Early Monday morning Arena USA distributed a press release, Arena Waives FINA Approval On Three Models Of Powerskin Carbon-Pro. SwimSwam spoke with Tim McCool, who helms Arena USA, shortly after the release went live.
“Demand for Arena suits was extraordinary last year for many reasons, including other companies,” Tim McCool explained by phone. “Production was high, had to be high, to meet demand.”
McCool’s reference to other companies could mean many things, but most athletes and coaches agree, Speedo’s FS3 fell flat in the market last year, a rare occurrence for the swimwear giant. This was no secret, though many in the swimming community wouldn’t openly talk about it because Speedo has been dominant for so many years, a go-to brand, servicing many of USA Swimming’s super clubs. Facing major meets with a product that was less than desirable, swimmers and teams used Speedo’s older model or they rushed to find another suit to meet their needs. Some chose smaller swimwear brands with racing suits, but many flocked to Arena, a big international player, who was making major moves on the US market with their POWERSKIN Carbon-Pro.
“Back in February, FINA requested a routine check on a POWERSKIN Carbon-Pro, the women’s full body open back,” McCool continued via phone. “We did our own checking, a very thorough check, and found that all of our materials were in compliance, but that a change in manufacturing…and I’d like to emphasize that this change was because of the high demand…the change caused an unintended reduction in the permeability to air of some of the racing suits produced between the end of 2012 and the beginning of 2013.”
In simple terms, the change in manufacturing that Arena implemented caused overheating on and around the logo, and in the bonding of the suits’ seams causing the permeability issue McCool is referring to.
“We’re talking about a small portion of production,” McCool added, “and these suits pose no safety hazard, and they don’t impact performance. You can race in them in non-FINA sanctioned meets. Still, we strive to maintain a very high level of consistency with the Arena brand. We’ve taken steps to provide the new POWERSKIN Carbon-Pro Mark 2, our next generation of suit, as quickly as possible.”
Quickly is an understatement. With FINA-sanctioned meets bearing down this weekend, they have to react fast. Arena reps will be on deck at the Charlotte Ultraswim and US Masters Spring Nationals to meet swimmers’ suit needs. (Moreover, customers in possession of a current model POWERSKIN Carbon Pro with proof of purchase may receive, at no cost, the new generation POWERSKIN Carbon Pro Mark 2. Go here for more information.)
Arena USA has experienced great success with the POWERSKIN Carbon Pro, and a lot of good luck. USA Swimming changed their swimwear partnership policy last year, opening the door to several brands. Speedo, a longtime partner, had, in effect, a monopoly on Team USA elite swimmers for nearly three decades. Arena USA quickly netted the crown jewels of the USA Swimming partnership; title sponsor of the USA Swimming Grand Prix Series and the coveted USA National Team Apparel deal. (Speedo remains a valued USA Swimming partner with title rights to Junior Nationals, Sectionals, and the Speedo Championships Series.)
Arena, to their credit, has taken significant steps, and additional expense, to update and improve the Grand Prix Series, increasing the purse to $150,000 and creating incentives for clubs to attend the events; managing autograph zones, providing fan interaction with Olympic icons. USA Swimming is very happy with the Arena collaboration on the Grand Prix Series, and they’re supporting their partner through this challenging time.
Via USA Swimming:
“Arena has notified USA Swimming that they have waived FINA approval on three models of the POWERSKIN Carbon-Pro and will be removing them from production. We are supportive in the proactive steps they are taking to replace suits and rectify the situation. Their swift action emphasizes their commitment to supporting athletes and we appreciate the effort they are taking to help their customers, athletes and coaches.”
SwimSwam contacted several team dealers and retailers who carry and have sold Arena’s POWERSKIN Carbon-Pro. Most commented off-the-record or would not comment at all. Many felt the situation was unfortunate, but that Arena was doing the right thing by openly admitting the problem and quickly responding.
For Arena, this FINA compliance issue is a financial bump in road, and, perhaps, a significant one. POWERSKIN Carbon Pros retail at $500. At some level, Arena will be replacing the units for the next generation Mark 2, and that will impact their bottom-line, and the timing couldn’t have been much worse for this issue to be discovered during the crucial spring championship season, where sales are typically high. However, this is a company that has been in existence 40 years. Arena will clearly persevere.
“The financial side of this was never a thought, never an issue,” McCool explained. “We are a transparent company with one goal, to service the sport.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: Over the course of the last 24 hours, more questions were asked by SwimSwam readers. We followed up with Arena on many of these questions. Arena responded promptly.
1) Is Arena doing anything to assist those swimmers in Southern California who have high school championship meets this weekend?
There are several events occurring in swimming this weekend, and Arena has an action plan by which to service athletes at these events.
- Masters Nationals: We have been in contact with the leadership at U.S. Masters Swimming, and have arranged to have Arena representatives onsite to provide racing suits for any competitor who arrives with a current model Carbon-Pro.
- California High School Champs: We are currently working on an action plan with the hopes of accommodating those athletes who expected to compete in the Carbon Pro. Regrettably not all options are clear at this point, but we hope to have answers early (Tuesday).
- Charlotte Grand Prix: Arena reps on-site will be equipped with the new Carbon Pro Mark 2 and will provide instant replacement to competing athletes on-site.
2) With Arena having gained much momentum through their agreement with USA Swimming, the news that some Arena suits will no longer be compliant has caused concern among many we’ve heard from in the swimming community. Does Arena feel as though this has damaged the confidence in their brand?
Between the unprecedented success of the Arena Grand Prix and the exclusive sponsorship of the U.S. National Team, Arena remains extremely energized, excited and engaged in its relationship with USA Swimming. We will continue to work hard to advance that partnership, and perhaps most importantly, to continue to elevate the sport of swimming.
In fact, Arena’s leadership is at 1 Olympic Plaza today, meeting face-to-face with USA Swimming executives, to discuss the issue, answer questions and assure USA Swimming that the needs of the team will absolutely be met.
Arena will be on-site in Charlotte at the Arena Grand Prix to provide the new Carbon Pro Mark 2 to competing athletes. Arena is the official partner of 18 international federations around the world, and our commitment to providing excellence in these partnerships is unwavering.
By our commitment to serving the athletes, and the swift resolution we are able to deliver to this issue, we are confident that our brand’s long-standing reputation for quality and excellence remains.
3. What does Arena intend to do to restore the confidence of those who feel as though they’ve not been made whole by the considerable arrangements that Arena has already made? In addition to simply replacing suits, what does Arena feel they need to do from a confidence perspective, or do they think that they have done enough?
We know that Arena customers will appreciate that once the anomaly was identified and sourced, Arena approached FINA and requested that they waive the approval codes on the Carbon-Pro suits. We took this action for the integrity of the sport and the integrity of our brand. While the estimated number of suits actually affected by this manufacturing glitch is estimated to be extremely low, so great is our commitment to quality and integrity, that Arena worldwide didn’t want even one non-compliant Arena suit in competition.
After making this decision, rather than work on cost-saving options for our brand, we decided to unilaterally replace all Carbon Pro suits, with our new Carbon-Pro Mark 2 at no cost to our consumers.
In addition, we are in the extremely fortuitous position of being able to minimize interruption in the service to our athletes, by offering a replacement with our next generation, new Carbon-Pro Mark 2 already approved and in the pipeline for delivery to Grand Prix competitors this weekend.
SwimSwam will continue to update as more information comes in.
INFORMATION FOR ARENA CUSTOMERS
Go here for the latest update from Arena.
Consumers in possession of a current model POWERSKIN Carbon Pro with proof of purchase may receive, at no cost, the new generation POWERSKIN Carbon Pro Mark 2. Please visit http://support.arenapowerskin.com for further information.
Athletes competing at the Charlotte Ultraswim this weekend will have their suit needs met by an Arena rep onsite.
Athletes competing at US Masters Spring Nationals this weekend will have their suit needs met by an Arena rep onsite.
Arena is working closely with FINA, and no records from the past are in jeopardy.
