The Las Vegas Rock ?n? Roll Marathon is just one event on Incredible Jane?s calendar.  In May 2010, Incredible Jane will compete in a sprint triathlon ? a competition she was very familiar with before she made the choice almost a decade ago to focus her attention on family.  With the day-to-day errands and responsibilities that come with that, Jane fell into a family-first lifestyle, and her passion for sports was put aside.

Since the beginning of this journey, Incredible Jane has already gone from a size 14 to a size 8, and has lost 25 pounds.  More importantly though, she is discovering the fine balance between her family and her love for endurance sports. In every way, Incredible Jane embodies SUGOI?s mission to BE INCREDIBLE.

?I?m slightly scared to run but deep down inside I know I can do it,? says Incredible Jane. ?I have to remember to not push myself so hard, and more importantly to have fun!   It's okay for me to walk some of the 1/2 marathon if I need to.?  Her strategy?  ?I?m going to go out there, see everyone, cheer everyone on and do my best with a smile on my face.?

Show your support and train with Jane for her upcoming half marathon and triathlon at www.IncredibleJane.com.  Find training tips, product reviews, dietary advice, videoblogs, the ups and downs of the physical and emotional side to this journey, ?before and after? pics of Jane, and of course SUGOI product giveaways and prizes!

If you are in Vegas for the Rock ?n? Roll Marathon, be sure to visit the SUGOI booth in Vegas to meet Incredible Jane and get a free giveaway for yourself.

The crash happened so fast. My front wheel scraped along the curb, and then I immediately was sliding on the pavement. My face was pointed towards the sky, and for a split second, I thought that this could not be happening to me. This race, the 2009 San Francisco Triathlon at Treasure Island, the race where my triathlon career had begun less than a year ago, was where I had planned to finish earning my professional triathlete's license. And now, because I had followed the wrong set of cones into a curb while blasting along at 24 miles per hour, my plan now had a incredible chance of being thwarted.

"Are you all right?" a concerned voice shouted. "Are you hurt? Are you hurt?" I didn't look back to see who was asking because I was in too big of a hurry to get back on my bike and continue racing. Did I considering stopping right there? Yes, of course. And I think if I had seen how serious my injuries were, if I had had the ability to look at myself from somebody else's perspective and see that my whole left side looked like burger meat from the butcher's shop, or if I had known that my helmet had completely split on the left side, then I would have stopped. No doubt about it.

But I was up and back on my bike. My right shifter was severely bent, and I used it sparingly because I knew my bike was injured and probably wouldn't be able to take very much abuse. My forehead hurt, my knuckles were torn to shreds, and my SUGOI tri suit looked like Swiss cheese, but the adrenaline was screaming through my body, and my mind had already reverted back to my original goal. Win this race. Earn my pro license.

The one thing that all my friends agree on, and I'll even tell you this, is that I'm driven. I always have been almost to the point of being a cliché: class valedictorian, 4.72 high school GPA, captain of my track and cross country teams, and now a junior at UC Berkeley majoring in Applied Mathematics and minoring in Spanish. You have to be driven to be able to give up your dreams of running for Cal's top-tier cross country program because you're simply not fast enough and be able to transition to something else-in this case, being a pro triathlete. And as all triathletes know, you have to be driven just to be a triathlete. All the pool sessions, 40-mile bike rides, long runs, and balancing an academic workload with professional dreams is taxing. Very taxing. Just getting to the race is enough work, and I owe a huge thanks to my mom and dad for acting as my pit crew in almost all of my races.

Here, my intense drive was keeping me in the race. The pro license was calling me. I wanted it. I had been third out of the water and had started the bike in third as well. Surprisingly, I had not relinquished any positions during my crash, and I came into T2 with a fifty second deficit. Running is my strongest discipline, and fortunately, I could see the two leaders up the road. It was a two-loop 5k course, and by the first loop, I had caught the leaders. As I passed them, I was wondering if they were going to counterattack, and I was thinking to myself, "Okay guys, we can turn this into a cross country race if you like," but there was no counterattack. By the end of the race, I had opened up a thirty second gap on the second place finisher. I claimed the overall victory in a time of 58:53. It wasn't until after the race that I realized the true severity of my wounds and that my suit looked as if it had been put through a shredder. Ultimately, it had saved my race. I'm sure there are some tattered pieces of cloth still out at the accident site. But hey, better the cloth than my skin, right?

The overall win punched my pro ticket, and as I was tended to in the medical tent afterwards, I started reflecting on my triathlon career. There are a variety of criteria one can satisfy to be a professional triathlete, but the criteria I was going for required I finish top-8 overall and within 8 percent of the overall winner's time in at least three USAT sanctioned events with at least 500 participants. Treasure Island now was my third event. I remembered how I had finished 5^th or 6^th overall in a lot of races but within 9% or 10% of the winner's time. Honestly, those near misses had bothered me a lot. But at the same time, they made me hungrier and got me to train harder. I would work more on my transitions. I became cognizant of little things like having a high cycling cadence. During swim workouts, I would experiment with a variety of techniques and took note of the ones that worked the best. Because when that next race came, whenever it did, I was not going to finish outside of that 8% margin. Now, having earned my pro license, I realized that good things came to those who wait. Ultimately, those near-miss races had emphasized a monumentally important tenet: patience. Moreover, they forced me to hone my skills and be even more prepared for my next race. Sometimes not getting what you want at first can actually be the best thing for you.

A few of my friends have told me my pro license now gives me the right to finish last since I'll now be competing against other powerful professionals. And it's true. I still have a lot to learn, and I'm now a medium-sized fish in a monstrosity of an ocean. But I have confidence that I'll be in the hunt for top honors soon. I wish all of you the best of luck in training, and I hope to see you at my next race. Stay driven. Stay patient. And remember, good things come to those who wait.

June 14, 2009

San Francisco, CA

Accenture Escape from Alcatraz -

For the second time this year, Mary Beth Ellis stormed across a finish line well ahead of the rest of the pack. Racing against big names like Leanda Cave, Becky Lavelle, and Michellie Jones, Mary Beth had little trouble staying away from everyone after gaining control of the race early in the bike. She crossed the finish line in a time of 2:21:23 a full minute and thirty-nine seconds ahead of second place finisher Leanda Cave.

June 13, 2009

Boise, ID

Ironman Boise 70.3 -

This year’s Boise 70.3 marked first year pro Janelle Morrison’s professional debut. With high hopes but realistic goals, Janelle took on a strong field of women including former 70.3 world champ and Olympian Samantha McGlone and 6th place 2008 Kona finisher Linsey Corbin. After a disappointing swim, Janelle managed to charge back into contention on the bike and then ran her way into 6th place overall. Janelle was very pleased with her finish and is extremely excited to continue her dream as a professional triathlete. Janelle will be finishing up her full time position as a teacher next month and will focus all of her energy towards progressing as an athlete.

June 14, 2009

Lawrence, KS

Ironman Kansas 70.3 -

Three Pro Timex athletes ran across the yellow brick road finish at this year’s Kansas 70.3 and all three placed among the top 10 overall. James Cotter crossed the line in a time of 3:54:05 securing a 4th place finish while Andrew Hodges was a few minutes back placing 8th overall. Gabriela Loskotova finished in a time of 4:41:56 to match Andrews 8th place finish in the women’s pro field. Tim Hola also finished the day atop the podium taking high honors in the 35-39 age group. Tim had the fastest swim, bike, and run splits for his age group and finished in a time of 4:05:53.

]]> http://www.sugoi.com/can/eng/News/Detail/2816-Helium-Jacket-Covers-Denver 2816-Helium-Jacket-Covers-Denver 3/23/2009

]]> http://www.sugoi.com/can/eng/News/Detail/2815-WHOS-IN-SUGOI 2815-WHOS-IN-SUGOI 3/16/2009
Amateur racers are the unsung heroes of mountain biking. They work full-time. They have families and personal commitments. Yet they still make time to train and race.

GT is championing these racers and giving them a shot at cycling immortality. The GT Golden Race Series includes 7 cross country races across the U.S and 21 internationally. At each of these races, GT will crown the fastest amateur racer as the Golden Bike Winner.

The prize at stake includes a commemorative GT Golden Bike, a $250 SUGOI gift certificate and a swag bag of cycling gear.


]]> http://www.sugoi.com/can/eng/News/Detail/2811-GT-Golden-Race-Series 2811-GT-Golden-Race-Series 2/20/2009
SUGOI is the official apparel sponsor of La Sportiva



LA SPORTIVA MOUNTAIN RUNNING®

In a concerted effort to support the growth of trail running, in 2003 La Sportiva formed the premier trail and adventure running team in North America.  35 Great athletes pushing the boundaries of personal achievement and enjoyment.  For information and news, visit our website at http://mountainrunning.com.

For 82 years La Sportiva has been the world's leading manufacturer of climbing and mountaineering footwear, and has been making award- winning mountain running shoes for six years.  Always inventing, always rethinking and always dreaming ... just like the top athletes who use our products ... and just like you.  We combine old-world craftsmanship with modern design to help you do what you need to do.

Innovation with Passion. ]]> http://www.sugoi.com/can/eng/News/Detail/2809-La-Sportiva 2809-La-Sportiva 1/20/2009
The SUGOI office is filled with athletes - from triathletes, hard-core bikers, cyclocross fanatics and runners to yoga freaks, ball players, and martial artists. We are passionate about sports, and we embody our company's mission to Fuel Personal Bests.

We thought it would be fun to share some of our New Years resolutions with you!

From the simplest things, to big lifestyle changes, here are TEN New Years Resolutions from SUGOI:

1) Ride your bike to work at least once a week
2) Explore new healthy foods
3) Do sit-ups every day
4) Strengthen your rotation muscles
5) Take the stairs, not the elevator
6) Find a training buddy
7) Drink more water
8) Always wear a bike helmet
9) Go out and enjoy the outdoors
10) Become a SUGOI Brand Champion!

SUGOI wishes all of you the best for 2009! ]]> http://www.sugoi.com/can/eng/News/Detail/2808-New-Years-Resolutions-from-SUGOI 2808-New-Years-Resolutions-from-SUGOI 1/5/2009
From January 1st to March 31st 2009, NATHAN will look for 10 Canadian individual amateur athletes across Canada, men and women, in sports such as road running, trail running, duathlon or triathlon to join the 2009 NATHAN CANADA TEAM.

Who is NATHAN looking to recruit?
People who have a personal goal (it can be running a first 10K, beating a half-marathon PB, running a marathon under 4 hours or qualifying for Boston, moving from road to trail running, trying a tri, completing an Olympic distance duathlon or doing an Ironman), a character, a dedication, a conviction, a story, a message to share and a unique approach to the sport or to the objective they want to reach; inspired people who can inspire others are invited to apply. Even if having won a race or having personal records are great accomplishments it won’t be of first importance in the selection process.

In 2009, candidates selected as members of the NATHAN CANADA TEAM will:
* get free NATHAN products and accessories
* get a free SUGOI running or triathlon technical outfit
* get a free pair of END road or trail running shoes and sandals
* get free GU energy gels and sport drinks
* get a free one year subscription to Canadian Running and/or Triathlon Magazine Canada
* have up to $250 of training clinics costs and sporting events registration fees paid
* have the chance to be part of a great team with local and national recognition
* feel the satisfaction of challenging themselves during the season and hopefully achieve their goal

Candidates can find detailed information on the NATHAN CANADA TEAM recruitment campaign on http://www.nathansports.ca/Team

]]> http://www.sugoi.com/can/eng/News/Detail/2807-NATHAN-CANADA-TEAM-Looks-to-Recruit 2807-NATHAN-CANADA-TEAM-Looks-to-Recruit 12/22/2008
The Brand Champions social network site is up and running!

Visit the site to see what SUGOI ambassadors are up to.

Who are SUGOI Brand Champions? Well, here’s a bit of history…

SUGOI’s heart beats within the vibrant, athletic town of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; the roots of the company name stems from Japanese decent – the word SUGOI meaning incredible.

The roots run deep and SUGOI’s Brand Champion program represents the Sumo tradition in Japan, where each kingdom would put forth their champion, or Sumo, to represent their kingdom in symbolic battle. Today, SUGOI honors our modern day champions.

SUGOI has created a unique Brand Champion program which supports and encourages outstanding people who differ from your average athlete – those who set themselves apart from other athletes by their passion and commitment to push themselves to inspire others and to embody a motivating attitude, wherever they go.

Our mission as a company is to Fuel Personal Bests. The SUGOI Brand Champions program is geared towards supporting those athletes who choose to wear SUGOI and inspire others on a daily basis.

The main criterion for inclusion to the program is not always the people who are fastest in the competition, but it is the person who inspires other by chasing their own personal bests. Many SUGOI Brand Champions are podium finishers in major international events; many others are everyday athletes whose personal bests come in different forms other than winning. All athletes are successful at what is important to SUGOI: the ability to be inspirational and to make a difference.

One of the benefits for SUGOI Brand Champions includes limited discount deals and access to limited edition product for both training and racing.

Brand Champion limited edition apparel features the northwest aboriginal artwork of David Franklin. The prominent Thunderbird in the design is an aboriginal symbol of power.

David is a ten year resident of Kitsap County in Washington State in the USA, where he has been studying wood carving, tool making, painting and design under Master Carver Duane Pasco. David has experience with public art commissions, including the Don Pratt Memorial at the Transportation Centre in Bremerton. He has also created several carvings at the Kids Up Play Park on Bainbridge Island, and major carvings, design work and painting at the newly remodeled Poulsbo library.

Much of his work is based on aboriginal traditions he has studied with Mr. Pasco, as well as some traditional Norwegian work. David is a member of the Washington State Arts Commission’s Artist Resource Band and has taught carving classes at Olympic Park Institute.

Visit the website at http://brandchampions.sugoi.com ]]> http://www.sugoi.com/can/eng/News/Detail/2799-SUGOI-Brand-Champion-Website-Launches 2799-SUGOI-Brand-Champion-Website-Launches 11/28/2008
Donations to The Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society (GVFBS) have dropped almost 30% this calendar year - just one of the reasons why SUGOI wanted to raise money for the society. At our annual warehouse sale, a monetary or food donation acted as admission to the event.

Through our fundraiser, SUGOI was able to raise $7,411.50 in cash for the Food Bank, as well as a significant amount of food.

The GVFBS helps feed more than 9,000 people each week in 16 depots located in Greater Vancouver. Additionally, the GVFBS aids over 100 agencies within these areas, providing help to another 16,000 individuals weekly.

Up to 25,000 people receive food from the GVFBS each week. 41% of recipients are children. For every dollar donated, the Food Bank can purchase $3 worth of food.

To find out more on how you can help the GVFBS provide healthy food for hungry families, visit their website.

Photo: Stan Mavis, President of SUGOI presents Heidi Magnuson-Ford, Director of Development, Susan Brennan, Director of Special Projects, Alene Kravitz, Director of Communications of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society with a cheque and food donations. ]]> http://www.sugoi.com/can/eng/News/Detail/2800-SUGOI-Raises-Funds-for-Greater-Vancouver-Food-Bank-Society 2800-SUGOI-Raises-Funds-for-Greater-Vancouver-Food-Bank-Society 11/19/2008
Sometimes, the people who wear SUGOI are hard-core competitive athletes, pro-level marathon or triathlon competitors, mountain biking enthusiasts, road or track cyclists. Most often though, the people who wear SUGOI are regular people who do regular things.

Sarah Steiner and Hans Berndt fall somewhere in the middle – not professional athletes, but not quite your average pair either. The couple’s story caught SUGOI’s eye when it was clear that part of their mission is similar to ours: to fuel personal bests. Not only are these two young people fueling their personal bests, but they are also inspiring others to do the same.

In September of this year, Steiner and Berndt set out on a long cycling journey down the east coast of Australia, in the hopes of making it from Cairns, Queensland to Melbourne, Victoria. Just having finished their university careers, the two hope to cycle 3700 kms (2300 miles) in total, not only as a personal challenge, but also an opportunity to support a good cause.

“We are excited to find out if even unprofessional bike riders can do this,” they posted on their website. Although the two are taking the time to explore the country of Australia for themselves, their cycling is fueled by a passion to raise funds for Welthungerhilfe, a humanitarian organization that aids when crisis and disaster strikes. On their website, Steiner and Berndt give the opportunity to anyone who wants to help the couple raise funds for Welthungerhilfe, by donating per kilometer they bike.

Welthungerhilfe is a private, politically and confessional autonomous aid organization. It provides immediate first aid after environmental disasters and humanitarian crises and also supports long-term projects with local partners. Since its formation in 1962, the organization has aided about 5000 projects in more than 70 countries. To overcome hunger means to overcome poverty. Welthungerhilfe supports people in need irrespective of their skin colour, confession or ideology. Efficient aid is to provide chances, to create a future free of hunger and need: Help people to help themselves!

If you are interested in donating to Steiner and Berndt’s cause, see them decked out in SUGOI gear, or if you want to read the blog they’ve been keeping of their experiences, visit http://www.shtravelpage.com. Although the two are almost getting ready to return to “work-life,” they have already planned a biking trip around Tasmania!

Photos: Berndt in Gustov Shorts, a Wallaroo Classic Shirt and R+R Ped Socks. Steiner in Wallaroo also. ]]> http://www.sugoi.com/can/eng/News/Detail/2801-Riding-Down-Under-with-High-Hopes 2801-Riding-Down-Under-with-High-Hopes 11/5/2008

From Kumberg, Austria – dubbed the green heart of Europe – there is a rising star that shines brighter and brighter by the day… especially on race day.

At only 26 years old, long-time SUGOI Brand Champion and ambassador, Barbara Tesar, is already quite a veteran when it comes to triathlons. She started triathlons ten years ago, with kid-triathlon, and before that, dabbled in bike racing with her dad, racing marathon-length distances.

Tesar’s family has made a huge difference in her athletic life. “The most inspiring reason” that Tesar became an Ironman was “my two brothers, Bernd and Stefan, who started competiting in Ironman races when I started kids-triathlons,” Tesar explains. “I always went with them to the races to support them and to cheer for them.” Watching them was the reason Tesar started getting involved in Ironman: “It was such a great experience for me that I decided to do my first Ironman at the age of 20 years, which was very early.”

With 6 years of experience already, Tesar competed in the 2008 Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii – the 30th anniversary of the event. At the World Championships, Tesar finished fourth in her age category, just months after an incredible finish at Ironman Austria.

Besides Ironman Florida, Ironman Austria is the biggest race of the world series. Here, Tesar clocked a personal best of 9:45:55, which she calls her proudest moment in a race, winning her age category, and placing 12th overall in the pro category.

We all want to know how it feels to cross the finish line as an Ironman, and Tesar’s testimonial speaks wonders: “It is awesome! It motivates you in such a way that you will never stop doing Ironman again. In that moment, you forget all the pain you had during the race.”
Tesar calls her training “hard and smart,” and credits both herself and her coach for finding a “good middle between work and training.” But in the midst of an intense training regime, Tesar’s main focus – and the one she encourages others to focus on – is fun. “Never be too dogged in races or training,” she advises, “Give your best and enjoy the race as much as you can… and never stop laughing!”

Tesar’s theory of incorporating fun into intense physical activity is obviously working for her. Over the winter, Tesar will work on her swim and run, and has high hopes for the 2009 season. At SUGOI, we share those hopes, and wish Barbara Tesar the best on her journey upwards.

As for Tesar’s favourite SUGOI items? “There are so many SUGOI items I love!” she exclaims. For racing, the Brand Champions Tri Tank together with the Tri Short, which Tesar calls “comfortable and feminine,” tops the list, while the new Hatha Hoody is her favourite for leisure time. “I’m really in love with that thing.”

Photo credits: Matthias Popp - www.mpopp.at ]]> http://www.sugoi.com/can/eng/News/Detail/2802-Barbara-Tesar-SUGOI-Ambassador-and-Brand-Champion 2802-Barbara-Tesar-SUGOI-Ambassador-and-Brand-Champion 11/4/2008

It was not that long ago that SUGOI Brand Champion and Rep, Johannes Volck started training for Ironman. In fact, the 28 year-old from Giessen, Germany, always did some kind of sport for fun, but it wasn’t until he was working at the Ironman expo in Frankfurt that he got serious about Ironman Triathlon.

“When I saw the athletes crossing the finish line at the Römer, and the fantastic crowd, it inspired me so much that I signed for the next year’s Ironman the following day and started training,” Volck explains.
 
Volck has only been racing in Ironman events since last year, but has done half marathons, and also cross-country running when he was younger. He’s also been involved in tennis, fencing, and riding his MTB as a kid. Volck stresses that he participates in sports more for the fun than the competition, and when it comes to training, he usually does it with friends who are also doing Ironman, although he does attend one training camp in early spring, in Mallorca.
 
When asked how it feels to cross the finish line as an Ironman, Volck sums it up pretty powerfully: “After more than 10 hours of swimming, biking, and running, it’s an incredible feeling to cross the line, meeting your family and friends. All the pain and struggle is gone in that moment and you just feel happy.”
 
Volck has been a SUGOI rep for eight years, and a Brand Champion since the beginning of the program, so he knows his stuff when it comes to SUGOI apparel. Some of Volck’s favorite SUGOI items include the RS Bib Short, Finostretch L/S Zip, the Helium Jacket and the all-purpose Swag-o-Bago.
 
Asked what advice he would give someone who is interested in getting involved with triathlons, Volck again stresses the importance of enjoyment: “Take it easy. Sport should be fun and a good balance in life. Don’t push yourself too hard.”
 
“Having a goal makes it easier to go out for training,” says Volck, whose next big event will be the Quelle Challenge in Roth in July 2009.

]]> http://www.sugoi.com/can/eng/News/Detail/2803-Featured-Athlete:-Ironman-Johannes-Volck 2803-Featured-Athlete:-Ironman-Johannes-Volck 10/31/2008

Photo credit: Ron Bonham – PhotoAction www.photoaction.net.au

Chip Berezny of Easton, Pennsylvania just arrived home from Sydney, Australia, with a new title: Current Masters World Champion in Track Racing.

Racing in the master’s age group, Berezny – a 7 time USA National Champion – won his first World title by a about a wheel at the line in the Scratch Race; a race that Berezny says requires all-around ability. Track racing takes place on a single speed, direct drive, and no brakes bike. Scratch Race has a mass start, and the rider that covers the distance first is the winner.  In his words, the race requires “being able to do the distance and have the speed to finish the event.”

Berezny was introduced to cycling initially for rehabilitation after a knee injury in college, where he played many sports. After college, Berezny moved back home, became involved with the Lehigh Valley Velodrome through an Air Products developmental program, and got “really hooked.” Berezny says that his inspiration to start track racing was influenced by living close to “one of the best Velodromes in the USA,” and because track racing “seemed like a natural thing to do.”

Now, Berezny, who is also a road racer, logs about 10,000 miles a year and competes in 100 races each year. He has had an amateur racing license for 28 years, and has made the trip to the World Masters Track Championships for the past three years. Earning several bronze and silver medals in the previous years of the event, Berezny states that the decision to make the trek again was “because I felt I could win at that level.”

And indeed he did.  “It was one of those days that you know you have good legs,” he describes. When asked if there was any turning point in the race when he believed he could win it, Berezny explains the need to “be patient during the race and not over extend yourself early in the race. I did not get caught up in going with the early moves. With about 10 laps to go, I really positioned myself for the end of the race. Then with one lap to go, Peter Gumbley from Australia made a hard move down the back stretch, and that is the one I went after. There were five of us that swept around that final corner. I had the better finishing kick to the line.” As the picture shows, it was a photo finish for 2nd through 5th.

SUGOI outfitted Chip Berezny for the race – a custom order of the RS Skinsuit, RS Short, and RS Jersey (short and long sleeve). “I really like the Skinsuit!!” Berezny exclaims. And SUGOI really likes the athlete, who is a true embodiment of SUGOI’s mission to Fuel Personal Bests.

Another photo of Chip Berezny - from his 2007 Points Race win on Track National.

]]> http://www.sugoi.com/can/eng/News/Detail/2804-Chip-Berezny-wins-World-Masters-Track-Cycling-Championship 2804-Chip-Berezny-wins-World-Masters-Track-Cycling-Championship 10/28/2008
Our R+R Knee High Sock got a big hit today in the New York Times ("Compression Socks Make An Impression", Physical Culture, Fashion & Style: Thursday, October 23rd, 2008).

Professional Triathlete, Hilary Biscay, tested SUGOI's R+R Sock among compression socks from other sporting goods companies such as Zoot, 2XU, and CEP. The article stressed the importance of compression socks for athletes, backed up by medical studies, and perhaps most importantly, testimonials.

Hilary Biscay’s testimonial for the SUGOI R+R sock was more than favorable. You can find the entire full New York Times article here.

More about the R+R Sock:
No ordinary sock, the Race + Recovery (R+ R) has been developed based on medically proven and tested technology to promote vasal support and speed blood circulation. The sock is designed to reduce fatigue by minimizing wasted muscle motion through its graduated support starting at the foot with separate zones, matching the lower extremities, up to the knee. The R+R sock foot bed also massages the foot while reducing stress where maximum impact occurs. With features like thermoregulating mesh channels, reverse Lin-Toe®, a lace pad, comfort band, and sculpted terry comfort foot bed with a reinforced heel, the R & R Knee High is designed to reduce slippage and also to eliminate chaffing. Additionally, each sock is anatomically correct for left and right foot providing an even better fit. . Made with nylon-Tactel®  and Polypropylene yarns, the sock has a seamless feel, provides superior moisture transfer, as well as durability with an extremely  low thermal conductivity to keep feet cool and dry. ]]> http://www.sugoi.com/can/eng/News/Detail/2805-Another-hit-in-the-New-York-Times 2805-Another-hit-in-the-New-York-Times 10/23/2008
The Brand Champions social network site is up and running!

Visit the site to see what SUGOI ambassadors are up to.

Who are SUGOI Brand Champions? Well, here’s a bit of history…

SUGOI’s heart beats within the vibrant, athletic town of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; the roots of the company name stems from Japanese decent – the word SUGOI meaning incredible.

The roots run deep and SUGOI’s Brand Champion program represents the Sumo tradition in Japan, where each kingdom would put forth their champion, or Sumo, to represent their kingdom in symbolic battle. Today, SUGOI honors our modern day champions.

SUGOI has created a unique Brand Champion program which supports and encourages outstanding people who differ from your average athlete – those who set themselves apart from other athletes by their passion and commitment to push themselves to inspire others and to embody a motivating attitude, wherever they go.

Our mission as a company is to Fuel Personal Bests. The SUGOI Brand Champions program is geared towards supporting those athletes who choose to wear SUGOI and inspire others on a daily basis.

The main criterion for inclusion to the program is not always the people who are fastest in the competition, but it is the person who inspires other by chasing their own personal bests. Many SUGOI Brand Champions are podium finishers in major international events; many others are everyday athletes whose personal bests come in different forms other than winning. All athletes are successful at what is important to SUGOI: the ability to be inspirational and to make a difference.

One of the benefits for SUGOI Brand Champions includes limited discount deals and access to limited edition product for both training and racing.

Brand Champion limited edition apparel features the northwest aboriginal artwork of David Franklin. The prominent Thunderbird in the design is an aboriginal symbol of power.

David is a ten year resident of Kitsap County in Washington State in the USA, where he has been studying wood carving, tool making, painting and design under Master Carver Duane Pasco. David has experience with public art commissions, including the Don Pratt Memorial at the Transportation Centre in Bremerton. He has also created several carvings at the Kids Up Play Park on Bainbridge Island, and major carvings, design work and painting at the newly remodeled Poulsbo library.

Much of his work is based on aboriginal traditions he has studied with Mr. Pasco, as well as some traditional Norwegian work. David is a member of the Washington State Arts Commission’s Artist Resource Band and has taught carving classes at Olympic Park Institute.

Visit the website at http://brandchampions.sugoi.com

Think you have what it takes to be a Brand Champion? Apply here. ]]> http://www.sugoi.com/can/eng/News/Detail/2806-SUGOI-Brand-Champion-Website-Launches 2806-SUGOI-Brand-Champion-Website-Launches