Nick Busca Athlete Ambassador
Nick is a triathlete who is aiming to compete in the Ironman 70.3 World Championships. He talks to Sundried about training and racing.
Have you always been into sport?
Yes. I started with alpine skiing when I was 6 years old when I was living in the Italian Alps. I then raced for 15 years before becoming a ski and telemark instructor in Italy and France. When I was a child I also played a lot of tennis, some golf and I was also into rock and ice climbing, mountaineering and bouldering. Strength and conditioning have always been part of the overall training regime I followed and in 2017 I became personal trainer.
What made you decide to enter the world of triathlon?
In 2012 I wanted to improve my swimming technique (even 25m was a challenge at that time), but bumped into a triathlon team instead. I set myself the goal to compete in an Ironman 70.3 in two years and achieved that in 2014. Then the "what's next" mantra took over.
What’s been your favourite race to date and why?
Ironman 70.3 Greece in April 2019. It was just the perfect race for me. My mind and my body were perfectly tuned and everything fell into the right place.
And your proudest achievement?
Having represented Team GB twice at the ITU Triathlon Long Distance World Championships (top 20 as my best result to date) and having qualified twice for the middle distance European championships. That happened only 5 years after I started my swimming lessons.
Have you ever had any racing disasters/your toughest race yet?
I had many disasters over the last few years, which all served as a learning curve. But the toughest race was the World Champs last year in Denmark, where ITB syndrome and stomach distress made me walk the last 15km of the run segment of the race (out of 30 km).
How do you overcome setbacks?
Take some time off, switch the mind and focus off from sports and try to find new and personal motivations.
What advice do you wish you'd been given before you started competing?
Keep it simple and do not overthink.
What are your goals for 2019 and 2020?
Qualifying for the Ironman 70.3 World Championships.
Who do you take your inspiration from?
My wife, who's not very much into sports (except for alpine skiing).
What do you like about Sundried and what’s your favourite bit of our kit?
The commitment towards being environment-friendly and the sustainability of the production chain. Anything that is made from coffee has my blessing and I really like the idea of using recycled plastic bottles for sport apparel and clothes in general.