LVRG Season Opener Feb. 16th

Mark your calendars now for February 16^th because the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls (LVRG) are opening up their new roller derby season in the Lehigh Valley with a Pink versus Black rematch.  Get your tickets early - it’s only three weeks away and sure to be a sell out!

Helen DaRink, LVRG President

The 2013 roller derby season will be an exciting one with the newly released revision of the WFTDA (Women’s Flat Track Derby Association) rules for the new year. Fans will be getting their first taste of the invigorating changes with Lehigh Valley's Pink versus Black season opening intra-league bout on February 16th. Fans should expect thrilling new twists to the normal standard game play as our strategies have had to adjust to the elimination of all minor penalties. We have also had to accommodate for a faster paced one whistle jam start. If you thought you knew derby, guess again! This season will change the way both blockers and jammers maneuver around the track. Expect to see more backwards skating, increased aggressiveness and more strategic play to adapt to the new rules.  The fans should expect to see a strong returning veteran roster including stealth jammers Ginga Railed U, Betty Switch and Lauranimal. Also, returning again this season is the LVRG blocking iron curtain including Rose Beef, Lin Diesel, Levilin' Levi, Loogie Vuitton, Daisy Destructo, Chikki Sixx, Evol Kitty and Hell Rasin' Hussy. This is going to be an exciting year for derby in the Lehigh Valley.

Leading the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls this year is their President, Helen DaRink.  We sat down with LVRG’s President to ask her a few questions about the new season, and to find out about her goals for the team for the 2013 season.

1.      What is your outlook for the 2013 season?

Helen DaRink stated that her goals include “having a winning season and taking advantage of the loop holes in the new rule set from the WFTDA!”  Helen DaRink has worked closely with her Board of Directors members and coaches to fine tune a progressive and strategic approach to this upcoming season.  There has already been a notable increase in skill and strategy implemented in pre-season game play.

2.      How long have you been with the league and what exactly does it mean to be President?

Helen has been with the league since July 2007, 2013 will be her seventh season skating with the league.

She explained that the main duty of being the President of LVRG is keeping the business running as a non-profit organization.  She is responsible for keeping all legal paperwork up to date and filing all the taxes for the league.  She is one of nine Board of Director members, which is LVRG’s governing body.  She helps out on all of the committees and fills any vacant position.  She also attends the WFTDA conference to keep up to date on business practices concerning roller derby.

3.      How do you feel the new rule changes are going to affect the season?
      
Helen stated, "I think that the changes from the WFTDA will make the bouts more exciting to watch from a fan's point of view.  The change to a single whistle start will get the jam going quicker and will change the structure of derby play in many ways. The removal of minor penalties will also improve the flow of the game."

4.      We all know that there is more to you than just derby, what else can you tell your fans about your life outside of roller derby?

“I am a mother of four, three boys and one girl in that order!  I have been married for 18 years to an ultra-runner.  I was in the US Army for eight years.  Lastly, I currently work as a mainframe programmer for a world-class battery manufacturer.”

LVRG is proud to have Helen DaRink as our President and we look forward to an exciting 2013 season.

Think you are up for the challenge and want to become a Rollergirl? Find out more information by contacting us at join@lehighvalleyrollergirls.com to attend our Fresh Meat Orientation.  Fresh Meat Orientation is on February 28, 2013.

We are also looking for some new officials. Skating Refs, Non-Skating Officials, Volunteers, we need them all!  You can get more information about officiating by contacting us.

Tickets to our February 16th bout can be purchased here:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/317692

Season tickets can be purchased here:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/309495

All functions will be held at the Independence Family Fun Center, 4345 Independence Dr, Schnecksville, PA.