What do you get when you mix 120 of our rockstar ambassadors from across our company and our hometown of Vancouver? Three days of lululemon culture, development, and fun: aka, our first ever lululemon Ambassador Summit. As a company, we are passionate about creating strong relationships within our communities, and our ambassadors with each store are a true testament to this. To celebrate their amazingness and thank them for being such role models in their communities, we are welcoming them to Vancouver for three days of elevation, inspiration, and relationship building.

We're going to get connected, explore our hometown, and elevate to a new place of inspiration in our lives! Sounds like fun, doesn’t it? It all kicks off today so stay tuned for a follow-up where I will share with you all the exciting adventures we had.

• Learn more about our ambassador program
• Learn about our elite ambassadors
• Apply online to be an ambassador!
• Meet an alumni ambassador

From left to right: Jakob Fugslang (rider), Jacki Carr (lululemon Regional Community Guru), Andy Schleck (rider) Jessica Edwards (lululemon Regional Community Guru) Allison Forsyth (lululemon Athlete Programs Manager)

A nail-biter until the finish, Andy Schleck (the Schleckster to us) delivered with an incredible second place finish overall, a mere 39 seconds behind the winner. This impressive result has launched Team Saxo Bank to second place overall in the UCI world rankings.

The lululemon office was rooting for Team Saxo from our desks! This is Allison on an early morning during the Tour.

Congratulations Team Saxo Bank - you rocked our world!

Join in our celebration by picking up your official Saxo Bank kit, available for a limited time on our site.
- View the Saxo Bank kit for women
- View the Saxo Bank kit for men

I recently travelled with the team for the Tour de California and tested out this product.

It’s very functional, technical, and rear-end protecting. Hey, if it’s good enough for Andy Schleck, I trust it's good enough for me. I may not be able to ride like these guys, but there is no harm in trying and looking like an official team member while I do it.

Purchase the Team Saxo Bank 2010 Kit for women
Purchase the Team Saxo Bank 2010 Kit for men
Read more about our relationship with Team Saxo Bank

lululemon and a professional cycling team: what’s up with that?

Here at lululemon we pride ourselves on being unlike any other company. We continually push ourselves to find creative ways to introduce the world to our culture and our brand. Recently, as a fantastic example, we entered into a supportive relationship with a male professional cycling team, Team Saxo Bank.

Jens getting ready for time trial at the Tour of California

Team Saxo Bank is one of the top ranked teams in the world, competing at the highest level of international competition, and includes many cycling superstars, including Andy Schlek, who is favored to win the Tour De France this year, and Fabian Cancellara, the “it” rider of the this year’s professional cycling scene.

Eric (on the right), our Director of Community shows Team Director Bobby Julich how it’s done

I know what you’re thinking… “Um, last time I checked, lululemon doesn’t make cycling gear.” Right you are, we don’t. What we do though, is make the best technical cross-training apparel in the world, and these guys, being indisputably some of the best athletes in the world, are testing our garments for all of their off-bike training and lifestyle needs and providing us with invaluable feedback for the further development of our mens’ line. Further, as the staple of our culture is yoga and our belief in the benefits of yoga for athletes, we are excited to be introducing yoga to a sports demographic that has not seen much of it as of yet. I think none of us would deny that cycling = some really tight hips.

Regional Community Guru Jacki helping Matti Breschel (team rider) achieve the perfect warrior in our Calabasas store

In the spirit of conversation generation, a group of us lululemoners travelled as a support team with the Saxo Bank team a couple of weeks ago for the Tour of California. Cruising down the Coast of California in our beloved “Vanna” we enrolled fans and riders alike in the excitement that is lululemon. It is truly a thrill to introduce so many European athletes to a brand unlike any other and unlike anything they have ever experienced. From impromptu yoga, to hotel-room pant hemming sessions, to fueling the Team Directors with their morning caffeine, this team is now very clear that support is our mission, in any capacity it is needed.

Jacki, Jessica, and Allison in front of Vanna with Jakob Fugslang and Andy Schlek (team riders)

Welcome Team Saxo Bank to our lululemon family. We look forward to you killing it at the Tour De France in July!

Cycle on,
Allison

When I received the call three weeks ago that I had been nominated to run with the torch, I was… well, not that excited. I know that sounds bad and I by no means was taking the honour lightly, but in the spirit of full disclosure this was what was going through my head: well, your goal was to win the Olympics in Vancouver, but I guess carrying the torch is kind of cool.

You see, as a two-time Olympian who was forced into retirement through injury, my past Olympic experiences had consisted of operating within an insular bubble of train-rest- compete-leave. I was not exposed to what the world around me understood. I admittedly pretended to understand what this “Olympic movement” was all about.

As an athlete who competed continually throughout the two weeks, I only left the security of the Village to train or compete. All of my down time was spent preparing for the next competition. In preparation for the Olympics in 2002, I decided not to attend the opening ceremonies. As unfathomable as this is to many, I felt like it would negatively affect my competition. Looking back now, I regret that decision. I had not absorbed the spirit of the Games, I just wanted to win.

Well, it took two Olympics, and a 300m run with a torch, but I’ve finally got the spirit! When I boarded that bus with my 15 fellow torch bearers, who together would cover a whopping distance of 4.5 km, something happened, something changed. I don’t know if it was our guide who could barely speak of the Olympics without crying, or the woman who was running in honour of her daughter Hope who had recently passed away, but I started to tingle as that bus took off. 

Allison's biggest/littlest fan

We cruised down the streets lined with people waving flags and kids chanting and the tingles turned to tears. By the time I actually took off with the official flame for my 300m segment, I knew what I think others knew all along. The Olympic Games represent so much more than sport. They truly are a peace movement, where a country first comes together to carry a torch a total of 45,000km, and then welcomes the rest of the world in the celebration of challenging the human spirit. I apologize if I am telling you all something you already knew, but I just wanted to share that it took the torch to teach me this, and I will always be grateful. Go World!

We held an outdoor yoga class outside our office to welcome Muhammad Ali with sun salutations and warrior poses.

In town promoting a new documentary called Facing Ali, the Greatest himself graced us with his powerful presence at 10:30 am this morning. Through a personal connection with our founder Chip, Muhammad and his wife Lonnie were generous enough to join the SSC, Distribution Centre, Guest Education Centre, and store lululemons for an impromptu visit.

Allison, our elite athlete coordinator (and the author of this post!) relaxing at the SSC while we wait for Muhammad to arrive.

Well, on the grand scale, we believe that receiving confirmation Wednesday afternoon is impromptu. In this short period of time, the company pulled together as a team. In 48 hours we created the ceremony space, had a member of each department and each store honored with a photo op, and even had a Game Over hoodie made for Ali that read "The Greatest" on the back. As I sit here three hours later, I struggle to put the experience in words and the tears keep creeping back up.

We are a company that believes in the greatness of our people, and to have such an amazing person come share an hour with us truly elevated us all to a new level of greatness. The only point of sadness was the inability to have every employee with us in person.

Today was a day full of greatness.

Among many memorable moments, a true highlight for us all was when one of our leaders, Jenna Hills, placed her new son Ryder in Ali’s lap for a photo. Muhammad smiled at the future lululemon-leader and there wasn’t a dry eye in the crowd.

What do you get when you mix 10 of the world’s best athletes, one of the world’s best yogis, two of the world’s best designers, two of the world’s best lululemon-leaders, and one of the most beautiful places on earth? Well, you get the lululemon elite retreat 2009 -- and obviously a really great time.

Early July 2009 saw myself and our fearless community leader, Eric, take some of our amazing elite ambassadors on the annual-legendary elite retreat to Tofino, BC. I am undeniably biased about the wonder of Tofino (being from Vancouver Island myself) but seriously, people - Google it and go!

To best describe this surreal experience, here’s a day in the life of an elite retreater. And I should know, as I was the diligent itinerary creator.

6:30 - 7:30am The athletes suit up and head in to the water for an early morning surf session

7:30am We grab a quick bite and head over to the yoga studio

8:00 - 9:30am Eoin Finn leads us through a true Eoin-esque practice. There is laughter, challenge, surf quotes, and an overwhelming confidence in us all that yoga truly does enhance elite athletic pursuits.

9:30am We eat again! The athletes should be - Eric and I are just indulging and pretending to be training for the Olympics like the rest of them.

10:00am - 12:00pm The athletes head out for their individual training sessions. Yes, if you are counting, this is the third time they have worked out already today. The bobsledders head to the gym to squat imaginable amounts of weight as the Nordic combined skier goes off for a wee 2.5 hr run. All in pursuit of Olympic gold. Terribly inspiring.

12:30pm You guessed it- we eat again! The food Olympics.

1:00pm Marks the arrival of our two designers du choix - Shannon and MelEesa, and our vice-president of everything progressively inspiring - Sherry.

2:00 - 5:00pm The athletes immediately bond to the new lululemon family members that have arrived and the surf is up so our athletes drag the designers in to the water for a surf session.

5:30pm The design meeting to top all design meeting commences. Shannon and MelEesa create pandemonium with the new fantastic fall samples and our athletes provide us with what can only be described as mind-boggling feedback from the world’s best athletes (because that’s what they are).

7:30pm The conversation continues as we take down some real west coast sushi action.

8:30pm Bedtime. Having all become fast, furious friends, we share conversation and inspiration around a bonfire on the beach - oh, and of course we eat! S'mores!

I speak for us all when I say that to be on a trip like this one is truly inspirational. (Have I used that word already? ) I feel my position here is one of connector of inspirational people and I am honoured to be in this role. These athletes are members of our family and they absolutely love being supported by us with our culture and our movement of elevating the world from mediocrity to greatness. We feel they are true representatives of what it means to strive for greatness in your life and as they strive for Olympic gold next year, we will be there to support them as true family members do.

What is an elite ambassador you may ask? Well, they are our international rock stars, athletes of an elite level (think Olympians) that choose to train and/or compete in our fantastic product because it is the best in the world. Further to that, they are members of our lululemon family. We don't pay athletes to wear our clothes, as that's just not the way we roll. Instead, we support them with product and anything else (within reason) they request from us - e.g. yoga classes, training accommodation and our personal favourite, the LEAFS (lululemon elite ambassador fan club).

So now you're asking who are the LEAFS? Well, last year we asked one of our favourite elite ambassadors, Olympic gold medalist skier Jenn Heil, what she would like from us, and her answer was humble, grateful, and very Jenn. She said simply that she would love people at the finish of her competitions holding signs, cheering her on, and supporting her. Jackpot - we can totally handle that! Flash forward six months and the LEAFs were born.

Throughout this past winter at all the pre-Olympic World Cup test events, we, as in 20-40 lululemon employees, were out in full force cheering on our elite ambassadors as they competed in the World Cup circuit. We had signs, buttons, beverages, cow bells, and our booming voices.

The pic above says it all. We are grassroots and we love it that way! And yes, that is our fearless CEO and LEAF keener Christine Day on the left standing next to one of our elites, Sara Renner – Olympic silver medalist in cross country skiing.

We currently support over 60 elite ambassadors, and our pool of amazing athletes that love us is constantly growing.

Allison Forsyth
2X Olympian / lululemon Athlete Coordinator