Tilted Thunder Rail Birds is a Seattle, Washington based, all-female, banked track roller derby league. They are a 5013 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.
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. 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 5013 nonprofit organization. Tilted Thunder has four home teams, an All Startravel team, and two junior derby programs: Peeps and Chicklets. Mission statement: As a 5013 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.
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. 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:
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.
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. 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:
