Who is Dixie Freebird?

Resilient, strong, passionate, dedicated, intelligent, compassionate, and above all, she has a heart of gold.  Maybe you have seen her on the derby track or singing the National Anthem at the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls’ bouts, but if you don’t know her, you should.   

Danielle Fryer, known as Dixie Freebird to the roller derby community, has been a part of LVRG’s solid foundation, and we support her in all of her business endeavors.  Dixie was recently in a bad car accident when a drunk driver hit her in the middle of the afternoon going 50 MPH and it nearly took her life. However, through Dixie’s strength, will to survive and support of her family and derby community, she has been recovering.

Teammate Vanilla CreamHer stated “Danielle Fryer is a fighter on and off the track.  By day she is an entrepreneur, fighting to keep her skate shop and fitness studio businesses alive and competitive in a tough economy.  By night she uses all her nutrition, fitness, and skate knowledge to rip it up on the track as Dixie Freebird, aspiring LVRG Jammer.  She has a warm smile and a charming Alabama accent, but make no mistake - she has great speed and endurance and will fly by you before you know it.  So look out!”

 

Dixie is one of those rare unique people that will amaze you when you hear of all of her accomplishments. As a Sports Dietitian, Certified Fitness Trainer, Yoga instructor, and Business Entrepreneur, Dixie Freebird has brought all of her expertise into the derby world and is making an impact.

In 2004, Danielle decided to combine her expertise for fitness and nutrition and became the owner and founder of Metamorphosis Fitness and Nutrition Studio LLC, located in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Metamorphosis provides sports performance fitness training and nutrition to all levels of active individuals and athletes. Through Metamorphosis, Dixie provides a Roller Fitness Class for women and men ages 18-69.  You can find more information on this at evolvehealthy.com.

 

The Dates for Summer Roller Fitness are:

June 9, 16, 30 (9:15-10:30am)

July 7, 14, 21, 28 (9:15-10:30am)

Aug. 4 (9:15-10:30am)

Summer 2013 Roller Fitness enrollment begins May 19.

Danielle is also the author of The Mindful Clean Plate © 2013, a nutrition journal/workbook that provides behavior modification awareness tools through practical and balanced nutrition blueprints.

Dixie has been a skater with the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls for the past few seasons. LVRG Captain Wayward Stay stated that “Dixie is a positive force at LVRG. She never hesitates to offer encouragement, advice, or just a smile. Her strive for excellence and endless energy is an inspiration for everyone around her.”  

Her impact on the team reaches far beyond that of a teammate. She has provided guidance on health and nutrition and has also provided a source for the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls to actually see, try on and touch derby equipment before purchasing it through Free Bird Skate Supply (co-owned with her husband, Shane Fryer).  Her company, Free Bird Skate Supply (freebirdskatesupply.com), is located in Flemington, NJ and caters to the roller derby, skateboarding and longboarding community.  Located in Hunterdon County, NJ, the skate shop offers wheels, skates, skateboards, longboards, skate accessories, protective gear, repair parts and other items such as hoodies, tees, socks and derby skinz.

You can connect with Free Bird Skate Supply on FaceBook at facebook.com/FreeBirdSupply or you can call them at 908-237-1250.

The Lehigh Valley Rollergirls are proud to have Dixie Freebird on their team and support her fully in her recovery and in her future with Free Bird Skate Supply and Metamorphosis Fitness and Nutrition Studio.

Good Time Charlie-LVRG's Skater of the Month

There are no good times to be had when this Lehigh Valley Rollergirl (LVRG) hits you hard.  LVRG’s Allison Doyle, better known as #666, Good Time Charlie, is one of those skaters that makes an impact and will make you remember that she just hit you on the track.  Now in her third season with LVRG, this Parkland High School graduate has become a big threat in derby in her home territory.

LVRG Hissy Fits’ Captain Lin Diesel describes Good Time Charlie: “Good Time Charlie has the eye for the hit. When she lines up, she makes the hit, solid and on target. Then she does what has to be done, whether it’s calling the rest of the team to go back or reforming the pack.  She is an asset to any lineup.”

Good Time Charlie was asked to reflect back on how she started with LVRG and roller derby. She stated “this is my 3^rd season skating with the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls; prior to that I hadn’t been skating since I was 8 years old. A friend’s wife recruited me. She asked me about 4 times before I caved. She knew I played sports throughout high school and college and missed that team comradery. She figured roller derby might be a good fit. I wasn’t so sure since I couldn’t really skate, but despite that minor detail, I went to the open recruitment and ended up falling in love with the sport and the people involved with it... and eventually I learned how to skate again.”

Estelle Hurtz, Good Time Charlie, and Betty Switch

We also asked Good Time Charlie on her thoughts about LVRG’s 2013 season. She commented, “We’re lookin’ goooood! We’ve always had the raw talent, but 2013 really seems to be the season when we are transitioning that raw talent into specific derby skills by incorporating strategic plays into our gameplay. And while we’re taking on some pretty tough teams this season, I feel good about our odds because quite frankly we’re the best I’ve ever seen us!”

When asked what her favorite thing was to do on the track, this is how she responded.   “I’m a sucker for opening up the line for our jammer. I love capitalizing on the fact that all the opposing blockers are so focused on our jammer they are easily ‘dominoed’ into each other, getting in their own jammer’s way and allowing our jammer to skate on through the line I opened up for them.”

Some fast facts about Good Time Charlie:

1.      She loves pancakes, it is her favorite food

2.      She used to have a childhood crush on Tony Danza

3.      She weighs the same as her dog (a Great Pyreness Yellow Lab mix)

4.      She has been growing out and donating her hair to the Locks of Love Organization since she was 16 years old

5.      She has a secret desire to compete in the Ninja Warrior Challenge (the ultimate obstacle course)

LVRG is proud to have Good Time Charlie as one of its members and looks forward to seeing her rip up the track for the remainder of the season.

Looking ahead, LVRG’s Hissy Fits play Philadelphia’s Broad Street Butchers on June 9^th at 12:00p.m. at the Class of 1923 Area in Philadelphia, PA.  Also, LVRG’s home team, the Special Vixen’s Unit (SVU), will be traveling to Cumberland, MD on June 15^th to match up with the Iron Mountain Rollergirls.

Find us online at: http://www.lehighvalleyrollergirls.com

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

For more information about becoming a skater or official, contact us at join@lehighvalleyrollergirls.com

A big thank you to all of the volunteers, officials, friends, and family that make our team the best in the Lehigh Valley. This is as much your team as it is ours. Thank you.

LVRG vs. HARD bout Wrap Up 5/11/13

This past Saturday, Harrisburg Area Roller Derby's (HARD) Nuclear Knockouts met head to head against the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls' (LVRG) Hissy Fits for a derby battle that will be remembered for years to come.   LVRG began the first half with an aggressive lead.  After the first few jams, veteran LVRG blocker Chikki Sixx feverishly blocked opposing jammer, HARD’s #63, Holden Grudges into the stands, while Hell Razin Hussy assisted her offense and led the way for LVRG jammer Arista Crash to get lead jammer status.  With the help of LVRG jammers Betty Switch and Toxic Shock, LVRG secured lead jammer status more than 69% of the first half of game play and had an early lead of more than 60 points.  However, HARD’s blockers Lizzy Stardust, Eden Venom and Nina Nina Boom Boom were relentless in their defense. Towards the end of the first half, the penalty heavy LVRG opened the door for HARD. HARD capitalized on two power jams in a row, bringing the half time score to LVRG 117, HARD 108.

 

At halftime, there was a special exhibition of martial arts by Lehigh Valley Martial Arts.  At the end of their halftime performance, the athletes held up a sign that said “Kate Will You Marry Me?” A long time supporter of LVRG, Evan Golaszeski, got down on one knee and proposed to Kate Hess. She indeed said YES!

MVPs Simone Ta Devour and Rose Beef

Immediately starting the second half of game play, Ginga Railed’ U took advantage of a LVRG power jam and boosted the score to 140 LVRG to HARD 128.  Lehigh’s blockers Evol Kitty, Helen DaRink, Lin Diesel, Daisy Destructo and Levelin’ Levi continued to use their skilled footwork to force cut track majors on HARD, and pushed LVRG into a few more power jams. Notable plays were also made by the strong walls held by LVRG’s Loogie Vuitton and Good Time Charlie.

HARD did not show signs of giving up and held tight all the way through the second half of game play. Although HARD’s blockers spent more time in the penalty box in the second half than LVRG, they did increase their points significantly with the help of blockers Rainbow’s Revenge, Latina Turner, Neve Cannibal and Skate Edge. In the last jam of the game, HARD increased the score from 197-256 to a final score of 236 to 256, favoring the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls for the win.  The MVPs of the game included LVRG’s Rose Beef, and HARD’s Simone Ta Devour.

	1st Half	2nd Half	Total
Total Jams	23	24	47
LVRG Lead	16	13	31
HARD Lead	7	10	17
LVRG Power Jams	6	7	14
HARD Power Jams	5	6	11
LVRG Penalties	27	23	50
HARD Penalties	21	26	47
LVRG Score	117	139	256
HARD Score	108	128	236

Looking ahead, LVRG’s Hissy Fits play Philadelphia’s Broad Street Butchers on June 9^th at 12:00p.m. at the Class of 1923 Area in Philadelphia, PA.  Also, LVRG’s home team, the Special Vixen’s Unit (SVU), will be traveling to Cumberland, MD on June 15^th to match up with the Iron Mountain Rollergirls.

Find us online at: http://www.lehighvalleyrollergirls.com

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

For more information about becoming a skater or official, contact us at join@lehighvalleyrollergirls.com

A big thank you to all of the volunteers, officials, friends, and family that make our team the best in the Lehigh Valley. This is as much your team as it is ours. Thank you.

All photos were submitted by LVRG's Thelma Van.

See Jim Rhoades' derby pictures at:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/clickdastardly/sets/.