In 1986 Dan Empfield put the first “triathlon-specific” wetsuit on his fellow competitors. The triathlon wetsuit has come a long way in those twenty years. I have been selling these types of wetsuits for nearly ten of those years and have seen a lot of things come and go, all promising to be the next best thing. That being said, there is only so much one can do to a wetsuit to make it better. The entry level from one brand will be comparable to other entry level offerings from different brands. This also holds true for high-end wetsuits. You should try on several brands and purchase the one that fits/feels the best for the price-range you are trying to stay within. All of the major manufacturers Orca, Quintana Roo, DeSoto, Ironman (now Blue Seventy), Aquaman, and ZOOT all have wetsuits available that will provide you with the necessities that any wetsuit should. These necessities are;

Floatation – the more rubber a suit has the more buoyant the swimmer or triathlete will be. With increased buoyancy comes better body position and drag reduction. This ultimately positions a person out of the water and into T1 faster and more efficiently.

Warmth – any wetsuit you purchase should provide you with this. One aspect to address concerning warmth is the inside liner of the wetsuit. It should be made of a non-absorbent material that is somewhat flexible.

Flexibility – a good fitting wetsuit should allow one the ability to take a full stroke. You should also be able to simulate rolling from your core and reaching out to both sides.

ZOOT Sports, a triathlon apparel company founded in 1983, launched their WetZoot line last season. However, they are not your normal “new kid on the block.” The person who was responsible for many of the original triathlon wetsuit innovations and was formerly Quintana Roos’ wetsuit developer/designer is now the brains behind the WetZoot line of triathlon wetsuits. In just their second season in the wetsuit business ZOOT Sports has all the bases covered. The Z2 is offered in a sleeveless version at $190.00 and a fullsuit version priced at $260.00. The Z2 is their entry level suit but still comes with catch panels in the forearm and the same unique stretch cuff incorporated in the high-end Z1. The Z1 also comes in a sleeveless version for $300.00 and a fullsuit priced at $450.00. Most other companies are pricing their high-end fullsuits somewhere between $485.00 - $550.00. At $450.00 the Z1 is just as competitive as any of these other higher priced options.

The 2mm thick stretch of blue material that runs up and down both sides of the Z1 wetsuit is one thing that makes this wetsuit stand above the rest. This allows for full chest expansion, shoulder rotation, and arm flexibility. This one feature is unmatched by any other brand. The Z2 also has this 2mm thick panel down both sides of the suit.

Other key features of the WetZoot line are the specially designed low-rise neck collar made of 2mm neoprene that reducechafing and comfortably seals out water while allowing for full neck rotation. The 5mm thickness found in the torso and legs of the suit ensure a perfect “downhill” body position regardless of head position. The unique stretch cuff on the wrist seals water out of the sleeves while keeping the arms light and high during the stroke. This also eases the removal of the arms of the suit when in transition. The back of the calves are constructed with 3mm neoprene which speeds up removal during transitions and is more comfortable running in and out of the water. Fullsuits incorporate a forearm catch panel that helps the swimmer “grab” more water and lessens the chance of “slipping” through the water.

The entire suit itself is constructed with a lightweight Yamamoto neoprene with hydrodynamic nano-scs coating on the outside. The inside liner of the suit is lightweight non-absorbent polyester that increases flexibility and buoyancy while increasing warmth. Seams are glued and blind stitched providing overall flexibility and superior strength. The protected rear zipper reduces drag while the hook and loop attachment anchors the zipper pull in place eliminating accidental unzipping and also makes it easy to unzip on your way to transition.

Consumers have a lot of options when purchasing a triathlon wetsuit. I have yet to find a consumer that did not want the most for their hard-earned money, whether they are thinking about an entry level or high-end wetsuit. The WetZoot line of wetsuits satisfies this need across the board.

The following table consists of the top of the line and entry level wetsuits that can be purchased here in the state. Click here for the wetsuit table.

Ryan Dolan is a local shop manager, triathlete and former national account manager for a leading swim/multisport company.

Popularity: 13% [?]

The 2006 Scofield Triathlon, under new directorship, was a huge success and an exciting event, complete with a roasted pig at the end of the race! Some of Utah’s fastest athletes showed up to claim the prize purse.

The Olympic race was exciting with Brad Gale first out of the water and an outstanding transition and bike. Heath Thurston was hot on his trail, but Gale kept his lead during the bike. Thurston claimed his victory during the run, beating Gale by a over four minutes.

The women’s Olympic race was won by Rachel Cieslewicz of Salt Lake City, but she didn’t have quite the lead that Thurston did over his competitors. Christy Turnbull was only two minutes and 10 seconds behind.

The men’s Sprint race came down to the last minute. Jared Allen of Kaysville, Utah took the purse with a total time of one hour, 13 minutes and 36 seconds.

Malaika Homo Demolished the women’s Sprint race with a total time of one hour, eight minutes and 39 seconds. Her closet competitor was over nine minutes behind her.

Popularity: 13% [?]

The 2006 Xango Echo Triathlon lured the fastest triathletes in the state with its $3,000 cash prize purse on the line. The majority of the 800+ athletes participated in the July 15, 2006 event for personal glory.

Park City resident, Marcel Vifian stormed the Olympic distance event. Vifian and Tom Thorum distanced themselves from the rest of the field in the water. Vifian was on his bike first after a quick transition, where he stretched his lead to over five minutes. He completed the event in one hour, 56 minutes and 54 seconds – over five minutes faster then race runner up, Michael Nordberg.

The womens Olympic race went down to the wire, with Malaika Homo finishing first. Homo, a Salt Lake City resident distanced herself enough in the swim to hold on for the overall win.

Anne Heiner lost six and a half minutes to Homo in the swim but closed the gap to 37 seconds by the end of the race with the days fastest bike and run splits (1:04:59 & 40:51)

Popularity: 12% [?]

Jonathan Hoskins, RD of the Grand Columbian Tri talks about his race. Click here to listen.

Popularity: 8% [?]

The sport of triathlon is booming. Entry level sprint races routinely have 500+ participants, Ironman events sell out within hours and retail stores have opened that are dedicated to the multi-sport athlete. But beyond the swim-bike-run, beyond the training and dedication lies a serious business. Triathlons now attract major corporate sponsors and events are no longer just a race, but a multi-day experience. Take, for example, the new Lifetime Fitness Series. In 2007, there is $1 million dollars up for grabs for the winner of this new four race series. Ford, the title sponsor of Ironman North America and the Ironman World Championship, now offers a special edition Ironman Explorer. To gain some perspective on the business side of triathlon, I spoke with both Skip Gilbert, Executive Director of the USAT, the sports governing body, and Thomas Miller, Director of Sponsorship for Ironman North America. Below are excerpts from these interviews:

JF: How has the strength of triathlon, Ironman as a brand and the USAT impacted the business of multi-sport?

SG: Our athletes and triathletes in particular don’t focus on one sport but three. This generally attracts the type-A individual who is passionate and committed to defining their core personality by the sports they embrace. Our members are not just successful with these sports but take this characteristic to their professional lives and succeed there. This gives us a great psychographic and demographic profile to bring to the corporate community and allows us to deliver an audience who will be receptive and respectful to companies who embrace their lifestyle. In short, our pool of deliverables provides more opportunities to generate sales and improve the ROI.

TM: There is no question that the sport and the brand have grown in popularity as evidenced by the partnership of Ironman and Ford. While we will never have the participant numbers like some of the marquee marathons what we do have is the demographics in our athlete field that attract major sponsors. In addition to the demographics, Ironman athletes are considered to be significant influencers in their communities.

The recognition of the brand allows me to translate the marketing impact of the brand for our current and potential sponsors. The popularity of the sport keeps the opportunities for sponsorship full.

JF: What makes triathlon such an outstanding vehicle for corporate sponsors?

SG: It comes down to the audience. Our constituents define themselves by the sports they embrace. They don’t have just one uniform in their closet but a full wardrobe for a variety of activities twelve months a year. They travel, live life fully and spend on products that complement their lives. It’s an ideal market for any brand manager whose product aligns with this type of individual.

TM: Ironman has always been associated with best in class, the elite. For any brand that wants to be associated with those qualities and attributes such as Ford, Janus, HSBC, it becomes a perfect fit. The demographics lend itself to a perfect opportunity for brand sharing. There have been several case studies of sponsors that have become part and parcel to the sport. Cervello bikes are a perfect example. They developed a demo program that allowed them to leverage their partnership to get people on their bikes. They quickly rose to be the favored bike at the World Championship in Kona.

JF: What does the future hold for triathlon, Ironman North American and for the USAT?

SG: USAT has recently launched a new magazine and a Grand Prix Series. The driving force behind these or any of our new initiatives is to bring a stronger sense of community within the multi-sport family. The new magazine and a soon-to-launch redesigned website allow USAT to better connect with our constituents and help them better embrace this lifestyle. Our Grand Prix Series helps to inject visible excitement into the distance disciplines by connecting major races around the country into one marketable product.

TM: For the past 8 years, IMNA has been focused on producing the finest swim, bike and run events in the world. We feel in large part we have accomplished that goal. There is always room for growth and improvement which we continually strive for.

The focus of the company now is bringing the remaining elements of the events up to the level that we have achieved with the swim, bike and run. These would include the athlete village, the banquets and how we deliver back to our sponsors.

We are continually looking to technology to enhance the overall experience of the athlete, their families and supporters. An example of this would be the incorporation of Ironman TV in the athlete village.

Jon Fontane is Vice President of Adventure and Endurance Sport for Penfield Marketing Group, a sports marketing agency which specializes in enthusiast recreational activities. jfontane@penfieldmarketing.com.

Popularity: 6% [?]

As a physician, I often hear my patients tell me something to the effect of, “ I could never make it through medial school.” It is true, medical school is tough, but so often, those who tell me they “could never do it” are often the ones I am confident have what it takes, if they would just believe and try. Do you have to have the elite brains to get through medical school? No, you need to have the basic life skills that most of us have, the determination to succeed, and the perseverance to stay the course when it seems most difficult.

I too have been victim to this “I could never do, so I won’t even try” mentality. As I was completing my residency training (the post MD training phase), I was 35 pounds overweight, and had not exercised regularly in about 10 years. My weight had gradually increased since finishing high school and I had never been able to drop a pound. I felt any athleticism in me had died.

Then the gauntlet was thrown. Several of my runner co-residents challenged us all to run a half marathon. I still remember clearly saying, “I could never do that, I’ve never been a runner. I can’t run more than half a mile.” However, I decided that I would try – that I would take that first step.

A good friend of mine, a triathlete, was a great support, full of encouragement and advice. He had all the right tips to get me started and keep me going. “Don’t increase by more than 10 percent per week, or you’ll injure yourself.” “It is better to do 15 minutes than nothing at all.” “Week six after starting is tough and you’ll want to quit – don’t.” “Make sure you get out and run in the week after your first race, so you don’t gall off of the wagon.”

With his guidance and with serious effort on my part, step by step, my miles did increase. And I felt the joy of running three miles, four miles, five miles, six miles for the first time ever! Me, the non-runner! Gradually, the “I can’t, so I won’t try” mentality was starting to change.

With each success, I gained more confidence to try new races. Eventually, I had to try a triathlon because I remembered watching the Hawaii Ironman as a child and thinking it was the ultimate athletic event. My first triathlon, a local sprint, was very tough. I was dizzy and nauseous getting out of the water, and just sat next to my bike in T1 for a few minutes while the debate raged in my head, “Should I pack up and go home, or get on the bike and ride?” The nausea cleared enough that the “Keep trying, get on the bike and ride” side of the debate won out. T2 went smoothly enough, but I soon learned that running after swimming and biking is much harder than running fresh, and again I thought, “Just quit, or walk. You can’t do this.” Luckily, the “Keep trying, keep putting one foot in front of the other, keep running” thoughts won and I finished the race. I was instantly addicted to triathlon. The most exciting step in triathlon may be the one that takes us across the finish line, but perhaps the most important step is the one in our minds when we decide that we will try.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Athlete Dies at St. George Triathlon

Triathlete Chris Eborn passed away at the St. George Triathlon on Saturday, May 13, 2006. Eborn, a Kaysville, UT resident was near the end of the 800 meter swim when he suddenly stopped. Rescuers quickly pulled Eborn from the reservoir where event medical staff attended to him.

A memorial fund has been set up for the family at Zions Bank. More information about Eborn and the memorial fund can be found by visiting www.christophereborn.com.

Xango Echo Triathlon to Benefit Hess Cancer – Offers Utah’s Largest Elite Purse

TriUtah’s Xango Echo Triathlon, held on July 15, 2006, will benefit the Hess Cancer Foundation. This will be the second year the Echo Triathlon will benefit the foundation. The Hess Cancer Foundation provides financial assistance to families that have lost a young child to cancer and promotes fitness as a way to fight and prevent the disease.

The race will also offer a $3,000 prize purse. Athletes racing for the purse will be entered into an elite wave at each distance.

More information about the Xango Echo Triathlon can be found at www.triutah.com. Information about the Hess Cancer Foundation can be found at www.hesscancer.org.

Popularity: 19% [?]

Hey there TriGuys and TriGals. I’d like to spend a few moments to talk about an often neglected part of a training regimen, “mental training.” We all know how important it is to train for the swim, bike, run and even the transition, but we seldom spend time on mental/emotional training. Here are few fundamentals on how to begin your mental training:

1. Address Your Fears – Coming up with a list of unkown factors is a good way to ease some of your fears. Some questions you may ask yourself follow: Will the race day be hot or cold? Will someone show up to the race that I would consider my main competition? Will the lake be choppy or calm? How many racers will be in my age group?. While it is good to consider some of these fears, you should only be concerned about things that are within “your” control. You cannot control the weather, or who shows up, or how many other racers are there. As long as you have trained smart, you need to focus only on “you” and try to have the best race that “you” can.

2. Practice Visualizing – Visualizing can help to calm your pre-race nerves. By simply “previewing” the race in your mind, you can ease some anxiety about the flow of the race, the transitions, etc. One way to visualize the race, is to go to the lake and check out the starting area either the night before or morning of the race. When you do this, picture yourself entering the water (nice and calm), and beginning your swim. Then, in your mind, swim out to, and around the buoys. Then picture how you want to look and feel coming out of the water. Once you’ve exited the water, visualize running into T1, then jogging out with your bike, and hopping on for your ride. The same goes for the biking leg, T2, and the run. Rehearse the entire race in your mind before you actually race it.

3. Deal with Pre-Race Stress – Pre-race stress can significantly affect our attitude and interactions with others. It took me a couple of years and a few memorable discussions with my wife to realize that I am often “on edge” right before a race. Sometimes my pre-race stress occurs two days before a race. Othertimes, it occurs the night before a race, or race day morning. One way to combat pre stress, is to warn your family and friends of your pre-race behavior and ask them in advance to forgive you if you do anything unusual. Everyone gets a little uptight on race day, I recommend that you learn to deal with this stress and understand it is normal to feel uptight before a big race.

4. Demonstrate Race Day Toughness – How often do we say “I could have pushed it harder on the b or the run,” or, I can run a45 minute 10k while training, but I fall apart during a race.” We seem to always overanalyze our performance after a race. This is all a part of the learning process. So, take what you’ve experienced from previous races and learn from them! Don’t beat yourself up over them! Simply move on.
Remember, it’s not about the race, it’s about the journey. Mental training will help you whether you are training for your first sprint, or your 5th Ironman. The great thing about this sport, is that you learn more and more about yourself everyday. As you keep learning, you will gain more and more confidence that will help you shine. After all, you are a Triathlete!

Happy Training,

David Pruetz, C.F.T.
USA Triathlon Certified Coach
Owner/Coach, In Training LLC
www.intraining.biz

Popularity: 11% [?]

Click HERE for photographs of the 2006 Xango Echo Triathlon.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Click HERE for photographs of the 2006 Scofield Triathlon.

Popularity: 12% [?]