Follow the bear
220 Triathlon|October 2022
You might have spotted swimmers proudly wearing a polar bear on their chests... But what does it mean? With 40 years in the industry, we meet the man behind that iconic logo and the Snugg wetsuit brand...
Helen Webster
Follow the bear

Enter the world of triathlon and pretty soon you’ll hear whispers of a wizard at work. A man who can craft your triathlon wetsuit to suit just you. Measurements will be taken, buoyancy discussed, thermal comfort noted. “I’m on the waiting list,” these whisperers say. “I’m going to see Malcolm.” Within time, you’ll start to notice the signature of the wizard – athletes branded with a white polar bear across their chest, wearing a wetsuit you may not recognise from the advertising of the big brands.

Actually – scratch the fluffy creative editorial intro here. Nobody whispers about Snugg wetsuits, they shout about them. The brand has been going so many years it’s ingrained in triathlon history. As for the wizard himself? This is Malcolm Ball and he’s stood in front of me in board shorts and a T-shirt, brandishing a huge set of neoprene shears and a tape measure and looking more like an ageing surfer dude than a wizard.

SURF ORIGINS

We’ve been trying to get some time to interview Snugg for these pages for a couple of years now, but the team are so busy keeping up with demand for their made-to-measure swim and surf wetsuits that they simply haven’t had time to fit us in. As the only company we’re aware of providing this service and with open-water swimming seeing such a boom, that’s not suprising. So what’s the story behind this man and his unique business?

Bu hikaye 220 Triathlon dergisinin October 2022 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

Bu hikaye 220 Triathlon dergisinin October 2022 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

220 TRIATHLON DERGISINDEN DAHA FAZLA HIKAYETümünü görüntüle
THE MULTISPORT MAVERICK
220 Triathlon

THE MULTISPORT MAVERICK

Bike powerhouse Andrew Starykowicz has done things his own way for the length of his 15-year pro career. Now, on the eve of his retirement, he looks back on the lessons learned along the way

time-read
6 dak  |
June 2024
HOW CONTRAST CAN LEAD TO PERFORMANCE GAINS
220 Triathlon

HOW CONTRAST CAN LEAD TO PERFORMANCE GAINS

While volume and consistency are the cornerstones of endurance fitness, contrast and variability can play a key part of your training. Here, Ben explains how

time-read
2 dak  |
June 2024
SWIM STRAIGHT MASTERCLASS
220 Triathlon

SWIM STRAIGHT MASTERCLASS

WITH THE LAUNCH OF AN INNOVATIVE NEW 'SWIMSTRAIGHT' FUNCTION ON FORM'S SMART SWIM 2 GOGGLES, WE TAKE A DEEP DIVE INTO WHY BEING ABLE TO SWIM IN A STRAIGHT LINE IS SO IMPORTANT TO OPEN-WATER SWIMMERS..

time-read
5 dak  |
June 2024
GROUP TEST OPEN-WATER GOGGLES
220 Triathlon

GROUP TEST OPEN-WATER GOGGLES

Finding the right pair of goggles can make or break your open-water swim. Luckily, we have a whopping 14 pairs on test this issue! It can be tempting to skimp on your open-water goggles and just use the same ones you've had in your kit bag all winter for pool swimming.

time-read
10 dak  |
June 2024
BUYER'S GUIDE BUDGET TRI-SUITS
220 Triathlon

BUYER'S GUIDE BUDGET TRI-SUITS

You don’t have to break the bank to break your PB. Here are seven suits that claim three-discipline comfort and speed. Do they live up to their promises?

time-read
7 dak  |
June 2024
MID-RANGE WETSUITS
220 Triathlon

MID-RANGE WETSUITS

We included entry-level wetsuits in last month’s mag, but what do you get if'you move up a tier..? We tried 10 suits in the mid-range to find out.

time-read
6 dak  |
June 2024
THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO TRIATHLON TRANSITIONS
220 Triathlon

THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO TRIATHLON TRANSITIONS

You've started open-water swimming, spent hours on the bike and acclimatised to running on jelly legs. But what about transitions? The devil's in the detail here and those details could save you minutes on race day. So, here’s how to nail them...

time-read
8 dak  |
June 2024
THE TRAILBLAZER YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF
220 Triathlon

THE TRAILBLAZER YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF

It’s 100 years since Alfonsina Strada became the first and only woman to complete the men’s Giro d'Italia. Thanks to new women’s triathlon and cycling apparel brand Alfonsina, we reflect on the exploits of this incredible pioneer...

time-read
4 dak  |
June 2024
30 WAYS TO SMASH YOUR FIRST IRON
220 Triathlon

30 WAYS TO SMASH YOUR FIRST IRON

Nervously edging closer to your first full-distance triathlon? These tips will help send you to the finish line safe and sound...

time-read
9 dak  |
June 2024
"WE HAVE A UNIQUE SIBLING BOND THAT MAKES RACING SPECIAL"
220 Triathlon

"WE HAVE A UNIQUE SIBLING BOND THAT MAKES RACING SPECIAL"

Tia Watson is just 17 but she’s a recordbreaker already with a little help from her incredible brother, Rio...

time-read
2 dak  |
June 2024