 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sports Apparel |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Headquarters | Auckland, New Zealand |
Key people | Scott Unsworth, Founder, CEO |
| Products | Wetsuits, Triathlon apparel, Cycling gear, General sports apparel |
Number of employees | 25 staff |
| Website | orca.com |
Orca is a New Zealand company that makes wetsuits and sports apparel, primarily for triathletes.
The company was founded in Auckland in 1995 by Scott Unsworth, [1] a former New Zealand age group triathlon champion. He decided to start manufacturing wetsuits after discovering that traditional wetsuits were not suitable for swimming. In Auckland Unsworth founded a company called Performance Speedsuits Ltd., [2] that manufactured swimming-friendly speed suits, and these speed suits gained much popularity. It was eventually renamed "Orca".
In 2008 the company agreed a global distribution deal with Spanish cycling giant Orbea. [3]
Orca specialises in high range wetsuits, with most wetsuits starting at around $250 up to $700 [4] with many of its products available worldwide. The company is recognised as a leader in introducing new technologies into triathlon. The Orca Apex 2 wetsuit uses AirLite - a world first neoprene technology. There are tiny air pockets trapped in the neoprene to provide increased buoyancy. The Orca 3.8 was the first wetsuit to feature an AirRelease panel. This is the world's first breathable neoprene, allowing heat and moisture to be transferred away from the wearer, while remaining water resistant. The all-purpose Sonar remains Orca's best selling triathlon wetsuit. [5]
Orca sponsors a number of leading triathletes, including 2x 70.3 World Champion Sebastian Kienle, recently retired Olympic champion Hamish Carter, ITU athletes including Kris Gemmell, Courtney Atkinson, Tim Don and Debbie Tanner, and Ironman competitors including Craig Alexander and Cameron Brown. Orca also sponsors a number of national bodies including Triathlon New Zealand, Bike NZ, and the British Triathlon Federation.
In 2004 Orca was the official apparel supplier to the New Zealand Olympic team.
A triathlon is an endurance multisport race consisting of swimming, cycling, and running over various distances. Triathletes compete for fastest overall completion time, racing each segment sequentially with the time transitioning between the disciplines included. The word is of Greek origin, from τρεῖς or treis (three) and ἆθλος or athlos (competition).
A wetsuit is a garment worn to provide thermal protection while wet. It is usually made of foamed neoprene, and is worn by surfers, divers, windsurfers, canoeists, and others engaged in water sports and other activities in or on water. Its purpose is to provide thermal insulation and protection from abrasion, ultraviolet exposure, and stings from marine organisms. It also contributes extra buoyancy. The insulation properties of neoprene foam depend mainly on bubbles of gas enclosed within the material, which reduce its ability to conduct heat. The bubbles also give the wetsuit a low density, providing buoyancy in water.
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