Finnish PowerWear triumphs at Vancouver Olympics

PowerWear - weighted training gear developed by the inventor and entrepreneur Pertti Hasanen was one of Finnish champions at the Vancouver Olympics. PowerWear is used by sportsmen all over the world; for instance by the double Olympic Champion ski jumper Simon Ammann and silver medalist Adam Malysz.
 
PowerWear, which was developed in Finland together with the Foundation for Finnish Inventions is used for intensifying sports training. The balance point of the extra weights is directed towards the middle body, ensuring safe and effective training even in water. The weights consist of soft and modular weights based on the double component Softweight System without containing any metal.

– The outfit is easy to use in a variety of sports training, because it feels comfortable, breaths well and supports individual body movements. It even protects in contact sports. PowerWear is a risk-free and pleasant way to intensify training, says Hasanen.

Compared to the conventional vest, ankle and wrist weights, the close-fitting PowerWear supports individual body movements without causing any discomfort, coordination disorders or injury risks especially in contact spots. For this reason PowerWear has become an international hit.
 
In addition to ski jumpers the outfit is also used by sportsmen from the German Ski Association, Jamaican sprinters, several NHL ice hockey teams and the Finnish tennis player Jarkko Nieminen.

The development of PowerWear began in early 2000s when Hasanen, who then worked as a talent scout of Galgary Flames Europe presented the idea to the innovation expert Tapio Järvensivu from the Foundation for Finnish Inventions.
 
– The idea seemed very interesting and it entailed a lot of possibilities, so we began to take it further. We for instance looked for partners for the invention, says Järvensivu from the Southwest Finland’s Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment.

The Foundation for Finnish Inventions has funded both the refining of the idea into business and the productization of PowerWear. Also other start-up businesses supported by the Foundation have taken part in developing PowerWear by assisting in developing its idea and implementation.
 
www.power-wear.com