Durban North’s Iron Patriot
The 32-year-old completed the month-long project last year, creating the suit using compressed foam (the kind used in yoga and exercise mats).
WHAT makes a sports fan truly unique? Some would argue it’s when you get a rather sizeable tattoo of your team’s emblem, motto or logo on a prominent part of your body; or having your house kitted out with your favourite team’s memorabilia and paraphernalia; or having a message of support for your team shaved and shaped out of your body hair, on your stomach or back.
Tragically I’ve seen this, so you are going to have to trust me on this.
Having said that, I think I’ve discovered a gem of a sports fan right in the heart of Durban North, to be more specific, in uMgeni Park.
Admittedly he may not be the biggest or most fanatical supporter of the Springboks, but he is certainly the most unique in my estimation. Lance Eggersglusz is passionate about rugby, especially about the Springboks and that inspired him to create one of the coolest suits I’ve ever seen. You could call him an Iron Patriot of sorts.
He painstakingly shaped it, painted it, and at its completion he took on legendary status in the sports world, becoming the Springbok Ironman.
The 32-year-old completed the month-long project last year, creating the suit using compressed foam (the kind used in yoga and exercise mats).
“I had done a bit of research on software that makes paper flat and used the contours to shape the Iron Patriot character’s exoskeleton, which I had a drawing of. I then used the cut-out of the drawing and glued it onto bits of compressed foam I had bought from a local company. I then shaped the foam, painted it, and bit by bit it began to take shape.
“I completed the helmet first and then worked on the torso, upper and lower, and then moved onto the arms. My goal was to complete the suit by 14 June, when the Springboks took on the Welsh at Kings Park,” he explained.
The suit also has two really nifty additions: the eyes behind the helmet light up, just like the real Ironman, but the lights in this case have a tinge of gold. The chest plate also features the Springbok logo which also lights up.
Eggersglusz finished the suit in time for the game and was blown away by the response he received from fans at the stadium.
“It was amazing, I was wondering what the reaction would be and was stunned by the fans. It took my family over an hour to get to our seats, because of the number of selfies fans took with me. Don’t let me get started on trying to get to the toilet at half time,” he joked.
“Even once the game was over, we had to wait for a long time to get out of the stadium.”
His creation has also inspired a Twitter account (@SA_Ironman).
Another aspect of the Ironman suit he wants to explore is charity work.
“I saw a YouTube video of a guy in America who puts on an Ironman suit and visits Children’s hospitals. There was just this sense of awe, and the smiles and joy he brought the kids was mind blowing. I decided that’s what I ultimately want to do with the Springbok Ironman suit,” he said.
