Cyclors Gotrel and Skulczuk discuss the impact of ISOBAR’S Custom Compression on recovery and performance
MONDAY 9 SEPTEMBER, MANCHESTER: As the 37th America’s Cup draws closer to its climax this week in Barcelona, the British custom compression sportswear brand ISOBAR has been collaborating with INEOS Britannia to optimize the team's recovery as they continue their quest to become the first British team to win the competition since its inception in 1851.
After months of intense training, the team will this week look to secure their spot in the semi-finals of the competition, With the physically demanding race schedule, maximising recovery is vital, and ISOBAR has played an essential role in ensuring the cyclors return to peak performance.
“I think ISOBAR has fitted in well with our recovery strategies and it's certainly been a big factor in the performances we've seen.
In our winter, where we are doing 30 hours a week on the road, we are working day in, day out, 5 or 6 days a week. It's a really intense time and I think the recovery sportswear has certainly aided the willingness and the feel to train.
The important part in terms of what ISOBAR offer and the biggest difference their sportswear makes for our athletes, is the custom quality. I think it's what has given us the biggest advantage to our recovery.
ISOBAR spoke exclusively to Cyclors Matt Gotrel (Olympic Gold Medallist rower) and James Skulczuk in Barcelona to hear first-hand the benefit of custom compression on enhancing an athletes’ performance.
“You spend about 30 seconds standing still while your legs get scanned. And then a day or two later, there's a parcel arrived, and you've got your socks made custom to you.
The custom element ISOBAR offers us is great. They're comfortable and easy to put on. You can put your feet up on the sofa watching some films in the evening and you hardly know you're wearing them!
But the biggest thing I find with wearing the ISOBAR socks is the ability it has to help getting rid of the heavy, heavy legs. You finish training and you need to get rid of the heavy legs the next day, with ISOBAR we are more likely to get on the on the bike the next day fully recovered and able to train again.”
Matt Gotrel believes the processes involved in recovery is a vital element of performance:
“Recovery and performance is a huge part of our sport and being able to have processes in place that we know how to follow, in order to keep it really simple and make sure we are doing the basics really well, is vital and so the work with ISOBAR has been a huge part of that.
“After the protein shakes, ice baths and things like that, the last piece of the puzzle for us is when we get home, to make sure that we can recover as best as possible, and the ISOBAR sportswear allows us to do that really well.”
“It has been both an honour and an exciting journey to collaborate with the INEOS Britannia team, contributing to the physical performance and recovery of their elite athletes through ISOBAR. Compression therapy has long been recognised for its role in boosting athletic performance and recovery. Seeing the INEOS Britannia team acknowledge and adopt our innovative ISOBAR custom compression technology has been incredibly gratifying. We wish them the very best in their pursuit to bring the cup home.”
The double Round Robin stage of the Louis Vuitton Cup (Challenger Selection Series) will take place until 8 September when all teams would have raced each other twice. The team with the least points from the stage will be eliminated, with the four remaining teams progressing to the Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Final. Two teams will then battle it out in the Louis Vuitton Cup Final with the winner securing a place in the 37th America’s Cup Match.
