As the sport of roller derby progresses, ILWR is striving to stay competitive. In order to do that we need a practice space we can use year round. We’ve been searching for 4 years now and have yet to have a place to call our own. So, we’ve decided to extend this search to the community. Not only will you be helping us continue to bring you the action-packed entertainment we know you love, but we have some pretty nice prizes for whomever can find us our home.

We are looking for a space that is a minimum of 100 feet x 65 feet of open floor area. It is preferred that there be no obstructions or columns, but depending on placement, we can work around them. The floor surface should be dry and as level as possible; wood, concrete, tile, etc. are all acceptable surfaces. Our league owns a portable floor that we can lay down to protect the surface underneath and provide a safe skating surface for us. Access to a restroom, electricity, storage space, and heat are preferred. The damp weather this year has been figuratively raining on our parade, so climate control would be a big plus.

ILWR is a non-profit organization seeking a space that is financially sustainable for our league. We are willing to trade advertising for rent and/or rent being considered a tax-deductible donation to the league.

Our coverage through WFTDA insurance includes General Liability and Excess Liability in the amount of $5 million, aggregate, as well as accidental medical coverage for skaters. We can provide references from previous facility managers if requested.

If you have a suggestion or a lead – please enter as much information as you know in our form.

Saturday, September 24th

Members of the Ithaca League of Women Rollers will be rolling on the Rhine!

Presented by The History Center in Tompkins County and the West End Waterfront District Association of Ithaca, this daylong street fair, taking place in Ithaca’s historic Waterfront District, celebrates the ‘bad old days’ of Ithaca’s Waterfront.

Look out for our “bad” rollergirls rolling along the Rhine all day Saturday, September 24. They have bout tickets, league info, buttons, and are quick on their feet. Catch them while you can!

More Info about the Rhiner’s Fest.

• Ithaca League of Women Rollers
• Roc City Roller Derby
• Queen City Roller Girls
• Gotham Girls Roller Derby
• Long Island Roller Rebels
• Central New York Roller Derby
• Hudson Valley Roller Derby

The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) is the international governing body for the sport of women’s flat track roller derby, and a membership organization for leagues to collaborate and network. The WFTDA sets standards for rules, seasons, and safety, and determines guidelines for the national and international athletic competitions of member leagues. There are currently 124 WFTDA member leagues and 65 leagues in the WFTDA Apprentice Program.

Founded in 2004, the WFTDA promotes and fosters the sport of women’s flat track roller derby by facilitating the development of athletic ability, sportswomanship, and goodwill among member leagues.

The governing philosophy of the WFTDA is “by the skaters, for the skaters.” Female skaters are primary owners, managers, and/or operators of each member league and of the association. Operational tasks include setting standards for rules, seasons, and safety, and determining guidelines for the national and international athletic competitions of member leagues.

Post-tournament Update: The SufferJets are trickling back to Ithaca after competing at the Empire Skate Showdown on Saturday, September 3. Our skaters had a terrific time with a chance to play in 4 thirty minute bouts. The tournament style was double elimination with nine teams and 17 bouts.

Starting off the first bracket against our sister league Assault City Roller Derby, the SufferJets went in for a fight, after having lost an early season private scrimmage with ACRD this past spring. Always a great team to bout against, in a quick thirty minutes the final score was 128-21, a solid win for the SufferJets.

This win meant we next would play the Gotham Girls Roller Derby’s Wall Street Traitors. In an excellent match-up the skaters of both teams were fighting for every point. Final score: 59-38, a win for the SufferJets. An especially meaningful win since the SufferJets suffered losses to the Traitors at both the ESS last year (final score 32-53) and at their recent May home game in Ithaca (final score 102-125).

Something about this win made us very happy – check out the photo set from superfan Liz Hoyt: SufferJets vs. Traitors. Ultimately we were the only team able to beat the Traitors out of their 7 games.

Following these two high notes of the day, the SufferJets had several hours over the afternoon to watch some of the other bouts, grab a bit to eat, get new gear and merch from the many vendors representing including Black Mamba, Five Stride Skate Shop and our own CinderBlockerElla.

The action started again at 6pm with a bout versus Central New York Roller Derby (CNYRD). In a true showdown the two teams battled it out in an intense game! SufferJets jammers suffered quite a few penalties giving CNYRD some more chances to focus on scoring – ultimately helping them to edge in a win – final score: 35-46 – one of the lowest scoring bouts of the day – a testament to the very defensive play of both teams.

And finally the fourth bout, a decisive bout (for the SufferJets) that would decide if the winners would go on for one more game or finish at 4 bouts, the SufferJets took on the Long Island Roller Rebels, also hosts of ESS. Here the SufferJets were working hard to get jams going (many stalls initiated by LIRR just in front of the jam line by kneeling or holding a wall in front of the jammers). A tough bout and a long day finally took its toll, and the SufferJets were overtaken by LIRR 56-115.

The action didn’t stop there! Bouts continued into the late evening as the teams who made it into the championship brackets continued playing: Wall Street Traitors, CNYRD, Hellions of Troy (an amazing comeback from last year’s last place!), and Long Island Roller Rebels.

The Traitors, satisfying the double-elimination structure of this year’s tournament, then went on to play CNYRD twice in a row, winning both times.  This placed the Traitors first, CNYRD second and the Hellions of Troy third. A great day for derby in New York, and almost all New York state leagues participated in the tournament. We are very grateful for all the hard work by the tournament hosts, Long Island Roller Rebels, and the many volunteers, bout officials and referees in putting together and coordinating such an excellent tournament. Can’t wait for next year!

A tradition following bouts is for each team to acknowledge outstanding play exhibited by one of their opponents,  and our very own Momo-A-Gogo was awarded this honor for ILWR at the Empire Skate Showdown.

Momo-A-Gogo MVP for ILWR ESS 2011

Photo sets from the tournament are coming in from the many dedicated photographers who so generously share their expertise and photographic eye!

Please take a look & as always please credit the photographer:

Manish Gosalia – ACRD vs ILWR

Manish Gosalia – Traitors vs ILWR

Pete Rodriquez – ESS 2011
(go to the flickr set: ESS 2011)

Sean Hale – Rollerderby Photography – ACRD vs ILWR

Luna Obscura – CNYRD vs ILWR

Luna Obscura – LIRR vs ILWR

As more photosets show up we’ll try to post them.

A rare photo here showcasing the volunteer photographers gathered for LIRR.  Usually you won’t find these folks in front of a camera

Look for ILWR’s B team – the Ithaca BlueStockings to play the Crown City Rollerz in an exciting rematch on September 10th in Ithaca. More info here. Both the SufferJets and the BlueStockings will close out the 2011 home season with a final match at Cass Park Rink in Ithaca on October 1. The SufferJets will play Philly Roller Girl’s Independence Dolls and the BlueStockings will play Hudson Valley’s zomBsquad. We hope to see you enjoying one of our final 2011 home bouts soon!

Empire Skate Showdown Strikes Back 2011 Final Scores from all 17 bouts: (courtesy of DNN-Derby News Network)

Coney Island Freakshows 53
Union Squares 213
(men’s derby)

Assault City 21
Ithaca 122

Roc City 72
Long Island 70

Hudson Valley 40
Hellions of Troy 67

Albany 37
Central NY 80

Ithaca 59
Gotham Wall Street Traitors 38

Long Island 88
Assault City 18

Albany 10
Gotham Wall Street Traitors 189

Hudson Valley 19
Long Island 86

Hellions of Troy 74
Roc City 71

Ithaca 35
Central NY 46

Roc City 71
Gotham Wall Street Traitors 77

Long Island 115
Ithaca 39

Central NY 86
Hellions of Troy 32

Long Island 25
Gotham Wall Street Traitors 64

Gotham Wall Street Traitors 115
Hellions of Troy 23

Central NY 26
Gotham Wall Street Traitors 93

Central NY 41
Gotham Wall Street Traitors 92

Ithaca’s SufferJets and BlueStockings want more jeerleaders, dangit!

Help lead crowds of up to a thousand jazzed fans with cheers, skits, energy, and fun.

Bring a skill, bring enthusiasm, bring it on!

Men or women age 18 and up. You come with the heart – we can teach the rest.

Man up, Woman up, Suit up! Tryouts are Sunday, August 21st at 6:30 pm. in NE Ithaca.

Contact kungfoolfighter@hotmail.co​m or 607-351-1088 for location and more details.

Share the Facebook invite!

We’ve also had a fabulous response to our ILWR Tile Drive - it’s not too late to get your name on the track! The Ithaca League of Women Rollers Tile Drive campaign allows fans and sponsors to virtually “purchase” the floor tiles that make up our skating surface, starting at just $20/tile. Each contribution gets us closer to our $15,000 facility improvement funding goal!

Check our bout programs and see all the local businesses that support roller derby. You rock, we roll.

Tiohero Tours | Cayuga Radio Group | Volvo Rents Construction Equipment | Miller’s Motorworks | Simply Red Bistro | Bodyworks Massage | Advance Moving Co., Inc. | Clayburg Creative | Gorges Web Development & Internet Solutions | The Rhine House | Delilah’s on Cayuga | The Westy | GreenStar Natural Foods Market | Planned Parenthood | Angry Mom Records | Red Feet Wine Market & Spirit Provisions | BSI Production | Inn on Columbia | incandescent software | Cayuga Xpress | Collegetown Family Dental | Communiqué Design & Marketing | Ithaca Carshare | Tom Murray of Pyramid Brokerage | B&W Restaurant Supply | Photographers: Lauren Comly & Peter Korolov | Your Name Here?

	Platinum Skates Angry Mom Records Cayuga Xpress Cayuga Radio Group
	Golden Skates Planned Parenthood
	Silver Skates Delilah’s on Cayuga Damiani Wine Cellers Collegetown Family Dental (new office of Fall Creek Dentistry) Red Feet Wine Market & Spirit Provisions Gorges Web Development & Internet Solutions Ithaca Carshare
	Black & Blue After Party Sponsors Delilah’s on Cayuga The Westy The Rhine House
	Skater Sponsors SufferJets GreenStar Cooperative Market – MaMadusa Planned Parenthood – Pl Anne B Simply Red Bistro – Chairman Meow Chapter House Brew Pub – Gunder n Lightning Ithaca Bakery – AKT*47 Momo-a-Gogo – Anonymous Ithaca Carshare – CamArrow Rasa Spa – Fat Dracula BlueStockings Life’s So Sweet Chocolates – Sugar Blitz Pure Romance by Alexa – Rage Against the Vagene ILWR Inn on Columbia – Coach Tiny Bubbles

Recently the Ithaca League of Women Rollers lost a hard-working league member and skater for the SufferJets, Mass Extinction #450 MYA (aka Trish Smrecak). She has left Ithaca and is now a doctoral candidate in Paleontology at Michigan State University. Mass Extinction excelled at both big hits and the thinking game that is modern derby. She is a great strategist and communicator, both on and off the track, and will be sorely missed. She leaves us with a little advice and some reflections on her time with the ILWR.

Last intro for SufferJets vs Lake Effect Furies July - 2011

Do you remember your first jam/game? Was it scary/thrilling/exciting….?
My first game with ILWR was actually a compilation game with Assault City against the Hellions of Troy in Troy. I was only an alternate, so I had no intention of playing, and at the last minute someone backed out and I was in! Everyone said “you won’t remember your first jam,” and I thought they were crazy, but they were right. I remember that the only thing I could think about was tensing every muscle in my body in hopes that I wouldn’t end up on the ground. It was the best 2 minutes of my life, and began my real roller derby addiction.

What else did you do with the league? What committees were you on?
I was the past chair of recruitment and membership, and played minor roles on finance and events committees during my time with ILWR.

Any words of advice for new skaters?
You’re a valuable member of your league, no matter where you’re at in your derby career or skill level. From your first minute stepping on the track, when you’re the reason we’re training you, to your days as a freshmeat, when you’re intimidated by the skills of the veterans. Never doubt that you make the league, and that your league is glad to have you there.

Mass Extinction putting her signature hurt on! Photo: Pete Rodriquez

Care to share some highlights of your time with ILWR?
Before I was bout-ready, I was an inside penalty tracker for a bout. It was an amazing experience! I saw EVERYTHING.

There was a great night out in T-burg, with our old teammate Bella de Rink, selling t-shirts and supporting our sponsor. I was still new, and I felt so amazingly welcome.

The night playing poker with Dusa and BeeBee, and Beebee became my pretty little derby wife (sniffle).

The night we went to the Fisherman’s Pub after practice and I sang These Skates are Made for Walkin…in skates.

And my send off party..Derby girls on a boat. Karaoke, lots of beer, and swim races with beer in hand. No better way to go out in style.

Favorite strategy on the track?
Keeping the pack together and controlling it with dynamic speeds.

What was your favorite bout?
Any one I left without an injury that kept me from playing more derby!

What league can we find you skating on next?
A young but ambitious group of women called the Mitten Mavens from Lansing MI. They’ve got lots of raw talent and plenty of derby heart…and they’re full of sportswomenship! When you’re not busy cheering for ILWR, stop by facebook and friend this new league.

Super fan Liz Hoyt - Cheers for Mass Extinction

The Ithaca SufferJets suffered their first loss of season four at their April 23rd bout. In an intense matchup with the Sexpos of Montreal Roller Derby, a last minute high scoring jam by the Sexpos ended with the SufferJets 15 points behind. With about five lead changes in the second half of the bout – it was anyone’s game. The two teams enjoyed a solidly supportive crowd, five highly energizing jeerleaders, excellent announcers, and a crew of Derby Dorks circulating the crowd providing explanations about the game of roller derby.

The first period ended with the SufferJets lagging slightly with the Sexpos at 58 to the SufferJets 41. Final score 99-114, a win for the Sexpos. MVP awards went to Ti Loup of the Sexpos and Fat Dracula of the SufferJets.

A number of excellent photographers were capturing highlights of the bout:

League Photographer Shatterbug (Lauren Comly) captures some action & fans.
Kevin Colton Photography
Alex Solla Photography
Peter Korolov Photography

by Chairman Meow

The Ithaca SufferJets kicked off season four on Saturday, April 9th, with an away game versus the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) of Pioneer Valley Roller Derby at Williston Hockey Rink in Easthampton, Massachusetts.

The SufferJets ended the first period of the game with a strong lead of 28-83. ‎Towards the end of the second period with 6:25 remaining the score was 69-150, SufferJets. The second half of the game saw some big jams by WMD enabling them to keep the SufferJets lead from spreading to far, though not by enough. Final score 103-164, a win for the SufferJets.

A special bonus was having the game broadcast live! Bitches Bruze and Bootsy Killins were announcing for the live feed streaming from justin.tv/pvrd. Bout footage filmed by pyrajane. The archive is up for viewing.

View photographer Lesley Arak’s set from the game.

Game Day - The Uniforms Await!

Bring the whole family for a night of fast-paced action, music provided by DJs Bob and Luke, the talents of our jeerleader squad and Zumba lessons at halftime.

Saturday, April 23- at the JM McDonald Sports Complex, 4292 Fairgrounds Dr, Cortland, NY 13045

Doors at 6pm, whistle at 6:30

ADMISSION AT THE DOOR- $10 general admission, $5 children 12 and under
Tickets can also be purchased online at Brown Paper Tickets or at the Ticket Center on The Commons.

Come buy your favorite skaters, referees and volunteers a drink at the after-Bout party:
Chanti – Loft. Upstairs from the Chanticleer.
101 West State Street – Ithaca, NY

DJs Luke & Bob will make you dance.
.

A portion of the proceeds will go to Wonderful Wheelchairs, dedicated to refurbishing used wheelchairs for those in need.