Sports Trader October/November 2013

Southern Africa’s business-to-business magazine for the sport, outdoor and leisure industries • Vol 33 No 5 • October/November 2012

Ideas for xmas stock Sell tents to suit the climate What customers prefer in hockey sticks

Vol 33 Nr 5 October/November 2012 www.sportstrader.co.za

Highlights: What’s new in running shoes?

Do consumers prefer bright or black team boots?

On the cover Kakiebos (as the Afrikaans name implies) is a true South African leisurewear brand, locally available from Crown Footwear, consisting of t-shirts for men and women and shirts for men.

Their t-shirt designs have an old school edge, with designs taking strong inspiration from post-war style prints. Some of the ladies prints have a youthful quality with flowers and hearts appealing to their feminine senses.

The range is manufactured from top quality material.

For trade enquiries contact Crown Footwear on 031 700 1601, email jeremy@kswiss.co.za or visit www.kakiebos.co.za.

Publisher: Nic du Toit Editor: Carin Hardisty Managing editor: Trudi du Toit Proofreader: Liz Milburn Features: Brandon Gregory Carin Hardisty Nelle du Toit Trudi du Toit Design: Carin Hardisty Photography: Nic du Toit Nelle du Toit Advertising: Nic du Toit Subscriptions: Carin Hardisty Printing: ABC Press Distribution: Tunleys

Selling watersport equipment

Running is big. What new products do suppliers have? p38

Industry

15 16 18 26 28

Retail concepts

Stores convey brand identities

Massmart-Walmart

Tyrone Vieira, merchandise director of Mass Discounters, talks to us about Massmart-Walmart

Xmas stocking

Tips for improving Christmas sales

Time Factor

The entrepreneur who introduced sports brand watches

adidas

MD Winand Krawinkel explains adidas’ running plans for 2013

Hockey

What sells a hockey stick?

Sport stats

Hockey stick and other equipment import statistics

Protective gear

Suppliers tell us what protective gear they have for retailers to stock

Outdoor

63 67 71 73

Product knowledge: Snorkels What makes up a snorkel?

Product knowledge: Tents

Selling the right tent for the climate

Canoes

SA’s canoeists are world class — will this help grow the market?

Trade shows

News from local and international trade shows

Regulars

Contact details:

Publication information: The title and contents of Sports Trader are protected by copyright. It is a business to business publication compiled to inform, entertain and educate retailers, distributors and manufacturers of sports and outdoor equipment, footwear and clothing. It is available only to members of the sport, outdoor and activewear industries and is published bi-monthly. © Rocklands Communications.

48 58 59

Trade shows

Sports Trader is published bi-monthly

by Rocklands Communications cc.

Reg. No: 1997/057165/23.

Members: N. J. & G. C. du Toit PO Box 12197 Mill Street 8010 22 Rocklands Avenue, Vredehoek, Cape Town 8001 Tel: 021 461 2544 Fax: 021 461 2549 Website: www.sportstrader.co.za Facebook: SportsTraderMagazine Twitter: @SASportsTrader Advertising: nicol@sportstrader.co.za Editorial: trudi@sportstrader.co.za Subscribe: carin@sportstrader.co.za

Sport

Make sure you sell the right tent for the right weather conditions p67

2 6 12

People on the move

News about people in the industry

Brands on the move

News about brand activity in the industry

Companies on the move

News about companies in the industry

Clothing & footwear

30 36 40 44

Road running

What do road running suppliers have on offer?

Trail running

What’s hot in trail running?

Performance apparel

Running apparel is just as important as the footwear

Team boots

Which aesthetics do consumers prefer?

Which qualities influence the sale of a hockey stick? p48

DDB SA 36680/E

Lyle & Scott Summer 2012 Golf stockists required.

Please contact Customer Services on 087 940 4664 or email customerservice@skyedistribution.co.za www.skye-sa.co.za

p2 :: Industry

People on the move

Hi-Tec marketing manager Ian Little is leaving Hi-Tec SA at the end of November after he has been offered the marketing manager position at HiTec in USA. “The experience I have gained at Capestorm and thereafter with Hi-Tec SA will prove invaluable in the ultra-competitive US market. Just as in SA, one of the challenges will be to change the public’s perception of the brand and show that we offer incredible products at real value for money. Social Media and more ground level marketing will be one of the key strategies in getting that message across.” Ian has been involved in growing Hi-Tec SA’s social media platforms to over 22 000 Facebook fans interacting with applications like their V-store, Connect and the new Donate Your Birthday campaign. He joined Hi-Tec in 2010 from Capestorm, where he had been working for six years after relocating to SA from the UK eight years ago.

Adolf Stoffberg has been appointed the new product manager for Hi-Tec after Jan van Rooyen left the company to start his own business. Stoffberg has been with Hi-Tec for four years and he was responsible for sales and relationships with Hi-Tec’s Key Accounts/chain stores. He was promoted to Product Manager in the beginning of September.

De Wet Sports recently appointed Hayden Smith as part of their sales team. He will serve the Western Cape and Namibia as the company’s sales representative. De Wet Sports is currently undergoing expansion thus employing Smith became necessary as a rep for the roads of the Western Cape and Namibia.

Derick Koen recently replaced Derik van Wyk, who joined Stuttafords, as marketing assistant at Footwear Trading. Koen’s relationship with Footwear Trading dates back six years, when he was art director for their brands at the advertising agency he worked at. Following that, he worked in marketing for Audi for five years. Koen has a degree in Visual Communication from the University of Pretoria.

Kelly Ludski has been appointed New Balance’s Marketing and Promotions Coordinator and has taken over from Katherine Tromp, who is now brand manager for the Warrior brand. Ludski (24) has been working in the media/PR/marketing and retail industry for the last 6 years. Prior to working at New Balance she was an account manager at Draft FCB Redline and Capeafrica Media, after obtaining her national diploma in public relations from CPUT.

Irene Scholz is spreading her wings and will leave Super-Brands at the end of September to explore new opportunities in fitness and rugby coaching and working with sports teams — a long-time dream of hers. She joined Super-Brands in February 2011, where she worked on the Canterbury brand in the lead-up to the IRB World Cup. Prior to that she was part of the 2010 FIFA World Cup team at adidas SA.

Andre Naude, former marketing manager and product developer for Bushtec (Canvas and Tent), has joined Seagull Industries to develop new business and product. He has many years of experience in the industry — he started working in the outdoor market for CI Caravans in 1993 and subsequently marketed Cadac and Continental Weapons outdoor ranges to the retail trade. He also developed good contacts in China and Vietnam for sourcing products.

Sports Trader :: 2012 October/November

Paula Hemmings — previously owner of Raker Eyewear, now incorporated into Brentoni Distributors — has joined Brentoni as their new Ballistic agent.

“Hemmings is knowledgeable in the eyewear field and is a huge addition to the company. We are very excited about the new partnership,” says Sarah Beamish.

Ragna Nilssen has been appointed senior sales and account manager at Adventure Inc. Her experience in the retail and wholesale side of the industry will benefit the company in helping them service their growing brand portfolio and client base. Her first job after university was as footwear buyer for Cape Union Mart. In 2005 Nilssen joined adidas as Performance footwear category manager and was later appointed head of the performance ranges overall. Nilssen is an avid outdoor enthusiast with a passion for mountaineering, mountain biking, horse riding, hiking and travelling.

e g n

From City to Bush.

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Regent Perry

Fun Slide Saracen

Commander Leather thong DESIGNOLOGY

Warthorn

www.hi-tec.com For sales enquiries contact the Hi-Tec Sales Office.

Johannesburg: (011) 704 9200 or Cape Town: (021) 555 0707

People on the move

p4 :: Industry

Adidas recently supported Bryan Habana’s development initiative when he handed out 100 pairs of adidas Gorletto III rugby boots to members of disadvantaged clubs in Bonteheuwel and Khayelitsha. This followed Habana’s milestone of 100 Super Rugby appearances in the Stormers’ match against the Cheetahs in May. At the end of the year the Player of the Year from both clubs will receive an adidas rugby hamper.

Everlast has announced their latest sponsored Pro Athletes: Juandre Kruger (Springbok and Bulls lock, pictured here with Jannie Smal), JP Joubert (light heavyweight champion), Ricky Misholas (EFC Heavyweight fighter), Amy Tara Bridger (EFC Ring Girl), Sanrie Steenkamp (IFBB athlete and amateur MMA fighter/kickboxer), Hekkie Budler (IBO minimum weight champion) and Colin Nathan and his Hotbox gym (home of superstars Hekkie Budler, Adam de Moor, Zack Mkwessa, Ryno Liebenberg and Jason Bedeman.

Adidas honoured Louis Massyn, a South African running legend, for his loyalty to the brand during the 40 Comrades marathons and 37 Two Oceans marathons he has run. Massyn has kept every pair of the 59 adidas running shoes he used during every race and in training. Adidas recently presented Massyn with a display to contain the shoes and a customised adidas shoe. Massyn has run more than 180 000km in over 150 different marathons, including the one named after him that takes place in the Northern Cape.

Massyn says the adidas brand appeals to him because “adidas is the Mercedes Benz in running shoes.”

Sports Trader :: 2012 October/November

Brands, such as Nike and Trek Bicycles, has ended their longterm relationship with Lance Armstrong after the US anti-doping agency (USADA) released their report about alleged drug use by Armstrong and members of his US Postal team. Armstrong has also resigned as chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation, which he created to serve cancer survivors.

Nike will continue to support the foundation.

USADA has sent their decision and evidence against him to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the International Cycling Union (UCI) — who have the right to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. If no appeal is lodged, the USADA sanctions must be respected by UCI, a WADA code signatory, to strip Armstrong of his Tour de France titles. The UCI said in a statement that it will only comment after it received the USADA report. At the time of going to press they were yet to release their statement.

Wilson ambassadors have been performing on the world tennis stage. Kei Nishikori (photo) became the 1st Japanese man in history to win the Rakuten Japan Open in Tokyo, using a Wilson Steam racket, when he defeated Milos Raonic (Wilson Blade 98). Victoria Azarenka won the China Open in Beijing with a Wilson Juice 100 tennis racket.

Puma has signed a partnership deal with French national Gael Clichy (pictured here), the Manchester City left back defender, and Rui Patricio, the Portuguese national goalkeeper. Clichy will be endorsing Puma’s Speed silo, wearing the current evoSPEED 1FG boots. Patricio will wear Puma PowerCat gloves and evoSPEED 1 FG boots in all matches he plays as first choice goalkeeper for Sporting Lisbon.

Adidas ambassador Greame Smith gave a cricket coaching clinic to the children of Khayelitsha in conjunction with the celebration of his 100th Test match.

Smith also handed over 100 pairs of adidas cricket boots to the club. Pictured are Zobuzwe Ngobese (PR manager for Adidas), David Ramsy (secretary of the Khayelitsha Cricket Club), Bulelani Libazi (coordinator for the Cricket Centre of Exellence) and Graeme Smith during the handover of a 100 pairs of Adidas cricket shoes in celebration of his 100 test caps.

Brands on the move

p6 :: Industry

Adventure Inc’s new pack range Adventure Inc has added Osprey Packs, an innovative range of packs and bags with features suitable for an array of activities, to the number of top outdoor brands they distribute. In 2009 Osprey launched the All Mighty Guarantee that pledges to repair any damage or defect in its product, whether purchased in 1974 or yesterday, free of charge.

Columbia technology wins more awards Lyle & Scott now from Skye LYLE & SCOTT, traditionally a golf brand known for its knitwear, is now available in SA through Skye Distribution. The range is split into two main collections — the Vintage collection with its distinctive golden eagle and the Heritage collection, distinguished by a red eagle aimed at slightly more subtle and discerning gentlemen. The Club collection was launched in 2009 and is aimed at the fashion conscious young golfer featuring the famous green eagle. The Club range is endorsed by Pablo Larrazabal and Chris Wood, who are wearing the range this year. The golden eagle logo has been seen sported by musicians like the Arctic Monkeys, Pete Doherty, Kasabian as well as several TV presenters.

Columbia’s new Omni-Freeze Zero sweat activated cooling technology for Spring 2013 has won several awards since it was introduced in June. At the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market in Salt Lake City it won the Outside Magazine Gear of the Show award, Gear Junkie’s Best in Show award and was the OR Daily’s Editor’s Pick. At the ICAST fishing tackle show the Air Gill Chill Zero shirt won the apparel Best of Show award.

Benefit from Bronx campaign

Adidas has partnered with the new Prime Human Performance Institute in Durban where the brand’s running gear are displayed in a product showroom. Adidas technical representatives are on site to assist the institute staff in recommending the correct footwear and apparel to members of this training institute for top athletes.

Bronx, locally distributed by Jordan & Co, will be running a SMS competition that could benefit retailers between 1 December 2012 and 28 February 2013.

Consumers who buy a pair of Bronx shoes will be asked to SMS the style number to a specific number. Two winners will each receive R10 000 to be used for education - firstly for school fees and then, if anything is left over, for school clothes, etc.

The competition offers retailers the opportunity to draw more consumers to their stores and Bronx will help them by providing in-store posters, advertising the competition and the SMS number. These posters are available to place in-store from November.

Puma’s Formula One challenge

The Cricket School of Excellence, run by Ryan Maron, is looking for a new clothing and footwear sponsorship after their 10 year sponsorship with New Balance has come to an end. They have equipment sponsorships in the form of Gunn & Moore cricket bats and Hatrick Sports balls. The cricket school offers holiday clinics for ages 4-13 at various venues in the Western Cape and Johannesburg.

PUMA’S Formula One Star Nico Rosberg of team Mercedes AMG Petronas challenged some of the world’s best sporting stars to try their hand at Formula One at the Puma Race Off. Sergio Aguero, Cesc Fabregas, Bacary Sagna, Micheal Carrick and many more sporting greats tested their skills to test in a highperformance Mercedes Benz car around a real racing circuit. Puma launched two videos per week, showcasing individual player performances on the famous Monza race track.

Rocky helps cheetah conservation OUTDOOR brand Rocky SA is a partner of the Le Seur Cheetah Project that is working to reduce the impact of one of the major causes of the rapidly declining cheetah population: a too small gene pool. There are less than 10 000 cheetahs in the world, and the number is dropping by an estimated 2 000 every four years.

Apart from natural predators and mankind, the biggest threat to cheetahs is in-breeding.

Sports Trader :: 2012 October/November

This causes 35% of males to be born sterile and many cubs to die when born with heart, lung and kidney defects.

The Le Seur cheetah breeding project aims to get new genes back into the various African Reserves. The long-term goal is to get the cheetahs to breed and release their cubs into the wild. One of their cheetahs gave birth to four cubs earlier this year.

Brands on the move

p8 :: Industry

Rykä. Love yourself.

UWS Reebok CrossFit Games REEBOK recently hosted the 2012 United We Stand Crossfit Games in Durban. Spectators and athletes were treated to a phenomenal display of CrossFit movements and team camaraderie. The United We Stand (UWS) games went well, says Andy Craig from Reebok CrossFit in Durban. “What a weekend for the CrossFit community! Some incredible performances and in true CrossFit style we had CrossFitters new and old up against each other. UWS has exploded since last year and we look forward to running an even greater event next year.”

RYKÄ, the footwear brand exclusively for women, is back in SA, imported by Tekkie Town. To celebrate, Tekkie Town recently held a women’s event where ladies were invited to spend the morning trying on the shoes and talking to sales staff about which pair would suit their needs the best.

The morning was fitted out with things a woman might enjoy. Female company, relaxing massages, huge pink cupcakes — and SHOES! The shoes offer a narrower heel, roomier forefoot and a more secure footbed — all designed to better fit a woman’s foot.

Rykä is designed by women, for women and aims to create products for women that want to look great and feel great while being dedicated to enhancing women’s physical, mental and emotional health and fitness. The range covers footwear for a wide variety of activities, from training to walking to trail running.

The brand also believes in giving back. Here in SA, Tekkie Town are donating R5 from every pair of Rykä shoes sold to Journey of Hope, an organisation of breast cancer survivors (both male and female) spreading the awareness of breast cancer. As part of their efforts, Journey of Hope are hosting a motorcycle ride that took place 5-14 October. They departed from

Jo-ané Paulsen and Tania Rossouw, brand ambassadors, were at the launch.

Ficksburg in the Free State, travelling to KwaZulu Natal, Mpumulanga and finished in Soweto. Their full route can be found on their website: www.journeyofhope.co.za/journey.html.

The launch event itself contributed to the Light from Africa foundation, whose venue ART in the FOREST was hired to host Rykä’s reintroduction to the SA market and consumer.

The foundation provides children affected by HIV/AIDS in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, and their care workers with therapeutic creative healing through clay.

There are so many reasons to pick Fruit...

REASON

#

Fruit of the Loom is one of the world’s most recognised clothing brands.

A brand people all over the world know, love and trust. A brand with over 160 years’ experience and a long history of manufacturing quality textiles.

#2 #3 #4 #5

We’re one of the world’s largest vertically integrated manufacturers Our strict ethical and environmental policies We only use the finest cotton to make the best quality garments Excellent service with stocks available locally

Visit our website www.fruitoftheloom.co.za for more reasons to make us your number one choice for promotional clothing.

Contact our local distributor for more information:

Bertuzzi S. A. Tel: +27 21 552 2948 info@bertuzzi.co.za

www.fruitoftheloom.co.za

Brands on the move

p10 :: Industry

Mille and Golden Arrows plan grassroots coaching clinics MILLE, locally distributed by Skye Distribution, has renewed their three-year sponsorship agreement with the PSL soccer team Golden Arrows. The sponsorship includes soccer kits (travel, game and training) and boots for the players and coaching staff.

In addition to the sponsorship, Mille is planning a series of coaching sessions with key Golden Arrows players in schools and underprivileged areas to promote soccer at grassroots level. These sessions will begin in March 2013 and will be run in partnership with Sporting Chance.

Nike showcases Sundowns kit NIKE launched the Mamelodi Sundowns FC away kit for the 2012-2013 season at the new Nike Factory store in Mamelodi, Pretoria East, with a special appearance by footballers from the club. Clayton Daniels, Edward Manqele, Teko Modise, Nyasha Mushekwe, Siyabonga Ngubane and Eleazar Rodgers presented the kit innovation and their plans for the season ahead to their biggest fans who turned out to meet and greet their football heroes.

Gilbert partnerships GILBERT has signed new partnerships with the Auckland Rugby Football Union (ARFU) and the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), formerly sponsored by Webb Ellis. The 6-year sponsorship deal with the WRU will mean that international rugby balls will carry gold markings to symbolize the fact that Wales are the current RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam Champions. All WRU member clubs will receive an allocation of balls per season, depending on the number of sides they run covering the whole club. The ARFU partnership will see Gilbert become the official ball supplier for rugby across the union — including representative, club and school for the next 3 years.

Everest Sports Apparel Range 2012/2013

Soccer shirt and shorts

Available in red/white, royal/white, emerald/white, black/white, royal/gold, emerald/gold, gold/black, white/royal and charcoal/neon green.

Soccer shirt and shorts

Goalkeeper’s top and shorts

Available in red/white, royal/white, emerald/white, black/white, royal/gold, emerald/gold, gold/black and charcoal/green.

Available in grey/black

Goalkeeper’s top and shorts Available in black/neon green

Volleyball shirt and shorts

Basketball shirt and shorts

Available in emerald/white/black, red/white/black, royal/white/black, white/ black/red, royal/gold/black, gold/black/ white and emerald/gold/black

Available in white/black, red/white, gold/ royal, royal/white and black/white

Referee shirt and shorts

Available in charcoal/neon green

Calf-high sock

Available in white/red, red/white, royal/white, white/ royal, white/white, emerald/white, white/emerald, white/black, black/black, royal/gold, emerald/gold, gold/black and charcoal/charcoal.

Knee-high sock

For trade enquiries contact Everest Sports Tel: 011 262 6089/3738 or 011 444 2014 Fax: 011 444 3234 contact@everestsports.co.za or sales@everestsports.co.za www.everestsports.co.za

Available in white/red, red/white, royal/white, white/royal, white/white, emerald/white, white/emerald, white/black, black/black, royal/gold, emerald/gold and gold/black.

Ankle sock

Available in white/red, red/white, royal/white, white/royal, white/white, emerald/white, royal/gold, emerald/gold, black/gold and maroon/white.

Netball top and skirt

Available in white/ emerald, red/white, royal/white, gold/ royal, maroon/white, emerald/white and black/gold.

Companies on

p12 :: Industry

De Wet Sports consolidates own brands

Dino Hadjipaschalis, executive chairman of SNT Sports, Christian Andrews and Hans de Bruyn of SNT Sport after signing the sales agreement.

SNT Sport is the new Sportsmode owner The Sportsmode sporting goods agency, established by Christian Andrews in 1999 to distribute specialised sporting codes like ice, in-line and field hockey, baseball and softball, has been sold to SNT Sports. Andrews decided to sell the distributorship in order to focus on Andrews College, a Cambridge international college he opened with his wife, Caryn Andrews in 2006. Before establishing Sportsmode, Andrews was GM of Flame Marketing, a wholesale sports company established by his father, Eric Andrews, in 1980. After his father retired in 1995, Flame was sold to the Mathomo Group, where his brother John was MD.

De Wet Sports is in the process of consolidating all their products under the four brands they own, which will give them much more control over availability, quality, and price.

All sports products will be distributed under the well-established Medalist brand. Apart from the balls, rackets, sticks and many other sports products they supply under the brand name, they are also expanding their exercise equipment range to include bar bells, kettle bells, plates etc. These are selling very well, especially with the good prices they offer, says Kevin de Wet. “The heart of fitness at retail is still basics like dumbbells, bar bells, gym mats etc. — not the machines, which break and need to be serviced and take up a lot of space.”

Tanga includes fun products for the beach (beach cricket and beach games), pool (pool noodles etc.), surf (bodyboards) and air (kites), he says.

Surge is the skate, cycling and extreme sport brand. They recently added some longboards — which are flying, says De Wet — and protection like skate helmets, knee pads etc. They also do cycling helmets.

Aqualine is the snorkelling and swimming equipment brand, while swimming aids for young children come from a sub-brand, Aqua Pups. All their swim aids have been approved

by NRCS (National Regulator of Compulsory

Charl and Kevin de Wet of De Wet Sports.

Specification).

They also still distribute some international brands.

Bestway’s inflatable mattresses and portable pools are good quality products that are an excellent fit with their company’s sport and leisure focus, which is wider than just sport, says De Wet. “Elkadart is one of the top dart brands in the world and they offer premium quality at competitive prices,” he says.

Dita is a top international hockey brand, and Tramontina is a top knife brand from Brazil.

New outdoor distributorship TOG

Simon Larsen with some samples of the Boreal and Zamberlan footwear ranges that will be distributed in SA by Traverse Outdoor Gear.

Ram Mountaineering has founded a new distributorship, Traverse Outdoor Gear (TOG), that will distribute two new footwear brands, Boreal and Zamberlan. TOG is separately financed but will run from the Ram Mountaineering premises.

Boreal, Spain’s top mountaineering footwear brand, had been in SA intermittently, but their rock climbing boots, especially the classic Fire Rock, were mainly brought in by retailers, explains Simon Larsen. Now, for the first time, the brand will be handled by a distributor in SA, who will be concentrating on the high-end products within the range. Boreal caters for the high performance mountaineering market seeking top quality and provides a range equipped to tackle the likes of Mount Everest, scale rock faces, trek in the Drakensberg mountains or along the Otter Trail. TOG will be focusing on a range starting at boots suitable for 8 000m peaks, through rock climbing and into quality back packing boots.

Zamberlan is an Italian brand founded 80 years ago that is now distributed in more than 40 countries, including in SA for the first time. TOG will be introducing products that will be more focused on the main stream portion of the outdoor market, like backpacking boots, lightweight trail lifestyle leisure and Simon Larsebtravel footwear. They will also launch a speed hiking range, which will be a new category in our market.

Donations to SAGDB LEGACY SPORT & LEISURE, distributors of US Kids Golf equipment in South Africa, and the Sports Trust recently made a major donation to the SA Golf Development Board (SAGDB) for correctly-sized junior equipment. The Sports Trust funded R600 000 worth of new equipment, while Legacy Sport & Leisure added 140 clubs to the project. Cobra Puma Golf donated obsolete drivers, hybrids, woods and irons worth R800 000 to the SAGDB, which will enable young golfers across the country to compete in tournaments.

SAGDB learners receive the US Kids Golf Equipment from (back row). Steve Wasserman (DCB Logistics, who will distribute the equipment), Andy Ostle (SAGDB), Grant Stephen (Legacy Sport & Leisure) and Tshepo Mokoena (SAGDB).

Sports Trader :: 2012 October/November

the move

Industry :: p13

Springbok becomes a global brand The Springbok is SA’s biggest brand. Globally, the Springbok is a massive brand, much bigger than what most South Africans realise.

So says Wayne Mumford, MD of Tri Distribution, who have been granted the license to produce a Springbok branded lifestyle clothing range. As a Welshman, he has always been a passionate supporter of the Springboks — like so many of his compatriots — and he considers it a massive honour to be associated with the brand.

While Canterbury is the official Springbok apparel licensee and supplier of replica, they have been awarded the license to supply second-tier, more affordable, Springbok merchandise and a lifestyle clothing range in SA and the rest of the world.

“We respect our on-field partner,” says Mumford, who strongly emphasises that they are not competing with Canterbury, but see their role as growing the Springbok brand by supplying an additional garment range that will make it more accessible to more people.

“We’ve taken the Springbok culture into consideration and designed a lifestyle brand around it.” They are offering men’s and ladies clothing ranges consisting of t-shirts, hoodies, bush shirts, vests, etc. sporting the Springbok logo or brand name. This gives fans the option to wear their Springbok clothing for everyday work- or leisurewear, just like they would wear any other brand.

He says that by offering fans more affordable Springbok apparel, they will help to combat counterfeiting, because the fans who cannot afford the official replica, now have a legal option. There is therefore no excuse to buy counterfeits.

Tri Distribution has a fifteen year track re-

cord of producing licensed sports, leisure and lifestyle clothing.

Sports injuries, which ended the promising professional football careers of Coventry school mates Wayne Mumford and The Tri Distribution directors Steven Chapman, Wayne Mumford and David Steven Chapman, indi- Skene with some samples from their clothing range. rectly led to the founding of the company. Mumford, who secured an in SA to Tri Sports and Leisure. The SA office is apprenticeship with Manchester City as a 16- run by former Pick n Pay buyer Ricky Solkow, year old and then played for Birmingham City, while the merchandise is also distributed by started selling branded clothing when his soc- Sapphire Logistics. cer career ended when he was 22.

Tri Distribution has grown into a global comHe realised that there was an untapped pany — they are also active in Europe, Ausniche market for lifestyle clothing ranges for tralia and the US — that developed lifestyle established sports brands, like Penfold Golf clothing ranges under license for other brands, — a brand leader in golf balls, whose name Burrda Sport and recently, the Muhammad Ali was sufficiently well-known outside the golf- lifestyle range. ing fraternity to successfully attract buyers of Their Muhammad range not only features the non-golf lifestyle clothing. boxing icon’s name, but they also have the exIn the late 1990’s Mumford and his friend clusive rights to use imagery and the slogans Chapman joined forces with another friend, that became as much part of the Ali personrugby player Simon Skene, to form Tri Merchan- ality as his skills in the ring. There will, for dise. Within the first year the Coventry firm example, be Butterfly and Bee (Ali’s famous won the rights to develop a second-tier Eng- claim that he floats like a butterfly, stings land supporters range for the 2003 IRB World like a bee) and Cassius Clay (his birth name) Cup — and the successful completion of the ranges. The Muhammad Ali bespoke collection contract placed them firmly on the map. Since for Spring 2013 will also be distributed in SA. then, they have also produced second-tier Burrda Sport is official supplier to the Qasupporter’s ranges for England, Wales and the tar football federation (hosts of the 2020 FIFA Springboks for the 2007 and 2011 World Cup’s.

World Cup), the Qatar Olympic Committee, They have been active in SA since 2007, Belgium soccer team, Marussia Formula 1 when they got the license to supply support- Team, US handball, several Rugby Union and ers’ jerseys for the Springboks for the IRB Rugby League teams, and many others. Tri World Cup. In 2010 the international compa- Distribution makes lifestyle ranges to compleny changed their name to Tri Distribution, and ment the official teamwear.

Refresh gear with adidas ADIDAS launched their new Refresh your gear campaign into selected stores across South Africa in October.

Adidas is offering a R400 discount on new running shoes for every pair of old ones, of any brand, donated and will distribute the second-hand gear to disadvantaged runners through SCORE, a non-profit organisation specialising in community development in sport and recreation and the Two Oceans Marathon Initiative (TOMI).

Local adidas ambassadors Graeme Smith, Lucas Radebe, Bryan Habana and Jean de Villiers refreshed their gear at selected stores across South Africa in support of the charities involved in the new adidas Refresh your gear campaign.

The SCORE initiative works at training community members to become sport and life skills coaches in disadvantaged communities and so change lives through sport. Stefan

Adidas ambassadors Jean de Villiers, Greame Smith and Bryan Habanna “refreshed their gear at the adidas concept store in the V&A Waterfront

Howells, director of SCORE, says they are delighted to receive running shoes from South Africans as these will go a long way towards assisting aspiring athletes in the disadvantaged communities. In South Africa the initiative reaches 40 disadvantaged communities and in Zambia it reaches 11 and in Namibia it reaches 14.

The Refresh your gear campaign runs from 15 October to 16 November 2012 and the handover of the shoes are scheduled to take place during the first week of December.

Adidas has partnered with running retailers throughout SA and feel this is a great opportunity for the public to start their running journey with adidas.

2012 October/November :: Sports Trader

Companies on the move p14 :: Industry

Prince is back on track

“I would like to reassure everybody that Prince is alive and well.”

Mike Ballardie, executive vice-president of Prince EMEA Ltd was in SA to meet retailers and Leisure Holdings, their local distributors, to explain what happened during the recent sale of the racket brand, following a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in the US — and explain their plans going forward.

“This has been one of the most exciting and uplifting weeks in recent months,” he says of his reception by SA retailers and their willingness to support the Prince brand until stock delivery is fully restored in early 2013.

Over the past six months, as news about the Prince problems in the US emerged, manufacturers in the Far East started turning off production taps, explains Ballardie. “Since the beginning of August we’ve turned the tap back on, but the problem is that when production stops, workers are let go, and to turn the tap back on, takes time, as the factories have to re-employ the workers.”

By early 2013 they will be back up and running in the right way.”

Ballardie was part of the Lincolnshire Management company, formed by senior Prince executives, who bought the brand from the Benetton Group in 2003. After they sold the majority shareholding to Nautic Partners, a private equity company, in 2007, he remained vice-president and MD of the EMEA region.

“Nautic was unlucky,” he says. The year after they bought Prince, Lehmann Bros started the biggest economic slump of recent years in the US. Tennis rackets are high value items and overnight people just stopped buying premium rackets.

Prince is a premium brand who had about 75% of the US racket market share in the $200 (R1 700) and above range in 2007. Customers who used to pay more than $200 for a racket simply stopped buying new ones, and instead were restringing and reconditioning their rackets to make them last longer, explains Ballardie. Over the past three years the US tennis market shrunk by about 20-25% per annum.

The impact of the US losses on the brand were devastating.

In March 2012 Authentic Brands Group (ABG) bought the debt burden of $60-m and May 1 this year a Chapter 11 Bankruptcy was filed in the US. At the end of July the US Bankruptcy Court process was completed and ABG had 100% ownership of the brand.

Among the ABG brands are the popular MMA brand Tapout (official clothing sponsor of EFC) and brands like Hitman Fight Gear, Iron Star, Marilyn Monroe, Sinister, Bob Marley and Sportcraft.

Subsequently an Omaha equity investment company, the Waitt Company bought the operating assets and rights to the Prince brand across the world — with the exception of China

Sports Trader :: 2012 October/November

Peter Reeves from SA Prince distributor Leisure Holdings with Mike Ballardie, vice-president of Prince EMEA Ltd.

and a few other Asian markets.

The Eastern Hemisphere (which includes Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the Middle East) is run by Prince EMEA Ltd, with Mike Ballardie in charge.

“The Waitt company has deep pockets,” says Ballardie, who is excited about the new owner who considers the acquisition as an opportunity to re-establish Prince as a top racket brand with high performance innovative product.

They are also looking at ways in which they can reduce costs across the supply chain — with Chinese and Asian production costs increasing and retailers looking for higher margins, less and less becomes available for the distributor caught in the middle.

Ballardie was therefore discussing ways in which they can work closer with their SA dis-

tributor, Leisure Holdings. “We’ve worked together with Leisure Holdings for a long time,” he says, “and we’ve been brainstorming on how to find a different business model that will be more beneficial.”

Peter Reeves has been distributing Prince for 23 years in SA, and he and Ballardie have been working together for more than a decade.

Worldwide the racket market consists of a top-end performance segment and a more commercial segment of aspiring and recreational players. “We need to find the right way to address each of the different segments,” says Ballardie.

Globally, Prince has signed new agreements with the majority of their players, like #5 ranked David Ferrer, US #1 John Isner (who also plays in Prince footwear), the Bryan brothers, etc. “We currently sponsor 16 players among the top 100 men, and 8 of the top 100 women,” says Ballardie.

In squash they also sponsor ranking leaders James Willstrop and Nicole Davids.

“We also have a whole army of young up and coming stars we sponsor, like Taylor Townsend, the Australian junior tennis champion, who is being touted as the next Serena Williams.”

In the US Prince recently signed a multi-year deal to become the official racket of the PowerShares Series, played in 12 US cities over a seven-week period, starting October 13.

Big tennis names like Andre Agassi, John McEnroe, Pete Sampras Jim Courier, Ivan Lendl, Patrick Rafter, Michael Chang and Mats Wilander, as well as Davis Cup champ Todd Martin, will compete for a total of $1-m (R8.7-m) to be shared by the top three finishers.

Bokkie campaign launched SARU launched their Bokkie campaign to create hype about the Springboks brand at Canal Walk in August. The campaign will run until the 2015 World Cup. Bokkie, the animated 3D CGI Springbok, will be showcased in cinemas around SA until December this year as well as children’s social networking sites such as Club Penguin, gaming and mobile applications. Apart from the animations targeted towards kids, the campaign also includes the kids’ and adult lifestyle clothing range, distributed by Tri Sports and Leisure and Sapphire Logistics, depicting the Bokkie emblem, a TV campaign and the use of Bokkie in the physical space (in costume visiting chil- The injured Springbok Schalk Burger and Andy Marinos from SARU at the launch of the Bokkie campaign dren’s hospitals etc).

Leatherman buys PocketToolX LEATHERMAN Tool Group (LTG) have bought the PocketToolX Company, manufacturer of unique, single-piece multi-tools.

Founded in 2009, PocketToolX (PTX) introduced the idea of single-piece, multiple function tools into the mass market. The company had designs for new models in the works when the acquisition took place and LTG will be reviewing those for possible future introductions. LTG began selling the PTX tools in August under the Leatherman brand name, but using existing PTX model names: The Brewzer Keychain Tool, Mako Bike Tool, and the Piranha pocket tools.

Industry :: p15

Reebok opens first Fithub store in SA The first SA Reebok fitness store (called Fithub, with an emphasis on CrossFit products) recently opened in Canal Walk Centre in Cape Town. This is the fourth Reebok fitness store in the world, following the demand created after the first store focusing on a CrossFit range of products opened its doors in New York’s 5th Avenue.

The Canal Walk store is a showcase of Reebok as a fitness brand — and especially their close link to the growing Crossfit trend. Stocked with clothing, shoes and equipment that will appeal to gym goers of all persuasions and staffed by fitness and product experts capable of giving tips and advice to customers, the store has a clear message: this is for fitness fans. The store design also features elements associated with CrossFit boxes — like hanging ropes, wooden display boxes etc.

Retail news

New stores opened by two top brands show how retail can be used to communicate a strong brand message. For Reebok it is their association with Crossfit and for Puma their commitment to sustainability

The clear branding for The Sport of Fitness sends a clear message what to expect of the Reebok Fithub.

Left: Brett Burgess of Reebok Western Cape, Riaan Oosthuizen of Sportsmans Warehouse, Reebok GM Bruce Joubert, Pieter Warnich of Sportsmans Warehouse and Reebok’s Shannon Bouwer in front of the first Reebok Fithub in SA in Canal Walk, Cape Town.

Puma promotes sustainability Puma has opened their first sustainable store in India (right), featuring innovative design elements and energy saving and environmentally friendly-sourcing practices.

For example, they used recycled steel, more than 90% of the interior spaces have direct access to natural daylight, the building design promotes natural cooling and air circulation, solar power provides 100% energy, sensors switch lights on and off when necessary, silt that polluted local water supplies has been used in construction, furniture and fixtures were made of recycled wood and organic paint has been used.

The store will retail a range of organic cotton products, including Puma’s sustainable Wilderness Collection developed and made in Africa. The store also introduces Puma’s global Bring Me Back in-store recycling programme for footwear, apparel and soft accessories to help reduce waste and landfills by reusing the returned items.

Some of Puma’s sponsored players like Andries Bekker and Francois Louw (below left), Schalk Burger and Moroko Swallows helped to introduce these bins in their SA stores as well.

One of the bins was installed in Puma’s new street store n the trendy suburb of Braamfontein (below), whose young, hipster population fits the store’s target market. It is kitted with

their new international Retail 2.0 store design, including elements like a social area and DJ mixing station (below right).

Puma has also acknowledged Johannesburg’s gold mining history by introducing references like a brand wall made up of mining helmets, footwear housing elements that look like mine elevators and gold sprayed Puma cat statues.

2012 October/November :: Sports Trader

What Mass impact has Walmart had in SA? p16 :: Industry

“W

hat Walmart has brought us is a massive level of professionalism and a know how that would have taken us 25 years to learn. Learning these lessons ourselves would have cost us millions in consultancy fees. What it allowed us to do is to rapidly process in their know-how,” says Tyrone Vieira, the merchandise director for Massdiscounters, a division of Massmart.

Vieira has been with the group for 18 years, having started working at Dion before it was bought by Massmart in 1993. Five years later Massmart bought Game. Today the Massmart group consists of Game, DionWired, Makro, Builders Warehouse, Builders Express, Builders Trade Depot, Jumbo, Shield and Cambridge Food. Massdiscounters operate two of these retailers: Game and DionWired.

“The Walmart philosophy has always been if we can add value, we’ll add value. If there is a reason why you should buy local or if you can do better by buying local, then buy local,” he says.

There is sometimes a reason why you will rather buy from a local supplier.

“Whatever the case may be, keep the supplier.

If it’s a niche, keep them. If you can take a local supplier’s product that is doing particularly well here and export it to one of the international territories, even better.”

The local seasonal sports are also more likely to be ordered from a local supplier as the other international countries don't usually stock these sports. The group looks out for the best deal that they can get.

Most of Massdiscounters’ categories are benefitting from Walmart. One big benefit that Walmart have brought is pure business knowhow, such as how to improve the supply chain and better quality control, says Vieira.

The direct product benefits depend on how strong Walmart is in that product. For sport, Massdiscounters is more likely to draw experience and support from their colleagues in Canada or the UK, for example, than from the US, because there are more overlaps in the sporting codes. Additionally, when Massdiscounters have a problem with a local distributor of an international brand they will make use of their international connections to get the issue resolved faster.

They have found that there is little overlap for our seasonal sports with the international territories, but where there is an overlap Massdiscounters get the advantage of asking for advice from the other countries' experience, says Vieira.

On the health and outdoor side, however,

Sports Trader :: 2012 October/November

The last decision on supplier assistance by the Competition Appeal Court in October finally sealed the merger deal between Walmart and Massmart. With Makro and Game big players in the sport and outdoor equipment, footwear and clothing markets, the industry have been keeping a close watch on these proceedings. NIC DU TOIT and CARIN HARDISTY asked Tyrone Vieira, Massdiscounters merchandise director, about the role Massmart-Walmart will play in the industry there is a lot of overlap with their international colleagues who can offer help and guidance as needed. “A territory such as Canada, that is a fairly wealthy nation, sells more braais during their three months of summer than South Africa sells in a whole year,” says Vieira.

What Massdiscounters have also learnt from Walmart is their knack and talent to create instore promotional events to stimulate consumers to buy from their stores.

Looking into the future When it comes to opening new stores, Massdiscounters have a strict store approval process.

They have written an internal computer model that every new store has to pass through before it’s opened. “Perhaps we’re a bit prudent sometimes and potentially leave money on the table when a store gets rejected, but it means we haven’t had to close or reduce any of our stores,” he says. “I think in the last few years there were some retailers that were opening and opening and opening stores, and it’s starting to hurt them badly.”

When looking to the future, Massdiscounters still see growth possibilities within SA. “Game has had a good response from the mid-size towns. We are opening stores in King William's Town and Queenstown in the next few months, for example,” he says. “We’ve seen retail development formalise in some of those towns that used to have just main road stores, where they are now building small shopping centres outside the CBD.” Their current country stores are treated like destination stores and serve a broader customer base. These stores will more likely sell a higher market product, for example, pool tables, because they receive a broader range of clients.

There are still some growth possibilities in the urban centres, but he feels that the rate of growth in shopping centres has definitely slowed down. This is due to the economy, he adds and he feels this will turn around again. “You only need to look at construction — there has been a big lull in development. But the upturn will

come again. The economy is still growing, but it’s not growing at the rate it was. Development will lag now and then it will start turning again.”

Also, retail areas move. What used to be a good location a few years ago, might not be today. Vieira uses the example of Randburg in Johannesburg. Randburg used to be THE Location for retail a few years ago, but now it’s Fourways and even that is moving, he says.

Moving into Africa “Africa is a massive opportunity,” says Vieira.

“The countries are hungry for products and we sell insane amounts of health, camping and outdoor equipment into Africa.”

Makro and Game both do business via exporting — the bulk of which goes into Africa. Both receive orders from wholesalers (Makro) and retailers (Game) who travel across borders from other African countries, order in bulk, and then either sell it in their own stores or sell it on to other retailers.

DionWired has 16 stores in SA and Game currently has 106 stores across Southern Africa.

Outside South Africa, Game also has stores in Botswana (2), Ghana (1), Malawi (2), Mozambique (1), Namibia (2), Nigeria (1), Tanzania (1), Uganda (1) and Zambia (1). Of the bigger African markets, it is only Kenya and Angola that they are not yet servicing with their own stores.

Africa is a growing market in general. People often forget the scale of the population in Africa, points out Vieira. While the majority of Africans are poor, the small percentage of people who have money still make up a big number of people.

Uganda, for example, has a big competitive market. The UN also has a presence there and tend to buy in bulk. He points out that there has also been phenomenal growth in Zambia. “We will expand in Africa as fast as we can locate a site,” says Vieira. “We have an appetite for hundreds of stores in Africa.”

While Walmart is currently using SA as a springboard into sub-Saharan Africa, they will eventually also be looking at Northern Africa, but the fact that it is largely Arabic presents some prob-

Industry :: p17

The Walmart philosophy has always been “if we can add value, we’ll add value”.

If there is a reason why you should buy local or if you can do better by buying local, then buy local.

lems (e.g. language). Walmart also don't as yet have a supply chain set up from the Middle East, which would be convenient for Northern Africa expansion.

“Part of what the Walmart transaction meant to us is that we are now no longer reliant on developers,” says Vieira. “We have access to capital from Walmart to actually go and build a property by ourselves.” He points out that, typically, in Africa they would build a property and then sell it to someone, who will in turn lease the building to Massdiscounters. “We don’t want to hold a massive property portfolio, so we’re quite happy with this arrangement.” That will accelerate their development into Africa.

Massdiscounters have dedicated buyers for the Africa region, but all their buyers for all the regions are situated in a centralised area together.

Massdiscounters Massdiscounters’ stores focus on the scholar and the recreational and home type of sports person.

Typically, their customers are older and their sales are centred on the mass market.

They have a broad focus on customers who fall in the LSM 5-8 groups, but they do also cater for LSM 9-10. Makro, particularly, caters for a slightly more wealthy clientele. While they are also

Supplier development fund THE COMPETITION Appeal Court (CAC) announced its decision early in October regarding the supplier development fund, volunteered by Walmart and Massmart as a condition for their merger.

The CAC ruled that “the merged firm has flexibility, at its discretion, to invest up to R200 million over the next five years in identifying and assisting micro, small and medium suppliers that can benefit most from MassmartWalmart’s expertise”. The decision was made to rather focus on upgrading skills than the amount of money invested.

Some of Massmart-Walmart’s immediate objectives are to act on opportunities that will affect positively on SA’s economy. This includes helping to improve local manufacturing competitiveness.

focused on the scholastic market, Makro will do a bit more commercial business through bulk orders. Instead of someone walking into the store asking for a tube of tennis balls, for example, they will ask for a case.

On the health equipment side the products push the higher level, but overall their products tend to service the entry- to mid-level market.

“You don’t get into the health market overnight,” cautions Vieira. “We run service centres across the country. We have a big service infrastructure carrying 10 years’ worth of spares. We run a fully manned call centre where we have a proper computerised system to deal with service calls. We have fleets of people on the road who do service calls… this does not all come over night.”

They are seeing an emergence of direct-tomarket players — people approaching schools directly, or school teachers and coaches wanting to make an additional income and selling their own equipment. Vieira sees this as a threat to the formal trade, because the teachers do not have operating costs and they are trusted. They hold a lot of authority with the kids and parents and can influence their buying. Also, many of these direct sellers come in with “B” brands.

Sports growth “We’re growing nicely in the sports category,” says Tyrone Vieira. He says it is an interesting category at the moment, because of the aggressive players in the field. “We’re fairly buoyant, based on the fact that we’ve had a lot of competition come into the market and we’re still able to compete and have our own niche in the market,” says Vieira. “I think this is because we’ve stuck to what we do well.”

Sport moves up and down, he points out. “For a long period now we had a positive run in seasonal sports, but this can be very dependent on which tours and teams come to SA.” He says their two biggest emerging trends are general health and wellbeing as well as adult cycling. People want to be healthy. Gym equipment, accessories and health supplements are doing very well for their stores.

They have experienced a significant shift in cycling with the focus shifting from the kids’ market to adults. Their core focus used to be on the kids’ market, but there has been a big growth in adult recreational cycling. Parents are scared to send their kids to schools on bicycles, because of traffic, the bicycles get stolen, etc. He feels that while this mass market is in decline, there has been a growth in recreational cycling.

The area that is experiencing the biggest pressure is indoor games (pool tables, table tennis tables, etc.). People are buying smaller houses and therefore they do not have the space anymore.

Additionally, indoor games are fun/luxury items — in tough times people will cut down on the luxuries and focus on the items that they need.

Tennis is coming back and over the past year they have seen a growth again. Vieira says it depends largely on the personalities playing the sport. Now that there are strong personalities playing, there has been a general interest again — especially among children who want to play at school.

Tyrone Vieira, Massdiscounters merchandise director

While he has noticed that children are playing more sport more, they are taking part in less of a variety of sports, rather choosing to specialise in and focus on one or two. He adds that athletics is dying — some schools have apparently even stopped having their athletics days. This will hopefully change with the new compulsory school sport policy.

It is very difficult for the mass merchant to sell golf products, says Vieira, because there is such strong competition for a small market among the specialist shops. Someone looking for a specialist product will rather drive further to reach a specialist retailer who can stock a wider variety of the product, than the mass retailer.

“Adults seem to have moved away from tennis, golf, etc.,” says Vieira. “There is a time pressure for adults.” He feels that adults have moved towards a more individual sport that is less time consuming, e.g. running, that can be done on their own time and as they have time to do it.

Massdiscounters focus on stocking established brands — the only area where they stock their own brand (Trojan) is in their health category.

“We believe that especially the youth market want brands, so wherever we can find a brand at the right value for them, we will stock them,” says Vieira.

2012 October/November :: Sports Trader

Ideas for Xmas stock

p18 :: Outdoor

December holiday and January back-to-school sales are the backbone of SA retail sales. To benefit from the more generous spending by customers who receive their annual bonuses or want to treat the family for Christmas retailers have to think out of the box. It’s time to stock up on items that will appeal to these occassional customers, rather than the regular seasonal sport buyers

T

he December Christmas holiday season, followed by January’s back-to-school rush, is the busiest time for all retailers. Some estimate that they increase sales by as much as 50% during this period. Even the very seasonal sporting goods industry benefits from the freer consumer spending over this period, fueled by annual bonuses, the generous spirit of Christmas and the need for new clothes and equipment when going on holiday.

Statistics provided by Statistics SA show that over the 3-month period just before December (September-November) the value of sporting goods imports is more than 30% higher than the second highest period — the months March, August and December (see chart). It is interesting that in January, February and July the least sporting goods are imported (see more statistics on p58).

Because this is such an important period for retail sales, a bad season can start the new year off on a very bad note. The flip side is that a good holiday season, lays a good foundation for the rest of the year.

This might require some out-of-the box thinking to stock up on items that will attract customers who might not normally buy sporting goods.

Spor ng goods imports R'000m 2008-2011 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0

Sep-Nov

Mar, Aug, Dec

Apr-Jun

Jan,Feb & Jul

We therefore give a few suggestions for gift items or goods that will appeal to families on holiday or parents looking for ways to keep the children occupied during the long holiday.

Summit’s games for the beach, garden or backyard

Playing a game of netball, soccer or cricket is a great way for families to spend time together over the December holidays. Summit’s range of soccer goal sets are perfect for a game between parents and kids (classic) or a game between

teams of kids (mini twin). The soccer goal sets come complete with a ball, pump, cones and pegs — ready for play!

The portable goal sets as well as Summit’s 2-sided rebound nets are perfect for a day at the

beach, a camping trip or for the backyard. The sets are easy to set up and allows the family to play anywhere within minutes. Future sport stars looking to improve their catching and throwing skills will love the 2-sided Rebound training net, which deflects a ball back at a player.

Families looking to spend time with their daughters can enjoy easy mountable netball rings. Goal scorers can improve their hoop skills with Summits’s professional hoop sizes. The hoops are mounted using hi-tensile screws and the hoops are made from durable powder coated metal tubes.

Everybody needs light!

A good, reliable flashlight with a strong beam is still a must-have on most men’s wish lists.

In unfamiliar situations — like a campsite or a strange holiday city — it is comforting to have the bright light of a torch at hand. Especially if you know that the LED’s (Light Emitting Diodes) save energy and reduce CO2 emissions as in the products from LED Lenser, from Awesome Tools.

The latest performance models pack a serious light punch. The new LED Lenser M7RX (right below) and M14X (right above) feature a wider lighting angle that light up the immediate area evenly with a generous beam — a maximum beam distance of 600lm for the M7R X and 650lm for the M14X. In the focused position they both reach an impressive distance, but still illuminate a wide area outside the fo-

Sports Trader :: 2012 October/November

cus point. Just what one needs when walking in the bush in the dark.

A new chip in the LED Lenser M7R X makes it possible to combine all of the many lighting performances of the older M7R model with completely different light cone characteristics that lights up the area surrounding the focused spot. Despite its generous light distribution, it has an exceptionally strong beam.

Other functions include the Advanced Focus System that LED Lenser is renowned for, speedy onehand focusing, and a comfortable charging method.

The LED Lenser M14X is the brightest torch in the M (performance) Series. A new high power LED in the compact flashlight offers extreme performance. Like the M7RX it illuminates the close area equally, but generously lights up the landscape outside the focus area.

Among the many functions are applicable light programs (Smart Light Technology), comfortable one-hand focusing and the patented Advanced Focus System.

p20 :: Outdoor

Gifts for the man who has it all

Gear & Accessories

Happily Ever Active

SURVIVAL BAND Survival Band Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

When having to find a gift for the man in her life, many a woman has said a silent thank you to Leatherman, locally distributed by Awesome Tools. The latest Leatherman tool is a sure winner when it comes to finding a gift that will make even the most fussy man happy — or an essential tool to take on holiday.

The multi-tool concept was born nearly thirty years ago because of the frustrations Tim Leatherman suffered while he and his wife were travelling in Europe and he had to try and fix an old car and bad hotel plumbing with a pocket knife and since then many, many holidaymakers have been grateful for the multiple tools combined in one.

It is therefore with good reason the brand new Style PS is subtitled the travel-friendly multitool. Although this refers to the fact that it is allowed as on-board luggage by US airlines, the compact stainless steel tool contains all the essentials a traveller would need.

The eight tools consist of spring-action needlenose and regular pliers, spring-action wire cutters, scissors, a nail file, tweezers, a screwdriver (flat and Phillips) and carabiner or bottle opener.

With these, most travel emergencies can be fixed. A 25-year warranty assures customers of its quality.

For years multi-tool users could choose from two distinct options when it came to a one-handoperable multi-tool: one-hand-opening pliers or one-hand-opening blades. Leatherman has now fused these ideas into the first ever, 100% onehand-operable multi-tool, the Leatherman OHT (above). This industry-first tool features spring-

loaded pliers and wire-cutters so you don't tire your hand adjusting and readjusting your grip. Handles with visual imprints of the tool beneath make for quick identification. A lifesaving strap cutter and oxygen bottle wrench, threading for common-size cleaning rods and much more make this a one-handed workhorse of a tool.

The new rebar from Leatherman is a classic that never goes out of style. With the new Rebar, fans will immediately recognise the iconic box-like body and sloped-neck design found in the Super Tool 300 and Micra. This new tool rounds out Leatherman's classic heritage line of products by offering one in each size category.

Just like the Super Tool 300, the Rebar pliers have been optimized for strength and feature replaceable wire/hard-wire cutters — a first for a four-inch tool from Leatherman.

“With all the features to get even the toughest jobs done, in a smaller, slimmer size, the new Rebar is sure to be an instant hit on job sites, and home-projects the world over,” says Sean van der Sluis of Awesome Tools.

“The Mako Ti bike tool is named after one of the fastest shark species in the world, not unlike you when you're up and running,” he continues.

“For those unfortunate breakdowns, the extremely lightweight and compact Mako features nine essential tools for a road or trailside fix to get you back up and running in no time.”

It comes complete with a bottle opener for refreshment, five metric box wrenches and two spoke wrenches. “This is the first bike tool that you won't even notice in your pocket!” says Van der Sluis.

Gifts for the outdoor enthusiasts MILITARY COMPASS

NAVIGATOR COMPASS

Think Outside... No Box Required ULTIMATE SURVIVAL KIT

DMQ Trading | 021 200 0747 www.civvio.com | info@civvio.com Find us on facebook.com/civvio Tweet us @civvio

The Civvio Ultimate Survival Set (below) is a gift option that should appeal to a wide range of customers — hikers, adventure racers, yachtsmen, canoeists, off-roaders, travellers… anyone who will be away from home comforts for some time, or lovers of clever gadgets.

At first glance it looks like a compass, but this compact, yet robust set is a 10-in-1 tool that would be the envy of the likes of Bear Grylls, says Brigid Kemp of local distributor DMQ Trading. Apart from the compass, the set contains a thermometer, hygrometer to measure the moisture content in the air, a flint, a ruler, a LED light, spirit level, magnifying glass, SOS whistle and mirror.

They are packaged heat-sealed in a blister pack with an attractive and descriptive backing board and euro slots for hanging — making it easy to display them without having to sacrifice much space.

Another new item from Civvio, the Survival Band (above right), is just the thing for any adrenalin junkie or outdoor enthusiast, says Kemp.

“With a breaking strain of

Sports Trader :: 2012 October/November

160kg’s and capability of unravelling to up to 3m, this rugged accessory could end up being an integral life line in even the trickiest of situations!”

These handy — and inexpensive — bands are made of military grade paracord and have multiple uses. They are ideal for tying, securing or hanging any item — or even person, when you need to keep in touch in the dark. And after being stretched to the limit, the band may be rewoven to a style of the wearers choice. More exciting colours and colour combinations are currently being added to the first two colours and are being produced locally.

In line with Civvio’s conservationist brand values, a percentage of all Survival Band sales will go to The Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Wild dog Project, founded to ensure the survival of this African specie.

An attractive survival band stand is available with a minimum number of orders.

These hang sale items are also easy to merchandise and are ideal as point of sale items.

p22 :: Outdoor

Affordable sport watches

Sporty Gear & Accessories

A range of sporty watches in fun styles and funky colours should appeal to sporty, outdoorsy customers of all ages.

The Civvio sports watch range, available from DMQ Trading, has the same features you would expect to find in serious sport watches — but they are more fashionable with eye-catching displays in bright colours like yellow, red or blue. All watches in the range are 3ATM water resistant.

Although they are top quality

time pieces, these watches are available at surprisingly affordable prices, making them ideal gifts and add-ons for any store. They will retail for under R200, even with good margins.

They come in innovative packaging and an eye-catching display stand is available with minimum orders.

3ATM Water Resistant

Negative Ion Infused Straps

GRID

SPLASH

BOLT

Fun, Functional & Affordable

3ATM Water Resistant BLOCK

DMQ Trading | 021 200 0747 www.civvio.com | info@civvio.com Find us on facebook.com/civvio Tweet us @civvio

Keeping toddlers safe in water Swimming, sea and sun are the things we love about the summer. The dark side is that December is the month of drownings — some statistics say at a rate of a child per day — and the age group most affected are toddlers aged 1-4. And contrary to expectations, most drownings don’t occur in the coastal provinces — Netcare 911 say that during the holiday months they receive more calls about drowning and water emergencies in inland provinces, than at the coast. And the highest number of emergency calls are about children aged 2-8 years.

By prominently displaying water safety equipment for young children, you will remind your customers that they need to take steps to keep their children safe near water.

Aqualine, the water sport brand owned

by De Wet Sports, has a range of products under the Aqua Pups label that will give parents greater peace of mind while their toddlers are enjoying a splash in a pool. All their swim aids are approved by the NRCS (National Regulator of Compulsory Specifications, which set SA water safety specifications).

A swimvest with flotation inserts (above right) — which looks just like an adult life jacket — keeps the youngster afloat and helps him or her gain confidence while learning to swim. Because the arms can move freely under the water, it is easier to master basic swim strokes. There are three sizes, for children 1-2 years, 3-4 years and 5-6 years.

Their roll-up armbands with two air chamTrading bers in durable PVC, will keepDMQ children aged|

2-12 years floating while in the water. Some of them come in bright cartoon-style character designs.

A baby swim seat (below) in two sizes — 6-12 months and 12-24 months — will be welcomed by young mothers, who will now be able to go swimming with their babies.

Designed like a baby seat with three inflatable tubes around it, the baby stays upright, with legs dangling in the water.

But, drowning is not the only danger faced by toddlers who go swimming. According to the National Cancer Registry nearly 20 000 South Africans are infected by skin cancer every year — and young skins are particularly vulnerable.

Aqualine’s float suits therefore have a dual benefit: their flotation inserts not only promotes confidence when tots learns to swim, but the UPF50 sun protection rating also keeps harmful sun rays from their vulnerable bodies.

021 200 0747 www.civvio.com | info@civvio.com Find us on facebook.com/civvio Sports Trader :: 2012 October/November Tweet us @civvio

p24 :: Outdoor

For eco-friendly customers

Earth Friendly Apparel & Natural Accessories

Customers who care about the environment and a more sustainable lifestyle will appreciate some new products from DMQ Trading that are made from natural resources.

The 100% natural wood watches (below) are the latest addition to the Civvio watch brand, locally developed by DMQ Trading. These attractive watches, in sandalwood for men and maple for the unisex version, feature stainless steel finishes and top quality Japanese movement. A strap that elegantly tapers ensures more comfort. They are packaged in a beautiful earth-friendly recyclable cardboard cube.

They also offer a range of hemp t-shirts in earthy colours and striking designs. Forget about the negative connotations attached to cannabis — hemp is fast becoming most earthlover’s choice of organic fi-

100% Wooden Watches

bre. Because it is such a versatile plant that can be grown in all climates, hemp has been used for textiles, fabrics, fuel, fibre, food, paper, medicine etc. for thousands of years. It is easily renewable, strong and requires no pesticides or herbicides to grow.

Garments made from hemp fibre are soft, durable — it is the strongest vegetable fibre in the world — and machine washable.

The mistaken belief that hemp was grown for the drug trade resulted in efforts to eradicate the plants over the past seventy years – but as more and more alternative information surfaces, the value of cannabis sativa (hemp), the sister plant of cannabis indica, that doesn’t contain the pshycoactive drug THC, is increasingly recognised and the planting legalised.

Teens on wheels

HEMP APPAREL

Tailored For An Active Lifestyle

The ELEMENTS Range DMQ Trading | 021 200 0747 www.civvio.com | info@civvio.com Find us on facebook.com/civvio Tweet us @civvio

Most teenagers dream, wish or nag for inline ple Vortex range in assorted more hard core skates or a skateboard at some stage. That is designs. New ultra high rebound wheels (size why these are such sought after Christmas gift 54x31mm) are also available. items — or why they fly off the shelves now They now also offer two ranges of inline that the long summer holiday is drawing near. skates. The reinforced PP frame of the NexThese will especially be a hit in Cape Town us, in size small, can be adjusted to find the where the Sea Point promenade has been perfect fit. The Synergy, in medium and large opened to all skaters. sizes, has a more expensive, but durable, aluDe Wet Sports has expanded their popular minium frame. The cast PU wheels are sized and affordable Surge brand and now offer sev- for recreational or freewheel skating (72mm eral new items that should appeal to young- for Nexus and 76mm for Synergy).

Parents will be interested in the new prosters - and their parents.

They now offer longboards — with much tective accessories from Surge: helmets with longer decks than skateboards — for those who designs that should appeal to teens on wheels, enjoy travelling at speed for a longer period, featuring an air vent cooling system and soft rather than performing on a skateboard. Long- nylon webbed straps for comfort, in a high imboards are more stable at higher speeds. pact EPS shell. A protective pads combo set Surge offer designs in two ranges that will consists of knee, elbow and wrist guards in cater for every taste: from the serious atti- high grade high impact fabric that ensures a tude of the skulls, to the pleasing designs of comfortable fit. the flowers, or the bright and funky adventure scenes.

The Recoil boards have 9-ply durable maple double kick decks, while the slightly smaller Proton range have 7-ply Canadian maple pintail decks. The wheels on the Proton boards are slightly larger (75x65mm) than the Recoil boards (70x42mm) — the smaller the wheel, the faster the acceleration of the board, but the lower the top speed, while bigger wheels give more momentum and a higher top speed. Additional wheel sets are also available as accessories.

In addition to the brightly coloured maple Surge-branded Orbit DMQ skate-Trading | 021 200 0747 boards, they also offer a Canadian mawww.civvio.com | info@civvio.com

Find us on facebook.com/civvio

Sports Trader :: 2012 October/November Tweet us @civvio

Time Factor runs on time with top brands p26 :: Apparel & Footwear

Time Factor watch company founder Edwin Chan is a born entrepreneur. He was only 15 when he established his own company in 1977. He is not scared to work extremely hard to grow his business — like travelling on a bicycle from Johannesburg to Newcastle to sell watches. Now, 25 years later, he is a successful businessman, developing quality watch ranges for top brands

T

he son of a Hong Kong watchmaker, Chan learnt everything about the mechanical structure of watches from a very early age. During the years spent working with his father, he had also learned how to repair watches, and although still a teenager, he opened his own company to repair watches. Because times were difficult, he worked at the company during the day and attended night school to finish his studies.

As his King Hao Watch Company grew, Chan decided to add the selling of watches to his repair business. The focus therefore shifted from a repair company to a wholesale company selling watch brands like Seiko and Citizen.

While visiting relatives in Johannesburg, Chan realised there was huge potential in the SA market. At the time, there were few suppliers of watches, especially low- to mid-priced watch ranges. After careful consideration, he decided to sell his company in Hong Kong, and start a new business in SA. After immigrating to SA in 1987, Chan set up a company called Hong Kong Development Company to import low- to mid-priced watches from Hong Kong for wholesale. Because of the affordability of these watches, the business grew very quickly. In 1995 he changed the name to Wingki Chan CC to honour a family member.

Wingki Chan’s products became known in the local market for their exceptional quality and affordable prices. Due to the demand from customers for more products, they also started importing pocket radios, stationery, torches, pocket knives and other commodities.

With the increasing demand for corporate gifts, Wingki Chan set up a department with an in-house designer to specifically deal with corporate gifts, as well as OEM watches in SA. In 2000, as the demand for more ranges increased, he also opened a company in Hong Kong, J & T International Group Ltd. To facilitate growth and cope with the demand, he also opened offices in Guangzhou and Zhejiang China. They also opened an office in Australia.

In 2011 Wingki Chan acquired the distribution

Sports Trader :: 2012 October/November

Running watches with the top class features one would associate with a premium brand rights in SA for watches under the brand names Asics, Onituska Tiger, Everlast, Fila, Q&Q, Solus heart rate monitor watches, and Edwin.

Three further brands were added in 2012, namely New Balance running watches, Daniel Hechter and Hello Kitty watches and Jewellery.

Name change In September 2012 Wingki Chan changed their trading name to Time Factor, in order to define the company as a specialised watch distributor.

After acquiring the distribution rights for the branded sport watch ranges, Chan appointed Patrick Benade, who has a lot of experience in the SA watch industry, as national sales manager.

Benade started working in Cape Town as an agent for small appliances about twenty years ago. After their principal was bought by another company, who didn’t need an agent, he joined Tex van Beuge’s agency Tri-Us Sales and Distributors in 1994.

Benade sold the Xonix watch range to sport stores, which did very well, he says. Avantco was the SA distributor for Xonix, and about ten years ago they asked Benade to join them as sales manager, provided he relocated to Johannesburg.

They also got the license to design and distribute BadBoy watches. When LGB Distributors got the license to distribute BadBoy watches in 2009, Benade was appointed brand manager.

Benade had sourced numerous products through Chan while still working for Avantco and in 2011, when Wingki Chan acquired the international sports brand watch licensing rights, he joined them as sales manager.

Apart from the fact that the watches offer the followers of these sports brand an accessory to complement their outfits, they also have the top class features one would associate with

Sales manager Patrick Benade has lots of experience of the SA watch market.

a premium brand.

The Asics and Onitsuka Tiger watches are manufactured by Seiko in Japan. As one would expect from a world-class running brand, the Asics watches are aimed at runners, especially those who want to record their lap memory or need a stop watch during training. The attractive watches, in various colours, are water resistant (for triathlon), act as alarms — two timers can be set — and can record short memos.

Top running brand They recently introduced the New Balance running watch range with even more features that should appeal to runners, especially the trail runners and adventure racers who follow this brand — like a heart rate monitor, GPS and digital compass, in addition to a lap counter memory and other features associated with runner’s watches.

Solus is a watch combined with heart rate monitor, and is manufactured in China. It includes a heart rate zone alert and counts down calories burnt, in addition to measuring speed, distance and steps. Its memory retains data for 100 laps or a 4-week exercise programme. It also tells time and dates in two time zones and has an alarm.

Their Everlast watch range fits well with the brand’s boxing and fitness profile. The range offers from large face stainless steel sports watches, to more understated fashion designs, or colourful ABS polymer and silicon watches that should appeal to ladies.

The Fila sports watches reflect the understated Italian design flair of the sports company with its heritage in tennis, golf, running and lately, lifestyle fashion.

Q&Q watches, manufactured by Citizen in Japan, are one of the largest selling analog watch brands in more than 150 countries.

Chan also developed his own Edwin range of watches which he successfully distributed in Asia as well as SA for almost 20 years. He recently added a good quality digital range developed for the SA market.

He also distributes fashion brands like the elegant and sophisticated range of Daniel Hechter men's and ladies watches, and the Initial range which feature the latest fashion styles at affordable prices. They recently launched a new range of Hello Kitty watches and jewellery.

2013 a GOOD year for running

p28 :: Apparel & Footwear

Western Cape MEC Alan Winde, Two Oceans chairman Solly Moeng, and adidas SA MD Winand Krawinkel, inspect an official TOM T-shirt

2

adidas SA MD Winand Krawinkel is very upbeat about the brand’s prospects for next year

013 is going to be the year of running for adidas. Winand Krawinkel, adidas SA CEO, enthusiastically lists the reasons why next year is going to be THE year for adidas running.

Tanned and relaxed, he is clearly a happy man.

“Managing a great team and brand in a market like this is an honour and makes me very happy,” he says about his two-year stint in SA. Being appointed the new sponsors of the Two Oceans Marathon (TOM) — labelled by many the most beautiful marathon in the world — will be at the heart of the adidas running campaign. It will be a platform for showcasing their technical running apparel range, and a vehicle for reaching out to grassroots running communities.

The partnership will not only promote adidas as a running brand, but will also promote TOM as a brand.

The TOM range will consist of gender specific styles in different designs for each aspect of the race, featuring technology to keep runners cool, dry and comfortable.

After a sneak preview test-run in adidas stores from October, a TOM running apparel and memorabilia retail campaign will be introduced in Q1 2013, culminating in the Two Oceans Expo in March, and continuing beyond.

“Our first distribution channel for merchandise will be our key partners who carry specialised running ranges,” says Krawinkel. “It fits quite nicely to have technical garments to complement the footwear from our four core families, adiZero, adiStar, Supernova and Response.”

The innovations from adidas that will be available from Q1, will give the running industry something to take note of, promises running brand manager Kate Woods. “It will set off fireworks when the products hit the market.”

While football is still at the heart of the brand DNA, running is a strategic product category for adidas, Krawinkel stresses. “Technical running garments and shoes are two very important strategic pillars of the brand.”

The Two Oceans is a strong brand across the world and it will be a good addition to the adidas basket of global marathon partnerships — in Berlin, Beijing, Boston and London.

Sports Trader :: 2012 October/November

“You do not become a global partner of the top marathons in the world if you don’t have the right technical products. Some of the best runners in the world run in our brand because it enhances their performance.”

Their proven international track record ensures that adidas is a step ahead when it comes to promoting merchandise and brand the race to a much broader audience, believes Krawinkel. “We know the dimensions, we know how much we can sell. For me it is about the passion and pride to be associated with the event, to see the pride with which runners wear their event shirts.”

They will also use the TOM exposure to grow running participation in grassroots communities Their philosophy is to encourage all kinds of runners at all levels to participate — from top runners like adidas ambassador Haile Gebrselassie, who has already said he’d like to enter, to beginners in the fun run, intermediate runners in the half marathon, or trail runners. On the Friday of the race weekend there is also an international friendship run, bringing people from across the world together.

They will also use the TOM exposure to grow running participation in grassroots communities — where people are already running to train for other sports. “Access and affordability are the great obstacles for entering the sport and we will do our best to give access and make it more affordable.

“Every morning when I go round the mountain I see guys running in non-technical shoes, but I can see by their style and pace that they are good runners. We need to get them into the running community and give them a target, like finishing an event like this.”

Through their Two Oceans Marathon Initiative (TOMI) adidas is encouraging runners to bring their worn running shoes (of any brand) to “Refresh your Gear” bins in retailers — and in return receive a R400 voucher towards a

new pair of adidas shoes. They are also working with partners in communities like Khayelitsha to encourage people to start running.

They recently commemorated Heritage Day with an adi-active fun run in Soweto to celebrate the first birthday of co-host Virgin Active Soweto. The partnership between adidas and Virgin Active has resulted in several community-based adi-active 5-10km fun runs, with groups of runners departing from the various gyms after work during the summer months.

In Durban, adidas partnered with the new Prime Human Performance Institute, where adidas technical representatives are on site to assist the institute staff in recommending the correct footwear and apparel to members.

The institute, which opened in July, is one of the top three high performance training venues for local and international athletes in SA. “We are building something sustainable here in South Africa and our numbers prove us right,” says Krawinkel. “Adidas is very successful at the moment and we’ve had a very good year. It was even better than last year. Much better. But the job is far from done, there are still many opportunities in sub-Saharan Africa.”

They have invested in stores in Zimbabwe and improved their presence through visual merchandising in key accounts in Namibia and Botswana. Through the expansion into Africa by key partners adidas have been able to further grow their presence in these countries.

But, the South African team cannot take all the credit for the good growth, he acknowledges. “Globally the brand is showing incredible strength and momentum.”

The London Olympics not only resulted in a win-win situation for Team Great Britain, the brand got a boost worldwide through their association with the Olympics and all the teams and athletes they sponsored.

They clothed more than 80 000 Games Makers with sustainable products, supplied kit for 3 000 athletes competing in 25 out of the 26 Olympic Sports (equestrian was the one exception) and supplied 11 National Olympic Committees. Sales of Olympic products were 250% higher than in Beijing.

Advertorial :: p29

adidas unveils the official match ball

of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations 2013, South Africa

a

didas, the official match ball supplier for the The design of the new ball was inspired by the Ndebele print Confederation of African Football (CAF), recently artworks and the dominant colours in most Africa national unveiled the new official match ball — KATLEGO flags and the result was a ball full of colour and vibrance, — for the Orange Africa Cup of Nations 2013, adds Ngobese.

South Africa.

“CAF is proud to be associated with a leading football brand such as adidas and we are excited about the new ball as it The new ball, which was given its new name through a vote by represents the whole of Africa. We look the African football fans, was unveiled durforward to an exciting tournament in Januing CAF’s live draw show in Durban.

“We are delighted to present the fourth ofary,” says Amr Shaheen, the Marketing and KATLEGO, which means TV Director at CAF. ficial match ball for the most important toursuccess in the SeSotho nament in Africa to CAF following the success KATLEGO will be used for the first time language, was chosen of previous balls such as Wawa Aba (Ghana), shortly after the draw to leverage the exciteby African football fans Jabulani (Angola) and Comoequa (Equatorial ment for the upcoming tournament in South via an online voting Guinea and Gabon),” says Zobuzwe Ngobese, Africa, starting January 2013 and to allow the the Public Relations Manager at qualified teams to get used to the ball. South competition. adidas South Africa.

African Premier Soccer League clubs got the opportunity to use the new ball at the end of October in two fixture: Ajax Cape Town vs Sundowns in Cape Town and AmaZulu vs Pirates in Johannesburg.

KATLEGO, which means success in SeSotho language, was chosen by African football fans via an online voting competition where they had to vote for one of three names shortlisted by adidas. KATLEGO beat alternate names Khanya (which means light) and Motswako (which means mixture).

Ismail Badmus of Nigeria was one of the lucky voters who won a double ticket and trip for two to the watch the final match of the 2013 AFCON tournament in South Africa.

For up-to-date news from adidas South Africa, visit adidas South Africa news stream at news.adidas.com/ZA. Contact adidas SA on 021 442 6200 or visit www.adidas.com.

2012 October/November :: Sports Trader

What’s HOT in road running

p30 :: Apparel & Footwear

Shoe brands give a preview of the new road running shoe models they’ll be introducing over the next few months

F

orrest Gump ran to get away from his problems. Others run to get fit for another sport. Or to lose weight.

Many people run because it makes them feel good. Professionals run for a living. Competitors run to break records or earn medals.

The many reasons why people run, is probably an explanation why running is the single category that contributed the most to the 5% growth (to $333-bn) of global sporting goods sales in 2011.

The runners in the annual Nike Jozi We Run do it for the companionship and fun. In the Wildrun and Otter Train run people enjoy the breathtaking Eastern Cape landscapes. Completing a Comrades or Two Oceans Marathon is a lifetime achievement for many.

And then there are the people whose fastest run is to the TV to be in time for their favourite programme who buy running shoes just because they look so stunningly beautiful. Figures from GfK Retail & Technology show that about 5060% of total running shoes sold in SA are nontechnical models.

Because there are so many reasons why people buy running shoes, there is bound to be something for everyone in the new ranges the running brands will be introducing into the SA market over the next few months.

Every brand has something different to offer that will appeal to a specific runner. We asked them to give a run-down of what will be hot in their forthcoming ranges.

Brooks For Brooks, running shoes are all about function and biomechanics, says

Sports

Because there are so many reasons why people buy running shoes, there is bound to be something for everyone in the new season’s ranges Michelle Chowles of local distributor SBR Agencies. Researchers in their world-class laboratories constantly look at ways to develop running shoes that fit and feel better.

“We look at build (posture, body type, weight), anatomical structure (morphology), running style (gait, strike pattern) in our shoes that are customised for all runners,” she says.

They have two main series: Core, which they describe as about the float and PureProject, about the feel.

Since 2010, the Adrenaline GTS has been the top seller in US specialist running shoes — and despite having the highest average retail price in the category, the gap between the GTS and its closest competitor has been widening.

The Adrenaline GTS 13 is their best Adrenaline GTS yet, says Chowles. “We paid special attention to the underfoot flex by adding Omega Flex Grooves and continuing Omni Grooves in the forefoot, allowing the outsole to bend and shape naturally.”

A tailored arch and heel fit is achieved with stretch eyelets that lock into the side to capture the foot better, while design overlays offer better midfoot and heel support. Technologies like Flextra, Brooks DNA and a Caterpillar crash pad deliver customised stability and cushioning.

The placement of the different grooves ensures greater flexibility in key zones and by

Trader :: 2012 October/November

reducing rubber weight, also promote a more natural forefoot motion. In the heel Horseshoe Grooves work with the caterpillar crash pad to ensure a smooth transition and reduce pronation as they centre the heel pressure point.

Before developing their new PureProject 2 range (see left), Brooks engaged the trend research company IDEO to do research with consumer focus groups on what they want from running shoes. Some of the ideas that they took away from the consumer and retail research were: barefoot is a trend, lightweight is a reality. The market is shifting rapidly, if you don’t have a point of view, you’re just another option.

“With PureProject we’ve taken a proactive approach to meet the biomechanical needs of runners in incredibly lightweight and flexible shoes,” says Chowles. What’s more, they are run-ready straight out of the box.

Five unique technologies combine to promote an efficient, aligned, stride, by encouraging a more forward foot strike. “This places the runner over their center of gravity for better balance and a newfound spring in each step.” These technologies are: Toe Flex: A split toe enhances forefoot flexibility and independently empowers the big toe to engage the runner’s natural stability and provide power during push-off.

Nav Band: This elastic band wraps over the instep and provides a comfortable, assured fit, regardless of foot shape.

Ideal Heel: Their signature slimmed-down heel encourages contact points to shift forward, which aligns the joints and creates optimal energy return.

Biomogo DNA: BioMoGo, their earth-friendly midsole technology, is blended with patentpending Brooks DNA adaptable cushioning.

Anatomical Last: Designed from an anatomi-

Opposite: The 10km Cape Town Marathon in September follows a scenic run through the city. The marathon festival weekend also includes a 5km Fun Run and a 5-x 4.2km relay for clubs, companies and schools.

cal form, the shoe’s shape follows the natural shape of the foot to provide true support and a glove-like feel.

As part of the function-driven design, the chevron on the toe reveals the NavBand.

There is a 4mm heel to toe drop.

Hi-Tec Hi-Tec introduced the first lightweight hiking boot many years ago, and this lightweight tradition continues in their running shoes.

In addition to their V-Lite trail shoes, they have also introduced some models that will appeal to road runners or those looking for a training shoe.

The attractive colour cosmetics and low price of the Luca men’s and ladies lightweight running shoe (see above) will surely drive sales.

The innovative upper was made with welded overlays, thereby reducing seams that can cause chafing. An EVA sockliner and IMEVA midsole ensures cushioning and flexibility, but the weight has been kept down to 210gm. The high-wear areas of the outsole feature durable rubber plugs.

In pink and white with yellow laces for ladies, or charcoal and lime or charcoal and blue for men or unisex, the retail selling price of around R400, makes this an attractive stock option.

& Footwear :: p31 Nike’s We Run Jozi 10km race connects 20 000 runnersApparel from the leafy Johannesburg suburbs of Sandton (below left) to the dusty streets of Alexandra (below). The race route, unveiled by each runner’s registration on Facebook, started in Sandton, crossed the M1 highway, through Alexandra Township, and ended in Innesfree Park, linking the two faces of Johannesburg: township poverty and suburb affluence. At the start and finish the crowd, all wearing black Nike T-shirts, were entertained by bands, break dancers, etc. Almost 80% of the runners were novices and everybody who finished received a medal, while the top eight male and female finishers received cheques to the combined value of over R100 000. A portion of each runner’s registration fee was used to enable 1 700 primary school children from Alexandra and from Nike’s grassroots programmes to run a 2.5km race in bright orange T-shirts on the Saturday prior to the race (see below). The Nike’s programme is a partnership with Sport for Social Network and Grassroot Soccer. For many of the children it was their first official race experience, and the idea is to grow a future passion for running.

Mizuno Worldwide, Mizuno has a following among serious performance runners.

Their most iconic running shoe to date, the Wave Rider, returns lighter, faster and more fun than before as the Wave Rider 16 (see below). This is a shoe that has been made for high mileage runners who like a smooth and cushioned ride.

The “16” represents all the benefits that the Wave Rider is known for — and it is even more responsive and cushioned than before.

A technical advance includes Mizuno’s unique Dynamotion Fit technology, which is a series of panels strategically placed to enhance fit.

In the Wave Rider 16, the lateral eye has been moved backwards to increase the flexion in the forefoot, reduce excess volume and ensure the shoe moves more in unison with the wearer.

The Wave Rider 16 also features new Smoothride Foam to provide a silky smooth, transitional ride from the heel impact to toe-off. A shock-absorbing cushioning compound in the forefoot, the new Smoothride Foam is even lighter than the VS-1 used in Wave Rider 15 and features a material that bounces back quicker to its original state after impact — resulting in a smoother ride.

Whilst providing ample cushioning and stability, the Wave Rider 16 is also lighter and more dynamic, weighing just 280gm compared to the Wave Rider 15’s 310gm.

Its weight is further reduced through a light, more minimal, upper with support straps placed underneath.

X10 carbon rubber also provides greater durability and allows for longer wear in high impact areas for men and women alike.

Mizuno labeled the Wave Inspire 9 the “most fun support shoe in the market”. Dynamic and fast, the latest Wave Inspire provides an advanced shoe for high mileage runners who need moderate pronation support.

It introduces the new Smoothride Foam that bounces back quicker to its original shape after impact, maximising the efficiency of the toe-off phase and providing effortless transition when running.

It also showcases an evolved “Dynamotion Fit” upper with with the lateral eye moved backwards to help increase the flexion in the forefoot and reduce excess volume. The Dynamotion Fit mirrors the movement of the foot.

Staying true to the natural DNA of the Wave Inspire series, an AP+ premium midsole compound is still present to enhance cushioning and support, whilst the double fan wave plate and wider gauge on the front area of the forefoot provides good stability for runners that might over-pronate.

Other technical features include an upper that feels supportive, without being overly built, whilst a more precise fit in both the heel and toe box contribute to a smoother ride.

The weight of the Wave Inspire 9 has been reduced from 315gm to just 295gm — retaining its position as one of the lightest and smoothest moderate support running shoes.

New Balance Minimus running is one of New Balance’s key marketing pillars under the To p31

2012 October/November :: Sports Trader

p32 :: Apparel & Footwear

New from road running shoe ranges cont from p31

Less = More label (see what Anton Krupicka says on p36).

The Minimus 10v2 (see above) represents a significant departure from the 10v1 and is now more aligned with their minimus collection. A new no-sew upper reduces weight, and virtually eliminates the need for seams that can cause irritation. A Vibram outsole provides traction and durability and the new Revlite midsole has a 4mm drop The updated model offers cushioning support above the foot, which helps to reduce injuries and offer more ground control. The end result is a more natural shoe that offers more speed, but less weight and less elements. “It’s like barefoot, only better,” says John Andrews, product director of New Balance SA. The striking Revlite 890 and 1080 (delivery in December and March) are the key styles for the New Balance lightweight running. “Both these updates are a lot lighter, but without any sacrifice on performance,” he adds. The geometric design of the 890 remains to create a stable, full-ground contact ride.

Other features include additional forefoot blown rubber coverage for more durability, a 8mm midsole offset, no-sew forefoot design, a thin TPU weld in vibrant colours with fashion appeal, and fast performance qualities.

The Revlite 1080 continues with a natural last and 8mm offset. “We are doing more than others with a low profile cushioning system — and are not simply lowering heel heights,” says Andrew.

A wider T-beam provides additional torsional stability. Combined with the careful segmentation of the abzorb crash pad, this enables the runner to move into a slightly more secure mid-stance, whilst retaining the flexibility created by the T-beam. “The forefoot features plusher, softer, blown rubber that retains flexible areas, but a softer di-cut blown rubber creates a plusher toe-off,” says Andrew. This is complemented by “luxurious, stunning, aesthetics.”

Puma “The performance of our athletes and products are not simply about being the fastest, but about packing every run with endorphins and every millisecond with enjoyment,” says Robyn

Frick of Puma SA. They have been introducing innovations in running shoes since 1948 “that have made the fastest humans (read Usuan Bolt) on earth even faster. Our science is often disguised with spiffy colours and designs, but beneath it all is technology that turns human into superhuman.”

The Faas Foam Scale identifies the right lightweight Faas shoe for every runner. Each Faas shoe contains different amounts of Faas Foam — a resilient, lightweight blend of foam and rubber that provides excellent heel to toe transition, with just the right amount of cushioning, rebound, and response.

The Faas Foam Scale measures the foam from 0 to 1 000, with each product named for the number measured. A higher number means more Faas Foam, and therefore more cushioning in the shoe, less foam means more speed.

“The Faas 900 takes your run to a more comfortable place,” says Frick.

The shock-absorbing midsole made of a foam/rubber combo and the innovative outsole that delivers superior abrasion resistance, keeps the run light and efficient. This is ideal for neutral runners looking for extra cushioning, support, and style.

Then there are the people whose fastest run is to the TV to be in time for their favourite programme who buy running shoes just because they look so stunningly beautiful.

Other features include a premium mesh upper that is ultra-breathable, an OrthoLite sockliner to enhance fit and moisture and odour control. Reflective strips ensure higher visibility in low-light situations.

The Faas 350 (left bottom) is a lightweight, low-profile, stability performance trainer, designed for faster training runs, road races, and speed workouts. The one-piece midsole with medial flare and low profile — a 6mm heel-totoe drop — ensure stability.

A heel-to-forefoot lateral release groove reduces the pronation angle and allows for a more gradual transition. Faas Foam has been placed in the flex grooves for increased flexibility and a more natural ride. The simplistic upper has a bonded synthetic suede cage around the midfoot for support.

Saucony Saucony is another performance brand that appeals to the serious runners, rather than the consumers who buy running shoes to walk around the mall.

They will be updating nine models between

Sports Trader :: 2012 October/November

November 2012 and March 2013. The updates include new redesigned crash pads, deeper flex grooves, new sockliners and much lighter, more cushioned shoes, says Jerome Goslett of local distributor Omni Sport.

“With a growing consumer move towards Saucony as their preferred running brand in 2012 — as shown by 45% growth in 2011 — these models will go a long way to reinforcing Saucony’s commitment towards providing excellent running footwear going forward into 2013,” he says.

Their flagship neutral cushioned shoe, the Saucony PowerGrid Triumph 10, will now weigh only 295gm, while the new ProGrid Jazz 16 will weigh only 269gm. “All five of our franchise models will now have a 8mm heel-to-toe drop.”

The Saucony Virrata (above) is a new model that will be launched in March 2013. “This is an addition to the very successful Saucony Natural range.” The Virrata has a 0mm heelto-toe drop and weighs only 184mm. It has, however, 18mm of cushioning underfoot — more than the normal 0mm heel-to-toe drop shoes.

Skechers In America few distance runners nowadays doubt the Skechers track record for making running shoes that can take the pace. Not after Californian ultra runner Christian Burke came second in the Born to Run 100k, wearing Skechers GoRun shoes. And the rest of the world watched Meb Keflezighi cross the line fourth in the 2012 Londen Olympics marathon, wearing the Skechers GoRun shoes in which he won races to qualify for the Olympics.

Skechers GoRun shoes are indeed serious shoes for serious distance runners who prefer a more natural running experience. Keflezighi describes GoRun as “a lightweight shoe that is great for an efficient foot strike.”

All unnecessary materials have been cut away to lighten the shoe and allow the runner to interact and respond more efficiently to just about any surface — yet offering just enough Resalyte cushioning to protect the foot on all terrain. The men’s style weighs merely 195.6gm and the women’s 139gm.

While the GoRun brings the runner close to a barefoot experience, it also provides the benefit of impact protection. For example: the MStrike technology promotes To p32

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Road running cont from p32

a natural mid-foot strike and GoImpulse sensors, innovatively placed on points of contact in the outsole, provides feedback that allows the runner to react faster to the terrain. Highabrasion rubber on these strike points adds extra stability and traction control.

The 4mm heel-to-toe drop and responsive flexibility that allows the shoe to bend and twist with the movement of the foot, places the GoRun in the fast-growing lightweight and minimalist camp. An integrated anti-microbial sockliner that reduces odours and prevents slipping, further promotes more natural sockless running. Extra space in the forefoot further reduces friction and allows the toe's to spread, grip and push off.

Vivobarefoot

Running is a Skill Built for the most aggressive trails, but designed with lightweight breathability for the ultimate barefoot experience.

The Foundation of Skill is Propriopception.

VIVOBAREFOOT has the most proprioceptive soles in the world.

The new Vivobarefoot range is turning heads across the world, says Dale Turrell of SA distributor Native Sport.

Runner’s World UK, for example, had the following to say about the Aqua Lite, voted the Best Debut Shoe in their Autumn / Winter 2012 shoe guide: VB has hit barefoot running gold with this model, producing a shoe that treats nervous newcomers gently and presents the best attributes of ‘stropped-down’ running (better form), while protecting run-

ners from the bad parts (pain). After adapting the initial strangeness of little cushioning underfoot, our wear-testers loved the snug heel fit, wide toe box and the responsiveness (these were the most flexible shoes on test in the lab), with several feeling more secure in these compared with other barefoot shoes they’d previously tried.

While they are proud of the Best Debut shoe award, they are pretty confident that after making barefoot shoes for nearly 10 years, the new shoes they will soon be introducing, will be just as exciting, says Turrell.

The Breezy Lite, which features the same 3mm puncture resistant sole as the Aqua Lite, but with a light and breathable upper, have been introduced in SA and the UK for this season only. It is excellent for on-road, gym and studio activities.

In early 2013 they will be introducing two new light and breathable styles, featuring their new ultra-thin, puncture-resistant sole, namely The One and The Stealth (see above).

These two models are made with road runners in mind. “They are sure to be one of the must-have shoes in every runner’s cupboard,” says Turrell.

HOT new accessories New Balance tests eyewear New Balance outlet stores will be introducing New Balance eyewear for the summer season as a tester. “Should the range be well received, we would like to extend it to other retail channels,” says Barbara Cole. The range features high performance sunglasses for any athlete, with retail prices starting at R499 for a lightweight impact resistant lens, which is 100% UV protective. The top end glasses will retail at R999.

It will have top quality features like two inter-changeable lenses, one polarized and the other non-polarized, 100% UV protection and adjustable rubber components. All glasses have a limited lifetime warranty.

Osprey running packs Breatho Trail

Neo Trail

Evo II

Ultra

Running is a skill. Technique is everything. Learn how to transition to an injury-free running style by connecting with Dale Turrell, VIVOBAREFOOT Certified Coach, on dale@vivobarefoot.co.za or 082 929 9996.

Interested in learning more about selling VIVOBAREFOOT? For more details contact Stuart Hutcheson, Distribution and Sales, on stuart@vivobarefoot.co.za or 082 851 3065. Alternatively, contact our Johannesburg agent, Tarryn Rusteberg, on 082 4480108.

VIVOBAREFOOT.com

The international backpack range, Osprey, is so confident of the quality of their products that they decided to celebrate their 35th birthday with an Almighty Guarantee campaign. This means that Osprey will repair any damage or defect, even if caused by the customer, free of charge.

This is valid even if the packs in the range are thirty years old. And if they can’t be repaired, Osprey will replace it.

Osprey is a new addition to Adventure Inc’s brands. The Osprey 11, a lightweight multi-sport, hydration compatible pack, comes with this Almighty Guarantee.

Other new packs in their range that would appeal to runners are the Osprey Talon 4, is a bumbag and hydration system.

The Osprey Hydraulics 2l reservoir combines excellent reservoir-to-pack integration. A contoured backer plate preserves pack fit and comfort, while a magnetic bite secures the valve to a sternum strap so that it can easily be reached while in full flight.

Sports Trader :: 2012 October/November

Everywhere

Ride

GO Anyw

Ride

GO

GO

What’s HOT in trail running

p36 :: Apparel & Footwear

T

he American ultra mountain runner Anton Krupicka (above) runs to feel one with nature. As little as possible must interfere with his enjoyment of the environment, and he therefore runs shirtless and in minimalist New Balance shoes.

Following the film Indulgence 1000 miles under the Colorado sun, Krupicka became a a cult hero among extreme athletes. Others would call him crazy. Apart from scarpering across the mountains around his hometown, Boulder in Colorado, he runs in extreme races and has twice won the tough Leadville 100 miler.

During a recent visit to SA he explained his running philosophy and what he expects from a trail running shoe, to audiences at Sportsmans Warehouse Rondebosch and the Sports Science Institute in Cape Town.

Krupicka worked with New Balance to develop their Minimus 10 series and he graphically illustrated with slides why it’s important for him to feel the terrain when running: he runs up rockfaces that mountaineers would climb with ropes, races barebreasted across vertical snow fields, armed with two tent pegs in case he slips (the type of terrain where crampons and ice picks are the order of the day), and runs along ledges where a boerbok will fear to tread.

Krupicka leaves you in no doubt that running in these conditions requires sure-footedness A broken ankle will be the least of your worries if you fall because you couldn’t feel the rocky outcrop that tripped you. On these trails, responsive sole is not merely a selling point, it can be a life saver.

Originally Krupicka simply cut away the soles of his running shoes. Since he started working with the New Balance product development team, he recommended, tested and negotiated with the designers until they came up with a shoe that satisfied him in the Minimus 10 series — and that is why he declares the new Minimus the best minimalist trail running shoe on the market (he obviously does not lack self-confidence, which would be a natural requirement for someone who does 8-hour

Sports Trader :: 2012 August/September

When running across rocks and along uneven paths a trail runner wants a pair of shoes that will help him respond to the terrain in time to prevent a fall — a need recognised by the developers of new trail running ranges On some trails, responsive sole is not merely a selling point, it can be a life saver. runs across mountains for fun).

While few trail runners encounter the same extreme terrains as Krupicka, he does illustrate why a trail shoe has to respond to the runner’s foot as well as well as to the terrain.

This is a principle incorporated in most new trail ranges coming onto the market.

Brooks The Cascadia 8 (below) is “built for the trail but answers to the call of the run,“ says Michelle Chowles of local distributor SBR Agencies. “It was designed from the gritty, wet, and uneven ground up. Engineered to adapt to the surface and your foot, this versatile piece of equipment runs an ultra-marathon and then asks for more.”

Brooks swapped out the midsole for BioMoGo DNA to create a very cohesive and smooth heel-to-toe transition with a toned down caterpillar crash pad on the lateral side.

The suede geometric pattern on the upper not only harks back to former Cascadia designs, but also functionally wraps the foot for a close fit.

Lightweight and minimal shoes account for about half of the trail running shoes sold in American speciality running stores, and account for virtually all the growth. “Cascadia bridges the gap between the extremes as it nicely combines ground adaptation, with the ability to connect with the trail.”

The new models provide a smoother, more consistent and adaptable ride, as the BioMoGo blended DNA midsole has been reduced in parts. The biodegradable MoGo midsole material brings more sustainability to the trail.

The segmented and decoupled caterpillar outsole promotes a smoother heel to toe transition, with recessed rubber adding durability. A slightly

lower offset brings the heel closer to the ground for a more stable ride.

The visible Ballistic Rock Shield in the oneoutsole with aggressive tread offers more protection. The no-sew construction, with fewer stitches and seams that can cause irritation and blisters, add to the comfort.

Hi-Tec Inspired by the iconic classic running shoe the Silver Shadow, the new Hi-Tec Shadow Trail, (above) has fine footsteps to follow. The versatile Silver Shadow had been used by new recruits in the British Army for training, and the new Shadow trail shoe will be equally ready to tackle every kind of terrain.

The exclusive trail outsole from Vibram ensures good grip on uneven surfaces, and protection against rocks. The upper is lightweight mesh and PU, while drop through dual-density midsole technology will provide further comfort and cushioning.

Retailing for around R800, the attractive navy, grey and limoncello trail shoes are expected to surpass the popularity of its predecessor. It should be in-store in March 2013,

Inov8 Like their name implies, Inov8, the running shoe range that has made such an impact at trail events and among runners looking for a more natural experience, is innovative.

“Inov-8’s all-new and exciting Trailroc range (see below) has been designed to handle loose, rugged and eroded trails and will be just as adept on hard-packed single track and district roads,” says local distributor Rebel Elite Fitness. “Although not designed specifically with SA conditions in mind, they might as well have

To p36

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Trail shoes cont from p36 been.” One of the unique features of the Trailroc series is the use of three different rubber compounds and different size lugs on the outsole to optimize grip and performance.

Larger lugs made of endurance rubber are placed in the high-wear areas, such as under the ball of the foot. A hard, sticky rubber and larger lugs are positioned on the outer sections, where grip and stability are crucial. The sole under the toe and inner arches are comprised of a softer, sticky, rubber with smaller lugs for flexibility and suppleness when jumping from rock to rock and contouring.

Like all Inov-8 shoes, the Trailroc range is very flexible and gives the runner an excellent feel for the underfoot conditions, essential on the trail where rocks, corners, and obstacles are all part of the experience. “The Inov-8 wearer can handle anything the trail throws at them with complete confidence and surefootedness,” they say.

Their design philosophy is based on putting the foot in the most natural position possible, which is, obviously, as if barefoot. This means no difference in height between the heel and forefoot.

Inov-8 employs a transitional approach to this In order to allow runners to gradually move from the high heeled shoes that they may have become used to, to the 0mm difference, they use a transitional approach. Their shoe ranges come in a series of heel-to-toe drops.

In SA the Trailroc will be available in two models: the 255, which has a 2-arrow ShocZone and therefore a 6mm difference between forefoot and heel and the 245, which is a 1-arrow shoe with a 3mm differential.

Mizuno The Mizuno Ascend series is popular with trail runners looking for a faster medium profile shoe that is versatile on multiple terrains, says local distributor Super-Brands.

The Wave Ascend 7 offers grip and cushioning, combined with a supportive upper. It is packed full of performance technologies, while retaining a light feel and low profile.

The Wave Ascend 7 offers good protection on the trail, while the Dynamotion Fit technology works with the foot throughout the gait cycle to deliver the fit and staying power required on even the most uneven surface. The fanshaped wave plate inside the sole and Mizuno’s new ap+ midsole work together to deliver advanced cushioning and durability on trail or road. Increased grip to tackle the most difficult terrains is provided from Mizuno X10 carbon rubber that allows for longer wear in high impact areas and more traction at heel strike, whilst a wet traction, bi-directional, outsole allows the wearer to break through water and further improve grip in colder conditions.

New Balance The 10v2 Minimus trail shoe for men and women

will be the key style in New Balance’s less = more strategy, says John Andrews of New Balance SA. Tested under the most extreme conditions and honed to the bare performance essentials, ultra mountain runner Anton Kupicka says the 10-series Minimus shoes he helped develop can cope with the most extreme terrain.

The success of its predecessor means that the same DNA had been kept for the update.

The same Vibram TC1 Dura rubber compound outsole provides durability and protection on all terrain, but the outsole design has been updated. The Acteva Midsole has a 4mm drop.

The forefoot strap has been revised for a better fit that will help eliminate irritation and the upper features an updated mesh package for a better feel. Colour details have also been added.

“The 1210 is a top end trail style that we are very excited about and it should really make a statement to the more serious trail runner,” says Andrew. “As you will see, we address all the requirements demanded by the serious trail runner seeking the best for his performance.”

The men’s 1210BG and women’s 1210BP are scheduled for delivery in March. Key features are an 8mm drop, Revlite midsole, N2 cushioning, limited seam construction on the inside, a medial post, flexible overlays, Vibram outsole, and a toe protected and debris free construction.

There is also a 1210 sandal for after the run to ease swelling and blisters, but provide traction, cushioning and protection when walking across uneven terrain.

Saucony The Kinvara was one of the pioneers of the more natural (or barefoot) running trend when many other brands were still debating if this was the way to go.

Saucony continues the legendary Kinvara with the addition of the new Saucony Kinvara Trail (right below). This shoe has a 4mm heel-to-toe drop and also offers added underfoot protection with a EBO (External Bedrock Outsole) protection plate.

Vibram Fivefingers For many runners the glove-like appearance of Vibram Fivefingers have become the face of minimalist running. Runners don’t always realise that this footwear is available in a wide range of styles and models.

Trek Pro, for example, has a three-layer water-resistant upper, incorporating a breathable membrane and tapped seams. The lining is also made of three layers of fabric.

Sports Trader :: 2012 October/November

The first layer, which touches the foot, has undergone anti-bacterial treatment.

The second layer is a breathable and water-resistant membrane. The third is in a reinforcing Jersey. The stitching of the upper and the lining were heat-sealed to make the shoe waterresistant.

A 4 mm shock absorbing EVA insole protects the foot from bruising, while the performance rubber outsole in lightly cleated Vibram delivers improved traction and plating protection on a variety of surfaces. A hook and loop fastening completes this lightweight performance shoes.

The very streamlined Seeya is their newest performance option for serious minimalist runners. Designed to bring you even closer to the barefoot sensation, they have radically reduced the weight and material and introduced a more breathable mesh upper, to deliver real performance-driven footwear. The minimum rubber thickness in the outsole ensures maximum foot feel and flexibility, while a soft midsole further reduces thickness and weight for a more natural movement. A stitched-in insole protects the skin and foot tissue during longer runs. The lightweight, stretch mesh upper has a seamless collar and adjustable hook-andloop closure to ensure a snug fit.

Designed for an enhanced trail running experience, the new Spyridon LS has a closed speed-lace system to accommodate a wider foot or higher instep. The naturally breathable upper closes with an adjustable hook and loop to ensure that it fits securely, while the minimalist Vibram rubber sole with its aggressive tread pattern allows proper minimalist dynamics and foot feel — but still delivers protection on rugged surfaces.

Vivobarefoot With the growing demands for good barefoot and minimalist shoes Vivobarefoot have been pioneering the way for over a decade now, says Dale Turrell of local distributor Native Sport.

Their new trail shoes for 2013 will be similar to the Breatho of 2012, with the addition of a new lacing system, some new vibrant colours and a more durable sole.

The Breatho (below) and Neo Trails have been very well accepted in SA. “We are seeing many top athletes switching to a super light, very grippy and totally minimal racing shoe,” says Turrell. “Asher Clark and our design team have been working hard to produce a great road shoe, cross trainer, as well as a minimalist lifestyle or work shoe.”

They also designed an attractive leisure shoe range.

p40 :: Apparel & Footwear

What’s HOT in

More photos of the Wildcoast Wildrun, sponsored by adidas and Hammer Nutrition, at www.NickMuzik.com

running apparel

Runners competing in gruelling events like the 3-day 112km Wildcoast Wildrun need technical apparel that will help them enjoy the spectacular scenery along the Transkei Wildcoast

S

everal SA outdoor companies have recently introduced technical clothing ranges for all multi-sport activities. Thereby extending the technical know-how they acquired by supplying performance outdoor products to the supply of performance apparel.

Adventure Inc Adventure Inc has acquired some international performance brands that provide performance gear that will appeal to runners who rely on their clothing to ensure a comfortable, chafefree and dry run — whether in training or on race day.

Icebreaker has been promoting the wearing of merino wool garments for about twenty years: it is not as bulky and itchy as other wool garments, and is not flammable and odour trapping like synthetics. Merino wool, they say, is soft, non-itching, and does not trap odours.

Merino wool is also warm in the cold and cool in the heat. The merino wool Tech T lite see image below), therefore breathes, manages moisture naturally, dries quickly — and you’ll still smell fresh after running a marathon.

Ronhill is one of the two running brands founded by top UK runner and holder of various records, Ron Hill (MBE) — the other brand is Hilly. With his Trail Cargo Short he has presented a solution for a problem experienced by many distance runners, namely, where to put your gels and valuables (like a car key) if you don’t feel comfortable running with a belt or pouch. His trail running short has loads of gel pockets and a zip-secured pocket for valuables.

Another UK brand, Bridgedale, is known for the technology-enhanced performance socks they make for a variety of sports and leisure activities, including running. In the Xhale Speed Demon and Speed Diva they blended the best properties of Coolmax and wool. The very lightweight sock is very breathable and their T2 anticompression cushioning technology protects against impact. Targeted ventilation keeps the feet cool.

Buff can almost be called the runner’s friend as these versatile fabric bands provide protection

against sun, wind, cold or rain. For running in the sunny summer months, there is now also a high UV Buff that provides moisture management and UV protection in one multi functional headwear package.

Hi-Tec With Hi-Tec probably one of the best-known outdoor shoe brands in SA, it is an easy step for consumers to accept Hi-Tec as a performance clothing brand.

This will be the second season that they offer a varied clothing range to complement their footwear.

The Pour Off Shell for men (above) is a feather light synthetic (nylon taffeta) softshell that will provide runners with protection against the elements, without impeding their run. It will also not break the bank.

The polyester moisture-wicking lining keeps the runner dry, while the Dri-Tec waterproof, breathable, fully seam-sealed technology ensures that condensation does not build up on the inside, or rain enter from the outside.

The shell is compact and can be packaged in its own pocket. The hood folds away in the collar and a drawcord to tighten the hem can be operated with one hand.

The Usain active shirt is a 100% polyester mesh men's polo shirt in breathable Playdry fabric that will keep runners cool and comfortable on the road and trail.

Merrell Merrell has introduced a new performance clothing range, developed by one of the world’s top designers, with input from Gustav Nefdt, Merrell brand manager for Medicus Shoes. The unisex clothing range feature all the technological features that runners can ask for.

Merrell Aeroblock, for example, creates a lightweight barrier against cold air. It is highly wind-resistant and breathable, making it one of the most versatile layering op-

Sports Trader :: 2012 October/November

tions for the active outdoorsman, says Nefdt. It releases body moisture, and blocks wind.

The Opti-warm synthetic insulation gives you efficient warmth — without the bulk — and provides excellent loft retention without sacrificing compressibility for easy packing, he adds.

Merrell’s Opti-wick fabric transfers moisture away from the skin and dries quickly to keep a runner comfortable and dry.

The Running Fleece LS Tee is a long sleeve lightweight moisture wicking running tee with a brushed back fleece inner. Opti-wick and Opti-warm keeps the runner warm and dry. It can also be worn as an extremely lightweight fleece.

The Hi Performance Tri-short is a water-resistant garment that is also breatheable, using a rubberised gripper on both the legs and waistband for the bike leg of a triathlon.

The Ultra Trail Short is a lightweight multipurpose running tight, combined with a lightweight running short. It is water-repellent and moisture-wicking.

The white Pack a Mack (above) is an easypackable windbreaker, ideal for road and trail runners and any other sport, weighing only 70gms. It features Merrell’s Aeroblock technology that allows for immediate moisture evaporation.

The orange Wind Jammer is water repellent and wind repellent. When submerged in water, it dries within 5 minutes, says Nefdt.

Injinji To complement their toe-hugging Vibram Fivefingers footwear, Branded Footwear have introduced Injinji Toesocks for runners and active outdoor enthusiasts. Injinji’s patented five-toe seamless design benefits the athlete by providing proper toe alignment for a natural feel and superior moisture management. It also strengthens muscles in To p40

p42 :: Apparel & Footwear

Apparel cont from p40 the foot, offers more protection from blisters and hotspots, eliminates bunching or sagging and offers better gripping and balance.

The Outdoor Series lightweight toesock is sleek and very thin, ideal for performance in any shoe, climate and terrain. The high knitcount ensures that the thin fibre remains durable. The socks in the Outdoor Series have been manufactured with Injinji’s patented AIS: Technology using Nuwool (merino wool) that helps prevent odour and controls temperature, which keeps feet dry and comfortable.

New Balance New Balance’s new running range is all about bright colours, following key fashion trends, says New Balance SA apparel manager Barbara Cole. “Colour blocking form an intergral part of our range of technical apparel for Q1 of 2013.” To tie in with their Minimus footwear range, lightweight is also a key component of the clothing range.

“In apparel it will be implemented with our NBx Minimus line, which offers flexibility, support and comfort,” she says. “It has key colour tieups to our Minimus footwear

in both men’s and women’s running.”

It is the top tier of their technical apparel and has comfort features like a seamless construction, body mapping and aquapel technology (see below) in their Minimus jacket. Other features include pockets for accessories, laser cut detail and reflectivity.

Aquapel is the next generation in water repellency performance, explains Cole. The fabric is treated with molecules that cause moisture to bead and roll right off the fabric surface. The result is excellent water-repellency in a fabric that’s also breathable, durable and fast drying.

NB Ice is New Balance’s fabric technology that follows on from the former Icefil. This technology is found in their top tier running apparel — in the “Impact” styles. It wicks moisture, and also blocks the sun’s infrared rays, while xylitol reacts to further maximise the cooling effect. “In our better tier of running apparel we have also made use of recycled polyester, for a great value and conscious buy on technical apparel,” says Cole.

In women’s technical running they have introduced longer length silhouettes in running singlets and new graphics on technical tees.

The fabric and styling of their entry level Tempo tee to the Go 2 tee have been updated.

They feature NB Ice technology and recycled polyester fabrics have been used in the manufacturing. In addition to these features, the men’s technical running tights and shorts now

have new colour pops.

Nikwax Wet, smelly, clothes in a kit bag or laundry basket is rather unappealing — but unfortunately unavoidable when wearing moisture wicking running or gym clothes.

Nikwax, locally distributed by Ram Mountaineering, has developed two products that can give a fresh appeal to performance apparel as it helps them dry faster and removes odours.

BaseWash is an effective deodorising cleaner that enhances the performance of technical synthetic baselayers and improves comfort by accelerating wicking and drying times. It refreshes items and removes odours, instead of just masking them as some detergents do, says Simon Larsen.

BaseFresh, is a deodorising conditioner for technical baselayers that also softens the fabric and accelerates drying.

“Nikwax has put in a lot of effort to highlight how environmentally friendly the company is, despite the chemicals in their products,” he says. “As result, they have received the Sunday Times Best Green Companies award three years in a row.”

The award goes to companies that are recognised as visionaries of sustainable, environmental business practices.

Skins chairman takes tough stance against sport doping

Jaime Fuller, chairman of international sports compression company SKINS has taken a tough stance against doping — and the seeming inability of sports bodies like the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) to stamp it out.

Skins is a commercial partner of international athletes and teams, including runners and six cycling teams and organisations, and supplier of the high tech race suits worn by the gold medal winning US cycling team in the 2012 London Olympics.

In an open letter to UCI president Pat McQuaid, he demanded that he either acts immediately or resigns in order to protect world cycling and its commercial partners in the wake of the Lance Armstrong drugs debacle.

Fuller wants the UCI to force Armstrong to deliver full closure on the evidence contained in the damning 1 000-page US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) report. Armstrong has refused to answer the charges and Fuller believes that in the absence of a confession, Armstrong must face his accusers.

“As President, you must move immediately to repair damage that, if left to suffer further inertia from the highest office, will be impossible to rectify,” he wrote.

In the widely published letter Fuller also raises the question of the potential involvement of UCI officials in a cover-up to protect Armstrong from positive drugs tests in the past. If answers cannot be given; “with a clear conscience” immediate changes must be

Sports Trader :: 2012 October/November

made to save the sport, he suggests.

“Apart from being a genuine cycling fan and an avid believer in integrity in all sport, I'm truly sad to see cycling dragged through the mud by a fallen hero and an organisation with at best, inertia at the centre of its culture.

The UCI has some serious questions to answer and a massive reparation job ahead of it.

“What happens if commercial partners start taking legal recourse to claw back contractual payments they've made on the basis of wins gained through systemic fraudulent performance? The whole thing will implode in no time with the potential collapse of cycling. At the moment, I see no light at the end of the tunnel and its time the UCI started switching on a few lights.”

Skins chairman Jaime Fuller.

UltraSpire at the Otter When American super-runner Krissy Moehl was the first female runner to cross the line in Magnetic South’s 2013 Retto (Otter backwards) trail run, presented by Hi-Tec and GU, she gave the spectators a good look at her UltrAspire Elite hydration pack. She is an athletic director of this company which makes hydration products — innovative belts, packs, bottles — for elite ultra to recreational half-marathon runners. Moehl has been instrumental in the development of several of these hydration systems, specifically made for distance running. They are available in SA from Native Sport.

Photo: Jacques Marais.

p44 :: Apparel & Footwear

Team boots

Which colours and designs are popular?

Some modern soccer or rugby boots are works of art. Their bright colours, streamlined designs and glove-soft uppers will be equally at home on a fashion ramp as on a sports field. But, do these stunning cosmetic features sell boots, or do consumers still prefer the traditional black and white boots? BRANDON GREGORY asked the brands

T

he first thick black leather soccer boot, weighing about 500gm, was developed late in the 19th century in Britain, when soccer became a sport with proper rules.

Before this, players would wear their steel toe capped heavy duty work boots with ankle support and long laces.

Since then, advancements in boot designs resulted in 21st century consumers being offered an endless variety of boot designs and colours to choose from. Soccer boots now come in just about every colour of the rainbow, some are shiny, others are silky soft, laces are on- and off-center, logos form part of the design, or are subtly hidden… there is hardly an end to the design features available.

It is not possible for a retailer to stock boots in all the colours or designs on the market.

We therefore asked team boot suppliers to give retailers an indication of which cosmetic features they believe are the most popular.

Bright colours Over the past few years most brands have introduced brightly coloured boots to their soccer ranges. But, how popular are they with local soccer players?

Bright colours are now in the highest demand worldwide — the more colours and designs, the more interest the consumer tends to give that boot, says Ricky Joseph of Kappa SA. Most aspiring footballers want to stand out on the pitch in some way or other (wow the boy with the neon red boots really has some good touches) and this is one of the easiest ways to do it, adds Gian-Paolo Sangiorgio of adidas (better known as GP). Boot colour definitely plays a role in sales, he reckons.

This is not necessarily true for all players.

Club teams like bright colours like neon yellow, pink, bright blue and purple, says Gavin Benjamin of Puma SA, “while the plain black and white soccer boot colours are popular with

Sports Trader :: 2012 October/November

the schools players, because learners are limited as to what colours they may play in.”

When given a choice, today’s generation of soccer players will be moving away from the traditional single colour boot and choose the funkier bright colours.

The customer may also choose a boot to suit the surface of the pitch that he will be playing on. “For example, the individual that is playing on lush green grass would opt for a multi- or techni-colour boot, whereas an individual that is playing on a sand pitch will most likely stick to the traditional single colour boot,” explains Zaidy Laher of Diadora SA. He observed that white boots are the most popular, albeit with an orange, green or other coloured aspect.

When Mille did research for the development of their new range, they received a large number of enquiries for multi-colour boots, says Kate MacLennan of local distributor Skye Distribution.

Upper materials Boot uppers nowadays come in shiny patent leather, or synthetics, in addition to the traditional kangaroo leather. What look and feel do consumers prefer?

Soft materials assist the player in ball control and more accurate and powerful shots, believes Benjamin. “Kangaroo leather has always been considered the best material for boots, but it tends to get heavy when worn in the rain.”

There are still thousands of traditional ‘old school’ soccer players that will buy full leather boots like the adidas Copa Mundial, says GP. “It may be old looking and bulky, but it offers comfort to change-resistant players, especially on the somewhat heavy pitches around Africa.”

Synthetic materials, however, appeal to younger players.

Most players prefer the more shiny looking boots with glossy finishes, believes Joseph,

provided it is within their price target range.

“There are boots on the market made from carbon fibre that weigh a mere 190gm. It’s almost as if players wearing boots of this calibre float across the soccer field,”says Laher.

Breathable, mesh uppers are also extremely important, he continues. “I would think that comfort would be one of the most important features of a soccer boot.”

Comfort and safety are important for other reasons. The main reason why laces were moved to the side of the boot and later had a flap covering them, is because you have a nerve right where the ankle and foot meet (almost on the front side of your Achilles), which hurts massively if it is hit, explains GP. That is why players used to tie their laces on the side of the boot, or around the ankle.

The reason for moving the laces to the side of the boot was therefore one of safety, not only fashion.

Despite that, Benjamin believes that players still prefer centered laces, especially if they are covered by the tongue of the boot to enable for better kicking. Bright coloured laces also sell better than the traditional black and white ones because they make the traditional black boot stand out.

Other cosmetic features that draw consumers’ attention are colour patterns or insets, or prominent logos used as part of the design.

SA conditions In SA, the bulk of the mass soccer market are low income earners and therefore more inclined to buy entry level boots, rather than the very technical ones you would see the professionals wearing, cautions Joseph.

Consumers may therefore prefer some of the cosmetics they see on some of the top international brands — but can’t afford to buy them.

Apart from that, the SA soccer landscape has to be taken into account. The bulk of our soccer is played on very rough out To p44

www.kappasouthafrica.com

p46 :: Apparel & Footwear

Team boots

What to expect from the brands

fields — or in some cases sand, adds MacLellan. Even though players may want the look and feel of boots worn by international players, they settle for boots that are durable at an affordable price.

This could be one of the reasons why SA soccer boot retailers tend to play it safe by buying the bulk of their boots — especially entry level — in the conservative black and white colours, say Joseph.

A retailer in a big city will tend to benefit from both markets — those that prefer the aesthetically appealing modern boots, as well as the consumer that prefers the everyday basic boot, observes Laher. A retailer in a rural area will, however, most likely play it safe and back the basic traditional black boot.

Suppliers explain what features in their new boot ranges are popular

Rugby boot preferences

Diadora’s range features a new Net Breathing System in the sole’s surface that is made mostly of a synthetic fibre mesh and a special breathable and impenetrable membrane. This increases the sole’s transpiration capacity, which prevents moisture, mud and other external elements from entering the shoe and keeping the foot dry.

cont from p46

Rugby players are more conservative than soccer players when it comes to moving away from the traditional black and white boot.

Black rugby boots still out-sell coloured boots by about 10 to 1 internationally, says Gavin Hunter of James Gilbert SA, but there is a definite increase in the volume of coloured boots sold locally. Black boots with a vibrant second colour are also more predominant these days.

“As more and more players at international level turn out in coloured boots, the market is slowly moving that way, with increases in the sale of white/coloured boots,” he adds.

South African rugby players are ahead of the more conservative Northern Hemisphere markets in this respect, as we are more inclined to embrace the bold brighter multi-coloured boots.

Schools tend to only allow black boots, says Ben Meyer of Puma SA. Other consumers, however, prefer multi-coloured boots, he believes.

“Both have their market, but I think the multicoloured boots out-sell the more traditional coloured boots.”

Retailers are sometimes a little on the conservative side and tend to stick with what they know and are reluctant to take a risk on new options — this could be when selecting a brand or just a new style of shoe, says Hunter. That could be a reason why most rugby boots sold are still the traditional black leather.

“This is completely understandable in the current climate, but our research shows the end consumer is becoming more open to the bolder and brighter options when they are available.”

But, their choice of upper material will be influenced by price point — while soft leathers are sought after, they are higher priced. The advances in modern synthetic leather options have resulted in non-leather shoes that look fantastic and perform to a high level, he adds.

Sports Trader :: 2012 October/November

Adidas offers a boot for every kind of player, says Gian Paolo: the F50, for example, is for a quicker player that likes colour. The adiPure, on the other end of the scale, offers comfort and will appeal to the more traditional, less colourful, player.

Predator lies somewhere in between, and is for the control player. While leather is comfortable, it becomes heavy in rain, and adidas therefore developed the hybrid-touch material for their new Predators LZ range. It combines the comfort of leather on the inside, with the advantages of synthetic on the outside (being lightweight, water resistant, etc.). and hence the hybrid material.

Diadora

Gilbert Gilbert will have a complete new range of shoes for 2013, featuring new technologies and state of the art designs, says Gavin Hunter of James Gilbert SA. They have combined their knowledge of rugby ball technology and boot construction to produce a rugby boot designed to improve kicking distances and accuracy, he says. This is achieved “through a strategic ProStrike Zone, which is combined with a premium nappa leather upper and a BioFrame outsole to ensure it is a boot worthy of international rugby standard”.

Kappa The Italian sports brand Kappa, established in 1967, has a proud heritage in football and fashion. “Kappa is the sportswear brand dedicated to active and dynamic people who want technical and functional clothing with a modern, engaging and colourful style,” says local distributor Ricky Joseph.

After an absence, Kappa returned to SA last year. At this stage they are focusing on the entry level boot market, where they strive to hit affordable price points, while still maintaining high quality on the finished product, he says.

“We also keep our style fresh and creative, constantly introducing new styles at this entry level price point. We focus on bright coloured boots, as well as more neutral boots, while keeping our logo visible and prominent.

Mille In 2013 Mille will be welcoming a new era in soccer apparel and equipment when the brand steps into the game with soccer boots, shin pads, goalie gloves, soccer balls and tog bags,

says Kate MacLennan of Skye Distribution.

They currently supply a standard black soccer boot with a PU upper and standard lacing.

This style has been extremely successful, because it appeals to the masses as a boot that offers value through functionality and quality, she says.

They have included subtle embossed and embroidery detail for additional control and styling in the range with PU uppers. Minimal branding is further a key feature of the range.

Mille has expanded the range to include colour as well as boots with off-centre lacing, adding detail for additional grip.

“We have had huge success with the launch of this range and there is a definite market shift towards the appeal of colour and points of difference within the boot range,” says MacLennan.

The bulk of the distribution is done through independent stores across Southern Africa.

Mille is currently the official kit sponsor for the PSL soccer team Golden Arrows (see p 10).

Puma In soccer, Puma’s traditional black and white leather boot with its strong local heritage — the Jomo Sono King — is sold successfully throughout the year. Coloured boots, which launched earlier this year, include the v1.11 i FG in vibrant yellow/parachute purple and the Dresden in blue/white/lime punch colour. The PowerCat 1.12 Gravity FG, in fluo blue/new navy/orange, is a multi-coloured boot.

The Evospeed SG and FG boots feature premium single layer microfibre synthetic uppers.

The Evospeed 1 FG has a soft and ultra thin microfibre material on its upper, whilst stability is provided by the internal Everfit cage.

In rugby, the kangaroo leather PowerCat 1.12 FG is available in a red/white/blue colour way.

The Esito is available in black and white, as well as in a blazing yellow for those looking for something brighter.

Warrior The official kit sponsor of the popular Liverpool soccer club, Warrior, is now also available in SA. The brand has a young and extreme image, represented by the likes of soccer star turned bad boy Hollywood actor, Vinnie Jones.

“Warrior brings new life and energy to the sport. We make people sit up and take notice,” says brand manager Katharine Tromp of local distributor New Balance SA. This attitude will be seen in all boot categories, with bold colour palettes, aggressive design and extreme technical offerings like super light microfibre, stitch free internal construction, Arrowhead forefoot design and Claw Tec blades.

FREE

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Soccer Boots

p48 :: Sport

What influences consumers when buying hockey sticks?

What do consumers look for when buying a new hockey stick? Is it brand preference, graphics, colour, technologies or other features? And how can the retailer make sure they buy the correct stick? BRANDON GREGORY asked some experts for advice

T

he use of the J-shaped stick used in hockey can be traced back as far as 600 BC in ancient Greece.

Hockey is one of the oldest sports in which two teams compete by attempting to move the ball or puck tactically through the opponent’s goal post.

Today, field hockey sticks have heads that are shaped to suit the position or preference of the player, come with unique shaft bows, and are manufactured under a variety of brand names with striking graphics and colours as well as technologies, at a wide range of price points.

All of these factors can affect the buyer’s

Sports Trader :: 2012 October/November

decision when choosing a hockey stick. Add to that the influence of the coach, friends or internet reviews, and it is clear why a customer so often walks into a store with a preconceived idea about the stick they want — which might be completely wrong for them.

We asked some experts from hockey specialist stores to advice on how to work with a customer’s preconceived preferences and still sell him (or her) the best stick for his needs and budget.

There are about 150 000 hockey players in SA, and of that number only 10 000 are club or senior players, says Jack Thonissen of The Hockey Shop in Cape Town. This means that

The material and technology are the most important criteria when selecting a stick, especially when each stick is tested by the customers themselves the majority of hockey players in the country are in primary and high school — customers who will therefore be inclined to be swayed by factors that will not necessarily improve their performance, like price point To p48

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p50 :: Sport

What sells a hockey stick? cont from p50 (primary school) or brand name (high school).

Price The hockey stick market can be described as price sensitive, say most of the experts: beginners look at the lowest price, intermediate school players will insist that their parents buy the year’s current fashionable brand, irrespective of price, while senior club players do not care much for the latest cosmetics or brand, and will be willing to buy the previous year’s graphics at a lower price, continues Thonissen.

When she started playing. her mother wanted to buy her the cheapest stick possible in case hockey was just a passing phase which she’d replace with another activity, reminisces Kathleen Faling of The Hockey Spot in Pretoria. This is often still a factor.

A more advanced player would, however, look for a stick within their budget that will best enhance their game, rather than purchasing any stick because the price is low, is the experience of Alan and Di Paton of The Hockey Shop in Durban.

Brands Customers will often walk into the store with their minds made up about the brands they want — especially kids who want to be cool and therefore want the brands they perceive as cool at the time, says Thonissen.

Faling remembers how, as a school girl, she begged her mother to buy her a specific brand because somehow she thought that would make her a better player.

Sports Trader :: 2012 October/November

Skilled sales staff can play a role by sharing knowledge with the customer in terms of which stick to buy based on the materials or technology in the stick While the brand does have an effect when the customer first comes in, this preference often changes once all the different brands in the store have been tested, is the experience of Dale Hermanson of Sports Horizons in Johannesburg. “Our policy is not to push any certain brands, but allow the customers to test the testing sticks for each brand across the quality ranges in our testing area.”

With increased TV coverage young viewers are very aware of brands being used by top hockey players, say the Patons. “Exposure during the Olympics will definitely have an influence on brand preferences in the next few years, because aspiring internationals want to play with the sticks used by the best players in the world.”

Player influence During and just after the 2012 Olympics players asked for a stick used by a top performer like the Argentinian player Luciana Aymar (Malik), confirms Faling.

The IOC was, however, incredibly strict about marketing of sponsors and promot-

C

ing of brands, limiting the branding on stick bags, etc., cautions Thonissen “When a player scored I noticed the cameras zoomed in so much that when he held up his stick, it was out of the shot.”

Furthermore, in SA, hockey players are not famous personalities like cricket and rugby players and only a few key players have the power to attract a following, he continues. He mentions the exception of the captains Austin Smith (Princess) and Marsha Marescia (Kookaburra) or the top goal scorers Pietie Coetzee (Gryphon), SA women’s striker who is the women’s player to score the most goals ever in the history of hockey, and Justin Reid-Ross (Gryphon) the drag flicker and goal scorer for the SA men’s team.

Even though they are the most high profile hockey players we have, most hockey players don’t know them.

“I think the kids will take some notice of what sticks the players are using, however, I think what brands do around their stars in terms of activation is much more important.

Are they marketing their Olympic stars instore through posters, etc. or making signature sticks, or marketing on social media?

Merely having the players use them is not a very strong force for swaying customers to a particular brand,” says Thonissen.

Other influences The influence of the team coach is often a major problem for a retailer selling hockey sticks.

It is especially problematic when a coach has a sponsor, which he might then promote to influence the team’s choices.

“I know from experience that if your coach is sponsored, then the entire team To p50

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p52 :: Sport

Range information Gryphon The Taboo and Tour ranges have been extended for the 2013 season with the introduction of new stick shapes that cater for all players.

• The Classic Curve has a new, thinner head profile with an extended toe for increased ball control as well as a shaft curve that is suited to all round play.

• The Deuce 2 features the same head profile with a very low bow shaft curve for specialist drag flickers.

• The Pro shape has the normal midi head and a shaft that offers a low bow option that is not too radical.

The Taboo and Tour range feature a new look for 2013. The unique silicon technology used in the Tour range combines a smooth feel with lots of power.

The Classic Curve and Pro shapes are now also used in the Essential range, which has a bright new look for 2013 and offers good performance.

“The Initiation range completes Gryphon’s offering and provides excellent entry level price points on fully synthetic sticks,” says Shane Schonegevel of local distributor OBO SA. These durable and easy to use sticks are available in a variety of different colours. The Slasher caters for junior players while the Wand and Predator models cater for the senior player.

The super-light Aero Gryphon boot is equipped with a microfibre open cell upper, which provides ventilation and comfort usually associated with running

Sports Trader :: 2012 October/November

shoes, without sacrificing the durability needed for a top-end hockey boot. The TPU midsole provides good cushioning and the rubber outer is configured for a grip that maximizes acceleration and agility.

The Gryphon glove and shinpad range has undergone several improvements. The Pajero gloves are now available in pink, blue and black and have an improved outer. The new G2 plastic shinpads feature an improved mould and are now available in three different colours. The Anatomic and Anatomic Pro models are also now available in different colours.

The bag range has nine different stick bag options, all available in a variety of new colours. High quality and unique top-end design and excellent value characterize this very comprehensive accessory range.

Kookaburra “Kookaburra’s innovative 2013 range has fused the latest advancements in engineering design with cutting edge, state-of-the-art materials,” says Nicola Ludlow of local distributor JRT Crampton. Kookaburra utilises aerospace grade carbon fibre and fibreglass reinforced composites to produce hockey sticks that are stiffer, lighter and more powerful. “Players told us that they wanted to hit the ball harder, trap the ball cleaner, and dribble and jink better than ever before and we listened.”

“Kookaburra hockey sticks combine scientific research, engineered technology and selected materials to create weaponsgrade hockey sticks,” says Ludlow.

The Anti-Tremor and Counter Vibration technologies in Kookaburra sticks

make them stable and offer a greater feel.

They utilise aerospace grade carbon fibre and fibreglass reinforced composites that enable them to make hockey sticks that are stiffer, lighter and are more powerful than previously.

Kookaburra has introduced two new Ultralite sticks (see previous column) to their 2013 range: the Oxide and Gravity. The Ultralite Oxide is a L-bow, lightweight stick (20% lighter than conventionally manufactured sticks) that is designed for a heavy weight performance. It improves hand and stick speed whilst the textured surface of the KCF (Kookaburra Control Face) enhances close control, offers and improved feel and refines agility.

The Ultralite Gravity is a leaner and meaner lightweight M-bow stick that offers great hand and stick speed without compromising on power.

Both the new Ultralite sticks have a twin tube core construction, made of 95% carbon and 5% fibreglass matrix.

Part of the Kookaburra 2013 range is the Venom — ideal for advanced players. The iBow design is unique to Kookaburra and seeks to give players better results than conventional curves. “The Venom's innovation and reassuringly high carbon content makes this a good investment,” says Ludlow. Venom is constructed with a twin tube core, made from 75% carbon and 25% fibreglass matrix.

The Illusion hockey stick from Kookaburra is ideal for both junior and senior players at school and social level. This stick allows the player to master the basics and more. The Illusion is of the M-bow profile shape, which is a more conventional shape that al To p52

Advertorial :: p53

Malik cricket back in SA

F

or over 40 years Malik have been at the forefront of hockey stick and cricket bat manufacturing, development and design, making us one of the leading brands worldwide. 150 skilled artisans work in the Malik owned factory in Sialkot (Pakistan) producing up to 900 sticks and cricket bats per day. Only the finest quality sticks and bats that make it past our rigorous quality control bear the Malik brand.

We have always been great product innovators, working with some of the game’s greatest players such as Sohail Abbas (world record holder for most goals scored), Ahmed Shabaz, Marc Delissen, Stephan Veen and Luciano Aymar (FIH 7 times World Player of the Year) to name a few. Malik continually respond to the needs of players to bring them the products they need to play great hockey.

Many of Malik’s recent innovations have been emulated by other brands and are industry norms across the world. Products like the Jumbo Stick bag (originally the Jumbo Jet Bag, 1997, the first combined stick and kit bag), drag flick specialist sticks developed with Sohail Abbas (the world’s most prolific drag flick specialist) now produced in many different styles and used as the basis for many other manufacturers stick designs. The Argentina men’s captain Lukas Vila, was also behind the design of the dribble curve mould that we use on the majority of our sticks. The dribble curve was designed to allow for advanced use of aerial skills and allow the players to perform this skill with relative ease.

Top players and coaches across the world continue to use Malik to help them perform at their best!

Malik South Africa In 1993, Peter Wright enquired to advertisers in the World Hockey Magazine for posters to decorate his technikon’s clubhouse. One respondent was Mr Malik who in turn asked Peter if he would be interested in distributing Malik hockey equipment in South Africa.

In December of 1993, Peter received his first order of Malik sample sticks and Malik South Africa was born.

Starting from very humble beginnings 18 years ago, Malik has grown into one of the leading hockey brands in South Africa. Our marketing strategy, product development, design and exceptional value for money products and sticks, have all attributed to MALIK being one of South Africa’s leaders in the hockey market.

Malik has had many prominent SA hockey players using its sticks and products, namely Greg Nichol, Piettie Coetzee, Susan Wessels, Emile Smith, Clyde Abrahams, Kerry Bee, Brad Michalaro and Rob Pullen to name a few. Our current local heroes include 4 national players: Sulette Damons, Dirkie Chamberlain, Kim Hubach and Marcelle Keet, with Damons and Chamberlain representing MALIK at the recent 2012 London Olympic Games. We also have a good following in our National Junior teams, who played in the African Qualifier for the 2013 Junior World Cup in October. On the men’s side we have Michael Abrahams, Ignatius Maalgraaf and Ross Gonsalves, while in the ladies team we have Bronwyn Kretzmann, Tiffany Jones, Lisa Hawker and Nicole Walraven.

For the past 10 years we have been the National sponsor of South African Umpires — supplying clothing to the top men and ladies umpires and supplying the official umpires’ shirts throughout the country.

Andrew Kemp and Peter Wright

A lot of our marketing effort is spent on grass roots marketing, sponsoring coaches, clinics and training camps aimed at the beginner and youth players. We also allocate a healthy part of our marketing budget to sports development programmes, giving away a lot of our product to those in need of sports equipment.

Malik SA has come a long way since its first office in Pretoria West. We now operate out of our office and warehouse in Hennopspark, Centurion, where we have 15 dedicated staff members who all play a role in our dynamic company. Malik SA has evolved over the years to offer a broad service to the sporting goods industry, we now specialize in: • Distribution of Malik Hockey products in the SADC region.

• Distribution of the exciting new Malik cricket products in the SADC region.

• Manufacture of custom made sports clothing.

Malik Cricket We are extremely proud to have secured the Malik Cricket range for the upcoming season, and we believe that the cricket range will fit into our company profile, offering our clients an affordable product with the quality that they have come to expect from Malik. We will be stocking the full cricket range, from Kashmir willow junior bats up to the selected English willow Limited Edition bats, as well as the softs and accessories.

With having Peter Wright’s invaluable experience and knowledge of the industry, and the newly appointed director Andrew Kemp taking on the role as brand manager, we believe we will continue to grow Malik South Africa, and offer our clients a wide range of top quality, technical product at affordable prices.

For further enquiries, please phone our office on 073 142 7506 or email info@maliksa.co.za.

2012 October/November :: Sports Trader

p54 :: Sport

Hockey range info cont from p54 lows for a number of hockey skills such as drag flicking and sweep hitting. The profile is also good for ball control and is assisted by the Maxi headshape for a larger sweet spot. Illusion is constructed with a twin tube core, made from 10% carbon and 90% fibreglass matrix.

The Chameleon hockey stick is designed with a conventional M-bow shape for enhanced ball control, sweep hitting and drag flicking techniques, whilst assisting in a full strike. “A great beginner stick, the Chameleon incorporates a good amount of Carbon for the price,” says Ludlow. Chameleon is constructed with a twin tube core, made from 20% carbon and 80% fibreglass matrix.

Malik In their 2013 hockey range, Malik is replacing their London Limited Edition stick with the popular Grunge Graffiti, which is similar to the earlier edi-

tion Diamond. “The Graffiti is the new and improved flagship stick for 2013 and its golden appearance will surely create a buzz in the hockey circles,” says Peter Wright of Malik SA. The Graffiti is a level 1 composition stick with the popular dribble curve.

They have also reintroduced their Sohail drag flick stick, named after the legendary Pakistani player, Sohail Abbas. He is the world record holder for the most goals and renowned for his lightning fast drag flicks. The Sohail will be available in a bright luminous yellow. “It will be a tough contest to see which creates more hype, the colour of the stick or the lightning fast drag flick it produces,” says Wright The stick is manufactured to the latest FIH regulations, and has a thick shaft for enhanced slapping ability and the unique Sohail curve, to give an edge when flicking.

Following on the popularity of pink in their range of sticks, they have added the Black dots Punk with a classy black finish and striking pink dots. “It will add some class and style to a hockey package,” he says. The Punk is available in the dribble curve and is a level 3 composition stick.

The rest of the changes to their 2013 range will be cosmetic.

Mercian Mercian, the UK hockey brand with nearly 40 years of experience, is back in SA and distributed locally by Bellingham & Smith.

“Mercian have combined new materials, colours, designs, shapes and sizes to create a product range that covers just about every hockey requirement and will no doubt appeal to all levels of South African hockey players,” says Ronnie Bird.

Their innovative designs and unique graphics are sure to be a draw card for the younger generation, while the quality will attract the more experienced player.

“Composite material advances have resulted in enhanced strength,” says Bird. The weight of Mercian sticks have been reduced, using aeronautical grade carbon fibre, without compromising hitting power, durability or torsional strength.

Mercian sticks are available in two shapes — the Standard Bend and the Late Bend — and they will have a full range of sticks, from high end composite to wooden junior sticks.

• The Standard Bend incorporates the maximum permitted bend at the mid-point of the shaft, with the balance point moved to enhance playing characteristics.

• The Late Bend also incorporates the maximum permitted bend, but the bend is positioned lower on the shaft (200mm from the bottom of the head).

The different weight distribution maximizes hitting power and increases the speed at which the head can move for more drag flick power.

The piezo-electric fibres

in the VRZ (Vibration Reduction Zone) on the Pro Line sticks are used to harvest the vibrations created in these super-stiff sticks and turn them into heat. The result of this is efficient vibration dampening.

The man-made Bio-Fibre face on the new indoor sticks are made from naturally occurring materials that are woven into a thin sheet. The face has softness and texture that creates a cushion effect when trapping the ball.

This texture means that the ball does not slip from the face when dribbling, controlling or shooting and helps the ball stop spinning during the course of play.

OBO “The top goalkeeper brand, OBO, has a full range of technically advanced products catering for all levels of hockey goalkeepers,” says Shane Schonegevel of local distributor OBO SA. There are four different ranges of OBO equipment tailored to the different needs of goalkeepers of all ages and levels, offering a full complement of everything a goalkeeper would need. This year saw improvements to the quality and value for the junior goalkeepers range.

“OBO’s quality products dominate the goalkeeping market and are used by the majority of national and international keepers,” he says.

Slazenger Slazenger’s 2013 range of hockey stick technologies include Fuse, Muscle Core, Nano and 1500k Armour. “All of these combined provide the next generation of hockey players with the most technically advanced products,” says Steve Gallienne of local distributor Super-Brands.

The new Slazenger Aero series (left) has a new and visibly different shape, compared to other products on the market. The range is faster, lighter and more powerful and has the Quad Core technology (patent pending) that gives the stick up to 15% greater lateral stiffness and torque resistance, he says, resulting in a faster and more powerful stick.

The Aero profile offers a lower coefficient drag, causing it to be faster while using less energy. It offers an angled rear face, providing a thicker front To p54

p56 :: Sport

Hockey range info cont from p54 edge for better stopping power and a thinner reverse edge to assist with reverse stick hitting.

Slazenger’s unique Squoval handle allows for comfort and a better grip, increasing the carbon structure and strength in the handle for greater torsional and lateral stiffness for enhanced control and feel. The handle is also of an offset design more in line with the sweet spot. This increases the moment of inertia (MOI) for less torsional deflection on ball impact. This makes dribbling and control easier while decreasing the stick angle to the ground when defending and ball stopping.

Slazenger has positioned their series as some of the most advanced sticks available this coming season selling at under R2000.

TK TK’s apparel and goal keeping equipment is showing excellent growth, says local distributor and SA goalie Rassie Pieterse. Several top hockey schools like Kearnsey College, Northcliff and KES, as well as SA University Champions UJ and Maties play with the TK brand. SA’s hockey player of the year Taine Paton is among their sponsored players.

At the London Olympics SA goalies Jacques le Roux and Rassie Pieterse played with TK as well as Amy Tran of

the US. Germany’s top goalkeepers — Yvonne Frank and Max Weinhold, have included in the FIH World All Star team, one of TK’s ambassadors.

Their sticks are equipped with nano fibres, which causes the stick to be very light while retaining its strength and force.

“In the Synergy range we have brought out an additional stick with a new shape. We have the Synergy 1, 2 and 3. The new stick is the Synergy 1+ delux, the series of which runs for two years,” says Pieterse TK’s two limited edition sticks, the Platinum P1 and P2 (see left) are equipped with DynanoTex technology, which is a purification process for dry carbon fibre strands. A carbon fibre strand (containing 24 000 carbon fibres) is separated and precision tension rolled to achieve almost 80% alignment in the fibres while the P2 has 10% less carbon fibres. This increases the strand width to 15mm from the typical 6-7mm seen in more widely used carbon fibre left in a more roughly bundled state.

These sticks are used by accomplished hockey players because the 24 000 matted carbon layers cause the stick to be incredibly stiff and powerful.

“The technology used in all our top-end sticks is called the Integrated Dampening Sys-

tem, which is basically a gel insert into the handle that disperses the shockwaves that travel through the stick when hitting a ball,” says Pieterse.

The Integrated Dampening System (IDS) is technology used in the TK top-end sticks. It is a gel insert, which is placed into the handle and disperses shockwaves that emanate from the hockey stick when striking a ball.

Following the success of their brand’s range, TK has included a few new colours to their bags.

New FIH rules THE NEW FIH rules, which will be implemented in 2013, specify the following regarding the bow of the hockey stick: “Any curvature along the length of the stick (the rake or bow) must have a continuous smooth profile along the whole length, must occur along the face side or the back of the stick, but not both, and is limited to a depth of 25mm.

Sport :: p57

What sells a hockey stick? cont from p57 uses that brand of stick,” says Thonissen.

“For this reason many of the brands sponsor prominent coaches in the area by, for example, giving them a stick and in exchange the coach has to sell, say, ten sticks to learners in the area,” agrees Kathleen Faling of the Hockey Spot in Pretoria.

Another contributing factor to customers walking in with preconceived purchasing decisions, are internet reviews or social media like Facebook blogs.

“Some [customers] research the internet and want a particular stick without really understanding the significance of the composition of the stick or its features,” say the Patons.

Cosmetics Inside the store, the cosmetics of a stick can also influence a customer’s choice.

“A player will choose a stick that’s wrong for him — maybe too stiff and powerful for a junior player… or a senior player will take a stick that’s not powerful enough — based on the graphics of the stick,” says Thonissen. “It’s the wrong way to choose a hockey stick for your game — but it happens all the time.”

This is especially true for younger customers, the experts agree.

“This is not a deciding factor for the better

quality players who buy sticks from our store,” says Hermanson, “it is only a factor for the younger teenagers who are still learning about the game and play socially.”

Youngsters will also be influenced by colours. According to Faling, the majority of girls want girly sticks like a pink or purple, while boys just would not be caught dead with a girl stick.

Materials and technology The material and technology are the most important criteria when selecting a stick, especially when each stick is tested by the customers themselves, advises Hermanson. “They then get the feel for themselves.”

The shapes of the top-end sticks are more important than the prices of the sticks, as well, he continues.

Especially players with specific roles in the game are impressed by technologies in the stick, adds Faling. “For example, the team’s drag flicker will want the latest and greatest thing in a stick to make him drag better.”

The average consumer, however, knows almost nothing about the materials used in hockey sticks and why certain hockey sticks are more expensive than others, cautions Thonissen.

This is where skilled sales staff can play a role by sharing knowledge with the customer in terms of which stick to buy based on the materials or technology in the stick, he believes.

Matching the right stick Although most customers who walk into their store have an idea of what stick they are looking for, Hermanson believes that it is important to try to get each person to start from scratch, so they can get a feel for the new technologies available from each hockey brand each year.

By encouraging the customer to test all the sticks to find the most suitable one, the customer chooses the right stick himself, without being pushed into the sale, he believes.

The majority of our customers are influenced by the advice we give them, the Patons say.

While a stick may have been recommended to them, or they want it because a well-known player uses it, that particular stick may not suit their particular level or style of game.

“We would say that our advice is what determines the closing sale.”

For this reason on-job training for staff is so vital, advises Faling. “Especially with a parent-child setup where the parent has limited knowledge of the game. For me, it is not about selling the most expensive stick, but rather aiding the parent to select a stick that will help the child best grow and perform as a player, while still suiting the parent’s pocket.”

p58 :: Sport

Footwear imports R'000m

statistics

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

Sports goods

2008

2009

2010

2011

Statistics on the Rand value of SA sporting goods and footwear imports compiled from information supplied by Statistics SA

Import statistics for all shoes imported, not just athletic footwear, show that while the value of imports remained fairly stable at around R4-bn between 2008-2010, the value increased to R6.5-bn in 2011.

Main hockey s ck imports per country (units)

Hockey stick imports in quiet months

We only received statistics for the import of hockey sticks for the period March–August 2012 (see below), which is traditionally the period when most hockey sticks are used, but not when the ranges are imported and sold into retail. Despite this, about 28 000 sticks to the value of R6.8-bn were imported during this period, at an average landing price of R366.

Not surprisingly, most hockey sticks during this period were imported from China (22 000) — what is surprising though, is that there are no figures for imports from hockey-stick producing countries like India and Pakistan. The average landing price of the sticks from China was R180, while the highest price were paid for sticks imported from Spain (R549).

0

Hockey s ck units imported '000

10000

15000

20000

Import value of sports goods R'000

7.0

160

6.0

140

5.0

120

4.0

100 80

3.0

60

2.0

40

1.0 0.0

5000

20 March

April

May

June

July

August

Import R'000m 2008-2011 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0

Sports Trader :: 2012 October/November

0

March

April

May

June

July

August

Above: In the six months March–August 2012, the import value of sporting goods listed on the Department of Trade and Industries website were R634-m. Imports during August were the highest, namely R148-m.

Left: Between 2008-2011 exercise, gym and athletic equipment constituted the highest value of imports (R‘000-m) of the twelve sporting goods categories listed on the Department of Trade and Industries website. The other categories represented are: • swimming and paddling pools • golf clubs • inflatable balls • golf balls • balls (other) • golf (except for balls and clubs) • lawn-tennis rackets, • lawn-tennis balls • badminton and similar sackets, • ice- and roller skates • table tennis.

25000

Sport :: p59

While not all injuries are preventable, the right protective gear can make a difference for an athlete.

Safety first

Protective apparel and equipment is a must-have for any athlete and can sometimes mean the difference between a slight bruise and a broken bone. CARIN HARDISTY asked suppliers what protective products they have available for retailers to stock.

T

he various pieces of protective apparel and equipment form an essential part of any athlete’s kit, no matter what sport they do.

With each sport having their own set of protective requirements, there is a wide variety of protective products that retailers can choose from to stock.

One thing that many protective products have in common, is that foam plays a large part of their protective qualities. The way foam is moulded, plays a large role in how effective it is.

Aero’s cricket and OBO’s hockey goalkeeping protective products are foam-based and are at the forefront of technological developments, which enable athletes to gain an advantage in protection, comfort, speed and mobility,

Mouthguards are compulsory for hockey players at school level and most schools nowadays make it compulsory to wear a mouthguard when playing rugby. Mouthguards are also often worn in sports like basketball and waterpolo. ball control and durability, says Wayne Schonegevel of local distributor, OBO SA. “This is achieved through the utilisation of cutting edge and unique foam moulding technologies, which result in lightweight, snug fitting, high performance products that protect and allow

the athlete to perform better.”

The unique moulding process enables 3D shaping, as opposed to flat pressed shaping.

The new technology provides better protection: • It creates a better, snug-fitting product that stays in place; • They can use the tough, closed cell foam, which also means that the products are more durable; • Different densities of foam can be bonded together, which influence the design shape and leads to optimum protection and ball rebound control.

Cricket Aero’s stripper pants are considered one of the world’s most advanced thigh and lower body protection system that pro To p59

2012 October/November :: Sports Trader

p60 :: Sport

Protective gear from p60 vides protection to the front and back thigh and P1 models also protect the buttocks in addition. The new model features improved 3D moulding, an integrated design and an improved system with two waistband fitting options, which all allow for natural movement and mobility.

The stripper pants, available from OBO SA, already have twice received Wisden’s Best Thigh Pad award in their annual product ratings.

An added feature of the stripper pants is that they are easy to use and they are washable.

Aero’s P3 junior legguards (left) are extremely advanced elite foam leg protectors, ideal for primary school players. They are speed-rated to 110kph (the P1 senior legguards are speed rated to 160kph).

The legguards are 65% lighter than the old style youth pads and the 3D moulded comfort fit improves on technique, protection and speed.

Albion’s new Ultimate 98 is a lightweight cricket helmet that is constructed out of a 98% carbon fibre reinforced polymer shell with a super high density EVA liner for increased energy absorption — all adding up to significantly reduced weight without negatively affecting the safety that the helmet provides.

The unique construction enables improved ventilation and heat dissipation while the new faceguard design ensures a perfect fit every time.

Kookaburra’s Pro Guard set (below) is a combination of an inner and outer thigh pad. It was recently launched into the SA market and has already been well received.

The Pro Guard range utilises several key features: • Multi-component Adjustment System: Complete upper leg protection without the wearer feeling weighed down. It enables the different components to be fully adjustable and removable, which means protection where it’s needed most; • Pro-Comfort Fit System: Extra-wide adjustable velcro straps that ensure that they don’t dig into the body. The fit width sizes fit everyone and the wide leg straps keep the protection in place; • It is made from moulded high density foam with hi-

Sports Trader :: 2012 October/November

impact plastic reinforcement, which ensures a snug fit around the legs and ultimate protection. The Thermo Flex foam moulds to the body to allow greater flexibility and improved performance. It also contains a soft fill foam backing for increased comfort and movement.

• Body Shell Impact Protection: The cut-outs on the Pro Guard fit seamlessly with Kookaburra leg guards to offer complete protection.

In addition, the Pro Guard range is made of an anti-bacterial air flow mesh material, all the padding is removable to customise fit, and it is fully washable.

Albion and Kookaburra are both distributed locally by JRT Crampton.

Slazenger’s new and improved Ultimate batting glove (right) now features a noticeable 1500k armour on the lead fingers as well as moulded absorption foam, combined with side protection on both hands to offer excellent protection and performance.

“I have been with Slazenger for 12 years now and I’m pretty fussy when it comes to the equipment I use,” says Proteas allrounder Jacques Kallis, who plays with the Slazenger Ultimate Glove. “Not only are the gloves comfortable to use, but they are very protective as well. The fact that I have gone through so many years in cricket without breaking a finger, says something for the gloves!”

The products are meticulously tested to ensure that they meet the desired levels of protection.

Slazenger is locally distributed by SuperBrands.

Hockey OBO’s Robo Bodi Armour for hockey goalkeepers (right) is constructed from 38 individual pieces of foam (many of which are dual density) that allow free movement and great agility, while not compromising protection.

These protection panels are able to move independently while ensuring that the armour stays in the correct position, which greatly reduces bunching up

when moving or lying on the ground.

Key areas and internal organs are covered by high density foam. In addition, the chest and heart are also protected by a comfortable and breathable inner pad.

The Robo Bodi Armour arms are designed to provide free movement to the wearer.

The OBO Robo Hi-Rebound goalkeeper legguards have an unique dual density face, which means that the softer inside and middle of the legguards have a very high rebound, while the stiff wings rebound the ball on penalty corners rather than bending and allowing the ball to slip through. Additionally, the face also offers an exceptionally wide presentation.

The legguard design allows goalkeepers to slide freely and return quickly and easily to their feet.

Mouthguards Mouthguards are compulsory for hockey players at school level and most schools nowadays make it compulsory to wear a mouthguard when playing rugby. Mouthguards are also often worn in sports like basketball and waterpolo.

MoGo (above right), the latest mouthguard brand to arrive in the SA market, is also the first flavoured mouthguard offering products in fruit punch, mint and orange flavours. Bubblegum is the latest flavour for 2013. The flavour is embedded into the EVA plastic, so it lasts as long as the mouthguard does.

A big problem with mouthguards is that athletes don’t keep them in their mouths — hockey or rugby players are constantly taking them out in between spells of play. MoGo’s mission is to change the experience of wearing a mouthguard from a need to to a want to.

Their products are designed with a focus on performance, protection, fit and flavour. Each MoGo mouthguard protects the teeth, absorbs impact from blows to the jaw, has a quick release tether and has a high durometer composite layer that offers added protection. The airway channels enhance breathability and performance and the bite plate vents mean that saliva won’t collect in the mouthguard.

They have also developed a style specifically designed for people who wear braces – and designed with the help of athletes who actually wear braces. It features an inner wall channel to accommodate the braces.

MoGo mouthguards are made from materials that are free of BPA (bisphenol A). BPA is a chemi-

Sport :: p61 cal found in many plastics that has been linked to hormonal problems like late onset of puberty or low birthweight.

MoGo is locally distributed by Flamingo Sales & Export Co. OPROshield mouthguards (below), designed by dr. Anthony Lovat, are today the world’s largest custom mouthguard supplier. He ensured that they were designed to fit as comfortably as possible.

A mouthguard only protects the wearer if it stays firmly in place.

The unique OPROPfins that break down to mould closely and tightly around the teeth, ensure that OPROshield stay in place as if custom fitted by a dentist.

A blow to the lower face will send shock waves through the skull. A direct impact can fracture the front teeth. A blow to the lower jaw can slam the jaws together and fracture the upper teeth, says Lovat. Mouthguards act like a shock absorber, both spreading the force of a blow to the head and mouth over a larger area, and increasing the time for the peak force to occur.

By offering a mouthguard that fits comfortably and does not impede speech like a poorly-fitted mouthguard, OPRO gives the player an incentive to keep the mouthguard in place. A mouthguard that fits properly will also allow the player to breathe more freely.

OPRO is locally distributed by Super-Brands.

Rugby Baselayer technology is evolving at a great rate and many of these features are being brought into Gilbert’s top end protective items. Some of these features are breathability, compression and over-all performance optimisation.

Gilbert has included several technologies in their protective products, from CPZ (Cellular Protection Zone) padding — a cellular foam with perforations that allow key airflow, providing ventilation — to an evolution of the classic TriFlex system that will be

launched in the near future.

Their Virtuo headguard (left) uses CPZ (that allows for additional padding on the back of the head for improved safety) and the Virtuo Matrix technologies for the ultimate fit.

The Virtuo Matrix fit is a 3D fit that caters for all head shapes.

The headgear also has two-way moisture management mesh that provides additional airflow and prevents overheating. The Virtuo headgear is an improvement on their previous top-of-the-range

Xact headgear.

Their brand new Zenon shoulder pad has compression two-way stretch fabric and breathable mesh inserts.

The S14 Charger shoulder pad has been renamed Charger (right) and provides functional, all-round

padding to cover the shoulders, spine, sternum, kidneys, lower rib as well as the biceps and triceps. It has also available in a new colour (blue). All Gilbert’s shoulder pads now come with more breathable fabrics — great for SA’s warmer climate.

Gilbert is locally distributed by TransAfrica Sport.

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What’s in a snorkel?

E

ach summer sees more people heading to the coast, many who intend to go snorkelling. This is therefore the time of year when you will be asked to assist your customers with selecting a snorkel.

The name snorkel comes from a breathing tube device that was used by U-boats in WWII to funnel air below the water surface to submarines. However, breathing tubes have been mentioned as far back as the 4th Century B.C.

by Aristotle, 320 A.D. by China’s Pao Plw Tzu and in 1488 Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks featured drawings.

Originally, the snorkel had a standard Jdesign: one side featuring a mouthpiece with the other side longer to extend above the water surface. In theory, the snorkel today is still this — BUT there are also so much more to it, with companies designing ways to make the wearer’s snorkelling experience safer and more comfortable.

The typical dimensions for a snorkel are: • Inside diameter (or bore): 1.5-2.5cm • Length: 30cm • L- or J-shaped • Fitted with a mouthpiece on the end • Constructed out of rubber or plastic

Our cut-out-and-keep series to assist retailers with product knowledge Words: Carin Hardisty. Compiled with the help of websites such as en.wikipedia. org/wiki/Snorkeling; www.wisegeek.org/ what-is-a-snorkel.htm and scubadiverinfo.com/2_snorkels.html.

Getting rid of liquids

Tube The tube can vary in length, diameter and shape.

The length of the snorkel affects how much stale air is left in the pipe, as well as how much water enters the tube.

• Long snorkel: The snorkel extends further above the head, which means there’s a lower likelihood of water entering the tube.

However, if water does get into the tube, it is more difficult to get rid of the water by blowing, than it would be with a shorter snorkel.

Also, because of the longer length, it holds a lot of volume and some of the air that’s breathed out (stale air) will stay in the snorkel.

• Short snorkel: Water enters a short tube easier than with a longer snorkel, but it doesn’t have the stale air problem.

The bore affects how easy it is to breathe through the tube.

• A large-bore tube (inner diameter of +/2.5cm) is easiest to breathe through. How-

if the user decides on a rigid tube recommend that they use one with an adjustable mouthpiece so that it is at the right angle and fits correctly. The mouthpiece should sit comfortably in the wearer’s mouth and they should not have to bite down to keep it from popping out.

• One problem experienced with a flexible tube that has a corrugated inside area, is that water might remain inside. The flexible tubes that have a smooth inside do not have this problem.

Some snorkels even have a tube that is divided into two on the inside by an aortic valve separating the stale air from fresh air — the exhaled air travels through one tube and fresh air is drawn in through the other.

ever too much volume also makes it difficult to get rid of the water that enters.

• The difference between an adult’s and child’s snorkel lies in the bore tube’s diameter. An adult has a larger lung capacity, which means they can handle the increased air that a larger diameter allows, and they can blow out the old air without inhaling it again — a problem that a child might experience with a large bore.

Some snorkels come with a flexible accordion silicone tube that allows the wearer to move the mouthpiece out of the way when it is not needed.

• The choice between an accordion tube and a rigid tube is one of user preference, but

Water getting into the tube — either through the tube or from the wearer’s breathing — is a serious problem to the wearer as the water can obstruct breathing. Manufacturers have designed various ways of dealing with this problem.

There are three types of snorkel designs to deal with the water problem: • Purge snorkel: Snorkels that fill with water and need to be purged while in use.

• Semi-dry snorkel: These have a design to discourage water from entering, but the snorkels will need occasional purging.

• Dry snorkel: These snorkels have a splash proof opening at the top, as well as a oneway purge valve at the bottom, which allows water that does get into the tube to be easily purged when the wearer exhales. Since the snorkel is dry, the tube is filled with air, which means that the snorkel will become buoyant and could pull at the mask where it’s attached when the snorkeler dives below the surface.

Purge and semi-dry snorkels have devices that will prevent water entering, or help the wearer expel water.

• A sump is situated at the bottom of the snorkel where the mouthpiece connects to the tube. It allows excess moisture (i.e. from breathing and water) to settle and remain in it so that the liquid doesn’t interfere with the snorkeler’s breathing.

An one-way output valve inside the sump automatically drains liquid as the To p63

2012 October/November :: Sports Trader

p64 :: Outdoor

What’s in a snorkel? cont from p64

sump fills with water.

• The one-way purge valve allows the wearer to expel water by blowing into the tube.

Some models come with twin valves.

• Float-operated valves keep the water out when the snorkeler submerges. They are attached to the top end of the tube.

If the user opts for a splash guard, etc. that operates with a moving mechanism, recommend that they care for them carefully as the parts can jam and become stuck when sand gets into them.

Some mouthpieces are designed to drain themselves once the wearer is above the water surface while others allow the wearer to breathe while there is a small amount of water in the mouthpiece.

Materials If natural rubber is left exposed to sunlight it will slowly break down, and eventually lose its flexibility, becoming brittle and crack. This will cause the one-way clearing valves to stick in either the open of close position and float valves will leak, because the valve seat won’t be able to seal out water.

Silicone has a higher resistance to degrading and tends to have a longer life.

Sports Trader :: 2012 October/November

Aqualine De Wet Sports’ Aqualine brand has several new snorkelling products on offer for retailers.The Hydra mask (right) features a tempered glass lens, a design that allows deeper vision and low volume and is a dual window mask. The Laguna mask features a tempered glass lens, a big eye with a low volume design that allows for wider vision and an auto-clip strap adjusting mechanism and is a single window mask. Both of these new masks are available in two materials: apiflex and clear silicone.

The Bahama silicone snorkel features a pre-angled mouthpiece, a purge valve and dry top. Flex is a pro silicone snorkel with a pre-angled mouthpiece, a purge valve with splash protector and a flexible tube for compact storage.

Their new deluxe neoprene low cut booties are available in sizes 6-12. The toe and heel are reinforced for added protection and they are secured with an adjustable Velcro strap.

If your customers will be swimming in colder waters, it’s useful to recommend they look at a wetsuit. Aqualine offers wetsuits in full and shorty styles, for both adults and children. The wetsuits come with a back zip, CR sharkskin material on the chest, a neck seal and cuff and flat lock stitching. The Junior Shorty is made from 2mm neoprene material, the Senior

Range Shorty and Junior Full from 2.5mm neoprene and the Adult Full is made from 3mm neoprene.

They also have fins available for both junior and senior customers. The junior open heeled fins have a flexible blade, drainage holes and offer an excellent kick response. They are available in three sizes: S (11-13), M (1-3) and L (4-6). The Exceed fins have four channels, rubberized side ribs that improve elasticity and protect the blade, an anatomical foot pocket, blade stabilizers to improve stability and eliminate the ankle twisting phenomena and come with adjustable quick release straps. They are available in three sizes: S-M, M-L, L-XL. A handy option for snorkelers is a combo set, of which Aqualine has a wide selection on offer in kids, junior and adult sizes. The Pro Quest combo set have an adult sized silicone mask and snorkel. The mask has a single window, is low volume and the glass is safety tempered, while the snorkel has a pre-angled mouthpiece with a purge valve. The Pro Flex combo set also has an adult sized silicone mask and snorkel, but the mask has a dual window, is frameless and has safety tempered glass. The snor-

Outdoor :: p65

information kel has a pre-angled mouthpiece with purge valve and a flexible tube.

For the kids, Aqualine also offers swim sets that come with a mask, snorkel, and fins. Both the Hippo and Lil Nipper swim sets are available in two assorted colours and sizes S and M. The Hippo swim set comes in a handy backpack while the Lil Nipper swim set is packed in a mesh carrier bag.

National Geographic The well-known National Geographic name can now also be seen on snorkeling gear, imported into SA by Lions Tackle and Gear. The brand covers products for swimming and snorkelling and stock will be available from end November.

Initially, they will be bringing in the snorkel combos, sets and a select range of swimming goggles and accessories. They will expand the range offered in 2013 and include the individual masks, snorkels, wetsuits and accessories.

The National Geographic Snorkeler and Swim Line will be available in three distinc-

well as individually packaged masks, snorkels and fins.

The swim line offers a variety of accessories, from goggles to kick boards, swim gloves and pool fins, to name a few.

tive groupings: The Explorer, Expedition and Experience Series. The ranges are specifically designed to meet all the needs fof any adventurer going on water-based expeditions.

The Explorer Series holds the highest quality equipment of the range, intended for use at an extended range and depth by a more serious and experienced user.

The Expedition Series blends products often found in the Explorer and Experience levels to create the greatest value in terms of cost versus utility. These products are considered to be more than ample for a snorkeler and could easily be utilized for entry level deeper diving activities.

The Experience Series offers the most cost conscious products in the National Geographic snorkel range. The series offers the best choice for those who simply want to experience snorkelling and is designed to fit the entire family, regardless of their budget.

The National Geographic snorkel range covers mask-and-snorkel combo sets, mask-snorkel-and-fin sets as

Saekodive W.E.T. Sports have once again brought in an exciting range of snorkels for the 2012 season.

The Saekodive range caters for everyone — from the entry level right up to the professional diver.

In the entry level, they once again offer the 1045T for juniors and the 1052 snorkel that is available with either a PVC or silicone mouthpiece, which is suitable for all recreational snorkelling. These snorkels also have large bore tubes that allow for ease of clearing.

The 1035S silicone snorkel (right) is ideal for spear fishing enthusiasts and has a flexible PU tube.

The 1057Q silicone snorkel has a semi drytop system design that offers maximum air intake and exhaust. It remains a very popular item that has done well for them. The snorkel also sports a flat tube to reduce water resistance and a corrugated flex joint with dotted silicone mouthpiece.

The top of the range 1032AS and 1033LKS have silicone mouthpieces and flex tubes and also use the semi dry-top technology.

since 1984 EZ 6122 Goggle Fish

EZ 6122 Goggle Alligator

Silicone Cutie Cap Blue fish

Silicone Cutie Cap Pink cat

2112 Swim Fin

3113 S Diving Knife

AD 06 Dry box Small

3237 P Mask

3233 P Mask

Junior. PVC

Junior. PVC

Rubber Size 1-3 Size 3-5 Size 5-7 Size 7-9 Size 9-11

3210 P Mask

3238 S Mask

1035 KS Snorkel

1032 AS Snorkel

Senior. PVC

Silicone

Silicone

Silicone

For a complete colour catalogue and pricelist contact the office.

Phone: 021 948 8150. Fax: 021 948 8084. Email: wetsports@wirelessza.co.za

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Selling tents for all weather

T

he protection and shelter against the elements offered by a tent can make or break a camping experience. In extreme weather conditions the right tent can make a life-or-death difference. Even in mild conditions the water- or wind-resistance and breathability of a tent can ensure that a family become dedicated outdoors people — or make that first camping trip their last.

How you advise your customers about the weatherproof qualities of a tent can make a vast difference to their camping experience.

One of the first manufacturer specifications you could identify on a tent is the seasonal rating. Tents are typically classified into seasonal ratings: • Tents with no seasonal rating that are designed for use in warm conditions are generally made from light materials with high ventilation properties to reduce condensation. Often they provide a roof shelter with low/no water/wind proof capabilities.

• Three seasons tents are considered to be the more jack of all trades in terms of weather resistance and can withstand chilly autumn conditions and prolonged rain. It will insulate occupants in cold weather conditions as well.

• Four season tents are high-end tents that are suited to winter mountaineering and other life-threatening conditions.

Our cut-out-and-keep series to assist retailers with product knowledge Words: NELLE DU TOIT, compiled with the help of Leo Rust of Adventure Inc, Simon Larsen of Ram Mountaineering, Alexi Prodromou and Andre Naude of Seagull Industries and websites such as camping-online.co.uk, adventureepert. com and abc-of-hiking.com

Caution about rating The problem with only relying on seasonal ratings is that one does not get a true idea of the weather resistance the tent is actually capable of.

• Weather is unpredictable and even summer wind storms can completely wreck an entrylevel non-technical tent. Therefore, camping in summer time does not mean that a family won’t need good protection because they expect good weather, warns Leo Rust of Adventure Inc. • Even tents that are designed to withstand certain conditions can break when exposed to them. There have been many tents specifically designed for Everest, for example, that had been broken by that mountain, warns Rust.

• “Not every tent that is called a 3-season tent is actually a 3-season tent,” adds Simon Larsen of Ram Mountaineering. Retailers

Photo: Messe Friedrichshafen GmbH

should be able to look at the specifications of a tent and see if they believe the manufacturers claim.”

• The rating might also be subject to where the manufacturer is based, i.e. UK spring conditions are completely different to a family getaway to the Magaliesberg mountains during spring.

Looking at the type of materials the tent is made of, its waterproof capabilities, the fabrics’ breathability, shape, etc. can better help determine what weather conditions the tent is capable of withstanding.

Canvas vs synthetic Traditionally waterproof tents were made from special close-woven cotton or canvas.

As the fabric gets wet, the cotton threads swell and pack together, keeping out the water.

• There are small holes still left in the fabric and water vapour can pass through without condensing on the inside, adding breathability.

• Many canvas tents also come with some form of treatment, which helps them to shed water without absorbing it. These generally need respraying after a period of use.

• In general, cottons are hardwearing, but they tend to be heavy, especially when wet, and their waterproof qualities are limited. They also take a long time to dry out and they are liable to rot.

Where lightweight is essential, appropriately coated and treated Nylon is the best material there is available for its weight.

Nylon fabrics are very light and strong, allowing the material to be packed away into a very small space.

• For very light fabrics, thicker threads are scattered through the finer weave to strengthen it.

• Nylon doesn’t absorb very much water and so takes much less time to dry out than cotton, it is also resistant to rot.

• The problem with nylon fabrics is that they can deteriorate when exposed to sunlight but, in some instances this has been solved by utilising other manufacturing processes, such as waterproofing treatments etc.

• It is for this reason that nylon is often used for tent floors and fly sheets where light weight is essential.

Polyester is more commonly used as a flysheet and inner material than nylon due to its cheaper price and resistance to UV light.

• For flysheet materials, an added benefit of polyester is that even untreated it will sag less when wet (as it does not absorb water as nylon does).

• Polyester is a more affordable material for flysheet construction, except where every gram counts (such as long hiking trips).

Waterproofing vs breathability Campers use tents to protect themselves against the elements. The aim is to recomTo p67 mend a tent that will keep your

2012 October/November :: Sports Trader

p68 :: Outdoor

Tents cont from p67 customers as dry, yet comfortable, as possible by providing the ideal balance between waterproofing and breathability (condensation).

• The traditional solution to the waterproofing versus condensation problem is to provide two layers, an outer waterproof fly sheet and a lightweight inner tent, which breathes and provides a dry area.

• Better designed tents usually offer better ventilation (more vents, larger mesh panels), which helps reduce condensation inside a tent.

• Some tents may also offer features like a second door.

• Breathable inner side walls and roofs minimize condensation whilst mesh windows, doors and panels allow air in, and keep insects out.

The most common complaint about a tent is that it leaks. However, this is rarely the case, usually the leak is actually condensation within the tent from the occupants breathing where the ventilation has been blocked leaving no escape for the exhaled moisture.

Water resistance A fabric’s water resistance is measured in millimetres of hydrostatic head (HH).

• HH is the height (in millimetres) of a column of water that is required in order to leak through the material and represents the pressure that the fabric can withstand.

• Some materials use different metric systems (such as feet or pounds per square inch) which will need to be converted in order to compare different fabrics with each other.

• The higher the water head rating the more water pressure it can withstand.

Hydrostatic head is useful when comparing water resistance between fabrics from two different tents. The hydrostatic measurement is often incorporated in the fabric name where the number (in the thousands) will represent the fabric’s water head. For instance a groundsheet fabric HD nylon 5000 will have a hydrostatic/water head of 5 000.

It is normal to have a higher water head rating on the groundsheet [+- 4 000-10 000] than on the flysheet [+- 1 000–4 000], because the flysheet is not necessarily immersed in water, says Larsen.

Waterproof coatings: Polyurethane (PU) is probably one of the most common waterproof coatings for a wide variety of weights of nylon. It increases the fabrics waterproofness by filling in the gaps between the threads in the fabric. Multiple number of coatings or ‘passes’ determine the added protection but at the cost of extra weight.

Silicone elastomer enables a lighter weight nylon to be used without sacrificing any of its strength. It is used for the lightest tents, because it does not weaken the fabric as much as PU. So a lighter silicone coated fabric can

Sports Trader :: 2012 October/November

be used to do the job of a heavier PU coated fabric.

Neoprene. They make diving suits out of this synthetic rubber. It’s tough and very resistant to abrasion so, when coated onto a heavy duty nylon fabric it is almost indestructible. Some heavy duty tents use a neoprene coated nylon for their groundsheets.

Wax is usually a heavy and slightly sticky waterproof treatment. The wax wears off and the fabric must be re-treated regularly to maintain its waterproof qualities. Some manufacturers have spray-on and wash-in waterproof treatments that need to be reapplied as treatment wears off.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC). This is the traditional coating that replaced oilskins in boats. It is heavy and quite tough (although surprisingly easy to tear if caught on something). Fine if you don’t mind carrying it about.

These treatments are non-breathable so condensation may easily form on the inside of the tent if good ventilation is not prevalent.

Various manufacturers developed their own waterproof breathable fabric. Some of the waterproof breathable fabrics available on the market are the GoreTex fabrics, the ToddTex and Nanoshield technologies from Black Diamond and the Pertex technology from Adventure Inc to name a few.

Wind and water will react differently to the outer surface of a dome shaped tent than it will to an A frame tent Manufactured for weather Sealed seams: Most tent fabrics are waterproof over the span of each panel but this does not necessarily mean that the stitching between the panels is waterproofed.

• Seams are usually folded or double folded before they are stitched and any stitching will still need certain points to be seam waterproofed.

• Seam sealing is usually done with PU, neoprene, breathable or hot-melt tape.

• The thread used for stitching should ideally be thinner than the needle piercing the canvas and made of a material like cotton that swells and closes the needle holes when wet.

It is for this reason that manufacturers advise customers to erect their tents prior to camping and hose it down to allow the thread to seal up prior to their first camping experience, advises Andre Naude, business development manager for Seagull Industries.

Shape One of the biggest factors that affects how a tent will perform in wind and rain is the shape of the tent. Wind and water will react differently to the outer surface of a dome shaped tent than it will to an A frame tent.

Dome-style or dome hybrid tents are aero-

dynamic and stable and are one of the more popular tent designs on the market. Domestyle tents are designed to shed wind and all types of precipitation effectively. They often offer better 3 season protection than ridge/ cabin style tents.

Geodesic is the strongest type of tent. It uses intersecting poles to produce a strong selfsupporting structure with a large internal volume. The interlocking poles easily handle a large weight of water and snow and since there is very little unsupported fabric, the tent has minimum sail area to be buffeted by the wind.

Ridge or A Frame tents offer good stability in bad weather conditions, but they can be heavy and is therefore not a good choice for backpacking or travelling on foot, especially when carrying the tent.

Hoop or Tunnel tents are popular with longdistance hikers. They are lightweight and their low profile offers weather-resistance as well as a spacious interior.

A good pole structure is important to help withstand cold and winds. Generally, the more poles and more intersections between poles the stronger the structure is going to be, says Larsen. Aluminium poles are far superior to fibre glass poles when it comes to strength.

Flysheets and groundsheets: “One of the key components of a good quality tent is a bath-tub groundsheet which comes up the sides by at least 10-15cm and is of course seam-sealed,” says Larsen. “In other words, it should have the capability to sit in a shallow river and not allow any water in.”

• Flysheets are often made from a lightweight nylon fabric or a more durable lightweight polyester.

• Whether nylon or polyester, flysheet fabrics should always be ripstop.

• Nylon is almost always used for inner and floor materials due to its strength.

• Polyester is not as strong as nylon for the same weight of fabric, but on the other hand it is more resistant to degradation from ultraviolet light than nylon.

• Polyester also does not absorb water as nylon does and it is more waterproof and less breathable.

• Groundsheets are usually manufactured with a slightly heavier fabric, since increased abrasion resistance is required.

• Groundsheet protectors (or footprints) are also available and help to protect the tent’s built in groundsheet from getting ripped or dirty.

Fabric weights are rated by denier, which is a measure of weight (in grams) per 9 000 meters of individual yarn that fabric is made of.

• It can be identified as just the letter ‘d’ beside a number when referring to fabric (e.g. 70d is 70 denier).

• Higher denier numbers for the same fabric generally mean higher resistance and strength, but that also means higher weight.

Tent ranges

“Doublelight tents incorporate doublewalled mesh/nylon fast-pitch hub that integrates the entire frame into one unit to

Black Diamond A range of single-wall Bibler tents made from a waterproof, breathable, ToddTex PTFE laminate fabric, is available from Black Diamond, distributed by Ram Mountaineering.

The ToddTex material is waterproof, windproof and breathable. It is a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) film — a thin film of stretched Teflon — laminated to a ripstop outer fabric and a polyester inner fabric. The outer layer is a 30-denier UV resistant high tenacity nylon ripstop woven fabric, and is treated with a durable water repellent (DWR) finish.

The Superlight series from Black Diamond uses Nanoshield technology, their proprietary breathable single-layer fabric. Nanoshield is made using microfibre filaments so fine and tightly woven that it becomes waterproof.

It is aimed at the ultra-hiker doing long distances trying to trim gear weight to a minimum.

The Doublelight series has 3 and 4-season double-wall tents. They are the more traditional flysheet/inner tent designs and are more versatile in warm conditions, when a hiker only wants an insect cover that is not necessarily wind- and water- resistant.

Sea to Summit The brand new range of compact, lightweight shelters from Sea To Summit, locally distributed by Adventure Inc, should be classified more as shelters and not so much as tents, explains Leo Rust. “It is specially targeted towards the ultra-lightweight market as it is extremely lightweight”.

The Solo tents weigh a mere 625gm and the Duo Tents weigh only 846gm. They are made from cutting-edge material and have very high specifications to keep the shelters as light as possible, adds Rust.

It features a 20 denier nylon shell fabric with a 1 000mm waterhead and a 7 000 MVTR (Moisture Vapor Transition Rate). The walls, vestibule and floors are made of 15 denier waterproof nylon, and have a 1 200mm waterhead. It features double stitched, fully tapedsealed seams and an internal storage pocket.

provide a solid, secure shelter with a roomy feel for all conditions.”

Basecamp, Bugaboos, British Columbia • Doublelight tent • Kolin Powick

architectures and a

Hi-Tec The new Big Shot pop-up tent for youngsters pitches in seconds. This Hi-Tec tent has no poles and can be assembled by simply taking it out of a bag and throwing it skywards.

The flysheet has a waterhead rating of 1 000mm and is made from 190T polyester material. The frame is made of fibreglass and the tent weighs only 2.5kg.

Rocky

E3 Gear A range of 1–4 person, 3–4 season polyester tents — the Eclipse, Endurance, Echo, Element and Escape — are available from E3 Gear, distributed locally by Ram Mountaineering The weight of these tents range from 1.78kg for the Eclipse to 5.5kg for the Escape, a three to four person tent.

The tent range introduced by Rocky offers something for all campers. The dome tents — the Hiker (for two), Junior Bow (three people) and Senior Bow (five people) are made of strong weather-resitant 210T 75 denier polyester. The material is fire retardant and has a water head rating of 2 000mm. The Senior Family tent and extension tent is manufactured of a 600 denier PU-coated polyester and has a 2 000mm water head rating.

They are distributed by Quad Rocky Marketing.

2012 October/November :: Sports Trader

BLACKDIAMONDEQUIPMENT.COM/DOUBLELIGHT www.rammountain.co.za

p70 :: Outdoor

Outdoor news Silva adventure racing team top in the world Silva, the lighting and navigational brand distributed locally by Lite Optec/ Ramrod, is sponsoring one of the top adventure racing teams in the world.

The Silva adventure racing team finished second at the Alpine Expedition Race, APEX, which is part of the Adventure Racing World Series, qualifying for the World Championships (ARWC). This year they came third in the ARWC after racing for 130 hours and 8 minutes. They came 3rd in the ARWC in 2006 and 2009, 2nd in the Raid Series in 2005, 2nd at Bimbache in 2006 and 4th in Abu Dhabi.

Ian Don-Wauchope (left) and AJ Calitz holding the SA flag high after both runners came in under Ryan Sandes’ 2011 Otter African Trail run record time.

New record for Otter Andre (AJ) Calitz, the 29-year-old trail runner, who is sponsored by K-Way, took second place at this year’s Otter African Trail Run. Calitz and Otter winner Ian Don-Wauchope both became the first black medal winners because they finished under 4:30. Both also broke Ryan Sandes’ 4:40:15 record he set in 2011.

Nick Bennett, marketing manager for K-Way, signed Calitz after he won the K-Way-sponsored Platteklip Charity Challenge. The sponsorship includes both funding and product.

Outdoor :: p71

All eyes on SA’s rowers and paddlers Photo:

Andreas

Will the gold and bronze medals that were won at the Olympics attract more participants in rowing and paddling? NELLE DU TOIT asked some experts if this will result in growth and how retailers can benefit

F

or spectators outside the paddling and rowing worlds, the gold and bronze medals SA’s rowers and canoeists brought home from the London Olympics this year might have come as a surprise.

To those involved in the sport, these medals were not only foreseen, but were also expected. SA’s paddlers have been a dominant force on the world stage for quite some time.

With rivers like the Fish, Berg and Breede, SA is host to some of the best marathon distance races in the world and we have some of the most active river and surf ski racing calendars worldwide, says Travis Wilkinson, GM of CanoeSA (CSA).

It is therefore no wonder that SA produces some of the top international marathon distance paddlers.

SA’s rowers have been participating in the Olympic Games since 1928 and brought back a Bronze medal from the Athens Olympics in 2004 and now Gold from London 2012.

SA paddlers lead “For the past 4-5 years SA has been dominating the Marathon World Championships,” says John Oliver of CSA KZN. Hank McGreggor has been the World Flat Water Champion twice, Grant van de Walt won his second U23 gold medal in Rome at the International Canoe Federation (ICF) Canoe Marathon World Championships in September this year and Beijing Olympian sprinter Shaun Rubenstein has also

It is no wonder that SA produces some of the top international marathon distance paddlers. won a World Flat Water Marathon K1 title.

Across the Masters age groups paddlers like Enslin van Riet and Rob Maclean won medals when they defended their K2 title at the 2012 World Marathon Championships.

“Our lady paddlers, led by Bridgitte Hartley (who won the 2012 Olympic bronze medal in the ladies 500m K1 event), are increasingly asserting themselves on the world stage in both sprints and marathon racing,” adds Wilkinson.

The Mocke Brothers (Dawid and Jasper) are currently ranked world number 1 and 2 for surf ski after this year’s Nelo Summer Challenge and the Maar’amu Race in Tahiti. In surf ski, Oscar Chalupsky has won 12 Molokai Surfski Challenges and in white water kayaking Steve Fischer is renowned as one of the best in the world. He is a full time professional travelling around the world, Wilkinson explains.

Experts agree that SA has the facilities to produce some of the top marathon distance and surf ski canoeists in the world. However, producing top performing athletes for Olympic disciplines such as sprinting and slalom are not as promising, unless the right facilities can be set in place.

“We do not have the facilities to produce top

sprinting racers,” says Oliver. “We have two dams in the country where sprinting can be practiced — Roodeplaat Dam (which we share with the rowers) and Nagel Dam. Unfortunately we do not have good facilities for slalom in SA either (we only have one facility in Ash River).”

“I do, however, think we will definitely produce more Olympic [sprinting] medals in the future. SA is also very strong in offshore ski racing, which has fairly recently been accepted by the international canoeing federation,” he adds.

Rowing’s top performers “2012 has definitely been one of the best years for rowing in SA. We sent over two teams to compete in the Olympics and one of our disabled rowers also qualified for the Paralympics,” says Gaynor du Toit of RowSA. The gold medal that the four men’s lightweight rowers James Thompson, Matthew Brittain, John Smit and Sizwe Ndlovu won in the 2012 London Olympics was the first Olympic gold SA had won in the history of the sport.

For those in the rowing fraternity a medal was expected as the team won a silver medal at the World Cup Regatta in Switzerland in May this year against the same teams they faced at the Olympics.

“Furthermore, SA won a medal (gold, silver or bronze) in every World Rowing Regatta/ World Cup this year,” says Du Toit.

“The medals in the Junior Women single scull and the medals we have won To p71

2012 October/November :: Sports Trader

p72 :: Outdoor

SA’s rowers and paddlers cont from p72 in U23 World Championship Regattas over the last 3 years are indicative of the depth of talent which has been developed in Rowing,” says Du Toit.

The lack of world class facilities to train remains a challenge. “RowSA is leading an initiative with three other Olympic codes i.e. canoeing, swimming (long distance swimming preparation) and triathlon to establish a facility in SA where preparation for Olympic events can be done,” adds Du Toit. “SA has the best climate and our teams prefer to train on home soil.”

What the medals mean The gold medal that SA’s rowing team won at this year’s Olympics should benefit the sport in the long run.

“We began seeing an increase in the number of people enquiring about the sport through our website shortly after the SA team won the medal in August, and there is no doubt that the Olympic medal has provided the sport with much needed exposure,” says Du Toit. “Because of this medal we enjoyed lots of media coverage, which helps people become more aware of the sport.”

“Through her incredible hard work and dedication, (bronze medal winner) Bridgitte Hartley has proved what can be done. We can already see the interest and excitement around sprinting as the paddlers across the country seek to emulate her,” says Wilkinson.

Many believe that her Olympic bronze will raise the profile of canoeing in the eyes of the general public, especially in the Olympic discipline of sprinting. “We are hoping that it will have a positive impact on the number of participants,” says Rob Maclean of CanoeSA Western Cape.

“But this will not happen on its own. CSA and the provincial unions need to take the initiative here and spread the word — especially in schools. A challenge here will be to overcome the prejudice that many traditional schools have against such sports (that they class as minor) as against those that they class as major, e.g. rugby, cricket, etc.”

Participation numbers “The number of registered paddlers in SA have increased over the last few years, but the most significant growth has been in the number of active participants in paddling,” says Wilkinson.

“Canoe polo is attracting large numbers to well-organised and coordinated training facilities and events and surf ski paddling is booming along the coastline — the turnout at provincial and national schools regattas is incredible.”

“These days many canoeists paddle surf skis and vice versa,” adds Maclean.

KwaZulu Natal is the biggest province in terms of registered paddlers. “There are currently about 2 300 paddlers registered in KwaZulu Natal,” says Oliver.

Gauteng has the second largest number of registered paddlers, followed by the Western Cape. “In the Western Cape we have close to 1 000 registered paddlers — about 650 actively competing in racing and the balance social members belonging to clubs. They may just be taking a hiatus from paddling competitively, or may actually not be competitive at all and just join for the enjoyment of the sport and the social interaction at the clubs,” says Laura van Heerden of CSA Western Cape.

About 540 paddlers are registered with CSA in the Eastern Cape, but a further 1 000 informal canoeists and sea paddlers are active, according to Gavin McNish of CSA Eastern Cape.

The rowing fraternity is largely made up of school, junior and university and senior club rowing teams.

“There are approximately 2500 to 3000 rowers registered with RowSA. It is difficult to determine the exact number of rowers in SA as those that only participate in recreational rowing would not be registered,” says Du Toit. “The majority of these Rowers are in Gauteng and the Western Cape, where there is a long tradition of School, University and Senior Rowing.”

What to stock for paddlers and rowers Retailers who want to benefit from the growing interest in the sport can keep in mind that

once the boat and oars have been purchased — usually from specialists — canoeists will purchase all kinds of extra bits and pieces such as spray decks, heart rate monitors, GPS’s, etc, says Oliver.

“Rowers [and paddlers] often train in very cold conditions and opt for technical long sleeve tops, heart rate monitors and focus on nutrition to ensure maximum endurance and strength while keeping their weight in control,” says Du Toit.

The Icebreaker range of technical long sleeve tops from Adventure Inc is made from 100% Merino Wool, which is highly breathable and anti-microbial.

Paddlers and rowers with their own boats have to transport them to events and venues.

Roof racks and tie downs are used by these water sport enthusiasts.

Sea to Summit (from Adventure Inc) has the Aquasling, Aquaracks and Bomber Tie downs for the transporting of boats.

One of the biggest concerns for any water sport enthusiast is keeping personal items dry and retailers catering for the paddling market should stock a good range of dry bags, suggests Deidre Keulder of Ram Mountaineering.

“We supply a variety of dry bags in the Pacific Outdoor range — from heavy duty duffle dry bags for long expeditions to dry cylinders and cell phone pouches.”

Adventure Inc offers a new TPU guide waterproof case for an iPhone and iPad. In terms of accessories a paddler should include headlamps, compasses, wind measurers, map measurer and map cases in their general itinerary, suggests Amaryl Denoon of Lite Optec. “The Tyto red light, for example, is usually put on the rear of the life vest to increase visibility from behind.”

“CSA is currently in correspondence with the government regarding Personal Floatation Devices (PFDs/life jackets) where they have asked to be allowed input regarding life jacket designs specifications,” says Oliver. During competitions, certain life jackets are designed to help paddlers perform, whilst keeping them protected, which do not necessarily conform to government regulations.

Difference between rowing and paddling IN ORDER to understand the product needs of the growing number of rowers and paddlers, a retailer would have to take the time to understand their sport.

A great deal of confusion surrounds the distinction between canoeing and rowing — especially for those whose first language is Afrikaans where roei is used for both sports, explains Travis Wilkinson, GM of CanoeSA (CSA). “There is, however, as much difference between the two sports as there is between cricket and baseball, for example.”

• Rowers power their craft while facing backwards, and canoeists face forwards.

• Rowers use oars (one for sweep rowing Sports Trader :: 2012 October/November

and two oars for sculling), whilst canoeists use paddles.

• Canoeing is multi-disciplinary to a large degree, whereas rowing has only four disciplines (sweep, sculling, indoor rowing and coastal rowing).

“What they do share is the use of similar facilities in that the Olympic disciplines of rowing and canoe sprinting both require large pieces of flat water,” says John Oliver of CSA KZN. Canoeing in SA comprises ten different disciplines. Canoe sprint and canoe slalom are the two Olympic disciplines, while the South African pedigree shines through in

the canoe marathon discipline, which incorporates the river racing scene. Surf ski paddling is growing considerably, and the union also oversees the white water, canoe polo, freestyle, rafting, dragon boating and waveski disciplines.

“These disciplines fall under the CSA Federation to conform to the International Canoeing Federation (ICF), which represents these paddle sports,” adds Wilkinson.

In SA rowing is governed by RowSA and it incorporates sweep rowing and sculling, adaptive (for example where the rower has a physical disability) and indoor rowing (for sports development in disadvantaged areas).

Trade show news

Trade shows :: p73

GDS

879 exhibitors from 38 countries showcased their footwear and accessories collections at the GDS and Gobal Shoes show, held 5-7 September at the Dusseldorf Exhibition Centre in Germany. Despite the nationwide strike by national airline carrier Lufthansa, the trade fair registered 22 500 trade visitors from 100 countries in total. Sneakers was voted the most important trend for the coming summer months by visitors to the show.

The next GDS show will be held 13-15 March 2013 (Spring) and 11-13 September (Autumn).

The 290 exhibitors at 2012 ispo Bike trade show attracted more than 6 000 trade visitors from 46 countries and 10 000 consumers. The show, normally held in July, was moved to August, resulting in stagnant visitor numbers after consistent double-digit growth the past three years.

Boat show The 12th Cape Town International Boat Show (CTIBS) was held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) from 12-14 October.

The international boat show not only provides a stage for all the local boat builders, but is also a get-together for all involved in the boating industry. Talks on a diverse range of topics geared to appeal to all sailing, fishing, boating and water sports enthusiasts attracted visitors as well as a “Fishing Village”, where visitors competed for prizes, a trip on a water taxi from the CCTIC to V&A Waterfront and the use of a shuttle for the landlubbers.

Ispo Next year’s ispo trade show in Munich will take place from 3-6 February 2013, and companies interested in exhibiting can now download a booking form from www.ispo.com or contact Morgana van Niekerk of the Southern African — German Chamber of Commerce and Industry at mvanniekerk@germanchamber.co.za or Tel: 011 486 2775. The Department of Trade and Industry will financially assist companies wishing to participate in overseas exhibitions under the EMIA (Export Marketing Incentive Assistance

scheme).

Ispo is giving manufacturers of basic textile products the opportunity to present their latest innovations to the international sports industry through a dedicated forum. Designers and product managers will gain comprehensive information on the textile innovations in one dedicated area of the show. All products being entered must arrive at the organizers’ office by November 15 2012. For more information please see: www.ispo.com/prj_52/_inc002/_ eMagazin/ispo_textrends.

Advertisers index — a list of advertisers in this issue adidas Adventure Inc Aqualine

29

Jordan & Co

69

JRT Crampton

49

K&T Sport

53

23, 62

Awesome Tools

21

Kakiebos Holdings

Bellingham & Smith

54

Kappa SA

45

8

Kookaburra

49

70

Leatherman

21

LED Lenser

21

Lions Tackle

64

Bertuzzi Black Diamond Boreal

OBC

Bronx

9

Civvio Crown Footwear De Wet Sports DMQ Trading

20, 22 24 OFC

54

20, 22, 24

Merrell

41

Mille

47

Mizuno

43

MoGO

61

National Geographic

64

Native Sport

38

New Balance

26, 37

Footwear Trading

7, 35

Fruit of the Loom

8 51

Hi-Tec

3

Inov8

39

Jordan

53

Mercian

61

Jeep

Malik

41

Flamingo Import

7 11

MEDALS BUTTON BADGES KEY RINGS FRIDGE MAGNETS

PRINTED ADVERTISING

1

Medicus Shoes

10

P R O M O T I O N S

OFC

23, 25, 62

Everest

Gryphon

Lyle & Scot

TONY MILLER

9, 11

OBO

51

Omni Sport

33

Opal

19

Puma

5

BALLOONS

www.tonymiller.co.za tony@tonymiller.co.za Tel: 031-2052074 Quad Rocky Marketing

66

Slazenger

Ram Mountaineer

70

Summit

Rebel Elite

39

Super-Brands

Rocky

66

Surge

Saekodive

65

Time Factor

Saucony

33

TK Sports

Sea to Summit

69

Skechers

35

Traverse Outdoor Group (TOG)

Skins

43

Vivobarefoot

Skye Footwear & Clothing

1, 47

WET Sports Zamberlan

55 19 43, 55 25 27 56, 57 OBC 38 65 OBC

2012 October/November :: Sports Trader