Line 7 sign three year contract with Rowing NZ

'Former America's Cup grinder Rob Waddell will be back in the familiar Line 7 clothing in the Mens Double Scull event at the 2008 Olympics.' Rob Bristow

Rowing's top athletes will be wearing Line 7 kit for the next three years at least thanks to a new supply partnership signed by the company and Rowing New Zealand.

Line 7 will supply competition and leisure apparel to Rowing New Zealand's national rowing teams at Elite, Under 23 and Junior level from now until after the 2010 Rowing world Championships at Lake Karapiro. The company will also produce a range of Karapiro 2010 World Rowing Championships apparel.

The 2008 national team elite athletes - which include Mah? Drysdale, the Evers Swindell twins, Rob Waddell and world champions Hamish Bond, Eric Murray, Carl Meyer, James Dallinger from the coxless four - will all wear Line 7 apparel during the season, a season which will include the Olympic Regatta in Beijing.

While product will be supplied exclusively to the teams, Line 7 also plans to market the associated merchandise range via its web site, the Rowing New Zealand web site and in selected retail outlets. It will be the first time that Rowing New Zealand has officially sold a merchandise range and reflects the growing size and professionalism in the sport.

The Line 7 has been established in New Zealand since 1963 - Line7.Marine

An imaginative and innovative fundraising deal will also see a small percentage of each sale being donated back to Rowing New Zealand to help fund its growing national teams.

The national rowing team is the latest in a series of successful partnership for Line 7. It already has major sports partnerships are with Emirates Team New Zealand, Yachting NZ, A1 GP Team New Zealand and the Sir Peter Blake Trust.

The company is looking forward to another successful relationship with New Zealand's top rowers - in 2008 and beyond. 'Being involved with any sport team is a bit of gamble of how successful they will be,' explained CEO Ross Munro.

'Line 7 loves to get involved with New Zealand sporting teams competing on the world stage. Over the years by good luck or good management we have been involved with many of the country's successful sailing teams and individuals.

'We see many similarities between the sports of rowing and sailing and that was major plus for us when deciding to get involved. Hopefully the trend of New Zealand winning lots of Olympic medals whilst sitting down will continue this year!

'One of the reasons Line 7 gets involved is these are great opportunities for our designers to work alongside some of the worlds leading athletes and learn from these experiences. The technology and product innovations developed in these relationships are carried across to some of our core Line 7 products so our loyal Line 7 customers benefit as well.

'All sports teams have their little idiosyncrasies but the rowing team is very professional and knows what they need. Really, our job is making sure the gear is functional for what they are trying to do on the water and then also making them look good when they get out of the boat.'

Originally founded in 1963, Line 7 rapidly became a trusted name with sailors around the world for its high performance wet weather apparel. Today, the iconic New Zealand brand, offers quality and comfort to more than just the sailing elite with its stylish range of casual lifestyle clothing for men and women.

Link to the Line 7 range - www.line7.co.nz/default.aspx?D=shop&;G=56

by Rowing NZ.com