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 Australian Craig Alexander has been crowned Ironman World Champion for 2008, taking out the sport’s most prestigious event in Kona, Hawaii. The Orca-sponsored athlete was three minutes ahead of his nearest rival, in a time of 08:17:45.
Alexander was hotly tipped as one of the favourites this year following his second place in the 2007 event – which was the first time he had entered the race. Craig, known as Crowie, can now add the full Ironman world championship to the 70.3 title he won in 2006.
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POSTED 13/10/08
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 Orca’s research and development team has designed a number of innovative new products that helped improve the performance of athletes at major sporting events over the last few weeks.
Orca is official apparel sponsor to Bike NZ and provides the race gear for the entire squad. Orca developed a new type of track skinsuit that uses Orca’s revolutionary new AeroSkn material - which has an incredibly low drag coefficient.
The track cyclists have enjoyed fantastic performances at the Laoshan Velodrome, assisted by the AeroSkn-based skinsuits, with a silver medal for Hayden Roulston in the individual pursuit and bronze for the team pursuit.
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POSTED 26/8/08
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 As we countdown to the Olympics, Orca has asked the athletes it sponsors who have qualified for the Olympics to give us an insight into what life is like as they prepare for the sports event of a lifetime.
July 18, 2008
Kris Gemmell - New Zealand
40 days and counting…
In the weekend I raced in the third round of the French grand prix in Beauvias, which is just out of Paris.
There were 10 guys on the start line that were off to Beijing in 5 and half weeks, and some of which “I’ll” say are the hitters of our sport. My training has been going really well up here in Font Romeu so I was looking to hit out. Both myself and my coach knew this would be a good race to test me out. And the fact it was a really strong field was an even better gauge.
In the past my biggest struggle when racing directly from altitude was my running speed. So the real test for me was - could I follow anyone that went off the front of the race especially at the start of the run!
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POSTED 5/6/08
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Congratulations to the Orca-sponsored athletes who have already qualified for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. With many of them racing in Orca gear, the brand’s presence will be strong at the world’s greatest sporting spectacle.
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POSTED 12/5/08
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In a new feature for Orca Echo we are running stories about “normal” people and their experiences and adventures in triathlon. If you have a great story, send it through to info@orca.com.
If your story gets featured, you’ll get US$100 of Orca product for free!
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POSTED 12/5/08
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 Most people would consider going 100 metres underwater a challenge, even with scuba gear. But for New Zealander William Trubridge, that is how deep he went in April to set two new free diving world records.
The two records were set at Dean’s Blue Hole in the Bahamas at the Vertical Blue 2008 Invitational Freediving Competition. The first record William set was 86 metres for the “constant weight (no fins) category, holding his breath for 3min 20sec as he descended and ascended unassisted by any weights, fins or a line. Three days later he broke the “free immersion” record, pulling himself down a line to 107 metres and then back up to the surface.
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POSTED 9/5/08
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At a recent Orca photoshoot in Sydney Australia 2007 Ironman World Champion Chris McCormack took some time out to help film a short video showing the easiest way to get a triathlon wetsuit on. For seasoned triathletes this is now a relatively simple task, but for those who haven’t repeated the process hundreds and thousands of times it can be quite a challenge.
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POSTED 9/5/08
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 The cold weather hasn’t been fooled by a few extra weeks of daylight savings with brisk mornings and changeable conditions well and truly upon us. Orca’s 2008 winter collection includes training and cycling garments that will help you control the elements, whatever the weather throws at you.
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POSTED 9/5/08
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The latest Orca Speedsuit and triathlon ranges are now instore around the northern hemisphere, including a raft of new ranges and products and refinements to existing favourites.
SPEEDSUITS
Having proved incredibly popular with endurance distance swimmers and those looking for all the buoyancy they can get the Orca 3.8 has been enhanced further in 2008. The AirLite panels that Orca first introduced to the triathlon world have been increased to include a butt panel, helping to lift you into an even better swimming position. The front of the wetsuit has been modified to include the CardioFlex chest panel for increased flexibility. The DuoSmooth neck seal has also been modified to make it more comfortable and durable. The 3.8 is the wetsuit of choice for the top two Ironman distance triathletes in 2007, World Champion Chris McCormack and runner-up Craig Alexander.
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POSTED 9/5/08
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The brisk mornings and changeable conditions tell us that winter is well and truly upon us. But just because it’s a bit cooler, or it looks like it might rain it doesn’t mean you don’t need or want to get out and exercise. With this in mind Orca has developed a full range of winter training gear, available in Australia for the first time, and designed to help you control the elements, whatever the weather throws at you.
