Ready, Set, Swim: Rocket Science Sports’ Swimwear Approved by FINA

February 24, 2010--Rocket Science Sports’ swimwear is FINA approved. Rocket Science Sports announced today that it has received approval on 10 of it's latest models of suits, including the latest tech suit the FU RACER, and it's latest sim cap the ROCKET HEAD. "This was a big challenge", commented CEO, Marcin Sochacki, "to make FINA’s list, swimsuits must comply with rigorous standards and rightfully so. We had to look outside of the box to create something truly unique and utilize the latest technology available to create these suits." Mr. Sochacki commented further, "For example our ROCKET HEAD swim cap uses materials that have never been used in swim cap production making one of fastest caps every designed with the drag coefficient of just 0.032 compared with standard silicone or other materials commonly used which have 10 times the amount of drag". The new suits will be available May 1, 2010.


ROCKET SCIENCE SPORTS’ SWIMSUITS APPROVED BY FINA FOR 2010 Including the New
FU RACER

rocket LIGHT: Classic Women
rocket LIGHT: Pants-short Men
rocket LIGHT K: Full-knee Women
rocket ORBIT: Pants-short
rocket ORBIT: Classic
FU RACER: Pants-short Men
rocket FLIGHT: Pants-short Men
rocket BRIEF: Classic Women
FU RACER: Full-knee Women
rocket FLIGHT: Classic Women

Rocket Science Sports shares responsibility to the swimming community. Its unique approach to designing gear is based on the application of engineering concepts and detailed scientific research. CEO, Marcin Sochacki, uses his education in aerospace science to develop products that are designed to maximize aero and hydro dynamics, durability, and efficiency. He states, “We are committed to improving the sport by creating products that help athletes achieve performance goals. We are continually seeking to exceed industry standards. ” Along with a commitment to quality, Rocket Science Sports has been very active in sponsoring numerous swimming events.

The Federation Internationale de Natation has a responsibility to the sport of swimming. It is charged with organizing and setting the rules and regulations for the most important aquatic competitions in the world. How does FINA meet this challenge? A committee of technical specialists critically analyzes and tests swimwear used in FINA and Olympic events. Specific design, material, construction, and consistency criteria must be met for approval.

NEW ROCKET CARBON Wetsuits

The Rocket CARBON is a brand new Wetsuit we are launching this Spring it will be available on April 15, 2010.

The wetsuit will replace the Rocket SL. This is a 1st wetsuit to use Carbon Fiber in its construction. We have created a pull panel that is only activated on the pull portion of the stroke reducign friction drag and increasing the amount of water the swimmers arm catches by 8%. I hope you guys are ready to brake the new swim time records at your next triathlon!

RACE WITH ATTITUDE!

Rocket Science Sports Opens it’s First Shanghai Flagship Store

In line with growing popularity of sports in Asia, Rocket Science Sports has opened the doors to its 1st flagship store and show room in the Chinese city of Shanghai.
With the fast growing following of multi sports in Asia, Rocket Science Sports wants to be a part of that development. Marcin Sochacki, CEO of Rocket Science Sports noted, "I'm very excited to be able to provide swimmers and multi-sport athletes our technologically advanced gear in a local retail setting." Customers will be able to peruse the various products and ask questions of the staff. “Getting to feel the materials and try on bags and suits makes for a more visceral, and I think, in the end, more durable bond between customer and product”, explained CEO Sochacki.
Shanghai is the largest city in China, and one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world, with over 20 million people and is located on China's central eastern coast. Historically known as the "The Paris of the East and the New York of the West", Shanghai captures a modern and unique nexus of old and new, East and West. For example, the fashion industry has been rapidly revitalized in the past decade and there is on average one fashion show per day in Shanghai today.
If the model proves itself viable Sochacki said that the company will follow up with a series of show-room stores in Europe and North America.
For the first half of the twentieth century Shanghai's status was as the cultural and economic center of East Asia. As a result, building on from that tradition, it is popularly seen as the birthplace of everything considered modern in China. “Starting out with this first store here in Shanghai made a lot of sense for us”, explained Sochacki. “We have manufacturing here and there is so much happening culturally that it worked out.”

Rocket Science Sports Sponsors 2010 USAT Race Director Symposium

Rocket Science Sports is delighted to be a sponsor for USA Triathlon’s 2010 Race Director Symposium and International Coaching Symposium. “Rocket Science Sports loves to participate in the type of events that show how strong the multisport community is and we are more than able to provide almost any type of custom made gear for other events.” noted Rocket Science Sports CEO Marcin Sochacki.

USA Triathlon is the sanctioning authority for more than 2,000 diverse events, ranging from grassroots to high-profile races nationwide and is holding both events in Colorado Springs, Colorado on Presidents' Day Weekend - February 12-14, 2010. The organization works to create interest and participation in a variety of programs, including camps, clinics, races and educational opportunities.

Linda Cleveland, the Coach Development Manager for USA TRIATHLON noted how useful the well designed Rocket Science Sports bags were. “The USAT Coaching Education Department is pleased that Rocket Science Sports have generously donated environmentally friendly bags for the Symposium. The bags are perfect for the coaches to carry around their materials during the symposium and then be able to take home and use again for training and racing. The bags fit into USAT’s Coaching Education effort to be more ‘green’.”

USA Triathlon's Race Director Symposium brings together race directors from around the country. This event provides an opportunity to network with other race directors, USAT partner vendors, the USAT staff, and the risk management team from ESIX. The event will be held in conjunction with our popular Art and Science International Coaching Symposium where coaches from all over the world come together for several days of presentations, meetings and clinics.

On the elite level, USA Triathlon is responsible for the selection and training of teams to represent the United States in international competition, including the world championships, Pan Am Games and Olympic Games. It conducts national camps and clinics and provides coaching education programs.

USA Triathlon's 125,000-strong membership is comprised of athletes of all ages, coaches, officials, parents and fans striving to strengthen multisport.

About Rocket Science Sports®
Rocket Science Sports® designs and sells a complete line of triathlon sporting wear and multi-sport accessories. The company's products are based upon detailed scientific research and the application of engineering concepts. Products are specifically designed to maximize aero and hydro dynamics, durability, efficiency, and of course, style. For product details, visit the Company's web site at: http://www.rocketsciencesports.com For sales information contact sales@rocketsciencesports.com

Rocket Science Sports®, is trademark of Rocket Science Sports. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Wetsuit Choices And Rocket Science

While travelling the country and visiting retailers from all regions it has come to my attention just how big an impact our redesigned '09/'10 wetsuits have been making on both the retailers and the consumer.

Where we have sold our wetsuits next to other top brands and had customers try on all, we go out the door 95% of the time over other brands for fit alone. The other 5% have admittedly been because of brand loyalty or wanting a wetsuit worn by the person's "hero" even though they thought our suit felt better.

The most important aspect to purchasing a new wetsuit is fit. If the wetsuit doesn't fit, not all the flashy graphics or rocket science will help. If you aren't comfortable, you won't be happy, and you may not even want to train in it. So what good would it do!

Our honest advise is to try on many different wetsuits and buy the one that you are most comfortable in. Only after proper fit can you look at the technology behind the suit. There are many small variations one can build into a wetsuit, but when it comes down to it the technology of triathlon wetsuits has been largely stagnant for some time.

Enter the new player, Rocket Science Sports. Marcin Sochacki who is the founder and primary designer gives us many distinct advantages.
1. Marcin grew up as a competitive swimmer
2. Marcin is a triathlete
3. Marcin has experience in road racing
4. Marcin has a degree in aerospace engineering
5. Marcin lives full time near the factories which assemble our products and has a direct relationship with those who run them.
6. Marcin doesn't sleep (okay, that may be a stretch, but it sometimes seems that way)

When we look at product design we first study what materials and components are currently used in the manufacturing process. Now if we were to choose from the same "shopping list" that other people are given by a factory, well then how would we be truly different? The fact is, we wouldn't, and that's precisely why we look outside of the industry for new high tech methods, materials and components to advance all aspects of performance and comfort. Then Marcin uses his background in aerospace engineering to test and qualify the variables in the materials to make sure that performance will not only be better, but tangible in the finished product.

If you haven't had the opportunity to see, touch and feel our products, I hope you do soon. I know you will be happy you did.

Cheers!

FINA Has More Work To Do

While the recent vote of the FINA Congress regarding the use of equipment in competition for swimmers marks the beginning of changes in the sport, there is still plenty of work to be done to allow for a balanced and fair future in the sport of all involved when it comes to this issue. This circumstance has been developing for decades as manufacturers have sought a marketing edge with athletes, coaches and federations eager to seek advantage over their rivals and overtake accomplishments of their predecessors. Another poorly worded set of rules with little understanding of how we reached this point and little thought to the future of the sport, will lead us right back to a similar situation…sooner than later. Definition of TextileAre we going back to an old “standard” or forward with an unbiased definition? If a definition of textile is broken down to the type and percentages of fabrics to be used, the weave structure, the construction of the suit, or a specific permeability factor, it should not in any way be based on any one manufacturer’s previous suit model. Nor should it be based on any design which a manufacturer has patents pending anywhere in the world. To choose either path would be the result of laziness or poor calculation. Neither of which should be considered acceptable by anyone in the sport at this point. The definition of textile needs to be a standard that all manufacturers will be allowed to access without fear of patent infringement or the need to pay royalties to another manufacturer to participate in the sport. Anyone with even the slightest understanding of markets will understand why athletes and coaches will suffer going forward if one manufacturer is allowed that kind of rule over the sport.Profile or cut of the suitWhile we as a company are ready to compete in the marketplace with any cut of suit that is allowed, no one within the sport should want to see changes in the future that are forced by those outside of the sport. It has been over two decades since the introduction of the “paper suit” that kicked this process off and caused manufacturers, coaches and athletes to push to expand the use of compression while in competition. That cat will not be put back in the bag regardless of fabrics or material used on the suit. Based on the hand wringing by some coaches and those in the media who have claimed that the new suits created a “new sport”, we are clearly going to have two sports in the water at every meet under the vote passed by the FINA congress. Event one will have compression in the core and upper legs which will have specific advantages for specific body types in specific events. Event two will have compression in the upper legs that will provide specific advantages for specific body types in specific events. That will be two different sports if those same coaches and media commentators are to be consistent. We live in highly litigious societies. How long until an athlete or their representative claims that it is unfair for male and female athletes in the same sport to be forced to use different equipment in competition? If they were to be successful in their claims, it would happen at a time leading to a championship season of some type, leaving the sport lurching to deal with “availability” at the last minute….again.Some additional rules are needed that pertain to this issue:National Federations or their employees cannot be allowed to participate in the development or marketing of products to be used in competition by athletes. No exceptions.Coaches and athletes (including those with “former” in their relationship to the sport) who are directly funded in anyway by a manufacturer of equipment used by athletes in competition, should not be involved in the decision making process for the legality of that equipment. No matter their stature in the sport. Athletes need to be able to recognize sponsorship relationships for entities other than suit manufacturers while in competition. (This can be done regardless of the cut or fabrics of suits used and should not be limited to caps) The notion that most athletes who choose to continue their careers in this sport in to adult hood are limited to what suit manufacturers or National Federations will give them borders on immoral. There are plenty of examples where international and national governing bodies of “individual sports” can generate sufficient income to grow their sport, while allowing individual athletes to pursue their own income potential while in competition. In fact it enhances the ability of all involved to grow their sport financially and in participation. Swimming would be no different. It’s time to change the logo rules within FINA and the National Federations that are preventing a free market for athletes to grow financially. Otherwise we will likely see splinter swim entities at a time when it would be detrimental to the sport as a whole.If only one suit is allowed (as it should be), then only one swim cap should be allowed. On the surface this is a minor detail, but consistency is the key to the success of any sporting rules. The use of multiple caps has an obvious benefit. With the suits being cut back and compression lost, any advantage will be sought by those looking for an edge. One suit, one cap. It’s not that difficult.One final note: Anyone claiming “purist” status on this issue must look well before the mid 1980’s for their ground to stand on. While the mounting broken records and leaps in improved times can obviously be noted in this era, the reality is that athletes and their coaches in the 1980’s sought and employed suit technology that was better than their predecessors whose records they were breaking during their run in the sport. Same for those who coached and competed in the 1990’s. And it was no different for those who competed from 2000 to the beginning of 2008. If asterisks are to be placed on records, they should show up with anything accomplished since the start of this entire process almost 25 years ago. The notion that "my tech suit is/was OK, but your tech suit is cheating" is childlike at best.

Posted by Kelvin Koch
www.RocketScienceSportsSwim.blogspot.com

The Much Anticipated Rocket And Elite Bags Back In Stock

It has been a long time coming, but I am happy to say that the much anticipated Rocket and Elite Bags are finally back in stock!

New for 2009 Rocket Bags:

We've made a couple small but important adjustments to this year's Rocket Bag which include larger zipper pullers for the inside of the bag as well as a new hard case for your glasses! MSRP $179.99

Rocket Bag

New for 2009 Elite Bags:

The new Elite bag (comes in black only) sports a lighter weight than previous models and new multi-function side pockets much like on the Rocket Bag. These pockets can be zipped closed to store small knick knacks or opened up to hold your standard size or Nalgene(R) size water bottles! MSRP $139.99

Our inventory is already mostly sold through from pre-orders so don't delay, get your's today!
http://www.rocketsciencesports.com/