Updates from H2O Audio

Wanna get sponsored?

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 16:01:07 GMT

Do you have what it takes to join THE TEAM?

Are you a leader in your sport?� Are you one of our biggest fans?� If you think you’d be a great addition to Team H2O Audio, then you’re in luck.� We’ve just launched the NEW Team H2O Audio program!� Because this is a new program, we’re clearing out our databases and starting over.� Which means even if you’ve been a sponsored athlete with us before, you’ll still need to apply, but don’t worry, you’ll have room in the application to tell us about your history of waterproof music.

Click here to find out more and try for a spot on the team!

Team H2O Audio Update

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:00:56 GMT

Natalie Coughlin attacking the backstroke.

With her fifth appearance in the FINA World Championship, Natalie Coughlin returned home with a Gold, Silver and Bronze.� Although she wasn’t fully satisfied with her performance, it was a great marker to focus in on what she needs to work on during training over the next year before the 2012 Olympics.

Slater Trout had a busy summer, finishing second in both the Hennessey’s and Catalina races.� During the SUP Magazine awards, he was more than happy to be awarded as the third best male paddler.

A few months after being featured on the cover of Triathlete Magazine, Laura Bennett won the 2011 Buffalo ITU Pan American Cup, making this her third national title.� Greg Bennett finished third in the Life Time Minneapolis Triathlon on July 9th and 11th in the Los Angeles Triathlon on September 26th.

Craig Alexander won the Marine Corp World Championship in Las Vegas on September 11th.� In Kona, Alexander again didn’t disappoint, setting a new course record and becoming one of four men to win the race three times or more.� On top of all that, he became the first man to win both the Ironman and Ironman 70.3 world championship in the same year!

Facebook 10K Giveaway Party!

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 09:05:04 GMT

Each time we cross a milestone number of Facebook fans, we like to celebrate, welcome the new comers and generally have a good time!� And nothing says fun like free stuff!� From 9am to 5pm PST today� (Thursday, October 20th) make sure to check into our Facebook page to join in the fun of� photo contests, special discounts, games and giveaways.� It’s a day for us to give back to you, all 10,000 + of our favorite fans!

Facebook 10K!

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 17:05:55 GMT

If you thought our 5K party was huge...just wait until the Facebook 10K!

We just crossed over 10,000 fans on Facebook!!� We couldn’t let such a momentous accomplishment pass by without some sort of recognition, so we’re throwing a party!� On Thursday, October 20th, the Facebook 10k party is going down.� Check into our Facebook page between the hours of 9am and 5pm PST for contests, games and of course giveaways.� Grab your friends, dust of your waterproof party hat and get ready to celebrate, Facebook style, ’cause this is going to be one Thursday you’re gonna wanna be on-line.

New Website!

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 12:00:52 GMT

Have you been to www.h2oaudio.com lately?� We just launched a new website!

Check it out, click around and tell us what you think.

H2O Audio and Avidasports - Partners in the Pool

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 14:00:10 GMT

Can you imagine being in the pool and being able to hear how you’re performing as well as getting direct feedback from your coach without having to stop at the end of the lane?� This scenario is now a reality thanks for a company called Avidasports.�� They’ve integrated our Surge 2G waterproof headphone technology into swim feedback systems, to allow coaches to communicate to their swimmers while they’re on the move in the pool.

You can find out more about Avidasports and how you can get your hands on their technology through their website.

Getting to know you.(and your headphones)

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:01:42 GMT

As you know, we’ve always got something new in the works here at H2O Audio.� But sometimes in making decisions, there comes a time when you just need more information!� And now is one of those times.� We’d love to know more about you, the headphones you own (ours and other brands) and how you use them.� So if you’d like to throw your thoughts in the ring, feel free to take our Headphone Survey and tell what you like and don’t like about the headphones that are out there today.

And since we know every minute of your time is valuable, everyone who completes this survey will be entered to win $100 worth of H2O Audio Gear!� Plus of course, our undying love and gratitude for giving us the data we need to innovate and push our products forward.� Thanks in advance for the help!

Words to Sweat By

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 12:03:13 GMT

H2O Audio Ambassador athlete Laura Bennett is a mere week away from the Olympic trials!� She’s been racing strong and we’re sure she’ll do well, but more there’s always room for more motivation and well wishes.� That’s why we’ve teamed up with Words to Sweat By to ramp up for the Olympic Trials with some awesome giveaways!

Head to Words To Sweat by to share your favorite inspirational quote and find out all the other ways you can enter for the Gold, Silver or Bronze prize pack full of H2O Audio and Words to Sweat by goodies!

New Product Alert! Meet the Xplorer.

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 17:00:24 GMT

Meet the new Xplorer Portable Speaker case!

It’s been a few months since we’ve released a new product, so we’re excited to announce the arrival of the H2O Audio Xplorer Speaker Case!

This rugged little case delivers big sound from a package small enough to just fit an iPhone and a few other necessities.� Battery powered portability and multiple attachment options allow you to affix this case to your bike, belt, backpack and more.� With a water resistant rating, the case isn’t intended to be submerged, but the specialized zipper will protect your player from rain, splashes, sand and dirt.� Organizational pockets, anti-scratch felt lining, external volume controls, this case has features galore, and at $39.99, it’s a bargain too.� So check it out and tell us what you think!� We love this little case and we hope you will too, it’s a port-a-party!

New! - H2O Audio's Favorites

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:00:28 GMT

Have you had a chance to check out the newest section of H2oAudio.com?� Over the past few months, we’ve been researching and collecting some of our favorite outdoor and fitness gear, and have complied it all in one place to bring you H2O Audio’s Favorites.

Over the years, we’ve learned that waterproofing is tricky business.� There’s not many people out there that do what we do, so our product team focuses their energy on making our waterproof headphones, armbands and cases better with each generation.� But since we’re a company of active people, we kept coming across great little gadgets that we wanted to share, and BAM!, the Favorite’s section of our website was born.� From waterproof watches to solar chargers, to lap counters, check out our selection of� unique gear we couldn’t live our active lives without.

Team H2O Audio Update

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 16:02:22 GMT

Laura and Greg Bennett, our favorite triathlete couple!

Back from a nasty respiratory illness, Craig Alexander overcame a 9 minute gap between him and race leader Maik Twelsiek during the triathlon's 26.2 mile marathon route to become the Ford Ironman Coeur d'Alene champion. What a comeback! Craig finished the race with a time of 8 hours, 19 minutes, and 48 seconds setting a new course record. Well done Crowie!

Laura Bennett remains in 4^th place overall in the ITU World Championship Series rankings. Her 6^th place finish at the ITU Kitzuhel Triathlon was her 7^th consecutive top 10 finish during the World Championship Series. Her Husband and fellow H2O Audio ambassador, Greg Bennett placed 3^rd in last weekend's Philadelphia Insurance Triathlon.

Greg and Laura are also featured in this summer’s edition of USA Triathlon Magazine talking about their path towards the 2012 Olympics and gracing the cover we might add!

Also to note, Natalie Coughlin made her 16^th appearance in the past 17 years at the annual Santa Clara International Grand Prix swim meet. She wrote about the meet and what it means to her on her USA swimming blog.

Doh!

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 16:03:04 GMT

Doh!

It’s always sad when it happens, but it does from time to time…packaging gets damaged, but the product inside is perfectly fine.� We can’t sell headphones when their packaging looks like this, but we can give them away!� Head to our Facebook page to post about how you ruined a pair of headphones….we’ll pick a few of the stories we like best and hook you up with a pair of Envy Green Flex All Sport Buds.� The packaging may be a bit dented, but the headphones are still 100% waterproof and ready to rock your world!

New and Improved Dealer Locator!

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 14:02:35 GMT

We love it when you stop by our website, but sometimes, you just can't wait for the mail carrier to deliver your H2O Audio goods.� When you need waterproof music and need it now, go local!� We're in hundreds of stores across the United States and we've updated our Dealer Locator to make it easier than ever to find a store stocked with our waterproof headphones and cases near you.� Featuring a new mapping feature and expanded database, new waterproof gear could be just around the corner.*

And, if you’re one of those folks who needed a quick H2o Audio fix, take a picture of yourself with H2O Audio at your local store and post it on our Facebook page.� We'll pick a few of our favorite pics and kit you out with every accessory we've got for your new waterproof purchase, plus we'll even throw in a free T-shirt!

*It’s always a good idea to call your local store to make sure they have what you're looking for before making your trek as stock may vary slightly from store to store.

H2O Audio Around the World

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:00:52 GMT

Ever wonder what an H2O Audio ad would look like on the other side of the globe?

Here are some pictures taken by our newest distributor, Yutron, all the way from Hong Kong. We're thrilled to see that people all over the world are as amped about H2O Audio as we are!

U.S. Women's Water Polo Takes Gold

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 13:00:13 GMT

Look at all that gold! *Bling*Bling*!

We’re proud to be partnered with USA Water Polo to help them train to be their best.� That’s why we couldn’t help but post about the U.S. Women’s National Team winning the gold at the FINA World Super League Final in Tianjin, China.

The ladies defeated Italy in the championship game with a score of 9-7.� This is the sixth World League Super Final Championships and the fifth straight FINA title for the women’s national team.

You can read more about the women’s victory here.

Team H2O Audio Update

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 14:02:02 GMT

Team H2O Audio Ambassador Laura Bennett Dives into the Swim

Congratulations to H2O Audio team member Laura Bennett who finished 8^th overall in last weekend's leg of the ITU World Championship series held in Madrid. Laura finished the race with a time of 2:05:33, less than 2 minutes behind the race leader. Her swim time of 19:16 tied for first among her competitors. She currently ranks 4^th place overall in the series. Way to go!

Greg Bennett, who competed in the male's ITU World Championship race, finished 2^nd among US males with a race time of 1:54:38.

Also competing last weekend was Slater Trout at the Vail Teva Games, finishing 6^th in the stand-up paddle surf sprint race. Slater came in 4^th place in last month's Battle of the Paddle Hawaii finishing the 5 mile course in 1:24:08.

Keep it up Team H2O Audio!

April's Photo Contest Winner...

Fri, 27 May 2011 13:39:07 GMT

Congratulations Michelina for being this month’s Photo Contest Winner!

Michelina Witte won herself an exclusive H2O Audio Prize Pack and her photo will be featured in the H2O Audio Community background! Thanks to everyone who participated in this month's Photo Contest we had tons of great submissions.

We will be looking for more awesome shots in 2011 so head to the H2O Audio Community and submit your photo for another chance to win!

Share this Contest:

How To Get an Interval for 1/2 Off.

Wed, 25 May 2011 17:01:03 GMT

We hear it all the time…how do I get a great deal on an Interval?� Well, here’s your chance!� We’re known for hooking up our Facebook fans with awesome deals and freebies and now is no exception.� If you “like” us on Facebook (or even if you’ve been participating in our Facebook shennanigans for a while) you can get a buy one, get one 1/2 off coupon code for the Interval 4G!� It’s a bit hidden so you’ll have to do some searching, but it’s there!� Instant savings, ready, set, GO!

All Headphones On-Sale - All Week Long!

Mon, 23 May 2011 16:06:23 GMT

All this week, every headphone we make is on-sale!� Whether you’re looking for the waterproof durability and bass amplified power of the Surge line to the splashy fun and fashion of the Flex family, they’re all 20% off.

Also, a great companion to your headphones, the Pro Fit Kit is 1/2 off this week only!� Get an additional 9 shapes and sizes of ear tip to create the best, custom fit for any activity for just $10.

Why have we gone headphone crazy this week you ask?� Well, why not!� Act now…this deal won’t be around for long….

The Inside of an Intern's Mind

Wed, 11 May 2011 17:01:04 GMT

Intern Rob, doing his thing, holding a remote flash during a photoshoot with Slater Trout.

We have a tradition with our Interns here at H2O Audio, on their last week we open up our blog and have them write a post about their time here.� This post comes to you from Intern Rob, who started as our winter intern, but we liked him so much, we kept him around for spring too.� Since he spent quite a bit of time here, he helped us out with many projects from weighing in on colors and names of new products, to viral videos and photoshoots, to long term marketing projects and the obligatory intern manual labor (we just always seem to have a ball of headphones somewhere that needs untangling!) � But for all his serious academic and work experience projects during his time here, when it came time for a blog post, this is what he gave us….oh kids these days!� So, if you ever wanted a glimpse into the mind of an H2O Audio Intern, here ya go:

Intern Rob Checking In:

Today marks my second to last day of my internship here at H2o Audio. Dana’s the intern coordinator and gave the assignment to write up a "final exit" blog post. So here it is. I will tell you a little bit about my day today.

I walked in and sent out an email notifying everyone I ordered some pizza for the office as a thank you gesture. I won the pool from the Fantasy NCAA office tournament a month or so back in a complete crapshoot. I don't watch basketball. Putting the money back where it came from.

The web guy Scott granted me "legendary" status. It was the first time I have been graced with such a high rank.

I started looking at the blog to get an idea of what to post. I came across Orcas surfing waves. That is rad. Chris from sales then tells me about Mark Healey grabbing on to fins of great white sharks. That guy is nuts.

I think Jei in logistics is hung over from celebrating Buddha's birthday last night but will not admit to it. I joined in on a meeting with Carl, Chris and Jei. The meeting seemed stressful. I was zoning in and out thinking about the blog post. The meeting is about product stock levels, what to send to who and when. Jei is scribbling in his notepad and I feel like he seems more confused than me. Some one isn't getting the product they ordered on time. Who's fault is this?

Is it Jei?

Is it the complex spreadsheets for not predicting the current predicament?

Is it intern Rob for not seeing this coming?

Will pizza make everyone feel better?*

Tune in next week to find out more about H2o Audio and the wild things which go on here.

*Carl slyly intercepted my attempt at buying pizza for the office and hands his credit card over to the portly pizza man. What a guy!

You’re a good kid intern Rob (even if we thought you were listening in those meetings all this time ), best of luck post graduation and we’ll miss ya! ~ The H2O Audio Crew

We Need Your Input: Part 2!

Tue, 10 May 2011 17:01:02 GMT

Last week as asked you to weigh in on a selection of three headphone color combos, and what we didn’t tell you was those were the “conservative” color palate.� This week, it’s time for the fun stuff!� Take a look at the four bold color combos we posted above and let us know which one you like best.� To cast your vote, e-mail us or visit our Facebook page.

We Need Your Input!

Wed, 04 May 2011 11:00:58 GMT

You know we’ve always got something new in the works here at H2O Audio, and we love it when you help us with the tough decisions!� Just taking the color scheme into account, which of these headphones do you like best?� To cast your vote, e-mail us or visit our Facebook page.

March's Photo Contest Winner...

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 16:04:40 GMT

Congratulations Caton Garvie for being this month’s Photo Contest Winner!

Caton won himself an exclusive H2O Audio Prize Pack and his photo will be featured in the H2O Audio Community! Thanks to everyone who participated in this month's Photo Contest we had tons of great submissions.

We will be looking for more awesome shots this month so head to the H2O Audio Community and submit your photo for another chance to win!

Share this Contest:

SUP An Olympic Sport?

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 12:01:54 GMT

Slater Trout took first place in the 200 meter, 2000 meter and SUP Team Relay Races at the Silver Blade Regatta.

Well, it’s possible!� Surfing and beach related sports have often been positioned as possible Olympic sports, but the restrictions of the environment needed to participate are usually seen as a negative for the International Olympic Committee.� But as SUP becomes more and more popular on the flat water of lakes and rivers, it becomes more and more viable as a future Olympic sport hopeful.

Our own Slater Trout is amongst those who hope that SUP will soon be included in the Olympics and last weekend did his part to move the sport in that direction.� On April 23, 2011, �Stand Up Paddling made history. For the first time it was introduced at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California.�The event was judged and timed by Olympic level officials that will more than likely be judging in London, 2012.

Chris Barlow, Founder of the San Diego Canoe and Kayak Team had these words about this past weekends event and the evolution of SUP.

“The paddle sport of Stand Up Paddle boarding is exploding so fast and is an excellent opportunity to get kids and adults alike out on the water with a paddle in their hands. Paddle Sports in the form of Canoe Kayak has been an Olympic Sport since 1936.�With the USA National Team Trials being held in Chula Vista at The Olympic Training Center and with the San Diego Canoe Kayak Team hosting these Trials we felt it was a golden opportunity to invite SUP racers to compete at the same venue�as�next years USA Olympic Athletes as they take their first step towards�making it�to the 2012 London Olympics. So we resurrected the Silver Blade Regatta, which had not been run since 2002 and started to invite the SUP community and from this the excitement started to build.�Who knows, maybe this will be the first small step towards making SUP an Olympic Sport in the future. With support from USA Canoe Kayak (the National Governing Body for Olympic Paddle sports), The USA Olympic Training Center and San Diego Canoe Kayak Team all on board and excited about adding in the Silver Blade Regatta for this purpose the Regatta was bound to be a success.”

Chris also had this to say about Slater’s strong performance:

Slater sprinting to a first place finish.

“The Silver Blade Regatta and National Team Trials this past weekend at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA was all about giving Stand Up Racers a chance to rub shoulders with next�year’s USA Canoe Kayak Olympians as they take their first step towards the 2012 London Olympics. However, 16 year old Slater Trout showed with his overall win in the�Stand UP Paddle board races that he is definitely an Olympic Caliber athlete. Matched against a tough field of older SUP racers Slater’s board literally had spray coming off the nose as he sprinted down the course in the 200m. As the USA Junior National Team Coach for this years Junior World Championships in Germany I know that Slater’s ability would stand him in good stead should he ever try out in the Canoe or Kayak. I hope to see this young man achieving great things in paddle sports and adding to his already impressive resume. Who knows maybe Slater Trout will be the USA’s first SUP Olympian!!!”

In response, Slater has this to say about the event:

“This race was monumental for the Stand Up Paddling community and it was a great step forward for me personally. I have always dreamed of becoming an Olympic level athlete and representing my country. It was an honor to be at the same venue with all the other paddle sports.”

We’re excited to be involved with such a promising new sport and the fantastic athletes who are paving the way.

H2O Audio Named Official Supplier of USA Water Pol...

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 11:00:55 GMT

We’re happy to announce that we’ve partnered with USA Water Polo as the Official Supplier of audio accessories!

"Water Polo athletes do a lot of swimming to build up their endurance and speed," stated USA Water Polo CMO Jen Rottenberg. "We are excited to educate them about the great, innovative products from H2O Audio that can help them bring music to their swim workouts, and we appreciate H2O Audio's support of USA Water Polo's mission."

Look for H2O Audio in the “What’s On My iPod?” feature of Skip Shot magazine, the official member publication of USA Water Polo, also H2O Audio will be outfitting the USA Water Polo National Team with the latest gear to keep the music pumpin’ wherever their training takes them.

To see the full press release and learn more about USA Water Polo, visit usawaterpolo.org.