Leading sports precision instrument maker signs on with top provider of overnight relay races
The Ragnar Relay Series today announced that sports precision instrument manufacturer Suunto will be the “Official Timing Sponsor” and “Official Training Watch” for the nationwide series.
Suunto will provide the official race time at both the start and finish of each Ragnar Relay Race. As part of the training sponsorship, Suunto will also provide a local team competing in each race with Suunto training watches to help them prepare and compete in the race.
“We are thrilled to have Suunto be an official sponsor of our series and give back to each race community by supporting a local team,” said Dan Hill, Co-Founder of Ragnar Relay Series. “Our goal at each race is to provide the best possible experience to the runners and having an innovative sponsor like Suunto on board will give them access to the latest and greatest in training and performance instruments.”
Known for dependability and accuracy, Suunto training watches provide users with a variety of physiological parameters including real-time heart rate, calories burned and training zones to help athletes of all levels monitor, analyze and improve performance.
“Suunto and the Ragnar Relay Series is a natural fit,” said Matt Kaplan, Vice President and Business Director of Suunto North America, “We both help runners push themselves to new limits and test their physical boundaries. We are excited to be part of such a great series of races.”
The Ragnar Relay Series is experiencing dramatic growth as team registrations numbers are sky-rocketing and selling out races months in advance. The Ragnar Relay Del Sol in Arizona experienced a 56 percent jump in participants from 2009 to 2010 and the series is projecting a 100 percent increase in registrations for all its events. Founded in 2004, Ragnar races have grown from 200 participants to more than 20,000 in 2009, with 40,000 projected for 2010.
The popularity of overnight relay races has grown exponentially as endurance enthusiasts have embraced the exciting “team” concept that is non-existent in other running events.
Each leg of a Ragnar Race varies in difficulty so elite and novice runners can run together in teams. Each team is responsible for providing two support vehicles, with six runners in each vehicle. The first vehicle drops off the first runner and drives ahead to the first exchange point. Teams repeat this pattern for six legs until they hand off to their second vehicle. This leapfrogging pattern continues day and night all the way to the much anticipated finish line.
About Ragnar Events, LLC
Ragnar Events, LLC was co-founded in 2004 by Dan Hill and Tanner Bell. The idea to run an overnight 24+-hour relay across the mountains of Utah was a lifelong dream of Dan Hill’s father. The dream became reality when Dan Hill and his childhood friend Tanner Bell organized the first Wasatch Back Relay, spanning 188 miles from Logan to Park City, UT in 2004. Since 2004 the Ragnar Relay Series has grown from a single relay in Utah to the largest overnight relay series in the nation. The Ragnar Relay Series now has 11 races scheduled for 2010 and is growing every year. Ragnar Events, LLC is based in Salt Lake City, UT and managed by co-founders Dan Hill and Tanner Bell. Visit www.ragnarrelay.com for race dates and exact locations.
About Suunto
Suunto is a leading designer and manufacturer of sports precision instruments for training, diving and outdoor sports. Prized for their design, accuracy and dependability, Suunto wristop computers combine the aesthetics and functionality of watches with sport-specific computers. Headquartered in Vantaa, Finland, Suunto employs more than 500 people worldwide and distributes its products to more than 100 countries. The company is a subsidiary of Helsinki-based Amer Sports Corporation with sister brands Wilson, Atomic, Precor, Salomon, Mavic and Arc’teryx. www.suunto.com
For more information, please contact:
Erin Lopez, Leader, tel. 714-742-8316
e-mail: elopez@leaderenterprises.com