Friday, November 30, 2012

Come Swim With Us in Austin


We're packing our bags and heading to Austin, TX next week for The Running Event, the nation’s premier conference for running specialty retailers. It's a show we all enjoy because of it's relaxed feel and the wide range of both retailers and vendors who attend. If your heading to the show please stop by our booth (#1368) on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday to see the latest in triathlon wetsuits, apparel, swim wear and accessories. While in town we'll also be holding demos of our Helix wetsuit at the iconic Barton Springs pool in conjunction with Jack & Adams, one of the premier multisport specialty retailers. We're getting up early for these and will be at the pool from 6:30 to 7:30 so if you're heading to this show we'd love it if you joined us for a swim. Anyone in Austin your more then welcome to come as well.

“We’re really excited about this demo,” said USA Country Manager John Duquette.  “It gives anyone the opportunity to experience the speed and comfort of the most sought after suit in the sport.” 

blueseventy wetsuit demo
Wednesday, Dec. 5th & Thursday, Dec 6th  
6:30 AM – 7:30 AM
Barton Springs Pool
2201 Barton Springs Road
Austin, TX 78746



Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Swimming In Kona


We had some fun with a GoPro camera in Kona. 
Music: Sander van Doorn & Adrian Lux - Eagles

blueseventy backs talent pool for Rio 2016


Recently retired swimmer Rebecca takes a look at blueseventy’s British future pool stars for Rio 2016 after a controversial BBC article questioned the potential of British swimmers to better the medal total of London 2012.

Swimmers across the UK were left defending their sport yesterday after a questioning article was posted online by the BBC. The article titled 'Can British Swimming rise again after the failure of London 2012?' discussed how Team GB "flopped in the Olympic pool" after winning just three medals - that's more than at Barcelona, Sydney, Athens and Beijing. Somebody should redefine failure!

David Bond, the BBC Sports Editor who wrote the article argues that Britain's young swimmers do have the potential to outperform their 2012 counterparts in Rio 2016. In fact, blueseventy is already seeing many of the its up and coming swimmers stepping up and filling the vacuum left by those swimmers retiring after the 2012 Olympics. 

Among the swimmers in the blueseventy talent pool is sixteen-year-old James Guy from Millfield School. Guy, who will be 20 in 2016, won a bronze medal at the Junior European Championships in July and has recently improved his personal best times. He is now ranked third in the UK for 200m and 400m freestyle (SC) just behind two Olympians, including Robbie Renwick who is more than seven years his senior. Guy looks on track to reach Rio in 2016 and this weekend goes to Brazil to swim for GBR at the School Games. “Competing in Brazil will be great experience, there’s been such a buzz after the Olympics it’s made me realise how much I want to be at Rio 2016. Over the next few years I want to win European Juniors and medal at the World Youths, and hopefully make the Commonwealth Games team. It’s hard work, but achieving goals makes it all worthwhile, and the support from blueseventy is going to help me do that," said Guy.

The BBC article also discussed how the 'home advantage may have become home disadvantage' despite being the biggest participation sport in the UK, swimming is virtually ignored by the media except for that one month every four years when British swimmers become dazzled by the flash flood of fame. As well as providing its swimmers with material support in the form of kit,  blueseventy  hopes the promotional work with our athletes will give them valuable media experience over the next few years that will help them deal with the pressure that swimmer Rebecca Adlington said she struggled with in London and Beijing.

Adam Barrett
Adam Barrett was talent spotted by blueseventy in September and has already come along leaps and bounds. It seems the laid back butterfly wonder from Loughborough University won’t be shaken by the media in Glasgow 2014. “I'm a very relaxed person; I don't tend to let a lot of stuff bother me, which is ideal when an important race is coming up. Nerves aren't really an issue, I just tend to look forward to it more than anything," he said. 
Is this the attitude that the media expect from all our swimmers? If so, they should know Barrett is a rare breed in the pool and this could be his secret weapon over the next few years. His incredible work ethic and relaxed attitude has just won him a place on the British team for the Flanders Swimming Cup next year, and already this year Barrett has won two titles at the British University and College Championships (BUCS) and won titles at the Masters National Championships, breaking British records in the process.
Georgia Davies
blueseventy’s own Olympian is the fierce Welsh backstroker Georgia Davies, whose impressive technique and composure leaves many in awe and she has already won a Commonwealth medal in 2010 at Delhi. Her persistence and determination paid off again in March 2012 when she qualified for her first Olympics in London.  Next month Davies travels to Istanbul for the World Short Course Championships, and after storming her way to two convincing wins with some solid early season times at the BUCS Championships, she is confident ahead of the event. “I was pleased with how I raced at BUCS considering how early it was in the season, and especially as I haven’t even started any speed work in training yet! I wanted to work hard in the heats because I need to practice swimming fast in my morning swims, so when it comes to the international meets like world short course, I can progress further through the rounds. Istanbul should be good but tough, hopefully I can race well and reach a final.”
blueseventy’s other Commonwealth hopefuls for 2016 include breaststroker Rory Pardoe, all round expert Ross Muir and butterfly specialist Alys Thomas. We will be keeping you posted on their progress through the season, but if you’d like to keep up with them on Twitter you can find them here:
@Ge0rgiaDavies90 (Geogia Davies), @Adam Barrett92 (Adam Barrett), @jimbob95goon (James Guy), @SwimRory (Rory Pardoe), @ross1muir (Ross Muir), @alys_thomas (Alys Thomas).
To find out what on earth all the fuss is about the BBC article, you can read it in full here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/swimming/20400810.
For more information on the FINA World Short Course Championships, visit: http://www.wscistanbul2012.com/.
We’d love to have your feedback on this article, and what do you think the next generation of British swimmers are capable of at Rio 2016. Leave your comments below!

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

For those attending Ironman Arizona...

... don't miss an evening with 70.3 & IRONMAN World Champion Leanda Cave!



The event is this Friday, Nov 16th from 6:00-7:30 at TriSports.com's new Tempe location just minutes away from the Ironman Arizona transition area. Try the CaveBerry-tini signature cocktail, along with some fresh delicious berries courtesy of Driscoll’s, and other tasty treats! Leanda will be raffling off her (thoroughly cleaned) championship race kit with all proceeds benefitting the Blazeman Foundation. Other raffle items will be provided including the popular Transition Bag from blueseventy! Raffle tickets will cost $5 each.

Friday, November 2, 2012

Benson reflects on 2012



British triathlete Gordon Benson has just competed in New Zealand at the ITU World Championships where is finished fifth. He caught up with us on his return, looking back at his year on the international triathlon circuit...

“It's that time of the year again, the season’s over and it’s time to reflect on the past year.

I had a relatively poor start to the year, I finished 5th in a European Cup and 14th at European Champs in Eilat. Whilst this isn’t horrendous, being the competitive person I am I had just expected better from myself.

Feeling a little disappointed with my results at these events, I decided to go through some things with my physio and we put my performance at these events down to a sudden growth spurt. Thanks to him and the team, we worked on it and I was able to turn my season round.

I also missed racing in May and June due to my exams, but we have to get our priorities straight and make some sacrifices, right...  After exams, I went on to race here and there around Europe, and I was able to secure a win and a silver in the European Cups and 29th against an elite senior field in Paris, only really missing the Brownlee's.

Most recently last weekend, I was in New Zealand to finish off at the World Champs. I went into it hoping for a medal but said I'd be disappointed if I didn't get top five. In the end I came away with 5th, so I can't complain too much but I'm never happy! Although having a 10th and a 5th at World Championships, we're going in the right direction for my last race as a junior at the home World Championship in London next year.

In the swims this season I've just been getting myself into a high position round the first buoy and, providing I'm on good feet, I'm usually happy to sit on the leaders feet rather than on the front, saving energy but holding a high position.

Marc Austin is very strong in the water, he races in a Helix as well and we normally use each other in the swims, having been out together in Portugal, Israel, Czech Republic on the swims.

This has obviously worked because I've featured well in many swims this season, including second out of the water in the European Champs and two European Cups, as well as third out at the World Championships.”

Congratulations to Gordon for this season, we’ll look forward to seeing you first out of the water soon!

Follow Gordon on Twitter: @gordonjbenson