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The Swift Revolution Continues
BEAVERTON, Ore., Dec. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In long track
speedskating, ice friction isnt the major factor. Air is.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20051208/SFTH111-a
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20051208/SFTH111-b
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990818/NIKELOGO )
Nike continues to evolve its successful Project Swift -- a project that is
lead by Nikes 35-member worldwide Advanced Innovation Team. It started prior
to Sydney 2000 and helped put many athletes on the medal podium in Salt Lake
City in 2002, Athens 2004 and the Tour de France with innovative designs in
high-performance athletic apparel.
For the fiercely competitive sport of long track speedskating, Nikes
Advanced Innovation Team has combined even better aerodynamics with an
increased focus on thermoregulation, fit and freedom of movement to help
further improve the performance of Team USAs long track speedskaters in 2006
at the XX Olympic Winter Games.
Nike is a proud sponsor of the U.S. Olympic Team and USA Speedskating.
Aerodynamics
While about 25 percent of a skaters energy is spent fighting the friction
of the ice, 75 percent of his or her energy is spent overcoming air
resistance. The new Nike Swift Long Track Skin draws on the teams further
study of zoned aerodynamics to advance the Nike Swift Skin concept for long
track skating, offering even more efficient airflow and drag reduction.
Nike has spent more than 900 hours in the wind tunnel developing Project
Swift, and for the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, research showed that Nikes
Swift Skin helped improve athletes skating speed by more than one percent --
a huge advantage of just over one second in a 1500-meter race. Recent wind
tunnel testing has shown that the new Nike Long Track Swift Skin for 2006 is
even faster.
The wind tunnel testing has shown that though smooth surfaces can reduce
friction drag and are appropriate for use on larger horizontal areas like the
torso, on cylindrical body parts like arms and legs, they may not reduce
pressure drag, thus creating a large wake behind the athlete. Counter-
intuitively, a textured surface (much like a golf ball) can reduce pressure
drag by reducing this wake. Applying the right texture to the right body part
is the key to Nikes patented Zoned Aerodynamics technology. Based on testing
some 64 materials in the wind tunnel, Nike has completely re-fabricated this
Nike Swift Skin for 06, offering even lower drag.
Whereas past efforts have utilized unbreathable rubber coated materials
for the smooth sections, this evolution of Nike Swift Skin has come 180
degrees, using a newly-developed high-stretch/high-recovery/high breathability
fabric. Improved textures using Nike Sphere technology are incorporated in the
critical forearm and lower leg areas to complete the Zoned Aerodynamics
overhaul (a total of four different fabrics are used in the Nike Swift Skin).
Improved Fit and Comfort
Additionally, the Nike Swift Skin has eliminated seams wherever possible,
to improve aerodynamics, fit and comfort. Overall, if a seam is needed it will
first be placed out of the airflow or in an already turbulent body zone. In
speedskating this would be behind the arm, and the back of the legs. Where
seams in the airflow are necessary, they are aligned with the direction of the
airflow to reduce interruption.
The Nike Swift Skin is also built in the body position of the skating
athlete, using articulation at the waist and joints. Articulation reduces
fabric creasing, increases freedom of movement, and eliminates excess
material. The Nike Swift Skin also features Nikes patent-pending No-Sew hood
facing and ankle cuffs, and a low-friction panel at the inner thigh for
efficiency in the skating motion.
The Nike Swift Skins body-hugging fit and aerodynamic superiority will be
found on national teams from The Netherlands, China, United States Belgium,
South Korea and The Ukraine in the coming 2005-06 season, and will each
feature strong country color designs and iconography.
Nikes 35-member worldwide Advanced Innovation Team has conducted
extensive research to produce superior apparel performance and design, helping
world-class athletes achieve 57 Olympic medals (17 in Athens alone), 15 world
records, nine Tour de France stage victories and overall increased athlete
performance in a variety of sport disciplines since the programs inception in
2000.
About Nike, Inc.
NIKE, Inc. based in Beaverton, Oregon is the worlds leading designer,
marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment
and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Wholly
owned Nike subsidiaries include Converse Inc., which designs, markets and
distributes athletic footwear, apparel and accessories; Bauer NIKE Hockey
Inc., a leading designer and distributor of hockey equipment; Cole Haan (R),
which designs, markets, and distributes fine dress and casual shoes and
accessories; Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes
action sports and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories and Exeter
Brands Group LLC, which designs and markets athletic footwear and apparel for
the value retail channel.
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