Last year's RollerCon was an Epic Fail for me. Remember...
This year was faaar better and I could enjoy all the facets of the event. At least the two main ones: Day life (i.e. skating) and Night life (i.e. partying).
At first, I had decided that I was going to the RollerCon for a special purpose: SKATING.
...But then I started to take an interest into the EVENING schedule.
- The whole thing about standing in lines to attend classes and wearing full gear on was part of why I only bothered attending on-skate classes the first 2-3 days, when it was not yet totally crowded. (see part.1)
- The other reason was that I was sore all over (I confess) because it was the first time in 8 months that I was doing REAL derby moves. No matter how hard you train off-skates in rehab, there is nothing like the real thing. At least, I was glad I had the time to loosen up a bit on skates with my resuming of rollerdancing a couple of months before!
- The last main reason why I got more flexible with attending on-skate classes, was that I also had a go at partying (I confess too) and that it obviously became harder to be effective at day-time...
The night time schedule was organized as such:
- Wed. Welcome Reception + Karaoke
- Thur. Riedell LUAU Party + Karaoke
- Fri. Derby Weddings
- Sat. Black'n Blue Ball
Skatepark on quad skates. Check.
Besides, I had noticed that every evening, trips to various local skateparks were organized by the Dying Breed Sk8s and I jumped on the occasion to lose my quad skating virginity on skateparks on Thursday.
Although derby skate set-ups lack trick options on modules, I had fun... and won a nice bruise: Forgot to bend back as I was going down the bowl, found myself in the air, and had basically 2 meters 50 to decided which part of my body to sacrifice.
Hip-knee-hip-knee? Tic-toc-tic-toc... HIP!
Although derby skate set-ups lack trick options on modules, I had fun... and won a nice bruise: Forgot to bend back as I was going down the bowl, found myself in the air, and had basically 2 meters 50 to decided which part of my body to sacrifice.
Hip-knee-hip-knee? Tic-toc-tic-toc... HIP!
I reasonably took it easy for the rest of the session and in the end I found myself
running a freestyle slalom skating initiation for derby girls in a
corner. Why not. Still, it was worth missing the LUAU party!
The world is such a small place: one of the girls was just back from Africa where she had been taught slalom moves by my colleagues from Senegal!
Skating the Strip. Check.
The world is such a small place: one of the girls was just back from Africa where she had been taught slalom moves by my colleagues from Senegal!
Skating the Strip. Check.
The next day, we had another wild evening occupation and skipped the derby wedding reception to go for a night skate on the Strip with Féroce Satine and her team-mates. The five of us had the feeling of being the Queens of the World for one night, with the passers-by cheering us up "Wooo Rollergirls!".
However, I convey that the fact that we were only wearing short pants and bras may have had something to do with the general hysteria. Another mystery that will remain unsolved forever...
We even found skater cousins on the Strip: two jam skaters dancing to some random DJ set installed in the street. We stopped to watch and exchange, and then resumed our night skate back to the hotel, where we decided to show up at the Pants Off Dance Off party following the derby weddings, in order to stick to the theme of the evening (yay let's skate naked) and finish it with a flourish!
Black N Blue Ball. Check.
The fatal blow was obviously the Black N Blue Ball of the Saturday night, taking part in the courtyard next to the pool. Danced and hung out with the Rat Cities and people from Seattle most of the night, including Dan Kno Limitz, the jam dancer whom we had met the previous day on the Strip.Karla and I shared a room with two of the Rat City girls, Missile and ScrapHer. I must say that we were comfortably settled, particularly because the latter had had the genius idea of buying a coffee maker for our room during her food shopping, which we naturally installed in the bathroom. Cost 10 bucks and caused quite a stir. Now, if ever one of us four ask you if you want to see her coffee maker… or more subtly have a coffee (in her room – optional)… you’d better watch your back!
How did we end up sharing a room with rollergirls from Seattle? Well… I got contacts. But I specifically have a former freestyle colleague of mine who moved out there and shifted to derby lately. I was really happy to party with the Neutrino. It had been a couple of years... and it brought back great memories of Freestyle after-parties in Asian night clubs! We will meet in Lishui (some place lost in China) next week to judge the World Champs’ of Freestyle Slalom… the Black N Blue Ball has set the bar very high for the World Champs’ afterparty...
Fremont Street Experience. Check.
Sunday night was far calmer (and depressing) as lots of people had already left the building. I went for a little tour at Fremont Street with Scars, Venus and Luna Tick whom I had met at the BNB Ball... and had lost in a lift at 5 AM! (Long story.)
Fremont is the old Vegas with the old hotels, casinos and neon signs!
The street turned into a huge entertainment complex called Fremont Street Experience with a good portion covered with an arched roof decorated with flat screens, under which a couple of stages are settled for 100 days of free rock concerts every summer (amongst other attractions).
I went back there with Karla for our last night in Vegas, skating down Las Vegas Blvd, pass the freaks and misfits as well as the wedding chapels, the strip clubs and pawn shops. A very curious setting!
At Fremont, we were treated to a special show with the music of the Doors on the roof screens, and me and my skates had a go at the Flightlinez zip line through the street (yes indeed, no need to re-read, I did write "zip line"). Do not ask who the hell had the idea of building that, I just made up my mind that nothing's impossible in Vegas!
Next stops: San Francisco and Sacramento
Sunday night was far calmer (and depressing) as lots of people had already left the building. I went for a little tour at Fremont Street with Scars, Venus and Luna Tick whom I had met at the BNB Ball... and had lost in a lift at 5 AM! (Long story.)
Fremont is the old Vegas with the old hotels, casinos and neon signs!
The street turned into a huge entertainment complex called Fremont Street Experience with a good portion covered with an arched roof decorated with flat screens, under which a couple of stages are settled for 100 days of free rock concerts every summer (amongst other attractions).
I went back there with Karla for our last night in Vegas, skating down Las Vegas Blvd, pass the freaks and misfits as well as the wedding chapels, the strip clubs and pawn shops. A very curious setting!
At Fremont, we were treated to a special show with the music of the Doors on the roof screens, and me and my skates had a go at the Flightlinez zip line through the street (yes indeed, no need to re-read, I did write "zip line"). Do not ask who the hell had the idea of building that, I just made up my mind that nothing's impossible in Vegas!
Next stops: San Francisco and Sacramento
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