Tariq Gangari

Chronic illnesses might stop some people in their tracks. For others, it makes them more determined to chase their dreams and help others along the way. Wiley X Europe is proud to sponsor Tariq Gangari in his fight to spread the understanding and awareness of Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Tariq Gangari is a 25 year old Entrepreneur from London England battling Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) a crippling degenerative auto-immune arthritic disease.  AS is an incurable disease which affects 1 in 1000 people in the UK and brings enough punch to stop the average person in their tracks, but not Tariq. Tied down to a life of exercise Tariq believes that he should challenge himself physically while he still can.

“A life with AS is all about “using it or losing it” because unlike many other arthritic diseases the symptoms of AS come on much stronger without physical activity.  I have many goals yet to achieve and feel with the way my condition is progressing I don’t exactly have an eternity to achieve them.”  

Tariq has combined his academic aptitude with the circumstance his life has thrown him to create iamONE.org.uk, a website dedicated to raising awareness of AS.  Since going live in March 2012 Tariq has received several accolades from activists to journalists for his work and enthusiastic attitude in battling the disease.

“I want iamONE.org.uk to be a hub of support for those who may be feeling lost or alone, like I did when I was a teenager.”    

This summer is an exciting one for Tariq as he will travel across the globe to complete his first audacious awareness campaign launching on August 22nd; a solo bike ride from Boston Massachusetts to Miami Florida (2,200 miles) a distance spanning almost the entire Atlantic coast of the USA.

“2012 is a big year for me and iamONE because it’s when things get ‘real.’  Doing something as crazy as cycling the Atlantic coast of America will not only prove a point to myself and my personal struggles but will also show the AS world that anything is possible. When I was diagnosed with AS in 2009 that was when I genuinely felt like my life had begun, we have to stay strong, stand tall and chase our greatness.”

If you want to find out more information about Tariq or contribute to his epic journey across the Atlantic coast find out how on his website at www.iamONE.org.uk or follow him on twitter on @iamoneorguk.

Tariq will be wearing his WX gear on his epic journey.  Here’s what he had to say about his WX GRAVITY Polarized Blue Mirrors:

"The Gravity is by far the best piece of eyewear I have ever had the privilege of wearing.  My vision is so crisp, so defined that it almost feels like slipping into a HD world.  The gasket makes for a great fit and blocks out a lot of dust and wind, crucial when cycling long distances.  I can’t wait to test these bad boys out on the open road!"

Steven Tirsgaard & Simon Tirsgaard

TEAM MARTIN SPEED OF LIGHT – dominating Danish Superbike

Wiley X Europe is proud to be part of the team, when Steven & Simon Tirsgaard compete in the Superbike class for Team Martin Speed of Light.

The two brothers are among the best professional bikers in Danish motorsport, and in 2010 Steven Tirsgaard won the Danish Championship. Steven Tirsgaard is 30 years old and has been racing, since he was 6 years old. Younger brother Simon Tirsgaard is following his big brother’s foodsteps, and he has a very promising career already.

Both Steven & Simon race the super fast Honda CBR 1000 RR Fireblade, which is the biggest class in Denmark.

Wiley X Europe looks forward to continue our 3 year long cooperation with Team Martin Speed of Light, and we will keep you informed about the brothers’ progress on a regular basis.

Wiley X R&D Fishing Team

Wiley X Europe have put together a Research & Development Fishing Team consisting of some of the best sport anglers in Denmark.

The Wiley X Europe Team will publish exciting stories on our website from anglers and other Wiley X owners, who will share their stories and experiences with their glasses.

Read more by following this link: www.wileyx.eu

Rob Bruce – extreme runner

UK ultra-runner Rob Bruce loves a challenge. Something he achieves through extreme races in some of the world's toughest environments. Rob has previously raced in the International Himalayan Stage Race, a 160km race in the shadows of Everest with a cumulative elevation gain of over 23,000ft. Below you can read his endorsement of the XL-1 Advanced, which he used during the Marathon des Sables 2011 in the Moroccan desert – a 7 days 251 km run through sandstorms, rocks and dunes.


XL-1 ADVANCED (296) ENDORSEMENT
The Marathon des Sables is known as the toughest footrace on earth. 251km in six day stages across some of the world’s most punishing terrain in the Moroccan Sahara desert. Competitors are required to be self-sufficient carrying equipment and supplies necessary to survive a week in extreme conditions. With little outside assistance, there is little room for error and racing in this environment requires complete confidence in your equipment. I required eyewear that not only protected my eyes from the powerful UV rays, but something that would also allow protection from desert sandstorms. I took Wiley-X’s XL-1 Advanced eyewear and it proved to be a wise decision. The distinct advantage this model gave me was its ability to be adapted to give an airtight seal not only protecting me from the harsh sandstorm on day 2, but allowing me to save weight by not having to take goggles. Less weight means more speed, more speed means less time in the sun and on your feet resulting in quicker times.  

The XL-1 Advanced, my eyewear of choice for desert racing.

Sebastian Kornum

Sebastian Kornum is a 19 year old wind surfer, who spends most of his time on the water. Sebastian was almost born into the surfing world; with his farther being the distributor of NeilPryde in Scandinavia it was also him who introduced Sebastian to wind surfing. Sebastian was one of the first to be sponsored by Wiley X Europe, and Wiley X sees this as a perfect combination. Sebastian is a busy traveler and spends a lot of time in the sun, so he will be needing great sunglasses – making him an excellent ambassador for Wiley X.

Some of Sebastian’s many achievements:
3 x Danish Championships Formula & Slalom
4 x Nordic Championships Formula
1 x World Championship Slalom
1 x World Championship Formula

Sebastian Kornum has truly made his mark in the surfing world, and he has a very promising future ahead of him.

Lee Harvey

Lee Harvey is a kite surfer from Cornwall, England, who besides from competing in the World Tour 2011 also has his own kite surfing school, where he teaches people of all ages how to control the kite and surfboard at the same time – did someone say multitasking.

Lee Harvey contacted Wiley X Europe in 2010, because he has the need for prescription lenses in his sunglasses. Lee chose the models ZAK and SG-1, so he had a pair of sunglasses for both the beach and the action on the water. SG-1 proved a wise choice due to the elastic head strap and Gasket system, which kept the glasses in place even when upside down and the wind away from his eyes.

Wiley X Adventure Team

Wiley X har for the last couple of years sponsored an Adventure Team.

The team has participated in races in Greenland, Poland, Wales etc.

The team consists of:

Denis Deleuran, Lars Ole Pedersen, Sebastian Landgren, Anders Beck Poulsen, Christian Hansen and
Trine G Andersen.


For more information: www.adventureteam.teamwileyx.dk

FC Midtjylland Football Club

In 2011 Wiley X Europe launched a partnership with the Danish football club FC Midtjylland (FCM). The partnership involves advertising on the stadium, but more exciting is the Limited Edition eyewear and Coin Check that Wiley X made for FC Midtjylland.

Wiley X has made 500 ZAK FCM Limited Edition sunglasses with FCM logo on temples and lenses, which are being sold in the club’s fanshop. The turnover goes directly to the club, and so far the sunglasses have been a big success among the fans.

Wiley X has also introduced an old military tradition, invented during the 1st World War, in the football club – Coin Check. Coin Check is a rubber coin with FCM and Wiley X logo, which is meant to strengthen the unity and team spirit among fans and players. There is a funny little game attached to this coin, you can read more about the coin here: wileyx.eu

Wiley X is excited to see what the partnership will bring in the future.

Holstebro Rowing Club

In August 2011 Wiley X became sponsor of Holstebro Rowing Club, a perfect opportunity to reach the many rowers in Denmark and to give something back to the local community. Both Wiley X and the club are very thrilled about this sponsorship, and Wiley X looks forward to follow the members in their hunt for medals.

Hasse Højland - Velomobile

I have been crazy about bicycling and bikes all my life. Grew up in the countryside and if I wanted to go somewhere - the bicycle was the answer. My dad did not allow me to get a scooter as my friends (thanks dad!). Instead I got the chance to assemble a racebike. Just turned 15 I completed a 320 km long race in 17 hours on racebike. Still remember that great feeling! All my teenage years was about bikes and bicycling - I never competed though - just toured around.

Must have been in 1984 I saw a velomobile the first time - the danish Leitra!! Wow it was fast but as a lot of other race bike people I could not really understand it and did not see it as a bike. Then in '97 after busy years with not much biking I suddenly got surgery for a herniated disc in my lower back (because of too much cardriving) - and my bicycling life was over. No more racebikes! Tried but I could'nt.

Years later I got a full suspension MTB and that helped me. One day in 2005 I saw an Optima Baron and fell in love and assembled my own 2 weeks later. That was a blast and little by little I came back again.
  
Did the 320 km race again! Got a low racer and back into really good shape and became National HPV Champion 3 years in a row (2007-2009) and participated at HPV WC in France 2008. When I saw the ROAM t-shirt at Spezi a few weeks ago - and saw and heard Josef explain his mission and the riders present their ROAM dreams. I got completely hooked! Felt it like a calling to participate.
  
Just got a Quest from Ymte and now train full-time to be able to make it. I will do whatever I can to reach Washington. ROAM is not a race but a wonderful tour with a wonderful mission and I am so proud to be part of this first ROAM team and movement. I salute Josef for igniting this and all of you Velonauts because you have chosen to contribute to this mission and show it. Can't wait to meet you all.
  
Let me rephrase these famous words to fit ROAM; "one small spin of crank for man - one giant roll over for mankind" HUA!!    

Risto Hirvikallio

Risto Hirvikallio, young Finnish IPSC Standard -class Handgun Division competitor achieves good results in several competitions in Finland and Europe.

He did an excellent job at Summermatch 2011 in Sipoo, Finland August 6-7th 2011. He won the Nordic and Finnish IPSC Standard Class Handgun Division Championship. The competition was tough, but Risto was able to finish first out of 90 competitors in the match.

Wiley X Europe and Hantaurus Shot Ltd. have proudly supported Risto in his career and wish him more wins in the challenging upcoming matches!

Team Voluntas

Team Voluntas is the Danish national team in formation jump. Their ultimate goal is to participate in the World Cup and come out with flying colors.

Wiley X have sponsored Voluntas for several years. Voluntas consists of 4 jumpers. All members have been part of the Danish national team project for several years, and have a mixture of training, competition and coaching experience.

For more information visit www.Voluntas4way.dk

Kasper K. Jensen

Kasper Jensen has played golf, since he was just 7 years old. Through the years he has played on several Danish elite teams, and in 2006 he decided to make it his career by becoming PGA Teaching Professional. After ending the education he was offered a job as Head Pro at Hobro Golf Club, where he still is today along with Hvalpsund Golf Club.

Kasper Jensen has chosen the Hydro model with prescription lenses helping him to spot the flag at the end of the fairway.

Wiley X Europe is excited that Kasper is introducing Wiley X to the golf world.

Adam Malling

Wiley X sponsored Adam Malling is one of the entrepreneurs within SUP (Stand Up Paddle) surfing in Denmark, and Adam believes so much in this sport that he has opened his own SUP school - SUPNORDIC.
Adam has always spend a lot of time on the water; sailing, wind surfing and kite surfing, but when he tried SUP as a supplement for kite surfing, he was hooked immediately.

SUP was invented in Hawaii in the 1960s, but it is not until recent years that the sport has captured in Europe. It is a fast growing sport, because it gives a good overall core training of your back, stomach, legs and arms, and you can practice it regardless of the weather conditions. The professional season for SUP surfers starts around April, but with the right gear/surroundings you can easily practice it all year. SUP is very much like regular surfing.

Adam Malling’s favorite sunglasses are the Saber Advanced, which gives him the opportunity to change lenses to match the weather conditions. Furthermore, the elastic head strap helps preventing Adam from losing his glasses on the water.