Icebreaker - Pure Merino

Icebreaker sponsored athlete William Acosta is originally from Cuba and was one of the first people to kiteboard in Canada. He then took advantage of Canada’s cold snowy winters by snowkiting. This crazy Cuban has just been crowned World Champion in snowkiting at the WISSA championships at 46 years of age – huge congrats. We’re pleased to have been able to keep a warm blooded and soft hearted Cuban warm at all times in the cold conditions…

“I recently just won the title of World Champion in snowkite category snowboard at The Wissa Ice and Snow Sailing World Championships 2012 held in St-Ignace, Michigan, USA. The Wissa is the oldest best known event of its kind attracting snow riders from all hibernal country like Canada, USA, Finland, Switzerland, Russia, Estonia, Germany and others… Did I mention I am CUBAN and that I need to stay warm in all time?

When I race in snowkite I need to make sure I will not sweat and freeze with my own sweat, I need to be 100% concentrated on the technicality and on where is coming and going the wind. Snowkite racing is really demanding physically, every inches of my body is working, it needs toughness and because of all the above, when I race, I need to be comfy in my layers and wearing Icebreaker merino.”

William Acosta Pro Rider Starkites

Last week, Kiwi athlete, Melissa Moon, took out the women’s title in the annual Empire State Building Run-up – for the second time in her career! Here’s Melissa’s step-by-step account of her race to the top:

“Before the race, the Empire State Building foyer was abuzz with people. But I was feeling a sense of calm, reminding myself of the Personal Best time I’d done in my training run up New Zealand’s Majestic Tower, and focusing on my key words – Kia Toa, Kia Kaha, Kia Manawanui – be brave, be strong, be persevering!

At 7.45pm, the elite women’s field assembled on the starting line. We were given our instructions, ‘Take your marks’… and the horn blew!

I was second through the stairwell door, behind five-time winner Cindy Harris. I already knew she was a fast starter, too fast for me. My biggest concern for those first 5-10 floors was pace judgement. I was in my zone – aware of those behind me, but concentrating solely on technique and pace. At about floor 16, a group of four of us passed Cindy.

I knew the next part (floors 20 – 68) would be gruelling. I prepared my mind for the challenge, put my head down, kept pushing the pace. At floor 40, there were three of us – myself; three-time winner, Suzy Walsham; and World Ironwoman Champion, Chrissie Wellington. Then, at about floor 50, Chrissie dropped behind.

At around floor 68, I grabbed a cup of water, splashed it on my face, repeated my three key words and just went for it… Eighteen floors later, I crossed the finish line, clocking 12 minutes, 39 seconds – 30 seconds faster than my 2010 time and nearly 30 seconds ahead of Suzy. It was exhilarating – finishing on top of the world’s most iconic building, at night, surrounded by snowflakes. I was a very proud Kiwi!

- Melissa Moon, Icebreaker Sponsored Athlete

Melissa shared her tips with us on how to prepare before the event – they obviously paid off!