subject: Orca Wetsuits, The Key To Your Triathlon Success [print this page] History of the Triathlon History of the Triathlon
Seeing as they're barely a hundred years old, triathlons are still a fairly young event. The sport has its roots in 1920s France. Back then, the French took part in what was called les trois sports. Although the event is proved to have consisted of a mix 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 concept of combining the three sports into one significant test of endurance. The event took place in Mission Bay, San Diego and had 46 participants. It was comprised 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, an argument started. Participants argued about which of the three sports required the most endurance. US Navy Commander John Collins, familiar with the race in San Diego, declared that the case ought to 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 was 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 finished one after the other.
In the past, racers wore the most basic gear when taking part in the event. Due to breakthroughs 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 he stumbled upon the realisation that the wetsuits he used for racing were not right. He then set up shop in Auckland, and began developing his concept 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 could be linked to their cutting edge materials and design. Among their list of valued clientele are triathlon legends Hammish Carter, Craig Alexander, Cameron Brown, and Chris McCormack.
These athletes have recognised that success in triathlons don't depend on endurance alone, but in the right gear also. Aspiring or experienced triathletes who want to mirror the success of legends should recognise this. Proper gear contributes to the making of a successful triathlete.
