This weekend I am heading back up the hill for the second Dirt City Roller Rats bout of 2013 as they take on the Mojave Rattle Skaters. This should be a great bout as the last one was a nail biter to the very end. Make the trip up the hill and bring you rubber rats to cheer on DCRR! Then again you could bring a rubber rattlesnake and cheer on Mojave Rattle Skates….wait a second Rats versus Snakes? Wow epic!!! Hope to see you there

Did I mention buying the photographer a beer from the beer garden is never frowned upon? Just sayin’

Roller Derby On WhiteThe file above is a PDF book of my IEDD photo shoot, let me know what you think!

Hey there you may have noticed I kinda took an extended break from derby and photographing bouts. Well that is only half true as I have been behind the camera photographing roller derby in the studio with the Inland Empire Derby Divas. Well the project has now ended and I am ready to jump back in on all eight wheels (ok not really).

This weekend I am photographing one juniors bout in North Hollywood California as SFV Fast Times takes on the Seattle Derby Brats. I am actually very excited to photograph this one for two reasons the first being I have heard so many good things about the powerhouse SFV Fast Times are and second I get to photograph in daylight!!

Next up on the same day is a double header with the Torque Wenches taking on sister team the Sleazy Riders  followed up with the “C-Line” bout of the night as the IEDD Flame Fatales face off against cross town rivals the Foot Hill Foxy Flyers. I would not miss this one for the world!

See if you can keep up with me this Saturday and join in the derby fun!

-Michael

Tough Girls On Eight Wheels came to life just 6 short months ago and I could have never expected things to have grown so fast. The TGO8W Facebook page has just hit 600 likes and the website has just surpassed 41,000 visits. I have no plans of slowing down looking towards the 2013 season, however any feedback to make things better is welcomed! So please drop me a PM on Facebook or email me at michael@ToughGirlsOnEightWheels.com with anything!

(photo from a recent photo shoot with the Outlaw Renegade Roller Girls)

This month is looking to be a smashing derby month with a few bouts in the next two weeks looking to be smashing.

First up is a triple header in Huntington Beach at The Rinks as the Crash Test Bunnies take on Heebie Jeebies, the Psycho Ex-Girlfriends face off against the Rolling Knockouts and head lining the event is Blockwork Orange vs Hollywood Scarlets. So if you are looking for a complete overdose in derby this is the place to be in OC on September 8th.

Next up my home town Inland Empire Derby Divas (Inland Heat) hits the road to North Hollywood to take on San Fernando Valley Derby’s Like, OMGs at the NoHo YMCA Outdoor Rink. If you are looking to score some Tough Girls On Eight Wheels stickers this is the place to be as I will be there camera in hand to photograph this bout!

And the half way point of September will mark the season closure for the Prison City Derby Dames as the put on a double header at the Rinks in Corona on the 15th. First up will be the hard hitting PCDD’s Pa-Rollees taking on Ventura County Derby Darlins’ Hellion Wheels. And topping the bill will be the Prison City Derby Dames take on the girls from up the hill Dirt City Roller Rats.

I am sure that there will be much more derby closing out the month so check back and I will post things as I get them.

Thanks again for making the 2012 season AMAZING for ToughGirlsOnEightWheels.com!!!

(Inland Heats Registered Curse)

So last week was an AMAZING bout between my home town Inland Empire Derby Divas “Inland Heat” skating and hitting against the San Diego Derby Dolls “Hard Corps”. It was the first time I had the opportunity to photograph the Hard Corps before and was really impressed with their blockers, but in time the line was worn down as Inland Heat turned up their own defense line holding the SD jammers down. It actually looked as if the Inland heat started getting more aggressive as the points stared to get further apart, at one point the jammer on Hard Corps was knocked to the floor so many times that she decided to wait the point out instead of having to try and get by Registered Curse. If you missed this one be sure to keep an eye out for IEDD next bout as they welcome PCDD (Prison City Derby Dames) at their home rink.

This weekend I will be at Holiday Skate Center in Orange for “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” that should be called “My SK8 2UR Head” as the Orange County Outlaws welcome (wink wink) the San Diego Renegade Roller Girls. If you have never been to a renegade bout just load the car up and get here as this one should be as hard hitting as they come. The Outlaws live up to the name and San Diego has never backed down…JUST GET THERE TRUST ME THIS WILL BE AMAZING!!!

Be sure to subscribe as there are a bunch more bouts coming up this month as it truly is Derby Crazy!

The last Outlaw Renegade bout sent three girls to the hospital, to say “This Means War” may be an understatement. Garden Grove may feel some shaking as these to heavy hitters duke it out for the top of the renegade heap. The last time they faced off the Outlaws took the win at home, now the bout is on SoCal’s turf.

If you have not been to a renegade bout before this is the one not to miss. This is an outdoor event played on cement so to say renegade may be better put as hardcore.

See you there ~ Michael

Well again this is a great weekend to be a derby lover as there are a few killer bouts going off.

This Friday the Phoenix Arizona Renegades are taking it up north to Bend Oregon to take on the girls in purple Renegade Roller Girls of Bend Oregon. I have yet to see Bend play but I have heard nothing but great things so this should be a killer bout if you live way up north.

Down in San Diego we have what will be a war on eight wheels as all things RENEGADE hit the flat track with the Renegade Roller Girls of San Diego (RRGSD)bumping helmets with the Renegade Rollergirls of Tucson (RROT). This is a must see if you are in San Diego as these bouts are some of the hardest fought bouts I have ever seen.

Also on Saturday the OC Roller Girls are throwing a double header in Huntington Beach. First up will be the Crash Test Bunnies vs Psyco Ex-Girlfriends (god I hope its not all of mine!) followed up with the fastest girls on the flat track OCRG Pulp Friction taking on SDDD Hard Corps. The last bout between these two teams ended with SDDD Hard Corps pulling off the win in the final seconds after being down by 40 + points soI am sure OCRG are going to be pushing the envelope to make sure that this bout does not end the same way.

I had a bit of a quiet weekend last week as far a derby goes but looks like the rest of the month is going to be a great ride.Last week I was made “Monthly Featured Photographer for the month of May” by a new website called DoItDerby.com where I wrote a little story about how I got into this derby photography thing. Check out the link to the story here and please be sure to drop a few more names in the hat for future featured photographers.

Whats happening this weekend to fill that derby fix?

First up is this Friday the 11th as the Los Angeles Renegade Roller Girls are having a fund raiser at Spikes Bar in Rosemead CA. This one is going to be all things zombie for the “Zombie Prom” so dress up like a zombie and get you drink on. For more info check out the LARRG site at www.larenegaderollergirls.com

This Saurday the 12th is going to feature a triple header at the Rinks in Corona featuring the Prison City Derby Dames vs. San Fernando Valley Roller Derby (FFV). I am looking forward to my second trip to shooting the PCDD as the last bout was great time. Grab you mommy and take her to see some flat track derby for Mothers Day….what could be better? A trip to Olive Garden…..nope!

Hey if your bout is not up on the site I don’t know about it! Hit me up at michael@ToughGirlsOnEightWheels.com and lets get the word out, you can’t have to much derby right?

****UPDATE****

Talk about missing events because I did not have the poster!!! My home team Inland Empire Derby Divas are hitting the road to Ventura to face off in what is sure to be a not miss bout against the West Coast Derby Knockouts! Wishing I could go but I have already made plans to shoot the PCDD bout, good luck girls and bring home the win!!

Michael <3

I NEED NEW PHOTOS FOR THE FRONT PAGE, ARE YOU A TOUGH GIRL ON EIGHT WHEELS? MESSAGE ME AND GET FEATURED!!!

Last week was a double header featuring the Prison City Derby Dames vs Bay Area Derby Girls “Berkley Resistance” at The Rinks in Corona. The special treat was my first chance to photograph mens roller derby as The San Diego After-Shocks took on the LA Drive-By City Rollers. And I have to say mens derby played out a lot different than I expected (in a good way mind you). The points played out at a much faster pace as most lasted less than 45 seconds as the game plan was to score a a few points and stop before there was any chance for a come back. Those little bites at a time ended up working out in the long run for the After-Shocks as they pulled away for the win.

This weekend is packed with derby in So-Cal as there are three bouts that I am aware of. First up is the OCRG Pulp Friction take on the West Coast Derby Knockouts at The Rinks in Huntington Beach for some flat track fun. I will be at this event camera in hand (come back on Sunday to see photos from the event) and I will have stickers and a few button just hit me up at the event.

Next up is in North San Diego as the Hidden City Derby Girls face off against the SDRD Rockettes in Oceanside for their 2012 season opener at M.L.K. Park.

And last but not least is some bank track action at the Pomona Fair Grounds as the Los Angeles FireBirds take on the San Francisco Bay City Bombers (sorry no poster for this one).

So no lack of roller derby in So-Cal, support you local roller derby!~

Little news flash: Yesterday I picked up another camera that will help in some of those caves you all play in.

On a side note looks like next Saturday will be cram packed with derby! First up will be the girls in black and blue as I do a photo shoot with the Los Angeles Renegade Roller Girls. Followed by my first visit to the Rinks in Corona as I photograph a double header with the Drive By City Rollers facing off against the San Diego AfterShocks (mens derby a first for me!) and headling the bill will be Prision City Derby Dames vs the Bay Area Derby Girls “The Berkley Resistance”

Come on by and check out the fun with me and as always hit me up for some stickers when you see me track side.