STATELINE, Nev. – The 12th annual Deep Blue Sierra Regional Roller Derby Tournament returns to Tahoe for the first time in years and is guaranteed to leave you on the edge of your seat as eight teams compete in fast-paced, high stakes games at Tahoe Blue Event Center. 

Deep Blue’s origins trace back to their very first tournament held in 2013 at Bijou Community Park.

“It was outside, and we had to deal with all the elements,” said Stormi Trooper, Tournament Event Coordinator. “We dealt with smoke, if there was smoke, and we were blowing pine needles off the track at halftime, but everyone loved being there.”

From Bijou Park, the tournament moved to Truckee for years leading up to COVID-19, and wouldn’t continue until 2023 as part of the region’s Sports Fest in Reno, with many demands for it to return to Tahoe. 

This year marks the tournament’s resurgence in the Basin, and it’s going to be a weekend filled with excitement as eight teams compete in 12 games.

“It’s going to be 12 hours of roller derby a day across Saturday and Sunday,” said Trooper. “Anytime you pop in, you’ll be able to catch some action.” 

For those unfamiliar with roller derby, here’s a breakdown of a game: Each team has a jammer, and their job is to score points by passing other skaters. The rest of the people on the track are blockers who are trying to stop the opposing jammer from getting through while helping their own jammer get through. 

Similar to a round robin-style of competition, teams will compete three times as a whopping 16 officials participate in each game. Trooper noted that every game will consist of teams that are pretty evenly ranked, making matchups even more fun to watch. It’s also a great family-friendly experience for folks of all ages.

Between working through the logistics of the tournament, Trooper talked of her joy in showing others the beauty of Tahoe. 

“I just love giving teams the opportunity to come here and to play here,” she said. “Because we’re pretty isolated compared to the California teams, and it does take a lot to make this happen. Everybody really enjoys it and always says ‘this is a great tournament, we love coming here’. This is an opportunity for them to come and see the Reno/Tahoe area.”

The Deep Blue Sierra Regional Roller Derby begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday, September 19 through Sunday, September 20. 

Tickets are on sale now and are available at tahoeblueeventcenter.com. 

To learn more about the Deep Blue Sierra Regional Roller Derby, visit sierraregionalrollerderby.org.

Tahoe Blue Event Center is located at 75 Highway 50 in Stateline, Nev.