> report filed May 21, 2005 by Gaylia Osterlund
Nicole DeBoom has a thriving career as a professional triathlete, scoring her first big Ironman win last fall at Ironman Wisconsin and already well into the 2005 season. But just to keep things interesting, she also has launched her own business, Skirt Sports, an innovative athletic clothing company for women. The fun and functional skirts can be used in triathlon, in running races and just for fun and can be found online. Triathlon Informer correspondent Gaylia Osterlund caught up with the busy DeBoom recently to talk skirts and sports.
GAYLIA OSTERLUND: Who is your target audience?
NICOLE DEBOOM: Active women of any age! Triks is for women who want to look good while they are exercising. It is for women who are not afraid to be noticed, who are not afraid to take risks. It is for women who have a lot going on in their lives and cannot be 
bothered to change outfits five times a day. Triks chicks know that when you look good, you feel good, so why not incorporate that philosophy into all aspect of our lives? Just because you are working out does not mean you have to look like a man. The bonus is all technical Triks products will perform great, have features specially designed for women and feel good on your skin. They truly are fitness products that just happen to look feminine and fabulous.
GO: What made you decide to do Skirt Sports?
ND: I started Skirt Sports for a few reasons. It is no secret I was frustrated with the state of women’s fitness clothing. While many companies make some nice, pretty gear for women, I was looking for something edgier and sexier. Given my desire to try new things and the support of my husband, Tim, and my friends and family, I decided to go for it. I have received such great feedback about the entire vision of Skirt Sports it is easy to continue moving forward.
GO: Putting your triathlon hat on, what are your plans for the 2005 season?
ND: In 2005, I plan to stick to my usual triathlon philosophy of trying new things and keeping it fun. I will race 8-10 times. I have already raced the Austin Freescale Half Marathon, the California Half Ironman and St. Croix Half Ironman. Tentatively, I plan on racing the Memphis in May or the Auburn Long Distance National Championships, possibly Ironman France with Tim, Life Time Fitness, Boulder Peak Triathlon and the Chicago Triathlon. Beyond August, my schedule is undetermined.
GO: How do you so effectively strike such a balance between the fun and competitive sides of triathlon? There are a lot of age group athletes who could benefit from your advice on the issue.
ND: I learned early on in my swimming career that I am not having fun, I don’t race well. It is just something that has always gone hand-in-hand for me. As soon as I realized that putting serious pressure on myself almost always yielded a disappointing result, I changed my approach. I immediately had more gratification from my results, even if they weren’t better than before. I enjoyed them more. I am not saying you should not be serious about your preparation, but if you take it with you everywhere you go, you will become too inundated. I train and I leave my workouts behind when they are done. I race, let the result sink in and then I move on. To me, it is all a frame of mind. Either you love fitness and you consider it a gift or you dread it and only do it because you think you have time. Which one sounds more appealing?
GO: Who do you most admire in world unrelated to triathlon and why? What lessons have you learned from this person?
ND: This one is so easy and scary! I admire my husband, Tim, more than anyone I have ever met. Sometimes it is hard to live with a person like him who inspires so many people. What I see is the real person inside. He may be a world champion but he has his struggles just like the rest of us. I have always admired his ability to be true to himself. He is the most focused person I have ever known, and that dedication keeps me inspired. From him, I have learned even when you think you have it all, you can ask for more and that can be a frightening place. I have learned you have to fully enjoy the moment because moments are gone quickly and all you will have is a memory and some photos. I have learned that sharing the good times with the people you care about is the only way to make them real. I have learned it is dangerous to base your self worth on what you do for a living. I could go on and on but let me just say that the day I met my husband changed my life.