The Cyclone Water Polo Story

Welcome to cyclone water polo. Cyclone water polo is a company based in South Africa proudly manufacturing custom water polo suits and distributing worldwide.

Cyclone is a company offering personalized attention; our products are innovative, cost effective, durable and exciting.
From 2001 to 2005 the sons of the pioneers of the business, Renette Short and Lorraine Fowle, were top water polo players at their local school, Northwood Boys High School.

During this period Renette and Lorraine volunteered to join the Ladies Aquatics Committee at the school to promote and drive swimming and water polo at the school. In 2003 Lorraine took on the responsibility of Chairperson and together with the support of Renette and other enthusiastic ladies they worked with the school administrators and turned the aquatics area into one of the top school water polo venues in KwaZulu Natal South Africa.

In 2003 when their sons, Rhett and Craig, moved into the senior teams they heard complaints from the boys about the poor quality of the school water polo suits. This prompted Renette, a talented dress designer, and Lorraine to make a suit that would be durable enough to stand up to the aggressiveness of the sport.

In February 2004 they produced their first water polo suit for the schools 1st Team that they wore at the prestigious King Edward School (KES) water polo tournament, which is held annually in Johannesburg. Only 3 of the top water polo playing schools wore Cyclone water polo suits at the tournament. The senior men’s 1st team of one of the top local water polo clubs, Northwood Queens Park, were due to play in another prestigious tournament in Johannesburg hosted by Old Edwardians (Old Eds) and placed an order for custom made water polo suits for their team. On return from the tournaments the players commented that the water polo suits wore extremely well and gave us pointers regarding the sizing and cut. Every suit held up well and many are still being worn with pride today.

By the end of 2005, 8 out of the top 20 water polo playing schools in South Africa as well as the KwaZulu Natal, Eastern Province and Border provincial under 18 teams were wearing Cyclone water polo suits.

The demand has increased to the extent where suits are now made for the following schools and teams: