Conquering the world’s toughest rowing challenge with the help of infrared technology
Later this year, four women from Devon will be taking part in the world’s toughest rowing challenge – the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.
Rowing 3,000 miles unaided in a 28 foot rowing boat across the Atlantic Ocean, the team is hoping to become the fastest all women crew to complete the challenge. To ensure they are prepared for the physical trials of this gruelling adventure, the team has been undergoing a strict training regime, with the help of infrared smart sportswear brand, KYMIRA Sport.
The four ladies, known as ‘Astro to Atlantic’, consist of Helen Symons, Louise Read, Chloe Harvey and Emily Read, all of whom are longstanding members of the Kingsbridge and Salcombe hockey club in Devon. Commenting on why they took the leap from hockey to rowing, team member Chloe said: “We wanted a challenge to take us completely out of our comfort zones and do something that would push us to the edge. We want to empower women and show that anything is possible – you just need the confidence to take the first step.”
Ensuring the team is physically prepared for the challenge, which will involve rowing two hours on and two hours off for 24 hours a day, for around 40 days, the team has been wearing the KYMIRA Sport infrared garments during training sessions. The performance sportswear has helped to regulate their temperature, increase circulation, improve performance and reduce recovery time – enabling the women to train for longer, faster and more regularly.
The team’s intense training sessions typically involve hours spent on either the rowing machines or squat racks, as well as open water rowing. As it’s vital that their training programme prepares them for the mammoth task ahead, it is often long and gruelling, however, by wearing KYMIRA Sport’s infrared garments, the ladies have felt an improvement in their performance. This is due to the minerals that are embedded within the fabric of the products, which capture the energy produced by the human body during exercise, converting it into infrared and re-emitting it back into muscles.
Chloe added: “We are all extremely impressed with the KYMIRA Sport garments, we are able to recover quicker from workouts, we feel less fatigued and are able to counteract injury niggles sooner. From playing hockey, we are able to transfer our fitness levels, what’s more we always work hard to maintain our base endurance fitness, which has also aided our long two hour rowing sessions.”
Astro to Atlantic is taking part in the Talisker Whiskey race in aid of the Devon Air Ambulance and will start the challenge at San Sebastian in the Canary Islands. From there, the team will row to Nelson’s Dockyard English Harbour in Antigua.
Chloe concludes: “We are aiming for a world record, but our safety at sea is also paramount to this challenge. If we were to finish the race in anything under 40 days, we would set a new British Record for a female four crossing, which we would be very proud of. We believe our team morale, determination and willpower will serve us well during our Atlantic crossing.”
Aston Lincoln from KYMIRA Sport commented: “We are delighted to be supporting Astro to Atlantic as they prepare to race in the Talisker Whiskey challenge and we are thrilled that our sportswear has helped them to train for one of the toughest rowing challenges in the world. At KYMIRA Sport, we are passionate about helping people achieve the extraordinary and reach their sport and fitness goals and we wish the ladies the best of luck as they embark on their challenge to break the world record.”
As well as gifting branded training gear, KYMIRA Sport will also be donating 5% of all proceeds from products sold through the team’s website to the Devon Air Ambulance, which can be found here: www.astro-to-atlantic.co.uk/meet-our-partners
For more information regarding KYMIRA Sport, please visit www.kymirasport.com
