I went to my first SCDG game last night. The opening bout of the 2011 season. I can say, with all…read morehonesty, that I have not had that good of a time anywhere else in a while. Not only are these women serious athletes and fearless competitors but they are beautiful, confident, intelligent, funny and individually unique. I want to be them when I grow up. Additionally, this was a very well produced event. The Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium is a great little venue. Tickets, security, music, beer and souvenir sales were all well run... and, for the novice, the game (rules, scoring etc) is explained briefly in the beginning with the teams taking a lap or two and going through the motions so as to make sure everyone in the audience understands and has a great time. I found this to be very, very helpful. This is definitely a family event, too. It is a serious game, but there is also a huge sense of fun. Kids are welcome and the theme of this bout was "mardi gras" so you saw people in costumes, masks, feather boas and beads. The announcers are funny and did a couple of giveaways before the event. Plus you saw a lot of great homemade signs made in support of favorite girls. Lastly, there were a lot of significant others and families involved by way of taking photos or otherwise volunteering. It was really a nice vibe. During halftime, the Jr. Derby Girls came out and did a short match as well. These girls are in the 10-17 age bracket and what a great thing to see. The comradery and spirit between the women of derby and the younger up and coming generation (coaching, supporting and standing by the sidelines to high five after the game) was really, truly heart warming. There is music and a lot of yelling during the match, of course, so if you're sensitive to that kind of thing you might consider bringing earplugs but I didn't find it to be a problem. It's FAR less loud than a concert that's for sure. So. There you have it. I am, from this day forward.. a HUGE fan... and I would highly recommend you check it out for yourself. I promise you that you will not be disappointed. Also, SCDG is a non-profit. If you enjoy yourself, do consider donating. :-)

Kick a$$ girls rolling around the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, with a DJ spinnin' great tunes…read more.. what better way to spend a Saturday night?! I witnessed them SPANK the Redding Angry Beavers 121 - 22. Seriously, 99 point spread. Forget the roller derby you saw in the 70's, on TV. These girls are tough, graceful, and athletic!! The halftime show were dance numbers by students (kids and teens) of a Santa Cruz dance studio. They kept the place pumped up for the 2nd half. The bout was SOLD OUT! This is the place to be... you see families, older parent/grandparent types, kids, co-eds, and everyone in between. Spend the $20 and check it out for yourself. It's general admission but there's not a bad seat in the entire place. Of course, if you get a seat up front, you may get sprayed by perspiration when the girls come flying around the turn. Don't worry if you don't know the rules or understand the game. They do a quickie run down on the rules. Emceed by the one and only Lex, of Survivor fame. They sell cute t-shirts too! Get out there and show some love for the girls!

What a gem of a gym. Of course it is Summer time so there are no summer Blues to sing here. It's…read morenot crowded at the moment. Rad equipment, towels and spray bottles galore, and the pool! What's not to like. Students everywhere but the best kept secret in town is memberships are available for the general population. You want to pay $188.00 a month for the new Santa Cruz Athletic Club and park in Jeff Bezo's parking lot? Knock yourself out. No pool you realize. I'll take UCSC Rec Fitness Center six ways to Sunday for the views alone. The Monterey Bay and deer! You feel like you're at a retreat. It's a huge secret. So now you know. As for the less stellar reviews, well, they're young - they'll learn to appreciate things eventually.

Let's talk about how crowded this place is. I swear, it's like trying to find a parking spot at a…read moreBlack Friday sale, except instead of discounted TVs, you're fighting for a machine that's held together by duct tape and a prayer. It's so packed in here that I have to schedule my workout five weeks in advance just to snag a spot at the water fountain. Even sardines would be like, "Hey, this is a bit too cramped for my taste." But hey, the gym does have one thing going for it--it's a fantastic test of your patience. Who needs a peaceful, stress-free workout when you can spend half your time waiting for your turn and the other half wondering if that ancient bench press is going to collapse on you? You can also take a moment to appreciate the charming layer of dust that adorns every machine. And let's not forget the rust; it's practically a workout for your immune system, too. I'm pretty sure the dumbbells have grown their own ecosystems by now. Forget about disinfecting wipes; we need an archaeologist to clean this place up. The gym machines here look so old and rusty that I'm surprised they don't come with a historical plaque. You know you're in for a treat when you have to spend 10 minutes deciphering the hieroglyphics on weights because the labels have worn off - complete with the soundtrack of screeching metal. It's like a tribute to the Industrial Revolution right here. It's like a museum of fitness, where the artifacts are just as likely to break a sweat as you are. The gym also needs more machines, I suggest at least 3 times, but cut the number of cardio machines in half.

This number is no longer the contact for this team…read more All those interested in more information should visit the teams new website at; cruzswimming.com The team has revised its name, and is now call Santa Cruz Swimming. Have great day, Jim

I've been playing in the Santa Cruz CBVA women's B/A volleyball tournaments for the past few years…read moreand they're great. The tournaments are generally extremely well organized and there are events for most levels of play. In the few occasions when I have needed to contact the organizers before a tournament they have been very responsive. Players are usually competitive, but at the same time the community is quite warm and friendly. If you're looking to get serious about beach volleyball I'd highly recommend grabbing a partner and coming out to play!

This is such a great program. My son loves going and has improved. He has done the summer camp…read moreas well as the after school classes. The instructors have always been very knowledgeable and helpful. I highly recommend!

My daughter had tons of fun, exercise and laughs at soccer camp for one week. She's asking to go…read morefor another week! She learned some new moves/tricks and we plan to have her attend the after school program next,

So My child was registered in downtown SC facility for the beginning or summer something happened…read morewith the building, so I was informed he couldnt attend. They said nothing else. I happened to get the idea to call the Live Oak branch an they accepted him an said he was registered and ready to go Monday, this was on the Thursday the previous week. Come Monday I take him down there and what do you know he's not on the list and he cant stay. So now I'm suppose to go to work and for the next 2 weeks because of the incompetent employees. I was not able to work and was out thousands of dollars. Their whole demeanor after telling me he couldnt stay was basically like to bad so sad. I did say something like what a shitty situation. The women named Alice got extremely offended so I stopped. Now she is saying my child can never come back. These people have to be the most ignorant people to be in charge of anything. I mean they obviously cant do their job right. Putting hard working single mothers out of work because they simply cannot do what they say. I couldnt be more unhappy with the downtown director. She does not deserve to have a job to be so off putting when it comes to peoples livelihoods'. She should be ashamed of herself. I'd give negative stars if possible. I was going to this place before this girl was even alive. What a bad way to get support from the community.

if I could give this a ZERO! Its poorly managed, short staffed (way too many children to adults, an…read moreaccident waiting to happen) no planned activities, no fun at all, don't bring your child here unless you just want them bored all day. So if this club was awarded a grant; where's all the money going? Why so few workers, and why arent you taking our kids on field trips? going to a playground every day in the hot sun isn't considered a field trip. it's a babysitting gig. government needs to award grants to nonprofits that really contribute to these children in need. disgraceful.

Coach Bill and his coaches did an excellent job with our children, ages 5 and 8, for the week of…read moreSanta Cruz Soccer Camp. Many of the coaches had attended as children and came back to support the camp, which seems like a great sign to me. The kids played lots of games, took the hot afternoons to play games in the hiking area with lots of trees. Got to enjoy Coach Bill's puppet show and drums and singing. Good wholesome, all around fun!

My kids have been coming for years, and my son is finally in the coach in training program! The…read morecamp is not a competitive/ technical skills soccer development camp; however what you will find is a super fun atmosphere with soccer based drills and games that increase ball touch in a developmentally fun way. They balance the day with nature walks to the creek, some guitar, story telling, etc. Each camp is grouped with an awesome coach- honestly- the sweetest staff that know how to have fun and make kids feel comfortable. And all in a beautiful setting. Overall a solid, fun, and inexpensive camp experience. (I tend to appreciate a bit more of a technical emphasis, hence the 4 stars- but that is only my own personal bias)...

Great coaching! We've enjoyed several different programs through Legends Baseball. It's the best…read morecoaching staff we've found. They care about the kids, have a great programs that engage and educate, and they just have great attitudes! Two thumbs and a big toe up.

Looking to improve your baseball skills? Adrian DeMar is the man!! His energy and passion for the…read moregame of baseball has helped many young athletes not only on but off the field in the whole Santa Cruz county! He's a proven leader and great mentor. I highly recommend Legends baseball for any ball player trying to get to the next level. Go Legends!

Ted has been a fantastic coach for myself and my wife. He's super easy to work with, provides great…read moreand useful feedback, is patient, easy going, and keeps it fun. He's spot-on with the mechanics of the game, as well as the mentality and big picture strategy. Most importantly, he works on what we want to improve, rather than just telling us what we need to do. Highly recommended!

From the owner: Are you curious about the craze of Pickleball but are too intimidated to go hit the courts? Have…read moreyou been playing for years but just can't seem to beat other players? Ted, who is a PCI Certified Pickleball Coach, has the unique ability to tailor his enthusiastic and fun teaching approach to each individual player's strengths and weaknesses. A great coach not only has technical knowledge of the game but also possesses excellent communication skills, patience, and the ability to motivate their students. Ted has all of these qualities and understands that each player has their unique style and preferences, and adjusts his teaching style accordingly. He also incorporates various drills and exercises to help his players improve their skills and become more confident on the court. Whether you are a new beginner or a veteran of the game, Ted will work tirelessly to help his players reach their full potential.