Definitely not enough tattoos. I don’t see a happy long-term relationship here.
My first question for Wattie was “Do I have to get a face tattoo or sleeves or something?” Haha! Thankfully, they didn’t object to my clean-cut Canadian image. But seriously, I could use some help in the style department. The stock kit/bike/helmet I was using wasn’t really cutting it anymore. This is triathlon after all, so looking the part is even more important than your fitness. 
I can’t wait to unveil my first signature kit next month!
Thanks for all the positivity in this thread. I’ve had a great feeling about this partnership from the get-go. Just like my quest for the perfect bike sponsor, I held out with apparel for years and talked to about a dozen other companies. Here’s what really sold me on Wattie Ink:
Aerodynamics/fit - We all know kits are highly individual, but Wattie will work with me to get this dialed. My past wind tunnel testing showed that off-the-shelf sleeved kits from other companies were no faster or even slower than my standard ITU kit. Based on the poor fit, I assumed that full custom was my only option for a sleeved kit. It’s always bothered me that I was probably leaving gains on the table there. Surprisingly, the stock Wattie Ink Champion 2.0 is a superb fit for me without any customization. The old eyeball wind tunnel suggests that it’s much more likely to be fast than the ill-fitting stuff I tested in the past. So I’ll be testing out a sleeved suit this spring and hopefully realizing some of those considerable aero benefits. There are also other exciting aero-focused projects in the works.USA-made/designed - Not only more control over quality, but also all the benefits that come from enriching the local economy.Style - The Wattie team has always struck me as the cool kids on the block. As a self-professed “nerd in jock’s clothing”, I need some help here, like I said earlier. I like how the collections shake up the boring look of most endurance apparel and draw inspiration from all sorts of fun, fresh and off-the-wall sources.Attitude - They approached and were super enthusiastic. These initial interactions with prospective sponsors often set the tone for a relationship. Given that I prefer to maintain the same sponsors for many years, our rapport is critical. The people behind Wattie Ink are as awesome as the products.Contract - Without getting into specifics, I’ll say that our contract is a grand total of two pages. Contrast this to other contracts I’ve signed that run up to 20 pages! To me, this reflects a relationship built on mutual respect and trust—values that underpin the entire company. There are no hoops to jump through or boxes to tick, leaving me to represent the brand in an authentic way.Team - Dozens of other Wattie Ink athletes of all levels have already reached out and welcomed me. It’s cool to feel part of a greater community. I’ll be interacting with the team through some training articles, live shows, Q&As, meet-and-greets, etc.
Thanks again for the thread!