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Since Utah is having its first “women’s only” triathlon on May 20th, it seems fitting to write this month’s gear review on a women’s-specific training product. Now, I know there are bikes out there with women’s specific geometries and wetsuits specifically patterned to fit a woman’s body. However, this product review is not only geared toward a training device or article of clothing designed for women, but on a company that encourages an overall positive outlook on women being active and feeling good about themselves during activity.

By the way, guys, though this gear review is not a product you can use, your should still read it – especially if you have a special female in your life that joins you…or, as is often the case, kicks your butt in the pursuit of a happy, healthy endurance lifestyle.

This month’s gear review is on products developed by the company SkirtSports, a company founded by professional triathlete Nicole Deboom in 2005. Now fondly recognized as the “HeadSkirt,” Nicole focuses her energies on designing and selling lifestyle fitness wear featuring pink-based fitness skirts. I had the privilege of meeting Nicole at the 2004 Ironman Hawaii when she was sponsored by TYR, the company I was then working for. Nicole is one of the most down-to-earth and outgoing people I have ever met. These positive character traits are evident in the company’s culture and approach to their customers. SkirtSports considers themselves to be more than a clothing company. Their focus is on the way you feel about yourself, the smile you crack when you pull on a skirt for a workout. It’s about how you hop out of bed so you can get your run done before the kids wake up, and finding other people who make fitness a priority and sharing the fun with them. And finally, it is about the feeling of accomplishing something you never thought you could.

As you might guess from the name, SkirtSports’ primary products are exercise skirts. Several skirt options are available. With colors like Blue Hawaii, Daiquiri Ice, Flirtini and Smooch, you are bound to turn heads in these fitness skirts! Several of my favorites are highlighted below.

The Marathon Girl is a 12” skirt built with a seamless TRIKS spanky or mesh brief style panties that fit like a glove. The Marathon Girl is available in SkirtSports traditional “Speedsilk” fabric as well as a new “CoolMax” version for 2006.

The GymGirl is probably the most versatile of the skirt options. GymGirl is a 13” skirt, again made with Speedsilk fabric. However, the GymGirl has a 3.5” mesh compression shorty built into the inside of the skirt. The GymGirl also has an interior pocket for your MP3 player, complete with a hole for the headphone wires to be threaded through.

The TransitionGirl is described as the perfect skit to cover your “hiney” during the bike and/or run leg of any triathlon or training excursion. It has a back stash pocket for your race-day nutritional needs and is easy to put on during a transition – just wrap and velcro and you are ready to roll.

The BikeGirl skit is patterned after the GymGirl with the added feature of the TRIKS chick chamois pad sewn into the mesh shorties. A soft silicone gripper holds the leg in place and a side mesh stash pocket is included for your storage needs. It should be noted that this skirt has a low rise waistline resulting in less irritation from the waistband running against your stomach.

Other products available from SkirtSports include fitness bras and CoolMax fitness ntees, because you need a top to match your skirt, right?! They also offer a bike jersey, technical socks, and visors.

A new addition to their product line for 2006 is the Marathon Dress. Be sure to check that out.

Some key notes about the fabrics used by SkirtSports follow:

• SpeedSilk, the “outer” fabric used on most of the skirts, is: - 80 percent Nylon/20 percent Spandex blend – similar to most of your current triathlon performace apparel
- Very light-weight and airy
- Moisture wicking

• TRIKS Mesh, the material that makes up most of the “inner” liners of the Skirts is: - Close knit mesh that provides a “barely there” sensation without being see-through
- A fabric that stays in place during activity
• CoolMax is featured in the MarathonGirl skirt for added moisture wicking benefits

SkirtSports’ Web site, www.skirtsports.com, provides a great introduction to the company. It also gives you detailed information about the girl gear it produces, including help for guys who want to purchase the right skit for their active companion. The Web site also offers monthly newsletters, a skirt forum, customer comments, and dealer information for a store near you who has jumped on the SkirtSports bandwagon. You can also learn about Nicole and the SkirtSports team.SkirtSports was the official sponsor of the 2006 Boston Marathon and will be sponsoring Utah’s first women’s only triathlon held on May 20, 2006. Women, try one of these skirts to add a new twist to your workouts!

Ryan Dolan

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