PERFORMING BEST WITH SKINS: Written by Two-Time Olympic Cyclist, Giddeon Massie
In the early 2000’s in a quest for a birth on my second U.S. Summer Olympic Team in the sport of Track Cycling, I reached out to an old coach, who had recently become the head coach of the Australian National Cycling Team and asked if I could join them at the AIS (Australian Institute of Sport) in Adelaide, South Australia for a training block leading into the World Cup season. It ended up being one of my best seasons to date. While living with my training partners I became aware of a compression garment dawned not only by the cyclists but the majority of the AIS athletes that I came across. I researched the product and was read into the benefits of this newly found garment. Wow! It made sense.
Upon returning to the U.S., I was disappointed to discover that SKINS had not yet made a debut in the U.S. market and in fact, the only way to purchase this compression gear was through an Australian-based sports store. But to me, it was worthwhile paying the cost to acquire what I now considered an integral piece of equipment that I believed would help me reach my goals.
To perform at this level, we trained 6+ hours a day, 5-6 days a week, through a variety of methods both on and off the bike, including moving massive amounts of weight in the gym 3-4 times a week, in an effort to acquire what at this stage of the game, would be marginal gains of improvement. Where podium finishes are determined by hundredths and thousandths of a second – a SNAP of your fingers. Marginal gains were indeed, the name of the game and if a performance, travel, and recovery garment could aid in any of these areas, I was onboard.
SKINS did ultimately enter the U.S. market and I was prepared to share the affinity I had discovered for the product while overseas, giving me greater access to the products that allowed me to work harder and safer in the weight room reducing soreness in the process, to lessening the effects of fatigued legs from the 2-16hr flights that shuttled us within the U.S. and around the world.
"I can confidently say that SKINS are the best gradient compression garments I’ve ever used and have played a key role in helping me perform at my best."
With nearly a 20 year career behind me, numerous national titles, wins, losses, injuries, and more, you can still find me on the bike. While I don’t compete or train at the level I once did, my body reminds me of the wear and tear it’s endured over two-plus decades of crashes, torn muscles, back surgery, achy knees, and more. Nonetheless, maintaining an active lifestyle is something I believe in and enjoy. I find joy in being able to partake in adventurous activities with my wife and give back to our community. From hiking the 22ml round trip Kalalau Trail along the Nā Pali Coast, to mentoring Middle and High School age children in the health, fitness, and SEL space through an Olympic/Paralympic Los Angeles-based program called “Ready Set Gold!”, to volunteering every week at our local High School with Feollowship of Christian Athletes, to snowboarding, to weight lifting and CrossFitting (the Memorial Day Murph workout is a must), to the never-ending pursuit of becoming a more capable Pickleball player – you can imagine the motor pattern of pedaling a bike is much different. If my SKINS compression gear helps me manage a retired Olympic athlete’s body and the desire to remain active and competitive in all walks of life, I’m confident it will help support any variety of lifestyle that is seeking to be at their best, and maybe we’ll bump into each other out there on the bike, on the trail, or on a Pickleball court.
