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Posts Tagged as "Triathlon"

Technique vs Strength – Off Season Training for the Triathlete

Now that we (in the Southern Hemisphere) are currently in our off-season phase it is good to know what to do and how to go about it. Most people think of off-season as gym time. Make me strong… but here’s some useful advice.

 

Much has been said about weight and strength training for triathletes, yet there are no conclusive studies which could confirm any schools of thought regarding this matter.

 

Strength is obviously important in any sport, but a big muscle is not necessarily a strong muscle. In endurance, efficiency is key and one of the best ways to develop efficiency is by developing the correct technique and maintaining that technique during fatigue and exhaustion. Once again, some say that there is a correct technique which should be employed by anyone wanting to achieve better results, whilst there are others that say technique differs fairly extensively from individual to individual and there is no one specific technique to be employed.

 

The only way to find out for yourself is to test the various theories. This is what off season training should be used for. Developing the correct technique by conditioning the correct muscles to perform the required movement is key. Often with a change of technique comes pain. But this is not a bad thing. Pain is there to teach us. (Sounds a bit like something that would be said in a depression session) The reason for the pain could simply be a result some muscle, ligament and/or tendon doing something it has never done before. It is therefore advisable that you target that specific area and develop the muscles involved in the movement as may be required.

 

Certainly during this technique development phase, or technique perfection phase for the more seasoned athletes, exertion is not advisable. Remember you are performing a movement which you have not done in the past. Even if it is something minor there will still be smaller muscles getting in on the act. Off season is for technique and developing strength in the areas that need it most.

 

Now I’m not saying that you must ignore your strength training, but as it has been said before (most recognisably by Pirelli Tyres), “power is nothing without control”. Develop your power whilst ensuring that you maintain the correct technique. BUILD SLOWLY. The longer it takes to acquire something, the longer it takes to lose it. Be patient. Avoid injury.

 

Ensure that you can maintain your perfect technique when you are tired as well as when you are at full throttle. Yes Iroman athletes, speed work is a must for you too; well that is if you want to go faster.

 

So in summary: use your off season to develop your technique and strength. The two go hand in hand. If you feel pain, stop. Think about what caused it and fix it. It could be poor technique or a weakness in an area which is required to perform whilst employing the correct technique.

 

Either way technique is vital to the endurance athlete.

 

Once Inspired talks to Top SA Age-Group Triathlete, Bradley Weiss

Bradley Weiss is an up and coming age-group triathlete from Cape Town, South Africa. Having qualified to race in Spain at the World Cross Triathlon Championships after a good race at Xterra South African Champs Brad managed to finish second in his age group (20-24) at the South African National Triathlon Championships and qualified for World Champs to be held in Beijing, China later this year. I talk to Brad about the past season, training and the races ahead.

Brad’s strongest discipline is the run – SA Triathlon Champs

Q: In the southern hemisphere the season runs pretty much from September to March for Olympic Distance racing, with a few off road tri’s and sprint races in the mix, what is your main focus for the 2011/2012 season.

BW: Currently my main focus is on the World Cross Triathlon Championships to be held in Spain during April this year(2011) which is an off road triathlon consisting of a 1km swim 20km mtb and 6km trail run. This will be my last race for the 2010/2011 season after which I will take a few weeks break just for the mind and body to fully recover from a long hard season. During winter I will be competing in a few local events but just to keep the body in good form leading up to the World Triathlon Championships to be held in September 2011 in Beijing, China. This will be my main focus for the year unfortunately taking place at the beginning of our 2011/2012 season.

Q: How do you think the variation in season between the Northern and Southern hemisphere affects the performance of the respective hemisphere’s athletes? I mean, for you, your first race of the season will in effect be world champs, whereas for the European, and other Northern hemisphere athletes, World Champs will be their final race. Their entire season build up to World Champs.

BW: Currently I believe the timing is very unfair towards the Southern Hemisphere AGE GROUP athletes because having World Champs at the beginning of the season will not allow you to be at your peak performance for which is ultimately the most important race of the year. However, having World Champs at the end of the European summer will not affect the performance of ELITE athletes from the Southern hemisphere as many of them spend the Southern hemisphere winter in Europe to race as well as train.

Q: After your success at Xterra you qualified to race ITU offraod world champs in Spain. Talk us through your preparation?

BW: Shortly after finding out that I had been selected for the South African age group team travelling to Spain in April I had a serious meeting with my dad to discuss how I would be approaching this year’s racing and which races would be my focus. Travelling abroad is very expensive and therefore careful planning and budgeting as well as a well planned training program is required. Together we decided that attending the world off road champs in Spain would not only be a great experience for me in which I could learn valuable lessons in my build up to Beijing but also a good way to get more exposure for not only me personally but also my current sponsor Saucony. Since December 2010 I have been working with my coach and well known SA triathlete Hendrik De Villiers, he has been working hard on not only my swim which still leaves much to be desired but also my speed on the run. Swimming has never been a strong point of mine but since working with a coach gradual progress is being made. My hope is that after a few good hard winter months of swimming I will finally be able to stay with the likes of Nic Muhl (That’s me) over a 1500m swim. Thankfully the world off road champs is only a 1000m swim which means that although I will be losing time to the leaders it will not be so big a lead that I cannot close them down on the bike. As far as the mountain biking is concerned I have recently purchased myself the Cube PRO series which is a phenomenal piece of engineering. I have never felt so confident on a bicycle in my life. No matter how hard you push the brilliantly designed dual suspension system takes any terrain in its stride. The only complaint I would have on the bikes performance is the climbing abilities, I myself am a climber due to my light 64kg body but I still do find myself struggling up big climbs due to the weight of the bike. From a preparation Point of view I have put my road bike away and only been riding my new mountain bike. I have spent many hours fine tuning my technical skills in the mountains of Stellenbosch (Jonkershoek). I have also been doing 2 track sessions a week in order to improve the speed on my run because of the short course at worlds. The 6km run will be a flat out sprint to the end and I need to ensure that I have the speed in my legs to last that distance. On the 17th April I competed in the I-flex Momentum duathlon series held in Cape Town, Zevenwacht. It was a 5km trail run 30km mtb 2.5km trail run. All the top dogs were there fighting it out for the podium positions. I managed a 4th position only 1min30 back from top SA triathlete Kent Horner which was an awesome result for me and gave me great confidence heading over to Spain.

Q: I know from personal experience that sponsors are hard to come by in triathlon; and even for big events, prize money is relatively low. What is your take on the involvement of sponsors in triathlon in South Africa?

BW: Without sponsors the sport of triathlon in South Africa would unfortunately die out. We have seen significant growth within the last few years in our sport but in order to sustain that growth it is vital that sponsors continue to provide the funding to race organisers.
From a personal point of view i am very luck that i have a very supportive father who is willing to contribute towards my expenses while I develop as an athlete. Personal financial sponsorships are extremely difficult to find as the return on investment is not very high when sponsoring an age group athlete. However, without sponsorship it would be impossible to compete as a full time professional triathlete and therefore these sponsors are out there and it is up to us as athletes to prove to them that an investment in us is well worth the initial costs. This is one of the main reasons I am travelling abroad this year not only for the experience but also for the exposure I can get for my sponsor.

Q: What do you do to maintain balance? Surely you can’t race and train all year round? How do you maintain your sanity?

BW: I am currently studying my honours in management accounting through UNISA which keeps me very busy during my free time between training sessions. A normal day for me would be to wake up at around 6;00-6:30 depending on what session I have in the morning. Then I eat breakfast, do my first session, eat again after, study for a few hours, eat again, complete my second session of the day and if there is any time left in the day try to squeeze a bit more studying in. As you can see this keeps me pretty busy so losing my sanity is not an issue plus I really enjoy my training. I also enjoy a good party every now and again as we all do I am sure. I am not the biggest drinker but a cold beer after a hard race cannot be beaten. Other interests of mine include water skiing, wakeboarding and a good game of beach touch rugby. Between all of this i manage to stay pretty level headed, I think.

Q: The off-season for South African triathletes (other than those competing on the international circuit or some other foreign circuit) has pretty much started. Is there anything specific you do in your off season?

BW: I am a pretty young triathlete so during the off season i must give my body a rest to avoid injury and keep the passion alive for the sport. I normally do a few single discipline races running, cycling, open water swimming etc. This winter i will be focussing all my attention on swimming because it is by far my weakest discipline. Gym work also plays a big role in my off season just building up strength that is usually lost throughout a long hard season.

Q: Talk us though your preseason preparation?

BW: My preseason preparation normally consists of building a good solid base for about 2 months after which i slowly begin increasing the intensity of my sessions building towards my first race as well as my first peak of the season. Depending on how big your base is will determine how many times in a season you can peak which means that a good base training phase is vital for any competitive athlete. This year may be different because i not only have a coach who will bring his own ideas to the table but i also have to ensure that i am in peak shape for worlds.

Thanks Brad

BM: Shot Nic

Ironman Distance Race in Cape Town: Challenge Cape Town

Okay now this sounds like something AWESOME. Perhaps I should do it, not to race but just because it is a once-in-a-lifetime!

Challenge Cape Town is an iron-distance triathlon based in the heart of one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Cape Town! The swim starts a stone’s throw from the city centre at Granger Bay and follows a 3.8km course in the heart of Table Bay. The unique cycle leg is a single-lap 180km ride from the breath-taking views from De Waal Drive on the slopes of Table Mountain, to the Constantia wine lands onto the culturally-rich township of Khayelitsha along the Indian Ocean coastline and up the famed Chapman’s Peak back to the transition.

The run heads up the arterial road of Kloof Nek to Table Mountain, down into the magnificent beach suburb of Camps Bay and then follows a two-looped run along Cape Town’s beautiful Riviera on the Atlantic Seaboard with the finale in the Cape Town Stadium precinct.

The 226km scenic course offers all the attributes that has made Cape Town famous.

Go to the Challenge Cape Town Website

SA Triathlon Champs 2011 – Age Group Race

The South African National Triathlon Championships (SA Tri Champs) took place in Port Elizabeth 20 March 2011.We were greeted by fantastic weather in an unusually windless Port Elizabeth (also known as “the windy city”). A sea swim, a flat bike and flat run is what lay ahead of us.

 

19 Degrees Celsius of Indian Ocean swept up the beach as we gathered for the start. The swim saw a single lap of what felt slightly further than the standard 1.5km.

I had a fantastic start, much to the thanks of my lifesaving background. I got into the water first and slowly managed to ease my way ahead of the rest of the field.

Unfortunately organisation was poor and I was forced to try spot a red and white buoy bobbing in the ocean up against a harbour backdrop. Why was there no lead out? Luckily I found it early and the fact that I can swim straight without a line below me does help somewhat.

 

There was no wind and not much swell, but it was still a sea swim and I thrived on that. How I love a sea swim. Heading back to the beach I managed to find some help from the odd swell. However one white feather banner and a small yellow buoy placed in the surf line with nothing other than a golden beach behind meant that it was rather tricky to find the correct line back to the beach. Once again, poor organisation; simply a lack of experience is my guess.

 

Once I stood up in the surf line I had some lunatic mother (not my own) screaming at me to go around the buoy which was now 100 to my right and slightly behind me. I was saved by the starter who directed me around the feather banner on the beach. Why oh why would we need to go around that yellow buoy? I mean, what, was I supposed to do a full 360 degree turn around it? Some people lose all sense of logic when things get exciting.

 

Exciting it was though; I was first, 50m ahead of the next triathlete. My TYR Hurricane Category 5 certainly had some part to play. Definitely!

 

A run up the stairs, off the beach and into transition, off with the wetsuit, on with the helmet and out onto the bike course. It felt really good to be leading. There was absolutely no one ahead of me. Not even the lead out. That’s because there wasn’t one. “Eish!”

 

(Now you might think I’m moaning but what I’m really hoping for is that some rich person or someone who works in the marketing department for some huge financial institution or FMCG brand reads this and decides to sponsor… please.)

 

I was caught just before the turn of the first lap on the 2 lap bike leg. The turn was tight and for some reason the first 200 metres or so after the turn was the hardest part of the race. Possibly a combination of the rough road and the false flat had something to do with it.

 

It wasn’t long before I was passed by a few big names going very fast on very nice bicycles. Having said that though I do happen to ride a very nice bike myself, a Ceepo Venom to be exact.

 

I got off the bike somewhere around 10th I’d imagine but I wasn’t feeling great. A slight niggle in my back kept leading me back to memories of the worst run of my season up until this day.

 

I donned only the greatest pair of running shoes to ever grace my feet, the Saucony Grid Type A4.

 

I was nowhere on the run.  I had nothing. My back was pulling and my legs just weren’t doing what I knew they could. There’s nothing like having your worst run of the season at the national championships. I was so disappointed that I considered selling my bike and just giving it all up. I plodded on discouraged and hating every step of that run.

 

I eventually finished 36th or so overall. A far cry from leading, but such is the nature of triathlon. It can be brutal.

 

Well done to all who competed and achieved their goals. I’m holding thumbs that I have reached mine. I’ll keep you posted on Twitter – www.twitter.com/nicmuhl.

 

Until next time, I’ll be running.

Saucony Type A4 Review

The Saucony Type A4 is essentially the perfect triathlon running shoe. Super light at 189g, they are quite simply the best shoes I have ever run in.

Yes they are great looking shoes and very comfortable, but there’s little doubt that they were designed purely for speed. For more leisurely runs I use my Kinvaras (See my Kinvara review here).

 

The Saucony Type A4 is truly fast and although I may have mentioned that already it’s really no understatement.

 

There are also a number of features which give this shoe a certain edge over other racing flats. The sock liner is soft and tight which makes these shoes a pleasure to run barefoot in. As a matter of fact, out of more than 20 shoes I have tried, these are the first that I can run in without getting blisters or drawing blood. That alone is enough to get my excited. However they also have the “hydrator” pad inside the top of the heel which prevents the back of the shoe from slipping. This also means that your laces don’t need to be as tight. Looser laces mean it’s easier to put them on… faster.

The only thing that doesn’t work for me is the elastics which keep the tongue in place. I simply cut mine out because I got blisters thanks to my wide mid-foot.

 

Other than that, these shoes are absolutely perfect racing flats and possibly even more perfect for triathlon use. I can’t fault them… now that I’ve cut the elastics out.

Garmin Warm Water Weekend 2011

The Garmin Warm Water Weekend, hosted by Electric Ink, is a weekend packed to the rafters with good food, great people, spectacular scenery and racing like nothing else. Yes it’s competitive and the racing snakes really show their fangs at the tri, but at the same time everyone is chilled and plodding at West Coast pace.

The concept of the weekend was envisioned by Paul Ingpen, owner of Electric Ink. His idea of a weekend away that embodies family, fun, racing, nature and all things that make people like me tick, is something that I was honoured to be a part of.

My old man and I were lucky enough to each win an entry at WP tri champs for the fastest combined blood relation time.

It was the second running of the Garmin Warm water Weekend and it rolled out a little something like this:

Friday night: Registration and dinner at Geelbek restaurant

Saturday morning: Triathlon at Kraalbaai – 2km swim, 60km bike, 12km trail run.

Saturday post tri: Lunch at Preekstoel

Saturday afternoon: Guided nature walk through the reserve

Saturday evening: Dinner and prizegiving at Geelbek followed by Marshmallows over the bonfire.

Sunday morning: 7km or 14km trail run followed by a 24km MTB a while later

Sunday afternoon: Lunch and the final farewell

Although many shy away upon first look at the cost, R 1650 for 3 race entries, 2 dinners, 2 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 2 night’s accommodation is VERY well worth it. Did I mention that each meal is practically a 3 course meal? Oh, and did I mention that each meal is a buffet? Ya, now you sorry you missed out. That’ll taught you!

The West Coast National Park has the most bird species in the Southern hemisphere and 2 out of the 12 species of tortoise, of which 1 can only be found in this park. Eland, Kudu and Zebra represent only some of the game roaming freely around the reserve.

If I could explain how spectacular this place is I would, but I fear my writing skills may bring a significant injustice to this special place so here are some pics that may give you a better idea.

Now I was planning on including a full race report but I’ll rather just give you a slight overview of the racing.

Graced with the presence of Dan HugoLieuwe Boonstra and Raoul De Jongh, who each made it onto the podium, in that order,  this weekend is an absolute must. And getting to know the previously mentioned is an added bonus.

First out the water was Richard Murray, looking sharp in his TYR Hurricane wetsuit despite getting soft, racing in a team with his girlfriend, Natia Van Heerden (Perhaps it was simply a Valentines gesture?) He was followed out of the water by Dan Hugo and Lieuwe Boonstra. It was then myself followed by Raoul.

The bike course was up down, up down; nothing big at all, just a lot of up and down. I slight breeze kept things cool as we all took in the beauty that lay around us, Atlantic Ocean to the right and the green Langebaan lagoon to the left.

First off the bike was Dan Hugo on his Specialized Shiv, next off was Lieuwe Boonstra on his “never-ridden-before” Orbea Ordu. Raoul De Jongh was next in on his Ceepo Katana followed by myself on the Ceepo Venom. A special mention goes to Brad Weiss who had the bike of his life on his Kuota.

The run took us towards the beach and shortly after I was  passed by Rohan (Spellcheck) Kennedy, Brad Weiss and Tristan Kelly, we all took a wrong turn, a shortcut to the beach if you will. Paul Ingpen assured us of firm sand. Some laughed, some cried – the sand was soft up to your shins. Either way, the view was well worth it. I took a breather atop the dunes as I somewhat perversely gazed on the perfection that lay before me. Untouched beach and air fresher than the Dan Hugos lead.

That was the triathlon. The following day brought with it a trail run and mountain bike. There was no racing though. It was just friends enjoying what can only be described as bliss.

I could get into more detail but I’d really prefer you to be there next year. I guarantee you, you will not be sorry.

Strength Training for Triathlon

Strength training is severly underated by most triathletes. Here a great article by Matt Dixon.

Regarding the value of strength training as it applies to endurance sports, and to provide a valuable response I should clarify exactly what I think of when discussing strength training. I think there should be very little debate as to the value of strength training in improving endurance performance—this being specific exercises and movements that improve stability, mobility and functional strength that directly correlate to movements made in your core sport (swim, bike, run). Functional strength is one of the four pillars of performance I base my training philosophy on, with the other three being the core sport, recovery and nutrition.

These four pillars are ranked equally in importance for every athlete and provide a balanced approach and platform from which to make gains. I would, therefore, argue that functional strength is critical throughout the season—not just in the offseason (or pre-season as I call it). The preseason is a perfect time to make functional strength your priority and to set you up for next year.

Let’s begin our discussion on functional strength by identifying what it isn’t. A proper functional strength program does not entail hours and hours of heavy lifting at the gym with traditional exercises such as bench presses, leg presses and bicep curls. While these types of activities have a place in health and fitness, it is highly questionable as to how they relate to endurance performance, and the vast majority of athletes I work with can achieve proper stimulus and benefit by using their own body weight.

Functional strength is not simply a series of static abdominal exercises and core work, such as crunches or situps, which have value as preliminary exercises and rehab but will not provide optimal performance gains in endurance sports.

To be truly effective, functional strength training should include these characteristics:

Lateral and stability training: Exercises should work on the stabilising muscles in the lower back, abdominals and hips, with plenty of focus on lateral movement. Triathlon is predominantly linear in nature so training with lateral exercises will help provide support, prevent injury and allow you to maintain your form and biomechanics when fatigue sets in.

Functional exercise: Many of your functional strength exercises should directly correlate to movements you will make in the core sport(s). Movements should be dynamic and teach you to engage the prime movers in the exercise in conjunction with the core muscle groups in the abs and lower back.

 

Graded unstable environment: As you progress in any exercise you should be able to evolve the exercise to be done in a less and less stable environment. Simply engaging muscles in a stable movement pattern will have nowhere near the benefit or correlation to the real world. This being said, it is critical to progress only when  you have mastered the proper movements in the more stable environment. I am often amazed at how many people are keen to complete the most advanced exercises before mastering the simple ones.

 

Mobility: Endurance sports are not simply about pure strength. Functional strength should include exercises that aid in strength through movement patterns correlating to the core sport, as well as aiding continued improvements in mobility and range of motion at the joints. A perfect example is the anchor of running: the hips. For our runners and triathletes, hip mobility is a central focus, with the aim of maintaining and improving strong but mobile hips. To achieve proper muscular recruitment and biomechanics, the hips have to move freely without restriction. A proper functional strength programme will provide specific strength but also improve mobility.

You can add tremendous benefits to your training and performance by creating space in your training schedule for at least two functional strength sessions a week. Notice I did not say “add in two sessions.” These sessions should be as much of a priority as your core sport, and the long-term gains are huge.

Whatever approach or system you employ to aid functional strength, it is a worthy component of every training plan. Functional strength exercises prevent injury, increase body awareness and control, improve power production and are a great platform for improved biomechanics. Don’t take this part of your training lightly—it is as important as any swim, bike or run.

Taken from http://triathlete-europe.competitor.com

Triathlon Reaches Unprecedented Audiences

Triathlon is being watched and enjoyed by more people around the world, according to the International Triathlon Union’s 2010 television audience statistics released today.

A significant gain in ITU’s television reach in 2010 from the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series underscores triathlon’s continued growth. This increase was achieved despite airing one less event in 2010 compared to 2009.

In all 556 hours of ITU’s events aired in 2010, up from 350 hours in 2009. Television contacts* also rose dramatically with 323-million per event in 2010 compared to 262-million contacts per event in 2009.

“People are drawn to triathlon because it’s exciting, looks spectacular on television and is a true lifestyle sport that is within everyone’s grasp, regardless of age or gender,” said Marisol Casado, ITU President and IOC Member. “Through increased television audiences and unprecedented participation at all levels, we can see that people relate to triathlon, which fuels the sport’s continual growth.”

Other highlights include:
- Broadcasts in 149 countries
- Live broadcasts in 24 countries
- 728,000 spectators on-site
- 21,000 athletes in mass-participation races

In 2011, ITU’s seven World Championship Series events will be broadcast live to a worldwide audience. Next year’s Series will include the official test event for the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 6-7 and will conclude with the Grand Final in Beijing-site of the 2008 Olympic Games-on September 10-11.

Triathlon has been on the Olympic Games programme since Sydney 2000. Earlier this month, paratriathlon was added to the Paralympic Games for Rio 2016.

Taken from http://triathlete-europe.competitor.com

WP Triathlon Trials 2010 Race Report

Greeted Saturday morning by a fresh South Easterly in Langebaan, the WP Triathlon Trials took to the West Coast resort of Club Mykenos. The only change to the race saw the 4 lap bike course as a welcome relief for some.

Lined up and ready to go, the 2 lap swim in the harbour is a water (wet) start. With all the big names at home I thought I’d have a go. I had a fast start and managed to pull ahead. With choppy water I knew the conditions suited me more than anyone. I exited the swim with a 2min lead. My TYR Hurricane Category 5 had a lot to do with that performance.

Out onto the bike I felt great. The first 5km we had the wind at our backs before turning around and heading straight back into it to complete lap 1 – Stew Rew (Simply Store) in second, Brad Weiss (Simply Store) in third and Brendan Lowen (Inov-8) in fourth.

It certainly didn’t take Brendan Lowen very long to bike holes into everyone. When I grow up I want to bike just like him.

Off the bike and into T2, Brendan must have come in around 30sec behind me.

A very hilly 3 lap run a touch short of 10km lay ahead of me and victory, but with my running confidence a little dented due to a minor injury keeping me from getting any meaningful running in leading into the race, I knew this hilly run course was the perfect opportunity for Brad “Mountain Goat” Weiss to make things happen.

It didn’t take Brendan very long to catch me and open up a descent gap.  Having experienced some back discomfort (I suspect lack of hydration on the bike) I faded fast. Brad caught me very close to end of the run and I finished third (Brendan first, Brad second). Although I comfortably won my age group I know had I felt better on the run I could have contested for the win but yes, that’s how it goes – lessons learnt and opportunities identified to go even faster.

Full results still to come.

See you at champs!

TYR Hurricane Category 5 Review

Spoilt by TYR 5 days ago I will now be racing in the TYR Hurricane Category 5 wetsuit. This wetsuit is absolutely amazing. The technology is fantastic and so is the fit.

The tapered neck is a winner. Nice and low, and unlike other suits with low necks, this one actually seals, and very well.

The panel layout is simply genius. Adding bouncy in all the right places and flexibility where you need it most. Sure, part of the plan is to add bouncy but unlike a lot out there, TYR has taken this one step further and has paid attention to body position. By placing certain panels in certain places, and by using a combination of various thicknesses TYR really have developed the perfect wetsuit. TYR have called this clever bit of technology the 360° Core Stabilization System and it goes a little something like this:

“Five core stabilization panels precisely target the muscle groups to elevate the swimmer ensuring optimal body position and preservation of core strength over the long-term of the swimming race.”

Most wetsuits on the market certainly help with bouncy but how about shape?

Another thing that stood out for me was the Form Fitting Wrist Cuffs – “Multi-stretch cuffs at the wrist allows powerful strokes while keeping water from entering the suit.”


 

Also, the Free R.O.M Zones work very well too. These are panels specifically placed eliminating constriction and allowing the swimmer to achieve a long reach while placing no strain on the shoulder.

 

And the final stand out:

Quick Release Ankle Cuffs – “Tapered legs allow the ankle of the suit to reverse and open for a quick and effortless removal during T1”


 

I guarantee you that none of the above is any form of marketing, smoke or mirrors. It’s genuine and it seriously makes a significant difference.

I actually needn’t say anything more. The TYR Hurricane Category 5 is phenomenal. It will make you swim faster. What more do you want?