Tyler Butterfield Signs with K-Swiss
Bermuda’s top male triathlete Tyler Butterfield has picked up a sponsorship from the U.S. footwear company K-Swiss.
K-Swiss joins Tokio Millennium Reinsurance and Philadelphia Insurance Companies as Mr Butterfield major sponsors, both committed to sponsor Mr Butterfield though to 2012 in his aim’s of becoming an Ironman or 70.3 champion, along with the goal of representing Bermuda at another Olympics in London 2012. Mr Butterfield would like to improve on his 35th place from the 2004 Athens Olympics, where he was the youngest male participant in the field.
Triathlon is an expensive sport with the travel costs associated with getting to races all over the world, and Mr Butterfield is very appreciative to have the support from companies like Tokio Millennium Re, Philadelphia Insurance Companies, and now K-Swiss.
From his home based in Boulder, Colorado Mr Butterfield said “My major sponsors are making it possible for me to remain on the pro circuit, and are giving me the chance to qualify and represent Bermuda in the 2012 London Olympics. I also have to thank my family as they have always helped me follow my dreams, and The Bermuda Olympic Association who have to always believed in me. Also, I am very fortunate to come from a country where the public support is always overwhelmingly amazing. You can see it the most in the May 24th Marathon Derby, it is one of my favorite races ever, it really is a special day for sport in Bermuda.”
With 2010 coming to a close, Mr Butterfield has already started training for the 2011 season which kicks off in Australia in Mooloolaba with an olympic distance International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Cup, followed two weeks later with a World Championships Series race in Sydney. He will then race twice in Japan before heading back to his US home base.
Mr Butterfield said “Training right now is just starting back up, however in January you have to be in good shape to start some hard and long training days should you want to get the results in the early part of the season, these are important races for qualification in the lead-up to London, now is the time to get back in the swing of things.”
“I am very pleased that K-Swiss has joined me for 2011 and beyond. I first used a pair of K-Swiss running shoes to overcome an injury I got five weeks before the Hawaii Ironman this year. It was the only shoe I could use that didn’t make the injury worse, and basically got me to the race. K-Swiss always has a large presence in Kona with a booth to show new shoes, and to take care of all their athletes.”
“It was there in Hawaii through my good friends (also professional athletes), Dirk Bockel who finished an impressive 8th, and Luke Mckenzie a multiple-time Ironman champion, that introduced me to the people behind K-Swiss.”
“Erik Vervloet the Sports Marketing Director, and Ben Harper the Marketing Manager, seemed enthusiastic for me to join their elite group of pro athletes that they sponsor. As running is my major strength and as one of only a hand full of triathletes to have run under the 1 hour 10 minutes for the half marathon distance in a 70.3 it seemed to be a great fit.”
“I am very pleased to be running in their shoes for the lead-up to the Olympics, I recommend checking them out on the internet, it is just KSWISS.COM and also Sports Locker in Bermuda is the K-Swiss carrier. It is a company that has spent a lot of time and money in developing some great shoes as they are newer in the running market they knew they had to do it right to break in.”
“The news has come at a great time of year, the hardest part in any sport is starting back from a break. It is just a little extra motivation for next year which is perfect, I now can resist the desserts on offer at this time of year,” Mr Butterfield joked.
“I’m proud to be racing with Bermuda across my chest every time I step out there, I really appreciate the support I get from home.”
