Facts about Triathlons and Triathlon Gear
History of the Triathlon
Seeing as they’re barely a century old, triathlons are still a relatively young event. The activity has its origins in 1920s France. Back then, the French took part in what was called les trois sports. Even though event is proved to have consisted of a combination of swimming, cycling, and running, it is not clear if they were always done in that order.
In 1974, running enthusiasts Jack Johnstone and Don Shanahan set up the basis for the modern triathlon. Together, they came up with the idea of combining the three sports into one significant test of endurance. The event happened in Mission Bay, San Diego and had 46 participants. It consisted of 6 miles of running, 5 miles of bicycle riding, and 500 yards of swimming.
Two years later, during the awards ceremony for the 1977 Oahu Perimeter relay, a disagreement started. Participants fought about which of the three sports demanded the most endurance. US Navy Commander John Collins, informed about the race in San Diego, asserted that the argument should be resolved in that manner. Collins came up with the total distance for each event and stated: “Whoever finishes first, we’ll call him the Iron Man.” Today’s ultimate endurance event had been born; the Ironman Triathlon. Today, the event continues to consist of 2.4 miles of swimming, 112 miles of biking, and 26.2 miles of running all carried out one after the other.
In the past, racers wore the most basic gear when taking part in the event. Thanks to developments in science and technology, triathlon gear today are not what they once were.
History of Orca Wetsuits
In 1992, a former New Zealand triathlon champion by the name of Scott Unsworth retired from the sport due to a back injury. Upon retiring from active training for the events, Unsworth became a swim coach. It was during this time that he came to the realisation that the wetsuits he had for racing were not appropriate. He then set up shop in Auckland, and started developing his idea of the “speedsuit,” the prototype of the Orca wetsuit.
Due to the success of his wetsuits, the company chose to branch out in 1996. Today, Orca supplies triathletes with not only premium, high quality wetsuits, but other triathlon gear as well. The growth of the business can be linked to their cutting edge materials and design. Among their list of valued clients are triathlon legends Hammish Carter, Craig Alexander, Cameron Brown, and Chris McCormack.
These sportsmen have acknowledged that success in triathlons don’t rely on endurance alone, but in the right gear also. Budding or experienced triathletes who would like to mimic the success of legends should understand this. Proper gear contributes to the making of a successful triathlete.
Natasha Dale is a sporting goods store owner who has sold orca wetsuits to numerous athletes. For more details on how these may help your training regimen, please find out more on high5.
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