RollerCon started just like most of the new generation of DIY roller derby leagues. In the winter of 2004, a few friends started talking, came up with a crazy idea, and ran with it. At that point, there were just a handful of leagues, very spread out, and very few bouts (interleague bouting was still just a sparkle in our eyes) — and the WFTDA was still in its “United Leagues Coalition” infancy. So we all traveled when we could to see each other play — but we didn’t get enough opportunities! We were looking for a chance to hang out.

KC Bomber (LADD), Chola (Lonestars), and yours truly (SCRG) figured we all needed a long weekend the following summer to have some fun, some drinks, some skating.  It was that simple. I can’t remember exactly which of us thought of it first (probably KC), but once the seed was planted, RollerCon grew like it was on steroids. Who would’ve guessed that the second year, RC06, would draw several hundred attendees? In late 2004, there weren’t that many rollergirls in the world!

RollerCon is truly the bastard daughter of dozens of leagues across this country. Skaters from 3 states thought of it. A Texas Rollergirl named it. Skaters and refs from as far away as Carolina Roller Derby, Gotham Girls, Kansas City , Seattle, and all parts between came to the first one. The second went international with derby skaters from Canada and London… and in 2007, we went truly co-ed with the Zebra Challenges, and hosted skaters from as far away as New Zealand.

It’s hard to write the history because there’s no fitting way to acknowledge how many people have helped create, plan and maintain RollerCon. But that first year, with help from a lot of skaters from all parts of the US - banked and flat, men and women, rookies and veterans - we organized 3 nights worth of bands at the Double Down, some group rates down the street at Terrible’s Hotel, a scavenger hunt, a wedding, some pool parties, a raffle to benefit Planned Parenthood, a group photo, and the now infamous High Noon scrimmage.

That hour and half of 117 degree sun pounding down on our idiot heads while we had the first ever, that I know of, open-to-everyone, free-for-all casual scrimmage changed everything for RollerCon. The party was fun all the events were great. But in spite of the puking sunstroke most of us got and the lobster sunburns, the joy of that open scrimmage made all the work to make it happen worthwhile. So, of course, the second RollerCon had scrimmages every night! And Challenges on Fremont Street, under the blinking neon lights and the open-mouthed stares of tourists from every corner of the world. RC06 also featured workshops every day, a skatepark tour, another scavenger hunt, and lots more, over the course of 10 — TEN — days. It nearly killed us all!

2007 was a revelation: the year we learned how to plan a convention. We solved some of our transportation problems by hiring shuttles. We met in the middle with 5 fun days that were all well-attended, instead of the first year’s too-packed weekend or the second year’s 10 day Bataan Death March. We had so many new leagues since we started, that we expanded the training and workshops to 3 locations and several tracks that covered everything from on-skates training to tearing skates apart and fixing them, to cheerleading workshops to special happy hour sessions for the refs to argue rules minutia. And everything in between. There was truly something for everyone even remotely interested in roller derby last year.

2007 wasn’t totally perfect, though - we had long lines for the skating events and met capacity for the dance and dinner. So in 2008, we’re fixing it: we have doubled and even tripled (or more) the venue space for each event. We have two open scrimmage tracks, side by side and next door to a big skatepark, to cut down on lines. We’re hosting 5 hours of Challenges at an outdoor track at night, and even more over the weekend at our WFTDA-sponsored indoor sportcourt, so we won’t run out of space for any challenges you can think of. We’ve got 5 seminar rooms and even more on and off skates training. And we’ve tripled our capacity for the Opening Reception and Black n Blue Ball by moving them next door to a larger space. We’re ready for the thousands of skaters that are already registering! We’ve also improved some of our internal processes, as well, like making volunteering more fun and gearing up to raise a TON of money for charity this year. And we’ll keep improving every year with your help!

The sport of roller derby has a long and colorful history. From the sport’s genesis in the 30’s it’s been organized by, managed, skated and loved by iconoclasts. The new generation of roller derby is no different — and the truth is that iconoclasts don’t always appreciate each other. But what’s really great about RollerCon’s history is that it’s one of very few places where everyone drops the drama and just gets together to skate and have fun. Skaters on both sides of league splits will line up together in scrimmages and later at the bar, throwing back shots. It’s not all sisterhood, of course, but everyone lets the strife go and either makes peace or keeps their peace at RollerCon. Because RollerCon is for everyone, and everyone respects that.

And that’s all the history I got for you, because we’re making the history right now. Welcome to RollerCon 2008.

And start planning now for next year: RC09 will be Wednesday, July 29th through Sunday, August 2nd, 2009.

Ivanna S. Pankin, General Manager, RollerCon