Vancouver, WA (February 8, 2005) – Oomph! Inc. today announced its 2005 CORE Team. Team members will be featured in the company's performance triathlon apparel marketing and product development initiatives. These athletes are key spokespeople for the growth of the Oomph! brand worldwide.

Said Vice President, Scott Gix: “These athletes truly embody the passion and character of the Oomph! brand. We believe that we have built upon last year and added even more people of character - people we hope will be part of the Oomph! family for a long time.”

A young and fast team of athletes ready to make their mark on the sport, they will be appearing at featured races across the globe in 2005 carrying the Oomph! banner.

2005 Oomph! Core Team members are as follows:

Heather Gollnick
Age: 34
USA
Only a handful of professional triathletes can claim the title of 3-time Ironman Champion as well as Wildflower Champion, but that's exactly what Heather Gollnick has accomplished in just 3 years as a professional. Named the 2003 Rookie of the Year by Triathlete Magazine. Not only is Heather an accomplished professional athlete, she is also a dedicated mother of three children and is married to her high school sweetheart Todd.

Gordo Byrn
Age: 35
Canada
In only five years, Gordo Byrn has become a top Ironman athlete, published author, respected coach and public speaker. He is recognized as perhaps the world’s hardest working triathlete. With several great wins on his resume, Byrn finished a close second to Tom Evans at Ironman Canada 2004 despite a 2:45 marathon. For 2005, his goal is singular in focus: to stand on the top step at Ironman Canada, the race that introduced him to the sport.

Monica Caplan
Age: 28
USA
New to the Oomph! family this year, Caplan is well known in triathlon circles for being the first female (and sometimes the first athlete) out of the water. With her second pro victory already under her belt for 2005 at the Auckland Half Ironman, Caplan is ready to serve notice that she is more than a one dimensional triathlete. With a focus on Ironman New Zeland and then Kona, this former all American swimmer is one of USA’s brightest long-course stars.

Clas Bjorling
Age: 26
Sweden
The man known as “The Baron”, the young Swede had another successful season, setting run records at Ironman New Zealand and Ironman Brazil – finishing 2 nd and 3rd respectively. For 2005, Bjorling has his sights set on the Quelle Challenge Roth, a fast course in which he can once again showcase his devastating run speed against some of the world’s best.

Rachel Sears
Age: 30
USA
A former World Champion Age-Group Duathlete, Sears is an exceptional cyclist. A Cat 3 racer, Sears is a threat on the bike in any race. In 2003, Rachel scored several big wins, but none bigger than 1 st at the Big Kahuna Half Ironman. After a disappointing, injury plagued, 2004 campaign, Sears is looking for a healthy comeback season with a focus on late-season races, Ironman Canada and Ironman Florida.

Marylin MacDonald
Age: 26
Canada
A rookie pro in 2004, this triathlete of only four years was hoping to gain some experience at the big races. She exceeded her own expectations by winning Ironman Malaysia, placing 2 nd at World’s Toughest Half and then 2nd in Gerardmere at Ironman France. Focusing on Ironman Arizona this year, Marilyn is another one of Oomph’s featured young guns at triathlon’s Ironman distance.

Kristianna Gough
Age: 26
USA
If Vineman is considered the “launching pad” for future pro success, Gough hit the stratosphere in 2004. After a surprise victory in the Sonoma County race, Gough went on win her Age Group (25-29) in Hawaii on the way to being named an IT All American by Inside Tri Magazine. 2005 will mark her first year as a professional.

Clark Halvorson
Age: 33
USA
At Ironman Florida 2003, Clark Halvorson of Olympia, Washington was in some pretty elite company; first in the 30-34 Age Group, fastest amateur bike split and 6 th fastest bike split of all-time. A coach and company ambassador in the state of Washington, he will once again take his bike prowess to Kona in 2005 after a top age-group spot eluded him last year in tough conditions on the big island.

Kevin “KP” Purcell
Age: 49
USA
Kevin has climbed from a back of the pack age grouper to finishing consistently in the top 5% of his age group in both long and short course triathlon. Known for his big mileage training and his even bigger heart, Kevin is the perfect indicator of why we refer to our athletes as our CORE Team. Triathlon, and the commitment and passion it takes, encompasses everything that Kevin is.

ABOUT OOMPH!:
Founded in 1993 by husband and wife team Scott and Julie Gix, Oomph! provides innovative, high-performance triathlon apparel made specifically for triathletes. Oomph! is the perfect combination of style and technological superiority.

For more information contact:
Chris Artibello
Phone: 403.804.4222
Email: chris@oomphsports.com
Web: www.oomphsports.com