Rio 2016 - Southern Spars makes move into sports composite engineering

by Sail-World.com NZL on 29 Jun 2016 Cycling New Zealand has partnered with a world-leading composite design and construction specialist, Southern Spars.

Southern Spars is better known for designing and manufacturing masts and rigging for the world's fastest race yachts and most luxurious superyachts. The North Technology company will be providing wheels to the 2016 New Zealand track cyclists at the Rio Olympics in August.

Southern Spars, which was founded in 1990, is a long-time supplier to crack America's Cup team Emirates Team New Zealand. It has a well-established reputation as the best in the world for designing and manufacturing carbon fibre spars and rigging using superior technology.

Southern Spars’ director Mark Hauser said: “The collaboration with Cycling New Zealand has been about taking that expertise and applying it in a different context - working together to create a significant performance benefit.

“We have drawn on our years of experience in the design and manufacture of carbon fibre technology and components. This has led to high performance in yachting, as well as specialist knowledge of windage, stiffness, and strength. In doing this, we have designed a new, superior wheel, which we’re delighted to be supplying to the New Zealand track cyclists.

“We are very excited by the potential of the new wheels, and by the possibilities unleashed by this kind of collaboration and innovation - which is all about bringing together the best of New Zealand.”

Cycling New Zealand Director of High Performance, Mark Elliott, said the partnership with Southern Spars has brought together two unique parties, to produce a great outcome for the 20 strong New Zealand Olympic track cycling team.

“The partnership with Southern Spars has been a unique opportunity to work with a team with world-leading knowledge of carbon fibre technology, and the drive to take on a totally new challenge, by testing their skills and applying this knowledge to designing track wheels.

“From the outset, we’ve seen Southern Spars’ passion for testing its capability and applying knowledge in new ways, but importantly for us - and our athletes - a drive to contribute to New Zealand’s sporting success on the Olympic stage.

“We are delighted to be forming a partnership with Southern Spars, which we know will deliver an edge for us in Rio. This paves the way for further innovation to support our long-term performance objectives.”

The innovative new track wheels are the result of a three-way collaboration, bringing together Southern Spars’ engineering and carbon fibre production knowledge, Cycling New Zealand’s sport-specific knowledge and dedicated data technology support from High Performance Sport New Zealand.

New Zealand Olympic team Chef de Mission, Rob Waddell, has been instrumental in the project. A world champion and double Olympic Gold medalist in Rowing, Waddell moved to Emirates Team New Zealand for the 2007 and 2013 America's Cups before taking up the Chef de Mission role for the 2016 Olympics.

“To be the best in the world – to win Gold at the Olympic Games – requires us to bring everything we’ve got… to work together and leverage every ounce of know-how, technology and talent we can get our hands on.'

To see ONE News Martin Tasker's report - click here

About Southern Spars
- 25 years in business
- 38 Whitbread & Volvo campaigns
- 15 World Superyacht Awards
- 1185 projects per year worldwide

• Specialises in the design and construction of carbon fibre spars and components, rigging and rig servicing.
• Industry pioneer, built its first carbon spar in 1990.
• Headquartered in Auckland.
• Operation extends to four corners of the world with centres in the USA, Denmark, South Africa, Spain and Sri Lanka, with headquarters in Auckland, New Zealand.
• Employs more than 350 staff worldwide.