SkirtSports – All the sass and femininity

Too often, whether in life or in business, we are guilty of trying to find the next big idea; “a solution that is so elegant, so profound that it stuns by virtue of its brilliance.” But sometimes, just sometimes, big results come from the simplest or smallest ideas. Such was the case with Nicole DeBoom, who went on to found SkirtSports, a fitness-skirt specialty company, simply because she did not recognize her feminine self in the reflection of a store window she ran by while training.

What is in a name?

If Nicole’s last name is recognizable, chances are you are familiar with the athletic exploits of her husband, endurance athlete and two-time Ironman World Champion, Tim DeBoom. But regardless of her identifiable last name, Nicole is just as exceptional an athlete as her husband, and as dynamic and vivacious a person as I have ever met.

“Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, Nicole became an accomplished runner and swimmer by high school, qualifying for the 1988 Olympic Swimming Trials in the 100m breaststroke when she was 16. From high school she went on to earn a degree in sociology at Yale University, where she swam varsity for the Yale swim team.

Nicole's triathlon career began in 1999 with a remarkable and quick climb to the upper echelon of elite racers, as she made her pro triathlon debut in 1999. The next year Nicole took her game to the next level as she competed in her first Ironman distance event, finishing third in the California Ironman and 12th at the Hawaii Ironman World Championship.

In 2002 she began focusing mainly on short distance triathlon racing, with great success, including first-place wins in major events in Boulder, Chicago, and Memphis. In 2004 she made a return to Ironman racing and won Ironman Wisconsin."

“Convert to Skirt”

The inception of SkirtSport may sound like some contrived story; a pleasant anecdote that Nicole shares to connect with her customers or would be merchandisers, but it is not.  While training one day Nicole glanced at her reflection in a store window and realized something was missing. Her apparel had no sass or femininity. Although her athletic prowess had allowed her to compete with the boys throughout her career, she did not necessarily care to look like one.

"In 2005, she founded the fitness-skirt specialty company, which featured pink-based fitness skirts, designed by a female athlete, for female athletes. The line launched under “TRIKS” and was designed for use in marathons, triathlons, during gym workouts, or post workout. Since the company launch, SkirtSports has made national and international headlines, growing from an online catalog to selling in specialty retail shops both nationally and within Canada under the SkirtSports name.”

And for all her insight and hard work, Nicole was chosen as a winner of the second annual, Sporting Goods Business (SGB) 40-Under-40 Award, from a pool of over 500 industry nominees earlier this year. She was one of only three women chosen in the top 40 nominated for this year’s award.

New for 2010

At Interbike, Nicole took the time to take me through the paces of their current line and the upcoming Spring/Summer 2010 collection.

Although some of the 2010 designs were not readily available at the time of the show, the new collection combines the same technical fabrics with stylish designs for which  SkirtSports has become known.  The 2010 line includes the addition of the Tri Tank and Tri Bottoms to the Tri Collection and the new Breezer BikeGirl and FreeRide ShortSleeve Jersey to the Cycling Collection.

“The Spring/Summer line incorporates lightweight fabrics and bright colors perfect for warmer weather and sunshine. Most importantly, these pieces perform whether you’re training for your tenth triathlon or out on a picnic with your family,” said Nicole.

Two staples of the Tri Collection, the Tri Tank and Tri Bottoms, have been revamped for 2010. The Tri Bottoms are now available in a longer, 8-inch inseam as well as the standard 5-inch inseam, and feature the 4-way stretch mini Chamois and silicone grippers at the waistband and leg openings. With a new sash of color across the front, the Tri Tank contains a built-in bra with the convenient cleavage alley pocket and UV protection.

The newest additions to the Cycle Collection are the Breezer BikeGirl and FreeRide ShortSleeve Jersey. Featuring a looser skirt over compression shorts, the new Breezer BikeGirl (2009 Cruiser BikeGirl shown above) is perfect for the bike commuter or gym spin class. The shorts contain mini Chamois and an all-mesh skirt with a small slit that allows for movement. The new FreeRide ShortSleeve Jersey (2009 FreeRide Sleeveless Jersey shown above) presents a longer sleeve length, reflective half zipper and long torso.

These certainly are exciting times for the Ironman Champion and entrepreneur. Four years into actualizing her feminine intuition, Nicole has revolutionized the athletic apparel industry.  "SkirtSports continues to expand through a variety of avenues as they continue to push their “Convert to Skirt” campaign, where more and more women discover the power that comes from the Skirt!"

Photos: Courtesy of SkirtSports (first and second): Leonard Basobas (third - fifth)

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