Suunto Blog

© Max Romey/ Wandering Fever When Rickey Gates visited his home town in Colorado recently he bumped into a high school friend who ran in the same cross country team. Now assistant professor of aerospace engineering at University of Maryland College Park, Mike Otte’s eyes lit up when Gates told him about his new running project – to run every single street in San Francisco in six weeks. “I should have known by his reaction right there that this is not a simple problem,” Gates says. “It’s a complicated problem. I’m learning that now.” Photo by Robert Bye on Unsplash Like all big cities, San Francisco has a dense grid pattern of streets. The planning challenge is working out how to run them all, while minimising repetition. Get that wrong and the distance quickly increases. Otte has helped calculate and plot the complex route. The total distance is about 2000 km, not including all the doubling back and forth required for Gates to accomplish running every single street once. Adding to the challenge are San Francisco’s famous hills and crazy streets. So far he’s covered about 650 km and nearly 20000 m of climbing. “I haven’t even hit the biggest hills and the steepest streets yet,” Gates says. “It’s a big project. I greatly underestimated the challenge of efficient route finding. Hours are spent trying to figure out which way to go. Fun none the less though.” © Max Romey/ Wandering Fever Gates got the idea when he came to the end of his epic run across the United States last year. He started in South Carolina and finished in San Francisco, where he has lived off and on for four years. When he ran into the city he realised its immensity. “It occured to me that knowing a huge country, and to cross it, is one thing, and knowing a city by really immersing yourself in it is a completely different thing,” he says. “That’s when I came up with this idea to run every street in this city I’ve called home.” To prepare for the project he gained extra weight, which he lost in the first week of running. Into the second week now, pounding the pavement every day is taking a toll on his body. But the hardest thing for Gates is staying patient. “I have to remind myself it just takes time ticking off the miles,” he says. “The biggest difference between the run across the country and this run is when I started my run across the country I couldn’t see the other side. Every single day here I’m looking at the immensity of this project and it’s important to keep in mind that I hope to do this in about six weeks, and to not get overwhelmed by the size of it.” © Max Romey/ Wandering Fever Gates isn’t the first person to run every street in San Francisco. Runners have done the same thing in other cities, too. However, Gates hopes his effort inspires others to get out to explore their cities. His high school running coach has got on board, and is now running all the streets back in his hometown, a total distance of about 320 km. To encourage people to get out and explore their locality, Gates is going to give away one of his Suunto 9 watches. To have a chance, run every street in your neighborhood, town, city by December 15, and tag Suunto, Salomon and #everysinglestreet on Instagram, and he’ll choose a winner. “It really opens your eyes to the place you live. I think that’s the most magical part about it.” Lead image: Photo by Robert Bye on Unsplash

Cartophile (map lover) and long distance hiker and biker Jean Hacquart grew up in the French Alps using paper maps, and ordinarily prefers having one in his hands when he’s navigating in wild and remote country. “I grew up with paper maps, my father teaching me how to read and to use them when we were hiking together,” he says. “There is something I love about the feeling of having them in my hands.” But some adventures are too long, too big, to carry a bevy of maps. That’s why for his latest epic adventure travelling the length of New Zealand one way by foot, then back again by bike, he’s using a Suunto 9 to do the job. Hacquart’s adventure begins in November 2018 and ends in April 2019. Follow his adventure on Instagram. It’s important to remember Hacquart’s decision isn’t a good idea for everyone. New Zealand’s vast mountain ranges and forests are places to treat with caution and respect. Rapid weather changes, and remoteness can catch people out. River crossings are the most dangerous factor in the outdoors, along with the risk of falling. New Zealand’s Department of Conservation recommends having maps and a compass when entering its national parks, and knowing how to use them. Good quality topographical maps are available online for free here. Having grown up in the Alps, Hacquart has experience with wild places. In 2016, he hiked the rugged 4300 km Pacific Crest Trail in the US. Paper maps were his navigation tool of choice. “I didn’t think twice and carried paper maps all the way,” he says. “With them and my old Suunto watch with a compass and a barometer, I was confident and efficient. But I was really heavy too.” To reduce his weight for his New Zealand trip, Hacquart tried to find a three-in-one device, and found it in a Suunto 9. Specifically designed for long distance adventures, the 9 is Suunto’s latest top line adventure watch. “It’s a GPS to follow the route I planned at home on my computer,” he says. “It’s a barometer to know the altitude and when the weather is changing, and it’s a compass to be sure to follow the right direction, even if I don’t have GPS reception. “I also needed a tool that was light, easy to use, weatherproof, with an amazingly long battery life. Not that easy to find!” Hacquart has been testing his Suunto 9 over the last few weeks before his departure to New Zealand. He says it exceeded all his requirements. “It’s a super reliable device and I never run out of battery during my multi-day hikes,” he says. “So goodbye paper maps, I am fully confident to begin my new project with it on my wrist. Let the adventure begin!”

The Western States 100-Mile Endurance Race is the world’s oldest 100-mile trail trace race, bringing hundreds of athletes together each year to navigate the challenging route across the Sierra Nevada Mountains, from Squaw Valley to Auburn, California. With over 18,000 feet of climbing and nearly 23,000 feet of descent, the race has become one of one of the ultimate tests of endurance in the world. “Western States is one of the most highly regarded ultramarathons in the world and we are honored by the opportunity to connect with a wonderful race community,” says Suunto Americas Marketing Manager Caleb Whittle. “Given Suunto’s heritage in navigation as well as the ongoing success of our Suunto 9 sports watch, this partnership is an ideal fit,” says Caleb. In the Suunto 9, Western States athletes have one of the ultimate timepieces available to ultra-distance runners. Highlights of the Suunto 9 include customized battery settings and 120-hour battery life, as well as the unique FusedTrack technology, which improves GPS accuracy while extending battery life. What does the ultra-running community mean to you? As the exclusive sports watch sponsor for the California event, we will grant one lucky winner a coveted place at the 2019 start line and a Suunto 9 watch through the fan-generated #SuuntoUltraCommunity contest, which runs through November 8 – 27, 2018. To participate in the contest, Western States hopefuls should post a photo on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter with a caption describing what the community of ultra-running means to them, along with the hashtag #SuuntoUltraCommunity. In order to qualify, all entrants must meet all requirements to run the Western States 100, including having finished a qualifying race and applied for the lottery by November 10, 2018. The winner will be announced at the lottery drawing on December 1, 2018. All images by: Luis Escobar Social Media Terms and Conditions There is no purchase necessary to enter this contest; however, participant must be willing to pay the race entry fee ($450USD) upon announcement (see wser.org for more information) By entering this competition, an entrant is indicating his/her agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions. The contest will be run on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter Only one entry will be accepted per person. The contest is open to citizens of the Fifty United States and the District of Columbia, Denmark, Germany, Spain, France, Norway, Finland, Sweden, United Kingdom, Russia, Canada (excluding the province of Quebec) Japan, Australia, Austria and New Zealand. Closing date for entry will be November 27, 2018. After this date the no further entries to the competition will be permitted. No responsibility can be accepted for entries not received for whatever reason. The rules of the competition and how to enter are as follows: Post an image on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter of your interpretation of the community of ultra-running In the caption/description, explain what the community of ultra-running means to you Tag @Suunto and use the hashtag #SuuntoUltraCommunity Suunto reserves the right to cancel or amend the competition and these terms and conditions without notice in the event of a catastrophe, war, civil or military disturbance, act of God or any actual or anticipated breach of any applicable law or regulation or any other event outside of the promoter’s control. Any changes to the competition will be notified to entrants as soon as possible by the promoter. Suunto is not responsible for inaccurate prize details supplied to any entrant by any third party connected with this competition. The prize is as follows: One (1) entry into the 2019 Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run and one (1) Suunto 9 Watch. The prize is as stated and no cash or other alternatives will be offered. The prizes are not transferable. Prizes are subject to availability and we reserve the right to substitute any prize with another of equivalent value without giving notice. The winner will be chosen by a panel of Suunto employees The winner will be announced live during the Lottery drawing on December 1, 2018 and on the WSER website no later than 2pm PST on the same day. Suunto’s decision in respect of all matters to do with the competition will be final and no correspondence will be entered into. By entering this competition, an entrant is indicating his/her agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions. The competition and these terms and conditions will be governed by United States of America law and any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the United States of America The winner agrees to the use of his/her name and image in any publicity material, as well as their entry. Any personal data relating to the winner or any other entrants will be used solely in accordance with current US data protection legislation and will not be disclosed to a third party without the entrant’s prior consent. Entry into the competition will be deemed as acceptance of these terms and conditions. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Twitter or any other Social Network. You are providing your information to Suunto and not to any other party. Suunto shall have the right, at its sole discretion and at any time, to change or modify these terms and conditions, such change shall be effective immediately upon posting to this webpage.

Eating well is essential for athletes. The bigger your goal, the more nutrition has to play a central part of your training plan. Take shortcuts on how you eat, and you’ll eventually pay for it. But the topic of diet, what we should and shouldn’t eat, has become touchy and confusing. There are all sorts of diets out there – paleolithic, vegan, gluten-free, low carb, high carb – each one with advocates claiming their way is the one true way. Matias Anthoni prefers a common sense approach to nutrition. “Nowadays it’s become a big topic, and everyone has his or her own opinion, and it seems hard to find the real truth,” says Matias Anthoni, Suunto’s in-house personal trainer. “It’s become trendy to follow a kind of diet.” Anthoni, 26, has a Bachelor in Sports and Health Promotion, and gives nutritional advice to Suunto employees, as well as personal fitness training. He takes a simple, “nonsectarian” approach to nutrition, rather than buying into the hype of one diet over another. “As long as you get the nutrients it doesn’t really matter what diet you follow,” he says. “You can teach your body to thrive on different diets. The body is quite adaptable. But we do need certain basics. The question I always ask is, would my grandma recognize it as food?” Here are Anthoni’s five down-to-earth tips for good nutrition: 1. Start with your meal rhythm This is the first topic Anthoni’s raises with his clients during a consultation. Just improving how often you eat can improve what you eat. Many of his clients skip meals or have long breaks between meals; this results in blood sugar levels dropping, then tiredness, and then cravings and impulses for unhealthy snacks.“With a more steady meal rhythm you avoid big spikes in the blood levels, make better decisions, and are less likely to just reach for a chocolate bar,” he says. Meals should be about three hours apart, and consist of a good breakfast, lunch and dinner, with smaller, healthy snacks in between. “It leads to healthier choices and you’ll have more energy,” Anthoni says. 2. Plan ahead “You can’t be a top athlete if you are eating poorly; it’s not just about training, it’s about eating as well,” Anthoni says. “It really helps if you plan your meals like you plan your training. Know what you are going to buy and know what you are going to make. When you come home from work, or after a training session, it’s all ready to go.” 3. Follow the Nordic plate model Anthoni says in Finland there’s a traditional “plate model” or a way to divide your plate into three sections: one half should be salad and vegetables, one quarter should be carbohydrates, and one quarter protein. This balanced plate ensures you will get enough of all the key nutrients. 4. Eat quality food Quality can seem like a vague notion, so Anthoni recommends a common sense approach here, too. “Have a look at your plate – are there all the colours – red, green, yellow?” he asks. “Are you eating the same thing every day?” Anthoni suggests finding and following basic nutrition guidelines. “They provide a good start, and then make small changes to fit yourself from there,” he says. 5. There’s no one size fits all diet Deciding what to eat depends on your goals. “The more you move the more you need,” Anthoni says. “If your goal is building muscle mass, then you need more protein. If you are an endurance athlete, eating enough carbohydrates becomes more important. There is no one size fits all, no one plan can fit everyone. You need to have your own plan.” Lead image: Photo by Roosa Kulju on Unsplash. READ MORE Fuelling the engine: talking nutrition with ultra runner Lucy Bartholomew Fuelling the engine: talking nutrition with triathlete Mel Hauschildt

We are committed to protecting the environment and preventing pollution in our operations. "Our guiding principles are the use of sustainable materials, reduction of waste, reduction of energy consumption and co-operation with the supply chain to foster human rights and working conditions," says Erika Rautavaara, Sustainability Manager at Suunto. The most visible part of the responsibility are, in fact, our products. "We only design and manufacture durable devices that can be used for a long time in very demanding conditions. In addition, all our equipment can be repaired, and maintenance and repairs can be easily done anywhere in the world. This is very exceptional in the world of electronics."   Juha Ala-Laurila, Dive Business Unit Director at Suunto, points out that responsibility work is a never-ending task. "We are on a path that goes forward and changes its shape as the world around us changes." Right now, we are expanding our responsibility operations beyond the limits of our own business. "The plastic waste in the oceans is a huge problem, and, as a part of the diving community, we want to be involved in solving it," Juha says.   Mission 2020 sets targets We participate in Mission 2020, a global initiative by organizations within the diving community to change their business practices in order to help protect and preserve the oceans for the future. Every company in the Mission 2020 community has agreed to make a binding commitment. "Suunto commits to minimizing single-use plastics in the packaging and to select durable materials to ensure a long lifetime for products and capability for maintenance. We also commit to optimize deliveries and compensate carbon emissions from all deliveries. Through our certified and audited environmental management system we are and continue to be committed to save our common playground," Juha says. With a primary focus on single-use plastic, the project sets ambitious short-term targets of changes to be made before World Oceans Day 2020. "In the future, all our actions, operations and messages must be environmentally credible", Juha says.   Net-zero is not enough Divers see the damage caused by human activity on the ocean environment more clearly than anyone else. Many divers are also committed to solving the problem. One of them is Suunto Ambassador Jill Heinerth, a pioneering Canadian-American underwater explorer and filmmaker. She says that diving companies have a unique opportunity to lead the responsibility work by example in their daily practices. However, diving companies have also more wide-spreading opportunities. "Diving companies meet new environmentally-curious customers every day. Dive briefings can have an environmental message, and manufacturers can employ responsible packaging and process ethics. It is not just enough to talk about "net-zero" carbon impacts. We have to lead with net-positive actions," Jill explains. "If we all talk about those efforts and recognize organizations that have a good ethic, then we can spread the word. Education, process and activism are all important prongs in the environmental ethic."   Daily choices affect ocean health The problems associated with plastics, climate change, and water quality are massive. "But I have to believe that we have hope to turn the tide. We don't have the luxury of time anymore. Action has to be swift and bold. Every consumer needs to downsize and vote with their wallets. Whether that means buying local, reducing packaging or making product choices that support the environment, every action will help," Jill says.   In her projects, Jill Heinerth has studied the importance of water to all of us. "The most important message that I want to convey is that the issues we see in the ocean are connected to our everyday lives. Everything that we do on the surface of our landscape will eventually affect our water systems including the ocean. Choices we make in our daily lives affect ocean health. The effort to using fewer drinking straws is admirable, but it is just a start. We need to seek out alternatives to any plastics and move to use natural, biodegradable products as much as possible, even if they are more expensive. We need to lose the love affair with the golf course style lawn and stop using fertilizer, pesticides, and insecticides on the ground as much as possible. Those materials soak into the ground and flow toward water bodies creating massive algal blooms that kill wildlife and sicken people just like we are seeing in Florida right now."   www.IntoThePlanet.com www.mission2020.org All images: © Jill Heinerth READ MORE Ocean plastics are a problem and no one knows better than divers Under thin ice: Jill Heinerth captures climate change

© Jukka Saarikorpi Surgeons and specialists who’ve carried out 12 operations and other procedures on 27-year-old Gemma Smith since a car crashed into her have been astonished at how quickly she has recovered. Smith believes it’s in large part due to the massive kindness and support she has received from the diving community. Fellow divers, for example, created a fundraising page for Smith to help her with her long recovery. At the time of writing they have raised nearly $10,000 USD. Click here to support Gemma. “The biggest thing I want to say to everyone is thank you,” says Smith, the first woman to dive the world famous Antikythera Shipwreck. “The support I have received from all over the world, from many people I’ve never met, has been so mind blowing. It’s beyond what I could have ever imagined.” © Nina Baxa When an elderly man died of an aneurysm at the wheel while driving in the Faroe Islands in March this year, his foot slipped on to the accelerator and the car veered off the road and into Smith and her friend as they were walking home from the shops for a movie night together. Thrown four meters by the impact, Smith, lucky to have survived, woke up in hospital, completely unaware of what had happened. She suffered a bleed on the brain, a broken neck, a broken coccyx, both legs and both feet broken. With two e coli infections, Smith nearly lost a leg. Doctors doubted she would walk again, let alone don scuba gear and drop underwater. But Smith is walking again, going to rehabilitation twice a week, and training to fulfill physical requirements set by doctors before they will allow her to dive again. Her determination is unshakeable. Listen to Gemma talk about why she dives in the video below Smith started diving when she was 17. Since then, this is the longest she has gone without a dive, and it hasn’t been easy accepting that. “Not being able to dive is like losing a limb,” she says. “It’s not just that I’m missing my hobby, but part of me is missing. I'm really lucky, and I will never forget how lucky I am, but at the end of the day, my overriding goal and aim is to get back in the water.” The harrowing experience, the loss of her ability to dive, the outpouring of support she has received from the dive community, has shifted Smith’s vision of her future as a diver. Diving will always be her life, but now she wants to focus on sharing diving with people who could really benefit from its healing qualities. “When something this random and out of the blue happens, you definitely reassess what’s important and what’s not,” Smith says. “Whereas before the accident diving was driven solely by exploration and discovery, what I wanted when I was lying in hospital for weeks was simply to get into a swimming pool and just have that quiet. “I learned to appreciate that more than I had done before. “My focus right now is to look at how to help people with PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) or who have been in horrible accidents, or had horrible experiences, through diving. I want to give people the opportunity to experience the wonder, freedom and calming influence that diving can bring to your life.” Over the next year Smith’s plan is to get dive fit. First it will be a single tank dive in a pool. Then baby steps from there. And despite a warning from a neurosurgeon not to start anything new, Smith couldn’t resist beginning a degree in archeology. “I thought, ‘if I can't dive, this is not the end for me, I'm going to come at it from an archeological point of view’,” she says. Everyone at Suunto wishes Gemma a speedy recovery and a wonderful first dive. Lead images: © Jukka Saarikorpi