and league members committed to promoting and raising awareness of women's roller derby, especially banked track roller derby. TTRB is composed of strong, friendly, intelligent, enthusiastic women from all walks of life pursuing emotional growth and physical strength by challenging their perceived limits. As a league, they also wish to promote mental and physical empowerment, development of skills, loyalty on and off the track, individuality, and friendship - throughout the entire sport, both locally and nationally.

Tilted Thunder Rail Birds
Metro areaSeattle, Washington
CountryUnited States
Founded2008
TeamsRolling Blackouts
Royal Crush
Saint Hellions
Sugar Skulls
All Star Travel Team
Track type(s)Banked
AffiliationsRDCL
Org. type501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization
Websitehttp://www.tiltedthunder.com/

Overview

The modern reincarnation of community-based, Do-It-Yourself banked track roller derby is only just beginning to experience the kind of growth that flat-track roller derby saw only a few years ago. Not only is TTRB the only modern banked track league in the Pacific Northwest, it is one of only a small handful of modern DIY banked track leagues in the country. Modern, DIY leagues who have already built their banked tracks include: Los Angeles Derby Dolls, San Diego Derby Dolls, and Arizona Derby Dames (Phoenix). Even though there are over 400 modern flat-track leagues in the United States, TTRB was only the 7th roller derby league to build a banked track in the nation. TTRB is also a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

Tilted Thunder has four home teams, an All Star travel team, and two junior derby programs: Peeps and Chicklets.

Mission statement: As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, Tilted Thunder is committed to fostering serious competition on a national and international level, developing amateur athletes for competition, and promoting the physical and mental strength and independent spirit of amateur female athletes.

Tilted Thunder is a founding member of the Roller Derby Coalition of Leagues.[1][2][3]

Teams

Tilted Thunder is one of several active banked track roller derby leagues in the country. The skaters bout under the Roller Derby Coalition of Leagues (RDCL).[4] Between 2008 and 2011 Tilted Thunder was made up of two teams, Red Team and Purple Team. In 2011 the first season featured the four current intra-league competitors:

  • The Rolling Blackouts
Season 1 Champions
Season 2 Champions
Season 5 Champions
  • Royal Crush
  • Saint Hellions
Season 3 Champions
Season 4 Champions
Season 6 Champions
  • Sugar Skulls

Skaters who do not skate on home teams are called "Chicks". They hone their skills in the "Chick Pool" until a home team drafts them.

The All Star team is TTRB's travel team.

Peeps and Chicklets (Junior's Program)

Tilted Thunder expanded banked track roller derby to young women in January 2011.

Chicklets
Chicklets are from 6 to 13 years old.
Peeps
Peeps range from 11 to 17 years old. They play full contact roller derby.

Battle on the Bank

June 1–3, 2012, the Tilted Thunder Rail Birds hosted Battle on the Bank V, the US Banked Track Roller Derby National Tournament.[5] The tournament returned to the PNW twice more on June 5–7, 2015 and June 1-3, 2018. Both Battle on the Bank VIII and BotB XI were hosted by TTRB at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds, Monroe, WA.

Tilted Thunder has participated in Battle on the Bank since 2010. TTRB All-Stars placed 3rd in Battle on the Bank VII and VIII. The Peeps All-Stars placed 1st for the first time in Battle on the Bank VIII.

Community Involvement

Tilted Thunder Rail Birds are always reaching out to help make their community a better place. Below are only some of their most recent volunteer projects:

• Green Seattle Partnership - Cleaned the Burke-Gilman trail of trash and blackberry bushes.
• Relay for Life - raised money for Cancer Survivors
• Pennies for Peace - collected pennies for education opportunities for children in Pakistan and Afghanistan
• Save your A@* for the Track- Tilted Thunder hosted a self defense class taught by Joanna Factor with Strategic Living
• Harborview Medical Center- Collected toiletries for ICU Patient family members
• Parent Child Assistance Program- toy/gift drive
• Northwest Harvest- Collected food for Seattle food bank
• Second Harvest Japan- Skate for Japan fundraiser at Lynnwood to aid those devastated by the Japan earthquake
• Bellevue Arthritis Walk 2011- TTRB skaters led the walk at Crossroads Park on May 21, 2011
• Toys for Tots - Toy drive
• Housing Hope - Toiletry drive

See also

References
  1. "", Roller Derby Coalition of Leagues]", January 1, 2012
  2. Chansanchai, Athima. "Is Seattle Ready For More Roller Derby". Seattle Post Intelligencer. Seattle Post Intelligencer. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  3. "Tilted Thunder Volunteer Match Profile". Volunteer Match. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  4. "Find a Roller Derby League". Roller Derby Worldwide. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
  5. "Battle On The Bank V". Banked Track Roller Derby. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
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