Suunto Athlete Kim Havell Representing in New Winter Film

Suunto athlete and mountaineering ripper Kim Havell stars in Solitaire, a new backcountry ski, snowboard and telemark film. Solitaire tells the story of a team of earn-your-turns backcountry buffs who find themselves among (and sliding down) some of the most intense peaks in South America.

SOLITAIRE: A Backcountry Skiing, Snowboarding, and Telemark Film from Sweetgrass Productions on Vimeo.

Suunto Athlete Kim Havell Breaks Trail

Suunto athlete Kim Havell is part of a new backcountry ski film. "Breaking Trail" by Powderwhore Productions is screening all across the US this month and next. We're excited to see what Kim and company put together!

Check out the trailer.

Ask Reba Giveaway

Every month Suunto athlete Rebecca Rusch gives away some of her favorite products. Today is the last day to win a Suunto T6d from the Ask Reba contest on her website.

Rebecca says, "It's my training partner, my motivation, and my record keeper. This little red number tells me how my training is going, if I'm on track, if I'm over-reaching and keeps me honest." The Suunto T6d may be simple but it gives you a lot of information: distance, speed, and altitude. Not to mention a whole physiological analyses on Movescount.com

So Ask Reba A Question and win this awesome training partner who will help you analyze and improve your performance. Just one day to go!

Kilian Jornet Wins North Face Race

Last weekend, Suunto athlete, Kilian Jornet won the Ultra Trail du Mont-Blanc for the third time in his career. The UTMB is 170 km long with 9,700 meters of elevation gain in the mountains of the Mont-Blanc massif. It is considered to be one of the most difficult and prestigious races in the world of Trail Running.

"This year's UTMB has been very special, as it has probably been the UTMB race with the highest level. Just looking at the list of competitors was scary," said Kilian after coming in first with a time of 20:36.43 hours.

Kilian says, “The weather conditions were really tough. We set off with rain and snow in the highest areas, which made the first part of the race particularly tough. This context, however, brought about some remarkable moments, such as the sunrise in Col de la Seigne, the light, the moon still visible, the sun, the snow and some impressive colors. It was an incredible moment.”

For most of the race Kilian ran with a group of runners, some of his closest friends. But 25 km out from the finish line in Chamonix, he sprinted away from the group and kept his distance until the very end. The public shared a warm welcome to the Catalan racer. “The UTMB is a very special race. This year I felt the public’s support in all the areas, no matter whether French, Italian or Swiss. There were a lot of people supporting and cheering me on. It truly was a very special experience.” says Kilian.

For the next few days Kilian is going to rest up and get himself ready for the race on September 17th in South Africa, part of his 5 Races, 5 continents project.

Results: UTMB Mens

1. KILIAN JORNET. 20:36 h. (Team Salomon)

2. IKER CARRERA. 20:45 h. (Team Salomon)

3. SEBASTIEN CHAIGNEAU. 20:55 h. (Team North Face)

Results UTMB Women's

1. Elisabeth HAWKER. 25:02 h. (Team North Face)

2. Nerea MARTINEZ. 27:55:34 h. (Team Salomon)

3. Darcy AFRICA. 28:30:28 h. (Team Pearl Izumi)

California Waters + Kayak = Adventure

We can't get enough of the stories Suunto athlete Ross Herr brings back from his kayaking adventures. We especially love all of the pictures he and his fellow kayakers take along the way, and once again he's shared with us some pretty sweet shots!

Ross checked in with us from sunny California, where he's been paddling some fantastic water. This trip is part of his nationwide campaign to raise $50,000 for First Descents, an organization that puts on adventure programs for young adults who are fighting cancer. To reach his goal, Ross will spend six months kayaking a combined 50,000 vertical feet.

Below is a shot from Ross' trip down the Fantasy Falls on the Mokelumne River, which he deemed, "An epic adventure with all the essentials of a California Classic."

On his blog, Ross had this to say about Fantasy Falls: "We had a map of the area and my Suunto watch with altimeter to track how far we had made it ... One of the craziest parts about Fantasy is how much the river fluctuates throughout the day. We placed a stick in the beach first where the water was when we arrived, then again at the high point from the night. When we woke the level was over a foot lower."
Before Fantasy Falls Ross paddled Dinky Creek, which is "known for having some ultra clean drops, beautiful surroundings and as much challenge as you wanna bite off."

Check out Ross' blog for more about his team's California adventures, including the rescue of a fellow kayaker!
Looks like an awesome trip, Ross -- we can't wait to hear more!

Reba 3, Leadville 0

Saturday, August 13 was a gorgeous day in Leadville, CO. It was also the day that Suunto athlete Rebecca Rusch smashed her own record in the Leadville Trail 100 ... winning the famed mountain bike race for the third time in a row.


Reba rolled across the finish line with a time of 7:31:45, almost 16 minutes faster than the course record she herself set in 2010. Rusch spent the first half of the rugged Rocky Mountain race in fifth place, charging up the epic Columbine climb to take the lead.

"I'm a diesel, so it takes me a while to get going sometimes," says Rusch in this cyclingnews.com article.

And 'get going' she did, once again conquering a race that is no small feat: 103 miles long at an elevation of 10,152 feet.

We knew you could, Reba -- congrats on another record-breaking win!

Reba vs. Leadville Trail 100 ... Round 3

"I was blown away ... by the magnitude of the race and the spirit of cycling and endurance racing..."
--Rebecca Rusch

That's what Suunto athlete Rebecca Rusch had to say about the Leadville Trail 100 2010, not long after she pedaled it home for the win. And that was the second time. For the past two years, the "Queen of Pain" has won the infamous Leadville Trail 100. In 2010 she crossed the finish line as both a victor and the women's course record holder, with a time of 7:47:35...and on August 13, 2011 she'll be back to do it again.

At 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, Rebecca will join her fellow Leadville competitors on a starting line that sits at 10,152 feet. From there she will cover some of the toughest trails the Colorado Rockies have to offer, conquering country that is unforgiving as well as figuratively (and literally!) breathtaking.

It's Reba vs. the Leadville Trail 100 ... and it's going to be one incredible race.

In addition to the Leadville 100, August also means it's time for another great Ask Reba giveaway -- and you'd better start brainstorming, because this month's prize is definitely worth a good question.

This month Rebecca will be giving away a Suunto T6d (with Movescount), which she has deemed her "single most beloved piece of gear."

The T6d is an in-depth, easy-to-use training tool that will help you push your workouts and races to the next level. To enter the giveway, just visit Rebecca Rusch's website and ask away ... may the best question win!

The 'Queen of Pain' Claims National Title

The "Queen of Pain" has done it again.

On July 16, for the first time ever, Suunto athlete Rebecca Rusch competed in the single speed division of the 2011 USA Cycling Mountain Bike Cross-Country National Championships ... and won. She won it by a long shot, too, pedaling past the finish line with a time of 1:31:43 -- more than nine minutes ahead of the next competitor.

The Ketchum, Idaho native was thrilled to race on her home turf, and was ready as ever to tackle a new challenge. In this pre-race video, Rusch discusses the choice to race single speed and the 22.25km course that involves "...a lot of climbing -- it's either up or down."

Well, the Queen has definitely earned some big ups -- way to go, Reba!

For a breakdown of Rusch's race activity, check out her Movescount profile ... 100 percent motivation guarantee.

Update From The Caveman

Suunto athlete Conrad Stoltz, aka "the Caveman" just keeps winning.

He recently traveled back to his homeland of South Africa where he competed in the Western Province Cross Country Championships in Paul Cluver. This was a spontaneous race for Conrad, but he was game for the muddy, XC bike race-- the Western Province MTB Championships--leg #3.Look at the mud! He got his bike caked in muck but claims he "embraced the brown stuff and learned a lot about slipping, sliding and picking lines."

Congrats Caveman! See how he has perfected the "Caveman's Special Tree Grab and Pull Technique."

To read the rest of his blog post click here.

Julian Carr finds POW in Japan

Recent addition to the Suunto athlete team, Julian Carr, is busy traveling the globe this winter looking for the next big storm and epic lines. Looks like he found just a little bit of powdery, fluffy goodness in Japan.

Here is the latest episode of Discrete TV:
http://www.vimeo.com/20467087

Packin' my bags now...

Suunto Welcomes Julian Carr to the Team!

We're proud to announce the addition of Julian Carr to our Suunto pro athlete team. Julian's original skiing style, jaw-dropping cliff jumps and success as a burgeoning ski industry entrepreneur have earned him a permanent place in the ranks of the sport's most progressive riders. His feature film appearances and awe-inspiring cover shots showcase how far freeskiing has come while giving us a glimpse into the future of the sport.

Known as "The Flying Yeti," Carr is an active member on Suunto’s online sports community, Movescount.com, where he uploads workouts, tracks fitness progress and connects globally with other online members. Carr will use Suunto training wristops to gear up for the grueling ski season and maintain his fitness level during the winter schedule. He’ll use Suunto altimeter, barometer, compass watches to log his vertical feet hiked and skied, and to monitor weather trends for backcountry safety.

“Suunto is a huge part of how I work and play,” says Carr. “It’s great to secure a partnership with the best watch company out there. To be able to track and maintain my fitness with a training watch and also use an outdoor watch equipped with ABC technology to keep me safe in the backcountry is vital.”

“It’s huge to have Julian on the Suunto athlete team,” says Chris McKearin, Suunto Consumer Marketer and Events Coordinator. “He was an avid Suunto user long before we signed him, which means he truly understands our products and the brand and can help spread the love in the ski community.”

Photo courtesy juliancarr.net

Follow These Athletes On Movescount.com

Do you love keeping up with your favorite athlete? Then Movescount.com powered by Suunto is the thing. With Movescount.com you can follow some of the most interesting, accomplished athletes and see how they train. Movescount.com allows you to get tips and become part of growing online sports community. Want to know what makes two-time Leadville champ Rebecca Rusch tick? Or what the workouts are like for XTERRA Champion Conrad Stoltz? We have a list of some top athletes who are on Movescount.com and sharing their moves.

Rebecca Rusch: www.movescount.com/members/RebaRusch

Conrad Stoltz: www.movescount.com/members/Conrad_Stoltz

Kilian Jornet: www.movescount.com/members/kilianjornet

Daron Rahlves: www.movescount.com/members/Drahlves

Julian Carr: www.movescount.com/members/juliancarr

Kim Havell: www.movescount.com/members/kimhavell

So who are you going to start moving with?

Conrad Stoltz Wins his Fourth XTERRA World Championship!

Suunto athlete Conrad Stoltz has done it again! He is once again the XTERRA World Champion! This is his fourth time winning the XTERRA World Championship and is also the first person to win the title four times over. This is an amazing accomplishment and we are so happy for Conrad for achieving such an amazing feat. Here is a report of the race from xterraplanet.com.

MAKENA, Maui – Conrad Stoltz of South Africa made history and Shonny Vanlandingham of Colorado started history at the 15th Annual XTERRA World Championship off-road triathlon at the Makena Beach & Golf Resort today.

Stoltz, who turned 37 on Oct. 23, dominated the international field of 550 triathletes. He completed the course in 2 hours, 31 minutes, 7 seconds, which was more than five minutes ahead of his closest competition. It was his record fourth victory in the event, which is considered the world championship of off-road triathlons.

Vanlandingham, 41, won her first women’s XTERRA World Championship, completing the course in 2:58:20.

Stoltz and Vanlandingham each received $20,000.

The course consisted of a 1-mile swim off Makena Beach, a 20-mile mountain bike up and down the lower slopes of Haleakala, and a 7-mile trail and beach run.

“I don’t think I could have done a better race today, it was really, really magical,” said Stoltz, whose previous wins came in 2001, 2002 and 2007. “I will treasure this memory forever.”

Franky Batelier of France placed second with a total time of 2:36:14. Michael Weiss of Austria was third, followed by Olivier Marceau of France in fourth, and Nico Lebrun of France in fifth.

Spain’s Eneko Llanos, who won the race last year and was also seeking a fourth XTERRA world title, placed sixth. However, Llanos did win the coveted Hawaiian Airlines Double Award as the best overall performer from the XTERRA World Championship and the Ford Ironman World Championship, which were held two weeks apart.

Congratulations Conrad, you rock!

For more on the XTERRA race series click here

For more on Conrad Stoltz, visit his website here.

Daron Rahlves and Julian Carr are on Movescount!

Fall is upon us, and you know what that means! Ski season is just around the corner. Movescount.com, powered by Suunto, is right there with all the action. You may already use Movescount to log your workouts, find new routes, get training programs or connect with sporty folks, but it's also a great tool to help you get ready for all the La Nina powder. Take it from your favorite Atomic athletes, Daron Rahlves and Julian Carr. Daron and Julian are training with their Suunto watches and recording their moves on Movescount.com to be sure they're ready when the snow flies. And it's fun to see what their workouts look like. Follow their moves on Movescount.com and learn the secrets of the pros!

To follow Daaron Rahlves on Movescount.com click here.

To Follow Julian Carr on Movescount.com click here.

For more information on Movescount.com or to join click here.

For more on Suunto products click here.

Full Throttle Athletes Qualify for ITU World Championships

Two athletes from the Suunto-sponsored Full Throttle Endurance Racing Team have qualified for the 2011 ITU World Triathlon Championships in Beijing, China on September 7-11, 2011. From the Full Throttle Endurance Racing press release:

Doug Clark and Luke Tuddenham
will be representing the
Full Throttle Nation at the 2011 World Championships in Beijing

Both had great races this weekend in Tuscaloosa Alabama. Doug Clark won the Overall Masters National Championship, was second Overall in the entire race and had the fastest bike split of the day. Luke Tuddenham finished top 20 in his age group, which qualifies both of them to represent Team USA and the Full Throttle Nation at the World Championships in Beijing.

Congratulations to both Doug and Luke for this awesome achievement!

For more on Full Throttle Endurance Racing visit their website here.

For more on Suunto endurance performance watches and training products click here.

Photo courtesy of Action Sports International

Conrad Stoltz Wins XTERRA USA Championship

Suunto's Conrad Stoltz has done it again. He tore it up this past weekend at the XTERRA USA Championships winning the race by finishing a full five minutes ahead of the second place finisher, Nicolas Lebrun. Stoltz finished the 1-mile swim, 19-mile mountain bike ride, and 6.5 mile trail run in 2:24:03. Stoltz has won the six-stop XTERRA U.S. Pro Series for the eighth time since 2001.

“I’m really, really surprised with my performance today,” said Stoltz. “I’ve said before that this is the anti-Conrad course because there are 3,000-feet of climbing and not a whole lot of descending, and because I’m 180 pounds it is especially challenging for me, but my legs felt amazing and the Specialized 29’er I was riding was incredible, it just rolled over all the roots and rocks.”

Stoltz’ five-minute margin of victory was by far the most dominating performance in the history of the XTERRA USA Championship race, and his prowess on the mountain bike turned it into a race for second place early on.

It all started with Stoltz one minute behind the swim leaders; amateur Patrick Valentine, and pros Seth Wealing, Branden Rakita, and Dan Hugo. Stoltz not only got that minute back, but put another minute on the field by mile four after the first big climb up Wheeler Canyon. By mile eight he led by three minutes and was absolutely flying when he passed a collection of journalists tracking the race.

When the bike course reached Snowbasin Resort at roughly mile 13 his lead was more than four minutes, and he went into the bike-to-run transition five minutes, 20 seconds up.

“I was really worried about the two mountain men, Josiah Middaugh and Nico Lebrun, because they are such great climbers and had no idea I had such a big lead until I got on the run. When I heard about the gap I was really able to enjoy this run, and savor the beauty of the course,” said Stoltz, who even had the chance to stop and kiss his girlfriend a half-mile before the finish line.

Conrad is the overall point leader in the U.S. for XTERRA this year. For more information on Conrad visit his website here. For more on XTERRA visit their website here.