Dryarn and Slam get behind Beijing athletes
Slam technology and Dryarn previewed Area 51, a jersey for the sailing sector, at Turin World Capital Design, held May 7-14.
The microfibre used, said to be the lightest in the world, will be used by athletes at the Beijing Olympics. Sailing teams will take to the Qingdao waters from August 9-21.
Slam, which has been official supplier for the Italian sailing federation for a number of years, has spent time researching the product in order to give athletes maximum support, particularly in the high temperatures they will face of between 25° and 38.
Sailors tested Area 51 by exercising on an ergometer inside a climatic chamber to measure metabolism, heart rate and power while pedalling against regularly increased resistance. Eight electrodes were applied during each test to measure skin temperature in various areas (hand, forehead, shoulder, chest, thigh, deltoid muscle, calf, elbow), using a chest band to measure heart rate. The test was carried out in four stages: initial repose (five minutes), aerobic and anaerobic physical activity (20 to 30 minutes), cool down (five minutes) and rest (20-30 minutes). At the end of the slowdown stage, a device was applied to measure the amount of vapour passing through the jersey in three areas (back, shoulder and deltoid).
Researchers then compared the sensation of comfort perceived by the athlete with some of the physiological parameters such as the average skin temperature, loss of water by transpiration, degree of hydration, pH, and the grade of irritation.
All the athletes taking part in the test said they felt dry 30 minutes after ending the test when wearing the Bejing jersey, while the sensation of humidity went from 'sticky' to 'wet' when wearing an alternative cotton jersey even 30 minutes after finishing the test.
