Abacus kit out Europe for Solheim Cup

Swedish sportswear brand ensures no stone is left unturned

Aiming High: The 2013 European Solheim Cup Team are dressed for success at Colorado Golf Club

The 2013 Solheim Cup gets under way later on this week European team will be kitted out for success, no matter what the weather conditions are like this week at Colorado Golf Club, thanks to Abacus Sportswear. Having won only three of the last ten meetings and never came out on top in the USA, the European team are hopeful of causing an upset.

The team, which includes Scot Catriona Matthew, has had its clothing for the week designed by Swedish brand Abacus Sportswear, who have created match outfits focused on performance and comfort to address Colorado’s variable climate conditions.

The weather forecast for the biennial event is set to be mostly dry with high levels of humidity during the days – between 46 per cent and 96 per cent – and cooler temperatures in the afternoons with some meteorologists predicting light rain showers towards the latter part of the week.

Prepared for such eventualities, Team Europe’s clothing is lightweight, light-coloured and breathable. The team’s technical waterproof WindVent pieces – the reversible Trace vest and Waterville softshell vest – will protect the players against the predicted north-easterly winds Parker is set to see this week, as well as the forecasted light rain showers and cooler afternoon temperatures.

When asked if having the right clothing could affect the result, European Team Captain Liselotte Neumann said: “It’s hard to say whether or not our abacus outfits will directly affect the result, however it’s definitely fair to say that the more comfortable you feel, the better you perform.

“If your body feels fresher, it gives you that extra little spark that can keep you playing well, especially towards the end of the day when it’s easy to lose concentration and energy. For me, good performance on a warm day comes down to a combination of good clothing, good nutrition and lots of water.”

Chris Mattsson, designer at Abacus Sportswear, added: “The climate was a very important factor this year, especially as summer in Colorado is hot and muggy. However, with the likelihood of thunderstorms and northeasterly winds, we needed to design outfits that would make the players look elegant and professional, but also provided high levels of functionality.”

For more information about Abacus Sportswear, visit: www.abacussportswear.com

Originally published on bunkered on August 14, 2013.

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