Carlsbad, Calif. (December 22, 2009) – The only thing longer than Lindsay Knowlton and Josh Sullivan’s multi-continent journey home is the list of once-in-a-lifetime experiences they are bringing back with them. From a high-flying helicopter ride out from TaylorMade-adidas Golf headquarters in Carlsbad to a heart-racing swim with great white sharks in South Africa, the adventurers lived a dream month in the Southern Hemisphere and endured some of the world’s harshest playing conditions along the way.
The world’s lowest (Furnace Creek), highest (La Paz Golf Club), hottest (Alice Springs), and southernmost (Ushuaia) golf courses were among the tests for these Wear in the World globetrotters, who fought wind, rain, heat, and even snow during their journey. Fortunately, the golfers were equipped with adidas Golf’s premium performance technologies: ClimaCool®, FORMOTION® ClimaProof® Storm and ClimaLite®, all which feature COOLMAX® fabric, proving no location too exotic or too extreme to overcome with the proper apparel and footwear.
Starting with a memorable send-off at TaylorMade’s on-campus testing and fitting center, The Kingdom, Lindsay and Josh’s adventure took them first to Death Valley, Calif., where they would enjoy a five-hour jeep tour across a landscape that scientists have compared to being on another planet. At 214 below sea level, it sure felt like it for Josh, who found himself struggling to adapt to the elevation’s effect on his golf ball.
After an overwhelmingly hot, dry round at Furnace Creek, it wasn’t long before the weather -and the resulting challenges – turned on Lindsay and Josh. After a 22-hour travel plan finally dropped the adventurers in Bolivia, the golfers were forced to trade their highly breathable and moisture-wicking ClimaCool® apparel for protective ClimaProof® outerwear, as they faced a torrential downpour during their round at La Paz Golf Club. Thunder, rain, and hail beat down on the adventurers but it was a rewarding two days in La Paz, as Lindsay and Josh met a terrific ambassador for Bolivian golf in the club’s head professional, Luiz Martins.
Perhaps the most memorable experience in Bolivia was an exciting bike ride down El Camino de la Muerte, or “The Road of Death,” where the adventurers took in the gorgeous scenery while carefully maneuvering a treacherous descent.
“This was one of the craziest, scariest, most enjoyable experiences of our lives,” said Sullivan.
Next on the journey was Buenos Aires, Argentina, where Lindsay and Josh became two of the first to play the brand-new Pilara Golf Club before traveling to Ushuaia, where they would face arguably the harshest conditions of their journey. Equipped with ClimaProof® Storm outerwear, the duo trudged through three inches of snow and endured some of the more unfavorable lies on earth to complete a snow-white and wild 18 holes.
Later, they met up with TaylorMade-adidas Tour Staff Professional Andres Romero to play in a Pro-Am at the Torneo de Maestros, or as it translates, the Argentine Masters. Romero, a native of Argentina, competed against Lindsay and Josh in a friendly best-ball match at Olivos Golf Club, the host site for the tournament. It was an experience to remember as the adventurers took down the PGA Tour veteran in 90-degree heat, 3 and 2.
Away from the course, Lindsay and Josh enjoyed a live concert, attended a River Plate soccer match, and were escorted by helicopter for the second time in 10 days. They also enjoyed their first official press conference at the Argentine Masters, where they had the unique opportunity to be interviewed by foreign media about their adventure and adidas Golf apparel.
The following leg took the adventurers to Johannesburg, where Lindsay and Josh got a taste of soccer fever as South Africa is the host nation for the 2010 World Cup. Their pride was evident in seeing the global representation of adidas, one of the major sponsors of the World Cup
In Cape Town, Josh and Lindsay enjoyed a ferry ride to Robben Island and took in the breathtaking scenery from atop the local landmark, Table Mountain. The ultimate highlight of their time in South Africa would come next, as they were set to tangle with great white sharks. In Gaansbai, the world’s capital for the dangerous great whites, the adventurers survived another life-altering encounter with nature and were left with an unforgettable experience.
“Shark after shark approached the bait giving us one of the most adrenaline pumping experiences of our lives,” said Knowlton.
The journey’s endless rewards continued for Josh and Lindsay, who spent the following days at the luxurious Arabella Golf Club, where they would teach and interact with 11 children at a junior golf clinic. The adventurers were overcome with the passion for golf expressed by the young players and delighted to see their willingness to learn. Later, they took on Hermanus Golf Club, home to the southernmost course in South Africa.
Following a short road trip, the adventurers found themselves at Fancourt Golf Links, host of the 2003 Presidents Cup and home to one of the many TaylorMade Performance Labs worldwide. Before the duo teed it up, Lindsay took the opportunity to conduct a full fitting inside the TMPL at Fancourt, which advised a slight tweaking of her clubs and led to her best ball-striking day of the journey.
Finally, Lindsay and Josh made their way across the Indian Ocean and landed in Sydney, Australia, the jumping off point for the last leg of the Wear in the World adventure. During their time in the Capital city, they surveyed national landmarks like the Sydney Opera House, climbed the Sydney Harbor bridge, and got a sense of the heat they would endure on the golf courses.
After meeting adidas Golf Tour Staff Professional and Australian Nathan Green for an exciting round at Newcastle Golf Club – home to some of the world’s most poisonous snakes – the stage was set for Lindsay and Josh’s final round of the adventure.
Between the local cuisine, a four-wheeling adventure in the Australian Outback, and some exploration in the country’s remote Northern Territory, including a camel ride and visit to Kings Canyon, the adventurers got their share of memorable Australian experiences to bring home before one last round would send them packing.
While the adventurers were expecting scorching temperatures from the world’s hottest course in Alice Springs, one final twist – a stage 5 hurricane off the coast of Australia – caused the golfers not only to face the heat, but 20 MPH winds and rain, as well. The match between the players, the first one-on-one dual of the trip, would end in a tie.
Wearing their adidas ClimaCool® apparel, Josh and Lindsay knew that all of the elements faced made for a fitting end to an amazing and remarkable experience on the Wear in the World ClimaTech Adventure.
To read more and re-live the adventurers’ journey across the Southern Hemisphere and to find out more of the adidas Golf apparel and footwear worn throughout the journey, please click here.
For video and high-res images, please go to: ftp://ftp.taylormade-golf.com/. user: publicrelations. password: $hareFil3s (Folder: Wear in the World).
The Southern Hemisphere journey took Knowlton and Sullivan to the following exotic destinations in order as listed below:
Furnace Creek, CA. USA – The world’s lowest-elevation golf course at 214 ft below sea level, where they will wear ClimaCool® apparel
LaPaz Golf Club, Bolivia – The world’s highest-elevation golf course at 10,800 ft above sea level, where they will wear ClimaCool®, ClimaLite® and FORMOTION apparel
Ushuaia, Argentina – The world’s southern-most 18-hole golf course, where they will be wearing ClimaCool®, ClimaLite® and FORMOTION apparel
Walker Bay Golf Resort, South Africa – Africa’s southern-most golf course, where they will be wearing ClimaProof®, ClimaLite® apparel
Alice Springs, Australia – The world’s hottest golf course with temperatures in excess of 122 degrees, where they will be wearing ClimaCool® and FORMOTION apparel
About the Technology
ClimaCool® – ClimaCool® is powered by 100% CoolMax® Extreme, a lightweight and highly breathable fabric that is one of the fastest drying fabrications on the market today. ClimaCool® also features mesh ventilation in critical heat zones, UPF 15+ protection, resists pilling, and is anti-microbial.
FORMOTION® – Sport-specific 3-dimensional engineering optimizes fit and comfort. Seam optimization/reduction mirrors muscle contours to eliminate restriction and irritation. Features mesh ventilation on back body for enhanced breathability and comfort. ClimaCool® with CoolMax Extreme® technology provides superior moisture management and breathability.
ClimaLite® – Plated hydrophilic technology wicks moisture away from the skin to a cotton face for quick evaporation to keep the athlete dry and comfortable.
ClimaProof® – All-weather protection engineered with highly weather-resistant fabrics provide protection from wind, rain and snow. Lightweight, soft fabrications result in a quieter, more comfortable garment. Offered in four levels of protection to battle specific weather conditions including: ClimaProof® Storm, ClimaProof® Rain, ClimaProof® Wind and ClimaProof® Wind Warm.
COOLMAX® fabric – The original moisture management fabric, helps move moisture away from the skin, helping keep people cool and comfortably dry. COOLMAX® Extreme performance fabrics are the highest level of COOLMAX® fabrics available, engineered and designed for the very serious sportsman and sportswoman when total focus on performance is key. To learn more about the COOLMAX® brand and family of COOLMAX® products, visit www.COOLMAXfabric.com.
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About Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. dba TaylorMade-adidas Golf Company
TaylorMade Golf has led the golf industry’s technological revolution since the company was founded in 1979. TaylorMade metalwoods, irons and putters have been used to win hundreds of professional golf tournaments around the world. In 1998, TaylorMade became a wholly owned subsidiary of the adidas Group. adidas Golf creates high-performance, technology-infused golf apparel and footwear worn by hundreds of professional golfers around the world. Ashworth, which became a brand of the TaylorMade-adidas Golf Company in 2008, creates relaxed, lifestyle-oriented golf apparel synonymous with authenticity and quality. Learn more about TaylorMade-adidas Golf and its brands at (866) 530-TMAG (8624) or www.taylormadegolf.com, www.adidasgolf.com, and www.ashworthgolf.com.
About the adidas Group
The adidas Group is one of the global leaders within the sporting goods industry, offering a broad range of products around three core segments such as adidas, Reebok and TaylorMade-adidas Golf. Headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Germany, the Group has more than 38,000 employees and sales of Ì¢?åÂ10.8 billion.
Contact:
For COOLMAX® Fabric press contact:
adidas Golf
Public Relations Department
Christa McNamara
Tel: 760.918.6466
email: christa.mcnamara@tmag.com
The Bromley Group
Nataly Blumberg(X17)/Karen Bromley(X14)
Tel: 212-696-1100
email: natalyb@bromley-group.com
