Hundreds of Thousands of Start Lines Later

Over 15 years of racing, refining, and getting the details right.

There's something special about a Nordic ski race start line. The nervous energy, the last-minute adjustments, the teammates cheering each other on. And scattered across the snow, a sea of colorful race suits representing schools, clubs, and teams that have spent countless hours preparing for that moment.

For more than 15 years, Podiumwear's Gold race suits have been part of those moments.

And while the sport, the athletes, and even the weather have evolved, our approach to building a great Nordic race suit has remained remarkably consistent: make it comfortable, make it perform, and keep improving the details that matter.

More Than Just a Race Suit

Ask a Nordic coach about team uniforms, and you might hear something that has very little to do with fabric specifications.

Hannah, a Podiumwear team member, former Nordic racer, and current high school coach, sees firsthand what a team uniform can mean to an athlete.

One of my favorite moments of the ski season as a coach is when we hand out uniforms. There is so much excitement and celebration for every one of the athletes on the day they receive their team suits.

There's something about pulling on a team uniform that changes how an athlete feels. It's a sense of belonging, a little extra confidence, and the pride of representing something bigger than yourself.

Hannah has watched that transformation firsthand. Athletes who were initially reluctant to wear tight-fitting race suits eventually embraced them, proudly referring to their uniforms as their “super suits.”

And from a coach perspective, there's another practical benefit: being able to spot your athletes across a crowded racecourse. Distinctive colors and recognizable designs become part of a team's identity, whether you're watching from the sidelines or cheering at the top of a climb.

A Great Fit Starts With Great Design

A Nordic race suit needs to do more than stretch. It needs to move naturally with the athlete through every stride, climb, and double-pole effort.

That's why we've spent years refining the fit and construction of our Gold race suits.

One of the details that sets the Gold suit apart is its carefully designed paneling. Rather than relying entirely on fabric stretch to accommodate the body's shape, strategically placed panels help create a more contoured fit.

As Hannah explains, fewer panels can mean relying more heavily on fabric stretch to accommodate different body shapes. Thoughtful paneling helps the suit follow the body's natural contours

This matters for comfort, movement, and appearance.

Anyone familiar with sublimated race suits has probably noticed white-out, the faded, whitish appearance that can occur when printed fabric is stretched excessively, allowing the lighter underlying fibers to show through.

The Gold suit addresses this in two ways: through paneling that helps reduce unnecessary tension and through fabric selected for excellent color saturation, even when stretched.

Fifteen Years of Refinement

Our Gold race suit hasn't remained the same for 15 years. And that's the point.

The fundamentals have stayed consistent, but we've continued to refine the materials and construction as the needs of Nordic racers have evolved.

Earlier versions of the suit leaned more heavily toward thermal properties. Over time, we've placed greater emphasis on breathability, moisture movement, and versatility across a wider range of racing temperatures.

Today's Gold suit uses an exceptionally soft, four-way-stretch fabric made from 80% polyester and 20% elastane. It's designed to wick moisture away from the skin, breathe during high-intensity efforts, and provide unrestricted movement.

The fabric also offers UPF 50+ protection.

These aren't necessarily features an athlete thinks about while standing at the start line. But they're details that matter once the race begins.

Built for Athletes. Practical for Teams.

A great race suit has to work for the individual athlete. But for coaches and club organizers, it also needs to work for the entire team.

That means accommodating different body types, managing uniform inventories, and making smart decisions about equipment budgets.

Our Gold suits are available in both one-piece and two-piece configurations, with men's and women's-specific options and Long sizes to help teams find the right fit for their athletes.

And because we know team uniforms are an investment, we make it possible for teams to reorder their existing designs in future seasons, adding suits for new athletes without starting from scratch.

A suit should feel great on race day, but it should also make life a little easier for the people responsible for getting an entire team to the starting line.

Ready for the Next Start Line

Hundreds of thousands of start lines later, we're still finding ways to make a great Nordic race suit even better.

Not by reinventing it every season, but by paying attention to the details: the fabric that moves moisture, the panels that create a better fit, the colors that represent a team, and the feeling an athlete gets when they pull on their race suit.

Explore Podiumwear's Gold One-Piece and Two-Piece Nordic Race Suits and start planning your team's next season.

Explore Our Nordic Race Suits →