The biggest improvements in RollerCon for 2009 are going to affect those MVP passholders who attend specifically for the athletic training and skating events. Details will follow and by late Spring, early Summer there will be schedules everywhere. But here’s a little overview of the plan:

First of all, we have a closed private venue that has two indoor training tracks and one standard regulation track (and restaurants, viewing galleries, a huge vendor village - oh, and batting cages, tennis courts and half a dozen other features). It also has an outdoor track and sand volleyball courts that will be going at night. It will not be open to anyone that does not have a RollerCon pass. Some areas will be open to Skater and MVP passes only, with viewing galleries open to all RollerCon passholders.

This venue will host most of the RollerCon skating events and off-skates athletic training. We’re offering more advanced training this year and smaller classes, and debuting pre-registration and a method to classify skaters by skill levels to ensure that you’re getting the most out of your training, as well. We’re planning on-skates training at every level, including beginner to advanced individual positions training. We’re most excited about our super advanced classes coached by skaters that have proven their outstanding ability to both play and coach (boy is it tempting to drop names). But we’re also offering tons of classes at every level taught by experienced, qualified coaches who rarely consent to work outside their leagues, as well as some of your favorite returning coaches from RollerCons past.

We’re also focusing our planning efforts on scheduling awesome off-skates athletic training, including strength, cross-training in MMA and other disciplines, stretching, yoga and an overwhelming number of related classes led by fitness experts and coaches with advanced athletic qualifications and professional certifications. These will run most of the day, will be offered at every level of fitness and experience, and some of them will also be capped for individualized attention.

We know you love the open scrimmages, so we’re reserving our regulation track for a couple hours a day of lunch hour scrimmages. We’ll also have challenges and scrimmages all night. Our brilliant volunteers have thought of a remarkably hassle-free way to book the challenges so that captains will be able to recruit from skaters they meet at RollerCon, as well as plan them in advance or play “real” teams against each other.

And when you’re finished training, we’ll have free massage therapy and other post-workout professionals available to MVP passholders, as well as RollerCon’s always awesome social and networking events.

Stay tuned for more details, schedules and information about how to pre-register for capped classes starting in late Spring, early Summer.

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The following information is provided to help travelling skaters determine what gear to bring. Skaters are required to wear well-fitting safety gear, including a helmet, knee pads, elbow & wrist guards and a mouthguard for all skating events.

All participants are required to have RollerCon-validated USARS insurance, and skate at their own risk.

Skater Skill Levels: Check out our definition of skill levels. Classes and scrimmages will be listed with these levels.

DAYTIME:
You can get a very serious sunburn in TEN MINUTES of daytime desert exposure. Wear hats, sunblock and stay hydrated and out of the sun at all times.

ABOUT THE SKATING SURFACES:

Imperial Palace parking lot - Beginner training sessions - 10am-4pm, every day
Surface: rough cement, parking blocks, pillars in the way, oil and debris hazards
Recommended wheels - indoor / outdoor hybrids (Sugar Wheels) are your best bet, but outdoor wheels will also work well (Zen, Motion, Kryptos, etc). Indoor wheels, especially poly BD urethane (Tuners, Fugitives, Witch Docs, D-Rods) will perform well but will not survive.
Notes - RC recommends outdoor soft wheels to cut down on debris and slipping injuries, but there are rookie classes and inexperienced skaters going to be out there, so be aware of your own abilities and watch out for your neighbors, as well. Unsafe skaters will be asked not to participate. Medical staff will be on hand. All skaters will be required to show RC-validated USARS coverage for the duration of the event.

Las Vegas Sport Center - Training sessions, scrimmages, challenges - 10am - 11pm every day
Surface:
Indoors: polished cement, more info TBA
Outdoors: rougher cement
Wheel recommendation: Check back here after April, when we have a chance to skate it.

Fremont Street Experience - Challenges - 4-7 Wed-Friday
Surface - Patterned cement (shallow “cobblestone” design stamped into the cement) with manhole covers (marked) on some edges.
Wheel Recommendations: Hybrids or soft indoor wheels. Hard / firm wheels for advanced skaters only. Outdoor wheels will work well if you’re accustomed to playing in them, but high profile (65mm +) can be a disadvantage because they catch in the seams.
Notes - Advanced skill levels only. Scheduled in advance, captains must ensure that all skaters far exceed the WFTDA minimum skating skills test posted here: wftda.com/rules. Unsafe skaters will be asked not to participate. Medical staff will be on hand. All skaters will be required to show RC-validated USARS coverage for the duration of the event.

Skatepark Tour - Las Vegas - every night
Surface - varied, unpainted cement. We’re famous for huge vert skateparks and lots of them.
Wheel Recommendations: varies
Notes - Exercise extreme caution. The tour is NOT covered by RC insurance or USARS and all skaters are skating at their own risk. This is not a RollerCon event; please be very careful.

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PLEASE NOTE:
The training, opinions, findings, and conclusions offered during Rollercon are those of the authors or speakers and not necessarily those of the speaker’s league, the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association or the hosts or planners of the RollerCon conference. The materials and information presented are for informational purposes only & are not legal advice or counsel. Information gathered should be modified to fit your own personal needs, business models, athletic competence, health concerns and limitations, and state requirements. All skaters should execute proper safety precautions prior to attempting any skills demonstrated or shown. All RollerCon registrants participate in conference events solely at their own risk.