Dragonwing Blog
October 18: Happy Birthday, Martina Navratilova!
June 26: Happy Belated Birthday, Babe Didrikson Zaharias!
OMEGA SPORTS is an Official retailer of Dragonwing girlgear™
(Chapel Hill, NC; November 23, 2011)— Dragonwing girlgear ™ -- the first line of athletic sport and support wear designed for young sporty girls ages 8-17 -- announced today that North Carolina-based Omega Sports, an athletic apparel, footwear, accessories and equipment retailer, is an official retailer of the complete line of Dragonwing girlgear™ line of Un-Tee® Camis and Un-Dee™ Compression shorts.
Omega Sports will stock the line to coincide with Black Friday and the 2011 holiday shopping season. The complete merchandise line will be sold at the new Park West store, located at 3025 Market Drive, Morrisville, NC 27560
Created by Soccer Mom and entrepreneur MaryAnne Gucciardi, Dragonwing girlgear ™ is the first performance line designed exclusively for pre-teen and teen girls. With unique sizing, high-tech moisture-wicking fabrics, age appropriate support and comfortable fit, Dragonwing girlgear ™ cammies, sliders and sports bras help girls play their very best -- whether they are on the soccer field, lacrosse field, basketball court, volleyball court , or other athletic venue.
“I am very excited about the Dragonwing girlgear™ and Omega Sports partnership. Our philosophies and dedication to girls and high quality sports apparel are the perfect match,” states MaryAnne Gucciardi, Founder/President of Dragonwing girlgear™. “Both Omega Sports and Dragonwing girlgear™ share the same vision -- we want to support and encourage strong, healthy girl athletes.”
Thirty year old Omega Sports, Inc. has 16 locations throughout North Carolina and offers top notch service, highly trained staff, and personal attention. The stores sell year-round athletic apparel, footwear, equipment and accessories for the entire family.
“Omega Sports stores are family oriented. We believe every athlete should have a choice in how she wants to express her own unique style when she plays. Adding the Dragonwing girlgear™ line to our Park West store gives passionate, confident, and dynamic female athletes of all ages and abilities the performance gear they need to play and win,” said Brett Laughton, General Manager Park West.
Beginning November 23, Omega Sports offers the following from the Dragonwing girlgear ™ merchandise:
The Un-Tee ® Cami
For active girls playing a variety of sports including soccer, basketball, baseball, lacrosse, horseback riding or triathlon sports, the Un-Tee ® Cami is designed specifically for performance and for girls.
Features and benefits include:
• A stretchy, breathable, lightweight fabric.
• Tag-free.
• Flat seamed.
• Soft wicking shelf-bra offering modesty, support and comfort.
• Moisture wicking outer layer for quick-dry comfort.
• Wide stretch-fabric straps to relieve pressure on shoulders and give a secure, non-binding fit.
• Discretely camouflages garments worn under all uniform colors including white.
• Sizes ranging from 8 to 16.
• Colors include white, sky, midnight, orange and bright pink.
• Price: $24.99
The Un-Dee™ Light Compression Shorts
The Un-Dee™ Compression Short is designed specifically for under-uniforms. Girls can play their best – run, jump, bat, kick, shoot and more, all while staying cool and comfortable without focusing on their under-gear.
Features include:
• Breathable mesh panels and longer leg offer smoothing light compression without any bunching, rubbing or twisting.
• Tag-free.
• Flat seamed.
• Stretchy, wicking, lightweight fabric.
• Discretely camouflages garments worn under all uniform colors including white.
• Sizes ranging from 8 to 16.
• Colors include white, black, midnight, pink, orange, red, turquoise, lime and sky.
• Price: $27.99
Dragonwing girlgear ™is the under-garment and under-uniform solution for all active girls’ needs today – for performance, support, and comfort. Not too grown up, not too boyish, not too girly-girl. Dragonwing girlgear ™ is Performance Fit For Girls.
Omega Sports, North Carolina’s best retailer and best service in sports for over 30 years
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About the Dragonwing girlgear Founder/President:
MaryAnne Gucciardi, Soccer mom and Entrepreneur, is on a mission to help girls become confident women! Contact her at Maryanne@dragonwinggirl.com.
About Omega Sports, Inc.:
Phil Bowman and Thom Rock started Omega Sports in 1978 with a vision NOT to be a big box store. They wanted a family atmosphere with a tech trained staff. They have that today!
For more information about Dragonwing girlgear or Omega Sports, Inc.:
Omega Sports, Inc. Website http://www.omegasports.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/omegasportsnc
Twitter: @omegasportsnc
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/omegasportsnc
Our Dragonwing blog
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DragonwingGirlGear/
On Twitter: @DragonwingGirl
On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWa6q3tTGpidTP5r9egh9Cw
For jpeg photography, interviews or other media inquiries, please contact:
Laura Rossi Totten, laura@laurarossipublicrelations.com or 401-487-2453
Don't be fooled by common misconceptions about concussions.
Awareness of the danger – and frequency – of concussions is growing. It’s not just in football. It’s a health risk in girls’ soccer too, whether from heading, collisions or falls. In August, I joined a taping of the Chapel Hill radio show, Your Health with Dr. Adam Goldstein and Dr. Cristy Page. Former Olympic player Cindy Parlow Cone was there too.
A Proper Warm-up
One of the goals of the Dragonwing girlgear™ blog is to provide readers with evidence-based, practical information to help encourage safe and healthy participation in sports for all athletes, but with a special focus for preadolescent and adolescent girls. I am pleased to introduce Dr. Lindsay Di Stefano who will give us the most up-to-date advice. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Connecticut. Dr. DiStefano is also a certified athletic trainer with experience treating and rehabilitating injured athletes. Her primary research through the Human Performance Laboratory at UCONN focuses on finding ways to prevent injuries related to sport and physical activity.
Dr. DiStefano writes today on A Proper Warm-Up.
First Step to Any Activity: A Proper Warm-up
Fifteen girls put their bags down and jog around the soccer field together. They stop at midfield and align themselves in a circle with one teammate in the center. This “captain” leads her team through a series of static stretches by counting off 30 seconds per stretch. After the team has completed a few stretches, they walk off the field to their waiting coach and begin practice. Have you seen this scenario before?
I surely have! Here is an example of another common scenario frequently played out on youth sport fields: The team arrives, they start talking to one another catching up on the day’s events, and may start juggling or passing to one another before the actual practice begins. Or a third scenario occurs when an athlete walks out of their front door and starts running three miles. Unfortunately, the athletes in all three scenarios are not helping themselves be as prepared as possible for any training, practice, or game. Not only are these athletes not putting their bodies in the best condition for performance, but they may also be increasing their risk of injury.
A better solution to these examples above is to gradually prepare your body for the upcoming activity.
The first thing to do is to start increasing your heart rate, which will begin to “warm-up” your muscles. There are many ways to accomplish this goal. You can walk at progressively faster speeds, leading to a jog, possibly incorporate some quicker runs, or you can ride a bike with low resistance, or even play a small game that involves low to moderate effort. The goal is to just get your body moving and your heart rate up!
After you are feeling “warm” and perhaps even sweating a little, you can start performing some specific exercises for various muscles. These exercises will help your muscles get used to working (producing force) while they are moving. Here is where the big difference lies between traditional “static stretching” and a “dynamic warm-up”. Once you have “warmed up” your body through gradual exercise, you do not want to stand in place and essentially cool it down. Static stretches that are held for a long period of time may interfere with your muscles’ ability to work effectively. Research has shown that a dynamic warm up more effectively prepares the body for athletic participation. Instead of performing static stretches, try some of these dynamic movements. Similar to the warm up activity, you should gradually progress the speed and intensity used for these exercises. You will be ready to jump into full-speed activity when you are finished with these exercises.
Walking knee to chest, lateral shuffles and skipping are a few movements to get you started. Look for the addendum to this blog post for an easy to print off comprehensive list of dynamic movements that can improve your warm-up routine.
So next time you see athletes start performing “static” stretches before any physical activity, suggest to them that they should try out some new moves that might help prevent injury and may improve their performance!
Passing on the Stories
The most popular professional sports in America, in the world, even, are dominated by men- think football, baseball, basketball, soccer, and, though an increasingly large number of females are playing sports, women’s professional leagues still suffer from lack of interest. This is in part because our society has long been adamant that sports are only for men but also because the legacy and culture of men’s sports are passed down from father to son.
As a brand devoted to helping develop women’s sports and girls’ interest in sports, Dragonwing girlgear® believes it is crucial for girls to learn about female athletes who have conquered in order to see them as role models. Boys, and girls, who don’t play baseball are well aware of Babe Ruth’s story. What about the other Babe? Not that many young female golfers, basketball players, or runners learn about Babe Didrikson Zaharias, the athlete extraordinaire who excelled at all of those sports.
This trend we’re seeing, of female athletes remaining obscure and girls remaining deprived of female role models in the sports arena, must end if women are to achieve equality in the world of athletics. If the stories of strong, successful female soccer players, figure skaters, runners, and gymnasts aren’t told, their successes will be lost to this generation of girls. Girls should grow up with the belief that they too can become a part of sports history and that there is a spot for them in the world of sports. To understand this, though, the tales of successful female athletes need to be shared.
In order to rectify this social pattern and to raise awareness of successful female athletes, Sideline Chatter is going to be featuring such legends on their birthdays, celebrating the players who have established women’s place in the world of sports.
Mary Lou Retton: Admired her as an Olympian, Love her as a Mom.
On exercising, healthy body image, letting girls do what they love to do and raising four girls.
Black and White Seamless Racers are Here!
Black and White Seamless Racers! Just in time for summer You've been asking for our popular, super soft, high performance Seamless Racer Bra in all white and all black colors -- and they are in stock. These Racers are the perfect undergarment for all activities.
Cool Weather Athletic Clothing for Girls
We must be having fun because time is flying! Fall arrived this week and that means cooler temperatures, especially in the afternoon and evening. It's time to add a thermal base layer, so girls stay warm, dry, and comfortable when playing sports.
Our Chill Weight sports leggings and long-sleeve fitted tops make the perfect cool weather layer for athletic girls. Girls stay warm and dry and can play without distraction -- no shivering, no bunching or drooping leggings, no tugging at tops that ride up in back. Wear them alone, under uniforms or skirts, or under cold-weather sports gear (great for skiing, too!).
CHILL WEIGHT FABRIC is PERFORMANCE QUALITY
- sweat-wicking, four-way stretch with super soft, brushed inner layer
- fabric made from recycled PET bottles
- antimicrobial, odor resistant
LONG SLEEVE FITTED TOP
- thumbhole keeps wrists covered
- patent-pending face wipe on wrist keeps her face (and nose) dry
- longer length won't ride up
- wider, not-too-tight neck
LEGGINGS (REGULAR AND CAPRI LENGTH)
- great worn alone or under shorts
- 15" capri length won't interfere with shin guards
CHILL WEIGHT FABRIC is PERFORMANCE QUALITY
- sweat-wicking, four-way stretch with super soft, brushed inner layer
- fabric made from recycled PET bottles
- antimicrobial, odor resistant
LONG SLEEVE FITTED TOP
- thumbhole keeps wrists covered
- patent-pending face wipe on wrist keeps her face (and nose) dry
- longer length won't ride up
- wider, not-too-tight neck
LEGGINGS (REGULAR AND CAPRI LENGTH)
- great worn alone or under shorts
- 15" capri length won't interfere with shin guards
Falling in Love with our Keyhole Sports Bra
I had the great pleasure of meeting Julie and her daughter, Abigail, at a recent Dragonwing Trunk Show* in Bronxville, a short drive from New York City.
Like most girls, Abigail is very active. And like many young girls looking for a first bra, she was having difficulty finding a comfortable, age-appropriate, and well-fitting bra that would provide the coverage she needed. I recommended she try our Keyhole sports bra.
She and her Mom are delighted! Julie wrote a review on our website and placed an order for two more Keyholes.
With narrow straps for added arm movement and double-layered coverage, the Keyhole Sports Bra is the perfect athletic bra for girls who prefer slimmer straps and a slightly lower neck.
• Sweat-wicking fabric keeps girls comfortable and cool.
• Four-way stretch fabric provides coverage, and support and won't ride up.
• Tag free means no irritation or chafing.
• Made in the USA.
Available Colors: Black/Bright Pink, White/Teal
* If you'd like to host a Dragonwing Trunk Show and earn free girlgear, contact me.
With narrow straps for added arm movement and double-layered coverage, the Keyhole Sports Bra is the perfect athletic bra for girls who prefer slimmer straps and a slightly lower neck.
• Sweat-wicking fabric keeps girls comfortable and cool.
• Four-way stretch fabric provides coverage, and support and won't ride up.
• Tag free means no irritation or chafing.
• Made in the USA.
Available Colors: Black/Bright Pink, White/Teal
* If you'd like to host a Dragonwing Trunk Show and earn free girlgear, contact me.
Review: Athletic Gear for Tweens
Tami M., aka The Colorado Mountain Mom, recently shared her excitement at discovering Dragonwing girlgear. After her tween daughter wore our Chill Weight capri leggings and Un-Tee Sports Cami for gymnastics and running for a whole month, Tami announced, "We love Dragonwing girlgear!"
- "They quickly became her absolute favorite pair. She says they feel noticeably different, better, than all her other capris." - The Un-Tee Sports Camisole is "soft, comfortable, and again… much nicer quality than the cheap options sold in most stores like Target or Walmart. Plus it comes in a rainbow of fun colors!" 
"Making active wear clothing for tween girls to feel comfortable and special is such a great concept. If you’re encouraging your daughter to learn to live an active lifestyle, it helps to inspire them by providing not only the opportunities, but the gear they can use to feel confident and strong."What was the Dragonwing Difference for Tami and her pre-teen daughter? - "Much nicer quality than the cheap athletic capris for kids, typically found at retailers." - "Softer, more durable, longer lasting, better fitting, and much more comfortable!"
- "They quickly became her absolute favorite pair. She says they feel noticeably different, better, than all her other capris." - The Un-Tee Sports Camisole is "soft, comfortable, and again… much nicer quality than the cheap options sold in most stores like Target or Walmart. Plus it comes in a rainbow of fun colors!"
As a mom, I love that with one Dragonwing Girlgear “outfit”, she has the needed active wear gear for two different sports, both running and even gymnastics. These versatile pieces could really be worn for any tween girls’ athletic endeavor.Read Tami's full review at her terrific blog, The Colorado Mountain Mom.