Suunto Blog

“The appeal of freediving is how different it is to any other sport. The fact we’re completely immersed in liquid; a single breath, the weightlessness, the absence of sounds, the dullness of the colors... everything is subtracted,” says freediver William Trubridge. "It’s a completely different experience to life in the air element. When I'm diving it feels like I'm being accepted into the ocean." Trubridge, 35, is a multiple record-breaking freediver who has a natural affinity with the depths of the ocean. He is the first person to dive to 100 m without assistance. The ocean and its depths are as much William Trubridge’s home as his life on land. Born in Britain, the first few years of his life were a nomadic existence sailing around the world on his parents' yacht before the family settled in New Zealand. He learnt to swim at the age of 18 months, and was freediving to 15 m by the age of eight, competing with his older brother to see who could bring back a stone from the deepest depth. But it was not until he was 22 that he discovered freediving was a sport. Since then, Trubridge has broken numerous freediving records, including in 2010 becoming the first person to break the hectometer; diving to 100 m without assistance. His immersion in the aquatic world has made protecting the ocean a lifelong passion for Trubridge. In 2015, he launched the Plastic Challenge, a global campaign to raise awareness about the problem of seaborne plastic pollution. The campaign motivated people all over the world to clean up their local beaches and waterways. Trubridge is also a vocal ambassador of a NABU International campaign to save the critically endangered Maui and Hector dolphins. For much of the year he is based in the Bahamas, where he trains at Dean's Blue Hole, It is also the location of Suunto Vertical Blue, one of the largest freediving events in the world, which Trubridge organizes. Although considered the world's best 'no-fins' freediver, Trubridge is also a multiple record holder in 'Free Immersion', where divers descend pulling on a rope. In 2011 and 2012 he received the World's Absolute Freediving Award (WAFA), which ranked him as the world's top freediver.  RECORDS: Constant Weight No Fins (CNF): 101m Free Immersion (FIM): 121mCheck more at www.aidainternational.org/competitive/worlds-records  Watch Face to Face with Will Trubridge, #SuuntoAdventure Video Series Episode 4

High profile aero wheels used to be regarded something that were mostly used in time trials and triathlons. But in recent years aerodynamics and aero wheels have taken off in road cycling as well. Decrease in aerodynamic drag and increase in speed are a welcome addition to any cyclist. Aerodynamic drag is the main form of resistance working against a cyclist. The benefits of being more aerodynamic are most obvious for fast riders but it helps in slower paced riding too as more time will be spent in the wind. The most effective way to decrease your drag is to optimize your riding position on the bike. A reduced frontal area will increase the speed – and save you energy. On the equipment side one of the most important ways to improve aerodynamics is to use high-performance aero wheels. Wheels play a key role in aerodynamics since the front wheel is pushing through the air first. Its shape is complex. The most crucial part of the aero wheels is the height of the rim as well as its width and overall shape. The profile of the rim smoothes the air coming around the tyre and rim. Basically the higher the profile, the less drag the wheels produce. For this reason full disk wheels are the most aerodynamic – and the fastest. However, disk wheels are more difficult to use in cross winds. The rim height and profile are not the only components affecting the aerodynamics of a wheel. A wheel is an entity where every component from rims to spokes, hubs and tyres have their own role and effect on performance. The overall rim-tyre shape improves the riding characteristics of high profile wheels in windy conditions. When both together are forming a perfect airfoil shape (NACA profile), side wind resistance is reduced and stability improved. This makes 60 mm tall rims pretty easy to ride in much more conditions than one would think. A great example of this is Mavic’s integrated wheel-tyre systems. They smoothe airflow around the tyre and wheel, and improve streamlined airflow at every yaw angle.   Mavic Cosmic CXR 60’s unique CX01 technology unifies the rim and tyre together, saves time and watts in every condition and provides high stability in crosswind. Their 60 mm wind tunnel optimized rim profile with extra-light carbon rims fitted with Yksion CXR tyres enable a very dynamic ride.     Action images: © Loris Von Siebenthal / Mavic

After 114 days, averaging an incredible daily distance of 47 km, Suunto supported athlete Patrick Sweeney has reached Boston, completing his epic run across the USA. You might expect Patrick Sweeney to be taking it easy on his native Manhattan Beach in California after just finishing a run across the USA. Patrick went through one pair of Luna Sandals and two and a half pairs of shoes. © Lee Shelly But one week after completing the 5400 km journey from west to east, the 36-year-old is competing in a 50 km race, and only the first of his race season. When you’re feeling as good as he is, why not? In the last week of his run across the country he felt so good he had to slow down so he could meet up with friends and supporters. “When I scaled back I had strange feeling of guilt, like I should be out there doing more miles,” he says. He remembered to shave on the first day of his epic run. © Patrick Sweeney Patrick started off his adventure running a marathon a day. This increased to about 64 km and his biggest day was 84km. Running was so much a part of his waking life that it crept into his dreams. “I’m having running dreams very similar to the kind you have as kid when it's summer holidays and you dream you’re late to school or missed a test,” he says. “When I close my eyes I feel like I'm still out there on the road. “Part of me wishes I was, but I’m also happy to be home and excited to start my racing season.” Pennsylvannia was one of nine states he ran through. His run across the country was to raise money and awareness for the 100 Mile Club, a cause close to his heart. The non-profit organization encourages young people to run 100 miles a year, with the aim of improving their fitness, learning and self-esteem. As a child, Patrick had a bad diet and was overweight. Now the healthy vegan believes adults should teach kids it’s not about being the best or coming first, but about making positive life decisions that add up, one by one. “All in all I raised ten grand for the cause, but more importantly I hope I inspired some kids and adults to be more active, to go after their dreams and dare to try something they could fail at,” he says. “I didn't know if was going to succeed and I did.” Running on the shoulders of busy highways were the only times he felt stressed. Out on the road, Patrick learned to appreciate the small things in life, such as a good meal, a helpful stranger and the group of friends supporting him on the journey. When the weather turned bad or his feet hurt, the mostly barefoot runner kept himself motivated by living in the present moment, embracing each new obstacle as an experience he might never have again. “I learned to deal with whatever came up and I will be a better runner in the future because of it,” he says. After leaving Los Angeles on January 16 and running through nine states Patrick arrived in Boston on May 9. “Every state I ran through had it's own charm,” he says. “I think the hills of Virginia were the most beautiful and the people of Mississippi were the most kind.” A quiet day on the road; only 42.8 km! © Patrick Sweeney

It was a unique coming together of western explorers, locals and traditional hunter-fishermen. Four members of the Under the Pole expedition team, five young Inuit from the Uummannaq Children’s Home and two accompanying teachers were guided by Inuit hunter-fishermen on a 600 km dogsled adventure beyond Greenland's northern most territories. First ice camp. © Lucas Santucci/Under the Pole They learned how to manage a dogsled pack, how to go fishing on the ice to catch a feed for the pack, how to create a warm tent with reindeer skins and even a Greenlandic card game or two. The team, in return, guided the Inuit on their first ever dives beneath the ice. Ghislain Bardout guiding teenager Nukaaraq under a glass ceiling. © Lucas Santucci/Under the Pole Poor weather and a lack of snow this winter, however, nearly scuttled this last stage of the expedition. Exposed surface ice is abrasive to the dogs’ legs. Too little snow also means a lack of an easy water source. Fortunately conditions improved and the party set off north into the magical landscape between mountains and ocean. They traveled by dogsled for eight days, sleeping in hunting cabins or in tents on the ice, learning about traditional Inuit ways. 12-year-old Miannguac sitting by a fishing hole to catch dinner for the dogs. © Lucas Santucci/Under the Pole Whenever possible, the team encouraged the hunters and young people to dive. “I was really impressed by their ability to adapt to the situation,” says Ghislain Bardout. “The way they moved under the sea ice despite the fact some of them can barely swim. “After several dives, the most adventurous moved 10 m away from the hole and enjoyed observing the sea bed, fish and ice ceiling. “Our objective was achieved; the young people became explorers of their own environment.” All the young sub ice explorers and divers received certificates. © Lucas Santucci/Under the Pole Main photo: © Lucas Santucci/Under the Pole

'Caveman Conrad Stoltz is expecting to set some important firsts in 2015. In the next month the four-time winner of the XTERRA World Championships and Olympic triathlete will become a father for the first time. It means he will be racing less in 2015. But does that mean he’ll lose his fiercely competitive edge? Hell no, he says. In fact, this year he expects to gain an edge. Conrad says 2014 was the toughest year of his sporting career. © Lighttrapper Photography Having a child means another first; he’ll be staying put in South Africa for his first winter – anywhere – in 23 years. He’s been following a summer racing circuit since 1992, racing in the US and Europe over summer, then returning home to South Africa for its summer. “It’s been one long, extended summer,” he says. Constant travelling to races around the world can be thrilling, he says, but also stressful and disruptive for high-level training. “I think being based here is going to add a nice new dimension to my racing,” he says. “I will be fresher and better prepared because I’ll have my regular massage and my regular training venues.” Caveman hopes staying based this year will improve his performance. © zooom.at/Markus Berger He hopes this year is better than 2014, which he describes as the most challenging year of his entire sports career. Flat tires in races, sickness, falling down a flight of stairs before a race, injuries – lots of annoying little mishaps plagued his 2014. “Being a professional athlete is such a roller coaster ride,” he says. “The highs are really, really high and the lows and really, really low. “You need a special personality to cope with that.” You have to have strong character to be a professional athlete, Conrad says. © zooom.at/Markus Berger This year, however, will be different. Conrad has a quiet ambition for 2015; four and four. He’s won the XTERRA World Championships four times and the ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships three times. He'd be pleased to make it an even four and four. “This year the Cross Tri champs are being held in Sardinia,” he says. “I’ve been looking at the maps and it seems the race suits me quite well.” Off the race circuit, Conrad is also working on one business project he says will revolutionize the way sport coaching is conducted online and on another project running events specifically catered to kids. This year will also be the last year he will race professionally, Conrad has announced. Becoming a father of a baby girl, desiring more family time, writing an autobiography, riding his motorcycle more often all mean it's time for the 41-year-old to ease up on the gas pedal. Will he continue training and pushing himself after professional retirement? You bet it. But just for fun. This year he aims to make it four and four. © zooom.at/Markus Berger

Transvulcania was her first trail running race of the season and only one week after her last ski mountaineering race. Before the gun fired, she wasn’t even sure if she’d finish the 87 km, 8,500 vertical meter race across the volcanoes of La Palma, Canary Islands. But from the start to the finish, she had the lead, giving no quarter to her rivals. Emelie won the race in 2013 and again this time.  Read more about Emelie Forsberg here. “I took this race as a first approach to the trail running season after a long winter, and couldn’t have imagined this result,” she says. “As always, running Transvulcania is magic, with all the ambiance and the people cheering you during the race.” A great performance for her first race of the trail running season. © Selu Vega-Transvulcania The race began in the dawn light at the Tazacorte Lighthouse from where runners must climb an iconic lantern lit path leading to Los Canarios village. Emelie severely injured her hand in this section during last year’s race. She began cautiously, but this gave way to confidence, and she decided to seize the lead. It was a good call as it gave her time to take it easy through the section from Pico del la Cruz to Roque de los Muchachos where many runners suffer from high temperatures. “I haven’t had much training on high temperatures, and I was just skiing last week, so I knew the climb to Roque de los Muchachos would be the worst part,” Emelie says. “Fortunately my team told me I had a good advantage over the second girl so I was able to relax a bit and not get dehydrated.” The rest of the race went smoothly and she crossed the finish line in Los Llanos de Adriane with a time of 8h 34m. Suunto ambassador Ryan Sandes was also taking part, but had to pull out of the race due to severe cramping. “I am disappointed but this is part of being an athlete,” he posted online.