And you'll get a chance to start skating on it this year. Holy balls.

Today, RollerCon dropped a surprise announcement, and it wasn’t the one we were expecting.

The convention has purchased a roller derby banked track, and will be putting it to use starting this year. Yes, that’s right: There will be a banked track for training and challenge bouts at RollerCon in 2015.

The track was purchased from the San Diego Derby Dolls, who had been hawking their auxiliary track and accompanying trailer for a few months now. It was previously used for satellite home games at the county fairgrounds north of San Diego, as well used for special events around the country, such as Chicago’s Red Bull Banked Jam in 2010.

Now, it belongs to everyone.

With the announcement, RollerCon made some special changes and new protocols for the expansion to the event. Like on the flat track, there will be training sessions and games. But there are three critical differences for the banked track that RollerCon attendees must be made aware of.

First, at least for the moment, skaters interested in participating in banked sessions must have valid USARS insurance. While USARS reciprocates with WFTDA insurance on the flat track, WFTDA or others do not currently cover banked track excursions. RollerCon says this may change before July. Even if it doesn’t, USARS event passes can be used to meet this requirement.

Second, banked track challenge bouts will be restricted to A-level experienced skaters only. To accommodate this additional opportunity, RollerCon is allowing A-level captains to max out at three games, instead of the usual two. All RollerCon MVP pass holders, regardless of experience level, are OK to participate in banked track training sessions. Needless to say, these sessions will be in high demand.

Finally, with a new skating environment comes a new rules environment. RollerCon will use RDCL rules for all banked training sessions and during banked games, so do brush up on them. (For a leg up, you can also check out our most recent RDCL Rules Analysis, as well as other RDCL relevant info in our Roller Derby Rules Center area of the website.)

Parties interested in submitting challenge bouts can do so here. Rosters are not being taken at this time; those will be open for submission at a later date. RollerCon is also asking for volunteers to help setup, maintain, and break down the track1; more information on signing up for that can be had here.

The only thing missing from this exciting news is where the heck the banked track will actually be housed. An announcement revealing the new home of RollerCon Las Vegas is expected any day now. When that finally happens, we’ll be one of the first to let you know.